Mission & Bylaws

Section 1. - Classification. Members of this Society shall be classified as:

A. Active Members
B. Life Members
C. Retired Members
D. Student Members
E. Associate Members
F. Affiliate Members and
G. Honorary Members

Section 2. - Qualifications

A. Active Members. Any person legally authorized to practice dentistry in the State of Nebraska, and within the jurisdiction of this Society, may make application for active membership. Candidates for membership shall make application on the Nebraska Dental Association form. All applications shall be acted upon by the Board of Directors. These applications, being affirmed, shall be referred to the next General Membership Meeting. Election shall be by ballot. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members in attendance shall elect the candidate to membership. Membership may not be withheld for reasons of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, or handicapped status.

B. Life Members. Any member of Omaha District Dental Society who becomes a Life Member of either the American Dental Association or the Nebraska Dental Association can, upon approval of the Board of Directors, become a Life Member of the Society. Life Members can receive the certificate of Life membership at the regular meeting of the Society following approval by the Board of Directors.

C. Retired Members. Any member who has been a member of this Society for at least ten years, and who has discontinued the practice of Dentistry, as defined by the American Dental Association, may make application to the Board of Directors for Retired Membership. Retired members who re-enter the practice of dentistry shall thereupon cease to be classified as retired members.

D. Student Members. Student members of the American Dental Association may be classified as Student Members of the Omaha District Dental Society while within the jurisdiction of the Society.

E. Associate Members. Any dentist licensed to practice dentistry in another State, but not licensed to practice in Nebraska, who is a member in good standing of the American Dental Association and who is employed as a member of the faculty of a dental or medical school in Nebraska, or is employed as a dentist in any service operated by the State or a Federal Agency in this State, may become and Associate Member of this Society. Application for Associate membership shall be n the same form and subject to the same procedures as that for Active Members.

F. Affiliate Members. Any dentist residing outside of the jurisdiction of this Society, who is a member in good standing of the American Dental Association, may become an Affiliate Member of this Society. Affiliate members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office. Affiliate membership in the Omaha District Dental Society does not confer any privileges as to the Nebraska Dental Association.

G. Honorary Members. Any person who has made valuable contribution to the science and art of dentistry may be elected Honorary membership of this Society. Honorary members are not entitled to hold office or to vote.

Section 3. - Reinstatement. Application for reinstatement of a former Active Member, who has been dropped for non-payment of dues, shall be accompanied by fifteen dollars ($15) in addition to the annual dues.

Section 4. - Transfer of Membership. When an Active Member in good standing of some other Component of the Nebraska Dental Association moves into the jurisdiction of this Society and presents satisfactory evidence of membership, he/she shall, without vote of the Society, be entered as a member for the current year. He/She shall, prior to the January meeting, make application as a new member and be considered and voted on in the same manner as a new member.

Section 5. - Privileges. All members shall be entitled to attend the meetings of this Society, but only Active, Live, and Retired members shall be entitled to vote and hold office.

Section 6. - Dues

A. Active Members. The annual dues of an Active Member shall be established by the Board of Directors at its first business meeting after July 1st.

B. Life Members. Life Members shall be exempt from payment of dues to the Society. Subscription fee for The Chronicle and meeting costs may be specified by the Board of Directors.

C. Retired Members. Retired Members shall be exempt from payment of dues to the Society. Subscription fee for The Chronicle and meeting costs may be specified by the Board of Directors.

D. Student Members. Students Members shall be exempt from payment of dues through the calendar year of graduation. Subscription fee for The Chronicle and meeting costs may be specified by the Board of Directors.

E. Associate Members. The annual dues of an Associate Member shall be the same as for an Active Member.

F. Affiliate Members. An Affiliate Member may pay an annual dues the same as for an Active Member, or pay the subscription fee for The Chronicle and meeting costs as specified by the Board of Directors.

G. Honorary Members. Honorary Members shall be exempt from payment of dues to the Society. Subscription fee for The Chronicle and meeting costs may be specified by the Board of Directors.

H. The annual dues are due and payable January 1st of each year. Members who fail to pay these dues by January 15th shall automatically be suspended. Suspended members shall be requited to pay a fee of fifteen dollars ($15) in addition to the annual dues before reinstated. Suspended members shall not be entitled to any privileges of the Society.

I. Exempt dues for members who suffer financial hardship. Those Active Members who suffered hardship due to catastrophic or medical illness as certified by the Board of Directors shall be excluded from the payments of the year's membership dues. The Society shall notify the Nebraska Dental Association of this action.