AADA Membership

With three different membership options, we are sure that you will find one that fits your lifestyle.

• Becoming a member is as easy as pressing the Join or Renew button at any time.
• OR, you may fill out a Membership Application form to join or renew and mail or fax it to the AADA Central Office.

After joining or renewing, you will be sent a welcome packet with helpful member information. 

The three membership categories are as follows:

Active Member – If you are the spouse of an active, life or retired ADA member, or the spouse of a deceased ADA member, you qualify for this membership.  The cost of this membership is only $50 annually.  If there is an active local and state alliance where you reside there will be additional nominal dues.

Student Spouse Member - If your spouse is a dental student and a member of the American Student Dental Association, you qualify for this membership.  The annual cost of this membership is only $5 and your membership year will run September 1 through August 31.

Contributing Member – Supporters of the Alliance can show their support of the AADA by paying a membership fee of $50 annually.  Examples of members that qualify for this category of membership are spouses of Alliance members (i.e. the dentist) adult children working in the dental practice, dental staff members, and professional colleagues in the dental industry.  Currently this membership is only available at the national level.

As a member of the Alliance you will receive:

• The KEY, our quarterly award-winning newsletter.  In it you will find news, meeting updates, and helpful articles..
• Assistance from your district trustee.
• Access to resources for dental health education, legislative advocacy, membership, and well being.
• The opportunity to mentor and to be mentored by others like you.
• Experience as a dental ambassador and advocate.

The Reason to Smile and The Dental Community Belongs Here!

Our Alliance of the ADA logo, "The Reason to Smile", inspired me to recall my experience with the Alliance. I would like to share it with you.

About 22 years ago, my husband John and I, fresh out of dental school, moved to Knoxville, TN. John had some family ties in this area, but I did not know anyone. He joined the Tennessee Dental Association and, in that process, signed me up for the Alliance, which is a part of the membership dues in our state. I received a call from Gwen Luck, a perfect stranger, with an invitation to come to a meeting . . . I have been actively involved since that time!

The friendships and support we give one another as dentist spouses is priceless! Dental health education and legislative advocacy are important, wonderful and very meaningful activities that we, as an organization, support actively. But, the health and well being of our dental families are the most amazing benefits of membership, not just at a local level, but state and national, too.

As a team, John and I travel together to state and national meetings. We go to Nashville and Washington, D.C. each year to meet with our Representatives and voice our dental concerns. While he has his meetings, I attend the Alliance functions and feel that I am making a meaningful contribution to dentistry.

AADA members come from many different backgrounds with a wide array of careers, hobbies and personalities; yet, we all share a common bond. The Alliance of the ADA is "where the dental family belongs".

Please take advantage of the  many ideas and resources we have to offer; find YOUR niche and shine! Know that you have people ready to support and encourage you along YOUR journey in the dental family.

I would love to hear from you.

Laurie Osborn, AADA Council on Membership Chair

LaurieO@AllianceADA.org

TESTIMONIALS:  What Being an Alliance Member Means to Me

Barbara Cosgrove, as a  member of the Alliance of the Indiana Dental Association Board of Directors, prepared a unique report for a board meeting — a 'testimonial' report.

This is not your regular report, but I want to take this chance to let you know how much being a member of the Alliance has meant to me. Forty years ago I joined the Alliance to the First District Dental Society component in Indiana.

At first, I had a tough time feeling a part of the group until . . . Lillie Damm suggested I give some tooth brushing instructions to some local schools. Well, that did it! Lillie and I became the dental health education chairmen and did that for 25 years. I am still giving our program to a few schools each year. In addition, I have been trhough the offices and served on committees for my component.

One day I received a call from a state officer asking if I would serve as chairman for a committee on the state level. I accepted and served that year.

Then, In 1987, I was asked to run for president-elect of the state. I was working full time in a dental office but decided to go for it! The next year I was president. Since then, I have served on the state board all but one year.

What I want to tell you is the Alliance has been such a joy to me in so many ways. I have worked with my husband in promoting good dental health throughout my community. It helped my self esteem by going to national leadership conferences and national and state annual sessions. I have met wonderful ladies not only in Indiana but throughout the U. S. at these meetings. Made close friends that I will cherish all of my life.

The Alliance has given me so much more than I have given. I want to let you know that you grow with each office or chairmanship you accept. If you are asked to be an officer or committee chairman, please consider how much you will receive by giving your time. We are partners with our spouses and can be an asset to their practices by working with the Alliance.

Thank you for being my friends and making the Alliance a large part of my life.

Barbara Cosgrove

Indiana

May 2011