Phillip Dowell Director of College Developement MEMBERSHIP STRATEGIC THINKING Session led by Membership Chair Jackie Robinson during the Council meeting in New York, November 2018. Banner Year for College THE COUNCIL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF DENTISTS The ICD Global Visionary Fund (GVF or Fund) is a tax- advantaged (USA IRS 501c3) charitable fund created by the Council for the purpose of collecting and distributing monies in support of initiatives in dental education and hu- manitarian oral health care. The Fund allows the Council to respond to requests from ICD Fellows and other vol- unteers for financial assistance with their charitable works around the world, especially those of the ICD Regions and underdeveloped areas. The GVF continues to seek oppor- tunities to support international oral care and education. In 2018, the GVF - Henry Schein Cares grant program was renewed for another three-year period, 2018–2021, with an additional pledged gift of $100,000 in dental supplies from Henry Schein. Last year, the program do- nated over $38,000 in dental and medical sup- plies to many missions including in Zambia, Uganda, Haiti, the Philippines, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The ICD Misch Legacy Endowment (MLE) is a campaign to advance oral health care and education worldwide, in recognition of the lifetime achievements of late Fellow Dr. Carl E. Misch. Through the GVF, the MLE supports dental education by providing speakers and programs geared towards Dental Safety, Antibiotic Awareness, and other oral health care topics. In 2018, the MLE supported an Oral Medicine Seminar in Guatemala, an Antibiotic Awareness program in Rhode Island, multiple Dental Safety and Antibiotic Re- sistance sessions in India, and the production of an edu- cational video on the important global issue of Antibiotic Resistance and Awareness. The GVF is the worldwide, philanthropic arm of the Col- lege. The Fund presents Fellows with the opportunity to contribute by giving tax-deductible donations, creating en- dowments or arranging estate plan giving. 10 College Membership Matters The future of the College depends on membership recruit- ment and retention. Emphasis on membership growth over the past few years arose from marginal member- ship growth overall and declining membership numbers. When the focus is on increasing the numbers of Fellows, some Sections believe that all deserving dentists should be invited to “share the honor”. Other Sections believe that growth in numbers dilutes the honor of the senior or older Fellows. There must be a balance between increas- ing membership and maintaining the membership value. There is broad consensus within the Council that the pres- tige of ICD fellowship will not be sacrificed for membership growth. Barriers to membership growth and best practices to re- cruit new Fellows have been discussed in depth by the EC and Council over the past few years. It is evident each Section and Region have unique circumstances related to membership. The membership issues involved are philo- sophical, cultural, political, financial and sometimes per- sonal factors. The 2018 Membership Committee, chaired by Councilor Jackie Robinson of Australia, delivered an extensive Report to the Council in New York City. The committee believes strategies must be individualized for each Section or Region. The report and its recommenda- tions set the course for College membership planning and initiatives in the years to come.