WFO Council increases dues, changes Bylaws, elects new Executive Committee, plans for the organization's future

During the first meeting of the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) Council, held Sunday, April 30, the councilors in attendance unanimously agreed to accept all the proposed changes to the WFO Bylaws and to increase the annual WFO individual membership dues from $20 to $35 (U.S.). Fellows must pay for a three-year or a five-year period.

In other business, 10 new members were elected to the WFO Executive Committee. The councilors also recognized the retiring members of the Executive Committee. In addition, outgoing WFO Secretary-General Ronald Moen outlined selection procedures for the 7th International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) in 2010, and Dr. Olivier Mauchamp discussed preparations for the 6th IOC, to be held September 11-15, 2005, in Paris, France.

WFO Bylaws Revisions

The WFO Executive Committee started working on revisions to the WFO Bylaws three years ago and thoroughly reviewed the proposed changes before presenting them to the WFO Council. The primary goal of the changes, outgoing WFO President Dr. William DeKock said, is to reinforce the WFO's stated purpose to support fellows, who are all orthodontic specialists, in their endeavor to provide quality orthodontic care to their patients.

"It really boils down to the quality of care issues around the world," Dr. DeKock said.

With that goal in mind, the WFO Bylaws now further emphasize that the WFO is an organization for orthodontic specialists, and those who wish to be WFO fellows must ask the president of the WFO affiliated organization in their practice area to certify their standing as orthodontic specialists.

"We are an organization of orthodontic specialists," Dr. DeKock said. "… I will preach it and advocate it. It is our right and our duty to identify top professionals around the world."

Another WFO Bylaws change specifies that WFO fellows who move from one jurisdiction to another need to join the WFO affiliated organization in the new area to maintain their fellowship status. Individual fellows, who once lived in an area without a WFO affiliated organization, have up to three years to join a newly formed or recently affiliated organization in their jurisdiction to maintain WFO membership. WFO membership will also be terminated for any fellow who does not pay dues within six months of the renewal date.

In another WFO Bylaws revision, only national or regional organizations open to all orthodontic specialists within the appropriate jurisdiction are eligible for WFO affiliation. In addition, all councilors must be WFO fellows.

WFO Dues Increase

The dues increase, approved by the 82 councilors counted in attendance by the Credentials Committee, will be effective May 31, 2000. This dues increase will improve the financial condition of the WFO. Members will see the increase when their renewals are due. Members can pay for either a three-year period or five-year period. Fellows who pay for a five-year period will receive a $15 discount. WFO members who leave the WFO and later want to rejoin must pay past dues covering the period when their membership had lapsed before they will be reinstated.

"The WFO will remain - if it is to succeed - an organization with low dues structures to bring orthodontists together and assist the national organizations," Dr. DeKock said.

Dr. DeKock urged the councilors to help ensure that success by recruiting new members in their home countries.

"We are on a good start, but it is only a start," he said. "How it goes will be up to the people in this room."

The new WFO Bylaws will soon be posted on the WFO Web site.