CHICAGO--The Academy of General Dentistry has announced that it broke several organizational records and met many of its annual meeting goals for the 2009 Annual Meeting and Exhibits held July 8-12 in Baltimore, Md.

Nearly 4,000 attendees registered for AGD2009Baltimore, sports legend and former Oriole shortstop "Iron Man" Cal Ripken Jr. served as the keynote speaker, more than 400 general dentist members attended a convocation ceremony to be awarded with the AGD's prestigious Fellowship and Mastership awards, and an exhibit hall featured nearly 220 booths.

"Each year we strive to provide our members with a memorable experience full of quality continuing education, networking opportunities and the latest advances in technology that they can take back to their practices," said David F. Halpern, DMD, FAGD. "We are proud of the success of this year's annual meeting and look forward to an even greater meeting in 2010."

According to a Meeting Professionals International annual membership survey, FutureWatch 2009, meeting planners and industry suppliers expected to see a 15 percent drop in attendance at association meetings in 2009.

The 2009 Mid-year Economic Impact on Associations, recently released by McKinley Marketing, stated that "many association executives report that the recession's biggest impact is around their ability to meet their annual meeting and professional development goals."

Both reports stated a drop in meeting attendance can be a concern for organizations since annual meetings usually supply the organization with major revenue.

"Although many organizations were affected by a decrease in annual meeting attendance, careful strategic planning and promotion of AGD2009Baltimore led to one of the AGD's most successful years," said Dr. Halpern, who indicated approximately 2,000 dentists, 1,300 dental team members, and 300 students attended the AGD's meeting.

Attendees also came to AGD2009Baltimore to participate in the AGD's hands-on participation courses, trade show, networking opportunities, and social events. The education program offered sessions covering a multitude of subjects including technology, cosmetic and pediatric dentistry.

In addition to the industry-relevant sessions, the AGD's trade show featured 190 companies that offered dentists a one-stop shopping experience, with exhibitors offering attendees a peek at practice management tools and dental care equipment.

AGD2010NewOrleans
The AGD will host its next annual meeting exhibits, July 8 -11, 2010, in New Orleans. AGD2010New Orleans will offer dentists an opportunity to network with colleagues, attend courses, and experience an exhibit hall featuring the latest oral health research and the newest products. For more information about AGD2010New Orleans, contact Academy of General Dentistry.

For more information about the AGD, visit Academy of General Dentistry.

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