Trustee Report
Dr. Gayle Glenn
It was a proud day for the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists when Dr. Mel DeSoto was installed as President of the AAO on May 24, 2005 in San Francisco, California. Other officers installed during the 2005 AAO Annual Session included Dr. Donald Joondeph from Bellevue, Washington as president-elect, and Dr. William Gaylord from Flagstaff, Arizona, as secretary-treasurer of the AAO.
For the third year in a row, membership dues for U.S. members will remain the same. Dues can be paid online via the AAO member Web site, www.AAOmembers.org.
In an effort to generate considerable financial support for graduate orthodontic programs, Dr. DeSoto submitted a resolution to the 2005 House of Delegates that called for $2 million to be allocated for salary augmentation for full-time orthodontic faculty members. Dr. DeSoto said that the efforts of the AAOF and alumni foundations, while successful, have not been able to match the programs’ decline in revenues from traditional sources. After considerable discussion, the House of Delegates referred the resolution for further study. Dr. DeSoto will appoint a task force to conduct surveys to determine the level of members’ support, and to develop a business plan for the implementation of the proposed salary augmentation. The task force will report its findings to the 2006 House of Delegates.
During the 105th AAO Annual Session, the AAO Council on Communications (COC) informed the 2005 House of Delegates about its intention to request funding for a public awareness campaign. The COC will submit this request to the 2006 House of Delegates, which will convene April 28–May 2, 2006 in New Orleans. Over the next several months, COC will inform members about the proposed campaign through articles in “The Bulletin” and “Straight Off The Wire”, as well as giving an update during the SWSO meeting in Austin this October.
The AAO has hired a new legislative consulting firm—Patton Boggs, LLP of Washington, D.C. The Council on Governmental Affairs (COGA) and the AAO Political Action Committee (AAOPAC) Board of Directors met with representatives from Patton Boggs July 23–26 in Washington, D.C., to develop goals for the AAO Government Relations Program. Dr. Ken Dillehay represented the SWSO at this important meeting. Contributions to the AAOPAC can be made online via the AAO member Web site.
To assist component and constituent leaders with their responsibilities, the AAO has developed a Volunteer Leadership Handbook and an e-newsletter called the “AAO Connection.” The handbook offers information on the structure and governance of the AAO and offers tips on how to recruit and motivate volunteers. The “AAO Connection” will allow the AAO to communicate quickly and effectively with component officers on an as-needed basis. Additionally, the Council on Orthodontic Education (COE) will begin development of an interactive online speaker registry. Constituent and component organizations can use this registry for future meeting planning purposes.
The AAO has endorsed The Smiles Change Lives Program (formerly known as The Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Program) as an excellent access to care program. Dr. Dean Jensen, chairman of the Council on Orthodontic Health Care (COHC), and SWSO member Dr. Kelly Toombs were influential in bringing this program to the attention of the AAO. Watch for more information about how you can get involved.
I would like to congratulate Dr. Peter H. Buschang on his new honorary membership in the AAO! This honorary membership was granted to Dr. Buschang for his many contributions to the art and science of orthodontics, and his many years of dedicated service to the orthodontic profession.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to those SWSO members who completed their eight-year tenures on AAO Councils in May 2005. These individuals include Dr. Hank Bussa, Jr. (COMEJC), Dr. Mark Felton (COE), and Dr. George Shia (COI). The SWSO was well-represented at the AAO level by these dedicated members. Congratulations to newly elected Council members Dr. Devek Frech to COC, Dr. Emile Rossouw to COE, Dr. Larson Keso to COI, Dr. Clark Colville to COMEJC and Dr. Andy Barron to COOP.
It is an honor to serve as the SWSO Trustee. If you have any question, please contact me at 972-296-3349 (work) or 214-520-2481 (home), or email gayleglenn@earthlink.net. Thank you!