Your New PDA The Why and How of Our Streamlined Governance Structure
As previously mentioned , this new governance structure will eliminate districts as both a governing entity and a dues billing / collecting entity . However , the Trustee Districts , which will now be designated as Trustee Regions , will function similarly to the way the ADA Trustee Districts now function . An ADA multi-state Trustee District is a confederation of states ; similarly , our PDA Trustee Regions will be a confederation of tripartite locals . ( ADA Trustee Districts = PDA Trustee Regions ; States = Tripartite Locals )
Ward Blackwell , our PDA Executive Director , has a wealth of experience in how a multi-state district operates . The following points enumerate how a PDA Trustee Region might function :
There is no formal governance structure , i . e ., there are no bylaws ; the trustee region does not exist as a legal entity that has filed articles with any state , drafted bylaws , etc . There may be written procedures , but they are not binding in the legal sense .
Meetings of a trustee region may be held in person or electronically . The planning of those region meetings in a given year is handled by the president ( or their designee ) of each of the tripartite local societies within the trustee region , with the responsibility rotating among the different tripartite local societies in the trustee region based on an agreed upon schedule . When it is time for that responsibility to be assumed by another tripartite local society , the tripartite local society “ handing off ” that duty will share any relevant info ( e . g ., templates for memos , venue contracts , hotel contracts , etc .) that will be helpful in planning the next year ’ s meetings . Meeting planning should be done in consultation with the trustee from that region .
Each tripartite local society in a trustee region will pay a per capita share of the costs ( e . g ., food , room rental , A / V ) for the meetings of their region meeting based on the number of people attending from each tripartite local society . This money will be paid to the tripartite local that is planning the meetings , and that tripartite local will pay the vendor ( s ). Any residual funds are typically passed on to the next society that is assuming planning responsibility .
Funds collected to cover meeting expenses are accounted for separately by the tripartite local society collecting them but are generally not placed in a separate bank account .
Moreover , districts may decide to pursue dissolution or continue as an independent entity , providing continuing education to its members , as an example . Continuation as an independent entity could potentially allow a district to continue as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501 ( c )( 6 ), maintain their current financial accounts , and make necessary changes to the bylaws to reflect the change in status .
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12 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL