Bringing the new ADAA to you ... as you requested: annual billing.

There's a whole new system of billing coming to ADAA this year and it will help us to update our files and bring our billing in line with our annual budget.

As you know, the Association for many years has been on an anniversary billing system where you receive a dues bill once a year on the anniversary of your first joining us. This has been a difficult situation in reconciling annual revenue with our annual budget that is constructed on a calendar year basis.

We have bowed to the urgings of our auditors to realign the billing so that it matches the budget and we are happy to do so while trying to create as little inconvenience as possible for our members.

As an existing member, you will be mostly concerned with how this is going to affect your dues bill ... and remember, this isn't going to cost you one penny more than you would otherwise pay. And please note when reading the details about your forthcoming renewal bills here we are using the word "dues" to mean the usual combined national and state dues.

Those who already hold the membership expiration date of 12/31/07 will have no difficulty with the new system since they are--de facto--already a part of calendar year billing.

February and March Expires

Those with February 28 and March 31 expirations who paid their renewal dues early may have received a card with the new 12/31/07 expire date and felt they were being shorted a month or two, but by now they should have received a reassuring letter explaining that their 2008 dues bill would be adjusted and lowered to reflect these months they have already paid and to bring their new expire date--next year--to 12/31/08.

April, May, June, July, August Expires

Renewal dues bills are being issued each month and will reflect a reduced amount of renewal dues necessary to bring your membership up to 12/31/07. Then, for next year towards the end of 2007, you will be billed for the full calendar year of 2008. Then you can pay your dues, as always, in one or two installments by check or credit card or with our convenient checking account debit system.

September Expires

September 30 expirations will be asked to pay 25% of their annual dues to bring their membership to a 12/31/07 expire. Dues are renewed for the period ending 12/31/07 or an additional year's dues may be paid at that time bringing the new expire date to 12/31/08. Dual invoices will be issued and you may choose the one you prefer. Dues may, as always, be paid in one or two installments by check or credit card or with our convenient checking account debit system.

October and November Expires

Because these expirations fall so close to the end of the year (October 31 and November 30) memberships expiring then will be asked to renew for the 13 or 14 months respectively that will bring them up to 12/31/08 expiration. Dues may, as always, be paid in one or two installments by check or credit card or with our convenient checking account debit system.

Again, please remember that the term "dues" refers to the combined state and national dues bill you are accustomed to receiving.

Although this seems a bit complicated at first, it's only during the break-in period that challenges will occur. After we smooth out any wrinkles, the ongoing process will be so much simpler beginning with renewals in 2008.

What about new memberships?

So many of you assist us in recruiting new members that we knew you'd want to know how recruitment and new member dues works under the new plan. It's fairly straight-forward.

* Applicants in January, February and March will pay the full year's dues and full state dues.

* Applicants in April, May and June will pay 75% of the full year.

* Applicants in July, August and September will pay 50% of the year's dues.

* Applicants in the last quarter will pay a full year's dues that will carry them through until December 31 of the following year. (There's a real recruitment bonus.)

Promotional discounts approved for use at shows and special meetings will be $25 in the first and final quarters of the year, and during the second and third quarters will be $15.

Students Too!

Student dues remain at $25 per year and are as follows: Students recruited in the first quarter of the year will pay $25 and receive membership until the end of the year. Those recruited in April or later will have membership expiring on December 31 of the year following the one in which they have joined. If they complete their education and wish to become active in their state or local and hold office or vote, they can convert their membership to Active Student anytime during their term of membership.

As with renewals, new dues (other than student dues) may be paid in one or two installments by check or credit card or with our convenient checking account debit system. And again, please remember that the term "dues" refers to the combined state and national dues bill you are accustomed to receiving.

Of course, the 2008 new member application will reflect these changes.

If you have questions concerning your dues bill or membership card under the new system, call 312-541-1550 or email [e-mail].

By Debra L. Von Alman, CDA, RDA 

Immediate Past National President, ADAA

Debra Von Alman, CDA, RDA, Richfield, Minnesota, has long been active with the American Dental Assistants Association on the local, state and national level. She is immediate past national president of ADAA and currently serves as Finance Chair. Ms. Von Alman has held several offices in the local, state and national ADAA organizations, having been President of the Minnesota Dental Assistants Association. Until 2003, she was ADAA Seventh District Trustee. She is a graduate of Hibbing Technical College Dental Assisting Program.