Noteworthy 9th little more then the cost of this luncheon. It’s the cheapest way to do something meaningful. 3. This is the tough ask…Get one dentist, someone who is not already a member of organized dentistry to join. They will have very compelling arguments as to why they can’t or will question what’s the benefit to them, since the work that the ADA, NYSDA and the NINTH does for dentistry tends to flow downhill to them anyway. When I was on the Board of Trustees, I had been working with others to provide members with benefits that nonmembers can’t get under any circumstances. Our goal is to provide a member with benefits which have enough of a cost savings, that it would totally offset the cost of membership. I am depending on our new Trustee, Dr. Christopher Tota, to continue to fuel the fire of these ideas… while also brainstorming with other progressive leaders on NYSDA’s Strategic Planning Committee, to come up with even more ways to make your professional lives better. I haven’t even touched on other areas to explore such as why does dental education cost so much? Why shouldn’t there be a legislative task force to study if the public’s dental health needs are being compromised because the high cost of tuition in our dental schools. Student debt is off the charts! Congrats to NYU for identifying this in medicine and for making their medical school tuition free!! I wonder, if anyone will be asking for similar consideration for the dental students? It’s been a long luncheon and you have been more then gracious in allowing me to speak to you. In closing, I again want to urge all of you to spread the word by being advocates for our profession. And I want to thank all of you one last time for your kind attention and for the honor of receiving the D. Austin Sniffen Medal of Honor Award. THANK YOU ALL!!  About the author: Dr. Anthony Cuomo is a Ninth Past President and maintains a private practice limited to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Carmel, NY. INTERESTED IN PRESENTING A WEBINAR! Have a topic your colleagues may be interested in? Have a course you would like to Present from Your Home or Office? Send in your CV, list of lectures, and any other relevant information. Here is your chance! Contact Stephan at HeadquartersPhone: (914) 747-1199 or email: stephan@ninthdistrict.org. NOVEMBER, 201819