have a core group of individuals making the choices of the association as needed without a yearly meeting to approve large changes . This would in effect make PDA more nimble and enable leadership to react as needed . In this fast paced new world of information at the speed of light , the change made sense .
But , change is never easy , and there was much discussion regarding the pros and cons of such a change . The goal of the leadership after the 2013 House of Delegates meeting was to take all of the broad changes and ideas and make them specific and palatable for everyone . For another year a committee ( Governance Task Force ) met regularly to examine ideas and write the new rules to govern PDA .
At this year ’ s House meeting , we finally agreed on those changes and we are now prepared to move forward .
What does this mean to you as a member ?
Well , you now have the opportunity to be more involved than ever . Probably the biggest change to our organizational structure is that we will no longer have a House of Delegates . Instead we will have a Board of Trustees comprised of a trustee from each of our 10 districts . That has not changed . We will replace the House with a Council of Presidents consisting of each district president , with the presidentelect and each local president serving as ex-officio members . These two groups
will form our new PDA leadership . They will meet regularly and communicate electronically to handle the business of PDA . That includes , but is not limited to , how and where to spend our money , what issues of advocacy are timely and important , what programs need to be implemented , changed or stopped , and how to help our membership thrive . These groups will be seeking input from the membership . You will be able to make your voice heard .
We also agreed that we are a collegial group , and as such we will continue to have an annual session . During this next year we will explore how that will occur . It ’ s important to note that it will now be inclusive to all members and not just the past House of Delegate members . It might include a day of continuing education or a vendor showcase . We don ’ t have the exact format figured out yet . Stay tuned to the Journal , eNews Update , the website and Dr . Steve Radack ’ s President ’ s Blog on the PDA Social Network for news on the April 2015 annual meeting as it develops .
Our PDA , your PDA , is moving forward . Before the House concluded its 2014 business , delegates approved several resolutions relevant to you , the member dentist . Besides all of this work to reorganize , we also recognized that we need to help our newer members with a policy to help advocate for solutions to the burdensome debt of recent graduates .
We also agreed to create a new committee that will help explore issues with thirdparty carriers . The House agreed to make policy to fight for the dental team to continue to be supervised by a dentist even if we see new mid-level providers .
We can now focus on what ’ s really important : our members and future members . We want to make our association the very best . We want non members to beg to become members . We want Pennsylvanians to expect their dentists to be PDA members . We want legislators to come to us for advice and listen when we want change . We are going to do all this and more , but we are also going to need your help . Please spread the word that there is a new PDA . Tell your non member friends that there is strength in numbers . If our practices are going to survive this new world of health care and financial uncertainty we need one voice .
That voice is your PDA . — BRT
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