Please verify that you can attend ASDA's meetings during your term of your appointment. You can check ASDA’s meeting schedule by clicking here.

Deadlines

Applications for Speaker & EC must be received in the Cental Office by midnight Central Time on January 15, 2010. 

Applications for Trustee positions are due at the March 2010 Annual Session at least 24 hours prior to the District election caucus

Applications for Member-at-Large positions are due at Annual Session on Saturday, March 20 by 7:30 p.m.

Applications for all other leadership positions were reviewed by the Board of Trustees at their November 14, 2009 meeting. Appointments for the 2010-2011 year have been made.

Please forward all application materials to Nancy@asdanet.org or fax to 312-440-2820.

Those volunteers who serve the association as national leaders are members of the following groups:  Board of Trustees, Editorial Board and councils; Speaker of the House of Delegates, council chairs, externs, Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN), ADPAC representative, regional legislative coordinators, delegates and alternate delegates to the American Dental Association House of Delegates, appointed representatives to other organizations and any members of a national task force or ad hoc committee established by the Board of Trustees or House of Delegates.

The following position descriptions explain the necessary qualifications for election or appointment to one of these leadership positions and the general rules for performance of required duties and responsibilities. Specific operating guidelines for the Board of Trustees can be found in the Operating Policies and Procedures of the Board of Trustees.

Applying for Leadership Positions 
At the minimum, all positions require (1) a letter of intent, which must include why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses which would make him or her successful in the position; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing. For specific requirements view the individual listing.

ASDA Delegates 
ASDA's House of Delegates grants voting privileges to two delegates from each dental school. Their collective responsibilities as members of the House of Delegates include representing their constituents, determining association policy and electing various officers.

Together, the first and second delegates are responsible for the representation and overall management of their local ASDA chapters. Delegates are responsible for recruiting and retaining members; establishing and maintaining functional chapter structures; developing and managing the local leadership teams; participating in local and state dental society activities; planning chapter activities; and leading advocacy efforts on behalf of the collective and individual concerns of chapter members.

The office of ASDA delegate is an elected position. Preferably, one of the two delegates at each chapter should have served as a delegate or alternate at the previous year's Annual Session. Each delegate serves a two-year term. The second delegate serves as the chapter's Legislative Grassroots Network liaison. Elections are held at the discretion of each chapter, usually in early spring. Names of the delegates are due to the ASDA central office as soon as they are elected.

Other Local Leadership Opportunities 
Many ASDA chapters have additional opportunities for members to become more involved. For more information on the positions available at your local chapter, contact the ASDA delegates at your school.

ASDA Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees consists of: eleven district trustees with full voting privileges; the president of the association, who serves as chair of the Board of Trustees and who may exercise voting privileges only when his/her vote will affect the outcome of the vote; two vice presidents who serve as members of the board with full voting privileges; and the immediate past president, the editor-in-chief, the speaker of the House of Delegates and the executive director. The latter four officers are ex-officio board members, and do not have voting privileges.

Between meetings of the House of Delegates, the responsibility for administering all association programs and activities is vested in the Board of Trustees. The duties of the board include managing all association activities and enacting interim policy between meetings of the House of Delegates. Board members serve a one-year term, which begins immediately after ASDA's Annual Session each spring.

District Trustees
Each district elects its own trustee from members of the chapters in the district.

Each candidate for district trustee positions must submit: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing.

Position Description 

Executive Committee 
The Executive Committee consists of the president, two vice presidents and the executive director.

All candidates for Executive Committe must hold a current active membership with ASDA. Each candidate must submit: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing. Executive Committee candidates must also submit a formal platform in electronic format. The platforms will be featured in the February issue of ASDA News, on ASDA's website, and in the Annual Session delegate handbooks. Due to space constraints, platforms printed in ASDA News cannot exceed 500 words. If a candidate's platform exceeds 500 words, a condensed version meeting the 500-word limit must be sent as well. Full-length platforms will be posted on the website and included in delegate handbooks.

President Position Description
Vice Presidents Position Description

Immediate Past President Position Description  

Speaker of the House of Delegates
The speaker of the House of Delegates presides during all House of Delegates meetings; instructs delegates about the rules and procedures of the House; informs delegates and members of the association about the actions taken by the House; determines the order of business for each House of Delegates meeting; reviews and makes recommendations for revisions to the House of Delegates Procedures and Information; and attends ASDA's regional meetings to conduct mock House of Delegates sessions and guide delegates in the correct way to prepare resolutions.

All candidates for Speaker of the House must hold a current active membership with ASDA. Each candidate must submit: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing.

Position Description 

ASDA Editorial Board
The ASDA Editorial Board is comprised of the editor-in-chief; four contributing editors; and the Director of Communications and Operations and the Assistant Editor, who are ASDA employees. The Editorial Board is an advisory body with the following functions: (1) to set policy for ASDA's publications and website; (2) to identify potential contributors and assist the staff in contacting them; and (3) to write articles and offer suggestions for content and design.

All Editorial Board members work together by consensus to provide editorial direction by identifying editorial content and, when appropriate, themes for various issues. They develop guidelines for content, authors, editorials, letters to the editor, other opinion pieces and the website. The Editorial Board is also responsible for formulating recommendations regarding aspects of the publications and website that are beyond its scope of authority for consideration by the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees appoints the editor-in-chief, who in turn appoints the contributing editors. Editorial Board members are required to attend ASDA's Annual Session and two editorial meetings held at the Spring and Fall Leadership Conferences. Editorial Board members serve a one-year term.

Each Editorial Board applicant must submit: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position, and a list of five article topics suitable for use in one of the association's publications. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing.

Editor-in-Chief
The editor-in-chief is responsible for exercising editorial discretion of the content of association publications and the website. He or she appoints the contributing editors; maintains regular contact with each Editorial Board member; writes or delegates the writing of editorials, articles and other materials; and serves as chairman of the Editorial Board and as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees. The editor-in-chief is responsible for achieving consensus among Editorial Board members concerning desired courses of action and presenting the Editorial Board's recommendations to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Position Description 

ASDA Council Chairs
Each year the Board of Trustees appoints individuals to chair ASDA’s councils. Council Chairs serve as chairs of their specific council, supervising and directing the activities of the council and facilitating council meetings. They also may serve as advisors to the Board of Trustees, and as representatives to professional and governmental agencies. Council Chairs assist the association in identifying programs and developing policies to meet the needs and interests of dental students and the profession. They monitor issues and submit articles for publication by the association.

All council chairs receive an orientation to their positions at the ASDA Spring Leadership Conference. At the end of their term, council chairs attend ASDA's Annual Session and report to the House of Delegates on their activities. Council chairs may serve as ASDA's liaisons to various ADA councils and commissions. Chairs are appointed to the following councils: Legislative Grassroots Network; Education; Licensure, Membership, Professional Issues and Communications.

All council chair appointments are one-year terms with the term of office beginning immediately after ASDA's Annual Session in spring.

Each candidate for council chair positions must submit the following: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing.

Chair, Council on Education 
The Chair of the Council on Education serves the association by providing leadership in the areas of dental education and research. This individual supervises and directs the activities of the Council on Education.
The Council Chair also monitors the administration, construction and scoring of the National Board Dental Examinations, Part I and Part II. The Chair of the Council on Education may be appointed to serve as a liaison to outside groups such as the American Dental Education Association or an ADA council, as well as serve as a resource for issues relating to student participation in dental research.

The Chair of the Council on Education is expected to facilitate the completion of any project or House of Delegates resolution assigned to the council by the Board of Trustees, as well as complete projects assigned directly to him/her. The Council Chair also submits a final report that should describe the activities and accomplishments of the term.

Position Description 

Member-at-Large
The Council Member at Large serves the association by performing whatever duties are required of them as members of a Council or Task Force. Specific duties will be defined by the Council or Task Force Chair.  In addition, the Council Member at Large will have full rights of participation and voting on any Council or Task Force to which they are appointed. 

Active predoctoral members of the Association may be appointed to serve as members of the Association’s Councils or Task Forces without holding a position that makes them an ex officio member.  Council Members-at-Large will be appointed by the newly elected Executive Committee immediately following Annual Session.

Position Description

ASDA Externships
The ASDA externship program is designed to give interested and motivated dental students a unique opportunity to experience the workings of organized dentistry in a variety of areas, including national and state health policy legislation, research, membership, tripartite and general administration. Externships are offered to predoctoral dental students who are committed to becoming leaders in organized dentistry both before and after graduation.

Externs receive a stipend, transportation to and from Chicago or Washington, D.C., and student housing.

Externs submit a program evaluation and final report that should describe the activities and accomplishments of the externship, as well as suggest goals and priorities for future externs. They also must submit a written report about their accomplishments during the externship.

Each extern must submit the following: (1) a letter of intent, including why the candidate is interested in the position, what the candidate hopes to accomplish in the position, and what qualities and/or experiences the candidate possesses that would make him or her successful in the position. The letter should also list two to three issues important to dental students and/or the desired position and contain a paragraph discussing one of these issues; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) a letter from the dean indicating good academic standing and verifying that the applicant can commit to the dates selected for the externship.

Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations (CAPIR) Externship 
One CAPIR Extern is selected to work with the ADA's Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations.  Externs will participate in activities related to initiatives included in an ADA resolution titled 'Vulnerable Elderly'.  Externs may also assist in diversity projects and the planning and development of activities related to health literacy in dentistry.  Externs have specific responsibilities including, but not limited to, the completion of projects assigned by the Board of Trustees or their designates. In addition, externs are expected to identify projects to meet the needs and interests of dental students, and to develop and propose association policy, or policy revision, as needed.

Legislative Grassroots Network
It is important for young dental professionals to be politically informed and active. ASDA's legislative program is a top priority for the association and presents dental students with a unique opportunity to participate in the political process firsthand. It also serves as a training ground for those seeking a career in dental health politics.

Managed by the Chair of the Legislative Grassroots Network and three regional legislative coordinators, the LGN consists of student legislative liaisons at each dental school who coordinate lobbying efforts and related activities at their respective chapters.

The Chair of the LGN supervises and directs the activities of the LGN, monitors state and national legislative activities, shares legislative information with the regional legislative coordinators and instructs the regional coordinators on organizing grassroots political activities, such as voter registration drives and letter-writing campaigns, at each dental school.

ASDA Committees and Task Forces