The times they are a-changing .
The times they are a-changing .
This familiar refrain from Bob Dylan ’ s 1964 hit song could be the theme for PDA ’ s soon-to-be streamlined governance structure , which will be undergoing a significant change in 2025 .
As many of you know , the wheels are already in motion .
In 2023 , the American Dental Association announced that they would be transitioning to a new software platform , SalesForce / Fonteva , which could support a quadripartite ( four level ) structure such as PDA only if there were substantial modifications to the software . And those potential modifications would come with a significant cost . Our then PDA President Dr . Richard Grossman appointed a Governance Task Force ( GTF ) to review the proposal and make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees as to whether PDA should task ADA with modifying the software , or instead , change our governance structure .
After reviewing the risks and benefits of each option , the GTF recommended that PDA transition to a tripartite structure that will allow us to be compatible with ADA ’ s new software platform .
The new platform has a number of features designed to enhance member value , will be a substantial upgrade to our current technology and should result in PDA spending fewer dues dollars on IT since ADA is covering the cost .
Except for Florida and one area of Illinois , Pennsylvania is the only state with a quadripartite structure . Currently , PDA is the only state dental association that bills for membership at all four levels . It is also well known that our members identify with and are most likely to engage with their locals , and not their districts . For all of these reasons , the Board of Trustees and Council of Districts voted unanimously to reimagine our governance and transition to a tripartite model with the elimination of Trustee Districts as both a governing entity and a dues-collecting entity ( in relation to PDA , at least ). Current active locals will become the third level of governance . In the future , PDA ’ s governance structure will mirror that of the rest of the country , with the three levels – the ADA , PDA and the locals , which will be known as Tripartite Locals .
This is obviously a seismic change for the organization . In order to plan for the transition , including recommendations for changes to the Bylaws and the development of talking points and a toolkit to help the districts and locals navigate the necessary changes , current PDA President Dr . Cary Limberakis reappointed the task force in 2024 .
This phase of the task force ’ s work was guided by the following guiding principles :
No changes would be dictated to the existing active local societies . Active local societies , as defined in the bylaws elect officers , have a Constitution and Bylaws , provide for its finances , hold member meetings at least annually , communicate with members and the PDA , and may discipline members .
Inactive societies , defined as those societies which fail to uphold two or more of the duties of an active society , may be required to combine with other societies OR take steps to become active again .
All locals may opt to merge / re-align with other locals within their current district . This includes the option for all locals within a current district to merge together so that a current district essentially becomes a local going forward .
No member in any local would lose representation in PDA governance .
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 11