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COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

This committee is composed of three (3) members and the MASO Editor.  At each Annual Session one (1) member is elected for a term of three (3) years.  The President appoints one member to be the Chairperson.  The Editor serves as an advisor of the committee without a vote.

The Communications/Publication Committee shall:

1.      Oversee all publications of MASO.

2.      Publish at least two newsletters per year, and include a summary of MASO's annual budget in the newsletter immediately preceding the Annual Session.

3.      Review and recommend methods of improving communications between the orthodontic specialty and the general public, general dentists, other dental specialties, medical and allied professions.

4.      Recommend programs for lay education in orthodontics.  The committee needs to be aware of legislation introduced in the various state and national bodies affecting the practice of orthodontics or the dental welfare of the public.  The committee then works with the Government Affairs Committee to educate the public and our lawmakers about issues concerning orthodontic care.

5.      Be active during the Annual Session in issuing press releases that are of interest to the public.  During the year, press releases for general newspaper consumption should, when practical, be channeled through local dental society public relations committees.  The President is to be informed of these releases in advance.

6.      Keep in close liaison with the AAO Council on Communications.

7.      Present appropriate reports to the Executive Board.

8.      Submit a budget request for anticipated expenditures during the fiscal year.

 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE

This committee is composed of three (3) members.  At each succeeding Annual Session, one (1) member is elected for a term of three (3) years.  The senior member serves as Chairperson in their last year on the committee, and chairs the annual Continuing Education Seminar.

The function of this Committee is the development and promotion of educational programs for the membership and their auxiliary personnel.  The committee also is to encourage research by graduate orthodontic departments of institutions within its constituency by awarding gifts or prizes for outstanding research contributions.  (Kress Award)

The Education and Research Committee shall:

1. Present an annual one-day Continuing Education program for orthodontists and/or staff members, in the spring, in an appropriate geographical location. Gain approval for the speakers, location, costs, publicity, etc., through the MASO Board. Sponsorship monies should be solicited to cover the cost of the conference.  Residents will be charged for meals only.  The chairperson of the Education and Research Committee shall serve as the chairperson of the event.

2. Provide Scholarship monies (as approved by the Executive Board) to all MASO residents attending the annual AAO GORP event.

3. Oversee the William Kress Memorial Fund.  The Fund is established to further the interests of orthodontic education by awarding a cash prize and certificate yearly to a student or a graduate orthodontic program in the MASO area whose thesis or research project is judged the best for that year.  The award shall be made in the name of the William Kress Memorial Fund and so memorialize our Past President who had a major interest in orthodontic education under the following guidelines:

a. The Committee of Education and Research shall administrator the

award.

b. In April the chairperson shall contact the director of each graduate orthodontic program in our constituency, advising him or her of the award, and requesting the submission of one thesis or research project to be considered for the award.

c. A statement of explanation about this award is sent to each graduate orthodontic department for display on the student’s notice board.

d. July 1^st is the deadline for submission of the appropriate applicant material.

e. The material to be considered is rotated by mail and reviewed by the Chairperson and the other committee members.  Two committee members grade each thesis on a 1 to 10 scale with the highest average determining the recipient of this award.

f. The Chairperson notifies the Board of the decision of the Committee.  The Board notifies the winner of the award and invites the awardee to the Annual Business Meeting of the next annual session, where the President of the Society makes the presentation.

g. The Secretary publishes the details of the award in the official program of the Annual Session.

h. The Award consists of a check for $500, complimentary registration to the conference, complimentary one night hotel room, $200 travel allotment when the conference is beyond MASO boundaries, and two complimentary tickets to the event at which the award is given.  The recipient is required to make a suitable presentation during the Annual Session.

4. Present to the Budget Committee any requests for funds that it may recommend to carry on research or investigation under the supervision of the Society.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

This committee is composed of six (6) members, one from each component society.  At each Annual Session, two (2) members are elected for a term of three (3) years. The Chairperson of this committee is appointed annually by the President of MASO, will serve as an ex officio member of the AAO Council on Government Affairs, and shall submit a budget request for anticipated expenditures during the fiscal year.

The Government Affairs Committee shall:

1.      Review and report on any legislation affecting orthodontic care within the component jurisdictions of MASO.

2.      Report on state and national legislative efforts of interest to orthodontics and dentistry.

MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE (Membership/Ethics & Judicial/Practice Transition)

This committee is composed of five (5) members.  At each succeeding Annual Session, one (1) member is elected for a term of five (5) years.  The Chairperson of this committee is appointed annually by the President of MASO.

A. Membership Duties:

1.      Review applications and credentials for affiliate membership, active membership, life membership, and honorary membership following the qualifications specified in the AAO and MASO

2.      Recommend for signature by the Chairman the application of those candidates who have fulfilled the requirements for membership.

3.      Organize an orientation session for new members.  This is usually done at the Annual Session; however, if the Annual Session is out of the MASO area, it may occur at the MASO Spring Continuing Education event.

4.      Report membership activities to the MASO Board.

5.      Request annual budgetary needs of the Committee to the MASO Board.

The minimum standards for membership requirements are promulgated by the AAO; however, the Membership committee has the authority to require additional material for review as may be required to ascertain the professional competence of an applicant. 

The procedures for making application to the AAO and MASO are in the Addendum section of this manual.

B. Ethics & Judicial Duties:

Study and investigate any alleged ethical practice violations by MASO members to determine if there is reason to refer the matter to the AAO legal counsel.

C. Practice Transition Duties:

Develop, implement and sustain programs that will help MASO area orthodontic residents and MASO members with various aspects of both the transitions into and out of the practice of orthodontics.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

1.   This Committee is composed of five (5) members.  They are the immediate past President, the next most immediate past President available and three (3) members-at-large.  If the immediate past President and/or the next most immediate past President available cannot serve on the Nominating Committee for any reason, the President will appoint a past President to serve in their place.  The past President and next most immediate past President will serve for a term of one (1) year.  The past President preceding the immediate past President serves as Chairperson. The Chairperson will submit a budget request for anticipated annual committee expenses.

2.   The members-at-large will be nominated by the Board of Directors for election by the general membership at the Annual Business Meeting.  In general, one member-at-large will be elected each year, and will serve for a three year term. Nominees will be selected based upon their experience in MASO and their familiarity with the character and abilities of the members nominated for the various positions.

The Nominating Committee shall:

1. Submit the names of nominees for the office of President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, and MASO Trustees and Committee Members; and the Trustee, Delegates and Alternate Delegates, and other nominees as requested to the American Association of Orthodontists.

The committee should:

     a. Solicit from the component societies the names of those who have served well on a local level and who may be available to serve effectively in our Society.

b. Attempt to maintain a geographic balance in its nominations wherever feasible and possible.

              c. Seek to place members in increasing levels of responsibility to develop their skills and experience.

Distribution of  Responsibility Policy (Guidelines for Selection)

1.         A person currently serving as a MASO representative to an AAO Council is not required to resign the AAO position if they are elected to serve as a MASO Director.  However, they must select which of the two positions they will continue to serve, and resign the other, when their term as Director is up for renewal.

2.         A current Director will not be proposed by the Nominating Committee, nor approved by the BOD, for an AAO Council position unless there are no other reasonably qualified members willing to accept the position. If a Director is elected as a Council representative, they must select which of the two positions they will continue to serve, and resign the other, when their term as Director is up for renewal.

3.         A current Director or Officer (except the President) will not serve as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the AAO unless no other reasonably qualified member is willing to accept the position.

4.         If a Director or Officer is nominated and elected as a Delegate, Alternate Delegate or AAO Council representative, that person must select which one position they will serve.

5.         An AAO Council representative may not serve as a MASO Delegate or Alternate Delegate, nor may a Delegate or Alternate Delegate serve as an AAO Council representative.

6.         The Nominating Committee will make every effort to insure that each component of MASO is proportionately represented when nominating persons to serve as Officers, and Directors. They will make a similar effort when nominating persons to serve as AAO Delegates, Alternate Delegates and AAO Council representatives.

2. Report the slate of nominees to the Board, and present the list to the general membership of MASO at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Session.  The slate shall then be voted upon at the first business meeting of the Annual Session.

3. Submit the name of a nominee for the Gerard A. Devlin award.

            Process:

a. Nominations may be received from any MASO member, and are due prior to February 1^st of each year. 

b. The committee will select a nominee, and forward its recommendation to the Executive Board for approval at the summer Board meeting.

c. The award will be presented at the next MASO Annual Session.

            Qualifications for nomination:

All candidates should have demonstrated at least one of the following:

a. A significant contribution to MASO beyond the usual requirements for membership, or service above and beyond that required by any official duties.

                 b. A significant contribution to orthodontics as a clinician, educator, or researcher.

c. A significant contribution to other areas of dentistry or science benefiting the dental health of the patients served by MASO orthodontists.