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The Challenge of Membership Recruitment

Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, 5-13-23 Hirato, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan 244-0802; tkuroda{at}msg.biglobe.ne.jp

President Robertson, distinguished guests, dear colleagues and friends, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to speak to you as the President-elect of the IADR at these Opening Ceremonies.

I would like to share briefly with you some thoughts on the IADR strategies in the coming years.

Each year, the Board reviews and discusses the Strategic Plan of the IADR. Three years ago, then-President-elect Stephen Challacombe and Board Member Susan Reisine undertook a comprehensive review of the IADR Strategic Plan. They suggested the following strategic objectives, in accordance with the three missions of the IADR.

• Establish programs that promote oral health research and IADR activities.
  
• Expand our partnership with international dental associations, industries, and scientific and educational professional organizations.
  
• Examine and modify the IADR’s current structure and function, with the goal of enhancing membership recruitment.
  
• Provide appropriate venues for scientific exchange.
  
• Initiate science transfer programs.
  

The IADR Board has adopted many of these strategic recommendations in its structure and functions. For example:

Strategic Objective #1

We have completed the organization of five Federations and have established some new Divisions and Sections. As all of you know, our Regional Development Program can actively support the creation of a ‘scientific infrastructure’ in developing regions. It is very important that those receiving funds provide a detailed report on how those funds were spent.

Strategic Objective #2

Since the meeting in Sweden, we have initiated a joint symposium with the FDI Scientific Committee. This idea has led us to organize an ‘Evidence-based Dental Research Network’ under the Scientific Research Group umbrella.

Strategic Objective #3

It is certainly a great benefit for membership recruitment and participation that prospective members can join the IADR via the Internet. However, it is important to encourage researchers and students to attend the meeting. The role of Federation activity and Regional Board Members’ responsibilities for growing membership has recently been expanded. Through Federations, we can introduce IADR activities and explain the significant role of the IADR in enhancing dental care in the community. Each Federation might have its own issues, and the IADR stands ready to work with the Federations to find a solution.

When we look at the trends in membership growth for the past 20 years, we recognize that, in recent years, there has been little membership growth. As you know, membership dues and the meeting surplus support a large portion of IADR functions.

One of the ways to increase membership is through the active involvement of Scientific Groups to encourage faculty to join the IADR.

However, the issue to which I would like to call your attention is the recent change in research focus or research interests in the medical and dental fields. Interdisciplinary collaborative research with other scientific fields has become increasingly important. Basic research scientists would like to join other professional research associations, and young researchers and graduate students prefer to present their papers at meetings other than the IADR. These trends provide important background for why IADR membership numbers have remained stagnant. I am very much afraid that IADR will lose membership from basic scientific fields in the near future.

To reverse this trend, it might be possible to restructure the Scientific Group classification to encourage scientists from other professional disciplines to join our organization.

Also, a Task Force must be established to review issues relative to the Distinguished Scientist Awards: specifically, their current range, current numbers, numbers of nominees for awards, etc.

Strategic Objective #4

We have implemented online membership, manuscript submission, and abstracts submission systems as key member benefits. Also, we encourage regular meetings of the Federations as well as the Divisions and Sections. In these days, it is increasingly difficult to find appropriate venues for the IADR General Session. Economic crises, war, disease, and the fear of terrorism combine to reduce meeting attendance. It is thus very important to encourage meetings at the Federation level, so that some of these difficulties can be overcome.

Strategic Objective #5

One of the important missions of our organization is to transfer our scientific knowledge to the dental practice in each community. We need good Science Transfer Programs scheduled during our General Session to invite general practitioners. We increased collaborations with our International Dental Association, Institutional members, while continuing to monitor program content under the guidance of the IADR Annual Session Committee.

In closing, I look forward to receiving your understanding and support in the furtherance of our organization’s activities.

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