The Governance Work Group reviews the ASDA governance documents, proposes changes to keep them current and ensures that all ASDA documents are consistent with the governing documents. The work group supports the Speaker of the House in optimizing procedures of the House of Delegates.

Recent accomplishments of this work group:

• Proposed changes to the following ASDA policies: E-1 Due Process policy, E-2 ASDA Advocacy Program policy and J-1 Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependence policy.
• Developed additional training for the delegate reviewers, reference committees and reference committee chairs to improve House of Delegates operation.
• Recommended that information on resolution development be promoted to the membership. Encouraged trustees to use the “Idea to Resolution” presentation to generate ideas among their chapters.

The Leadership Development Work Group is responsible for the national leadership training curriculum as well as training for chapter leaders. The vision of the work group is establishing the foundation for leaders in dentistry.

Recent accomplishments of this work group:

• Developed a leadership development training curriculum for national leaders and chapter leaders on the topics: ASDA overview and leadership; goal setting; strategic planning; understanding governance documents; and the resolution process.
• Created a presentation on the role of the district trustee to be given at district meetings.
• Developed a process for committee chairs and members to evaluate each other’s performance to help leaders improve for future leadership positions.
• Created opportunities for students who were not appointed to national positions to serve on sub-committees to the councils to keep them involved. The council on membership created three sub-committees in 2012.
• Instituted a “hot topics” presentation at each board meeting to further educate board members on issues in dentistry and to enhance their presentation skills.

The Council on Sessions plans and executes ASDA Annual Session. The group develops the agenda, selects speakers and determines the schedule of events. As needed, members will also provides consultation for other association meetings.

Note: national leaders are appointed to a one-year term on a work group by the board of trustees. Applications are not accepted for these roles.