FAQ

Can I become a member of the CDS without joining the ADA?

When joining the Chicago Dental Society, a dentist also becomes a member of the American Dental Association and the Illinois State Dental Society. However, instead of paying three separate dues invoices, members pay once annually to belong to all component (local), constituent (state) and national levels.

International associate members are not required to join the ADA but should be a member of the primary dental organization in their country.

How is CDS organized?

There are approximately 4,100 Chicago Dental Society members in the Chicago metropolitan area. Because this large number of members is located over a wide geographical area (Cook, DuPage and Lake counties), the organization is divided into nine branches. Branch membership ranges from 150 to 900 members making some of the branches larger than some state dental societies! How do I know to which branch I belong? Members are usually assigned to the branch in which their practices are located, or may ask to join a branch in which their homes are located. For information about which Branch you should join, contact the Membership Services Department, 312.836.7300 or (click to email). To read about the branch boundaries, click here.

What is the difference between a Regular member and an Associate member?

A regular member lives in Lake, Cook, or DuPage county in Illinois and has full voting powers. Associate members are dentists who live outside of the tri-county boundaries of the CDS, including dentists who reside in countries other than the United States. Although they cannot vote in CDS elections, they are entitled to many member benefits including free admittance to the Midwinter Meeting.

Who governs the CDS?

CDS is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of five officers and nine branch directors. The directors are elected by the individual branches and serve for a term of three years. There are five CDS officers: president, president-elect, secretary, vice president and treasurer. Officers serve a 12-month term, starting in January and ending in December.

How are officers nominated and elected?

Leadership is shared among three political parties: the Members Group, the Independent Organization and the Progressive Club. The parties form the Coalition. Leadership within the Society rotates among the three parties.

Each year, one of the Society's political parties has the right to nominate one of their members for the office of treasurer. The nominee's name is then proposed to the remaining two parties for their acceptance or rejection. This system ensures that all three parties are represented within CDS's officer core. For example, if the president and vice president belong to the Members Group, the president-elect and the treasurer will be members of the Independent Organization, and the secretary a member of the Progressive Club.

A CDS member is not required to be a member of any political organization to hold branch office. Although a CDS officer must be nominated by one of the three political parties, the person nominated may not necessarily be a member of that party.

The coalition is a unique system provides an opportunity for more members to become actively involved in organized dentistry at the local level.

How often does CDS raise its dues?

CDS has not raised its dues since 1988. CDS even lowed its dues in 1995 and again in 2005.

What is the dues structure?

When you receive your statement, the individual amount for the national, constituent and component organizations are shown on separate lines. You will also note that the statement includes special assessments mandated by the organizations, voluntary contributions to state and national political action groups or charities (such as the Governor's Club, Dent-IL-PAC and the Clopper Foundation and to the Relief and Emergency disaster fund). The cost of association and Society monthly publications is included in the membership dues. Members may not exclude the cost of publications from the mandatory dues rate. Individual publication costs are listed on the invoices. The subscription cost of the CDS Review is $17; student dues are not applied towards the CDS Review.

How is the CDS headquarters office staffed?

In size and scope, CDS more closely resembles a constituent (state) dental organization. Although the Officers and Board of Directors remain ultimately responsible for CDS, the daily business of the organization is managed by a professional staff. The staff is headed by an executive director, who is hired by and directly responsible to the officers and Board of Directors.

The executive director is responsible for hiring a staff to oversee the CDS's various activities. Currently, CDS has 19 budgeted positions.