FOCUS | ISSUE 6 | 2010

Following is a brief, but far from inclusive, summary on MDA efforts being conducted that affect your Association, your practice and your patients:

• We employ in-house and contract lobby- ists to assist us in legislative advocacy ... the No. 1 benefi t noted by membership. As well, we advocate for you daily through activity with state departments and other regulatory agencies.

• We inform you through outreach to study clubs, component meetings and print and electronic communications in an effort to listen to and to educate our members about relevant issues.

• We participate in the ADA State Public Affairs program to maximize the use of national dollars for our state legislative efforts.

• We strategize on a multitude of issues … such as with the Legislative and Regula- tory Committee to determine ideal times to secure legislative efforts, or with the Finance Committee, to develop stronger reserve and investment policies for the Association and to present a budget with current membership and future trends in mind to continue to stabilize dues.

• From House direction and with guidance through a Committee, we’ve developed and implemented a public education campaign to have value for members as we strive to move Missourians to better preventive practices and increased oral health. We also listened to you about your concerns of another assessment and are committed to continuing the campaign without additional assessment funds.

• MDA dental CE programs provide members with affordable, relevant and convenient education. We also strive to enhance dental education for your staff through projects such as the EFDA grant initiative.

• Education in Best Management Practices for the Environment are encouraging members to take voluntary action to manage amalgam waste in a climate of increasing government mandates, and we just launched a new free online CE course to make it convenient for members.

All of these activities and more strengthen our efforts to have MDA (And its members) recog- nized as the State Oral Health Care Authority, evidenced by:

• Publications such as USA Today and St. Louis Magazine asking for interviews on dental carve out and dental related stories for consumers.

• Groups reaching out to MDA for opinion and involvement on professional matters.

• MDA’s leadership among Associations in representing dentistry in the issues surrounding the self audits from the MO HealthNet division.

While we may not be doing everything right, for every member, all of the time, I certainly believe the MDA—and your tripartite—provide benefi ts and value in a multitude of ways. But there is always more we can learn and do.

We need to continue to go back to the basics, to look at what our members say they want and need. After all, it’s about the members. And we will continue to do that through Board leadership, House directives and the Strategic Planning process.

In discussing all these efforts, I would be remiss to not mention the incredible MDA team that supports me and works everyday for the dental profession, for you. Even though we are not colleagues managing patients in our own dental offi ces, we are professionals carrying out programs and efforts to help you help you and your teams.

My team is here working diligently every day, to be of service to you and to help accom- plish the mission of the MDA: “Promoting the Interests of Dentists in Missouri”. In addition, the staff carries out objectives for MDA affi li- ates, The MDA Foundation and The Dental Well Being Foundation. These are different organiza- tions, with different missions, but all work to provide meaningful programs for the members.

So if you ever wonder what the qualifi ca- tions of an association executive are, it can be summed up as jack of all trades. But when I come together with this team, I am confi dent you receive impeccable service and the utmost in care from these individuals who are dedi- cated to delivering excellence to you.

As I look ahead to 2011, I am optimistic that although we’ll likely face challenges, that together, we will have a year of camaraderie, cooperation and accomplishments. That we’ll be able to look back, fi rmly believing we’re doing the right things in the right way for the MDA and its members.

I hope you will join with your Association so that we can answer that question TOGETHER with an unequivocal YES!

Your comments and questions are always welcome. Call the MDA (573-634-3436 or 800-688-1907) or email vicki@modental.org.

Member Dues Statements Sent

New, longer installment plans a convenient option

Annual tripartite (ADA, MDA, Local) dues statements were mailed at the end of November. Dues should be remitted in full by January 1, 2011, except for members who have enrolled in an installment payment plan.

INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS

For your convenience and to ease the payment of tripartite member dues, the MDA offers an Installment Payment Plan.

To enroll, just choose the number of payments you prefer: 2, 4, 6 or 8 equal installments. MDA will then calculate your total payment (combined mandatory dues and voluntary contributions) divided equally by the number of payments and process your given credit card each month.

Members must be enrolled in a payment plan by March 31, otherwise member dues are considered delinquent.

WAIVERS

There are various waivers available from the ADA/MDA that result in reduced dues, including Graduate Students, Dentist Affi liates, Retired Members, Dental School Faculty and Financial Hardship. Forms and information are available online at www.modental.org/dues.

All 2011 dues information including details on installment plans and form for waivers, is available at www.modental.org/dues. For any dues related questions, or to make your payment by phone call 800-688-1907.

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YOUR MEMBERSHIP see back cover

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