ADA News

A renewed spirit of collaboration drew 150 volunteers and staff members throughout the tripartite to ADA Headquarters March 19-20 for the Annual Conference on Membership Recruitment and Retention.

Membership: Dr. Jean Bainbridge, a member of the Council on Membership, listens to a speaker at the Annual Conference on Membership Recruitment and Retention.

Besides having the opportunity to network with his colleagues in dentistry, Dr. Scott Reef used the event as an opportunity to learn more about what the Indiana Dental Association can do to become more meaningful to members approaching retirement age and how to inspire new dentists to become more involved in organized dentistry.

"This conference is such a valuable tool for us when it comes to building membership and retaining members," said Dr. Reef, who will soon chair the IDA's membership committee. "We can do things better, and I always take home a lot of information about ways to improve our activities."

"During your time here, you will gain insights on ways to work together more effectively, more productively and with higher energy," Dr. Terry Buckenheimer, chair of the Council on Membership, told the crowd in opening remarks. "You will have a chance to hear about the hard work your colleagues are doing to increase recruitment and retention; perhaps you are sharing one of your successes."

Success stories were on display throughout the event, which included keynote speakers; workshops on membership marketing, leadership, social media, and member loyalty and satisfaction; and an annual awards ceremony.

The conference also featured the official rollout of MC² (Membership Contact and Connections), the tripartite's new approach to membership that provides societies with a partner for support. Activities could range from developing plans for membership growth to implementing target market recruitment and retention campaigns that use local, state and national messaging.

MC² is one of the tools that the tripartite will use to continue building membership in 2010 and beyond, said Dr. Buckenheimer.

During a difficult economic period when many associations have seen a decline in membership, the ADA grew by 42 members in 2009, he told attendees. "You should all give yourselves a round of applause for that, as it is your hard work that is reflected in that number."