The following is a description of WDA committees and task forces and expectations for members who serve on them. The WDA is regularly seeking volunteers to serve on these committees that drive many of the association's projects. 

If you're a WDA member interested in volunteering for one of the following opportunities, click here to fill out a form with your contact information and up to three preferences for the areas for which you're most interested in volunteering.

DDS Recruitment & Work Force Committee
Contact staff liaisons: Carol Weber, 866-431-9624 or cweber@wda.org or Mara Brooks, 888-538-8932 or mbrooks@wda.org

Objective/Purpose: 

• Promote practice of dentistry in underserved rural and urban areas
• Identify target audiences and develop WDA contacts
• Pursue educational initiatives with the dental school and dental students
• Provide input on how allied dental personnel and dental work force models currently meet demand for dental services in the state and if they can/should be altered to assure adequate dental work force.  Any model put forth should maintain the important role of the dentist in delivery of care.
• Review current work force models in Wisconsin and determine if legislative changes necessary to alter the model(s) to improve dental care access in collaboration with or under the direction of a dentist.
• Work with the Dentistry Examining Board and the dental and allied dental educational institutions on potential training modules for expanding the dental work force.

Expectations:  

• Committee members will participate in all meetings (either in person or via conference call) unless excused by the chair.
• Committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages related to committee business on a regular basis and provide timely responses.
• The committee chair will help preview potential ideas, reports, etc. before they are shared with the full committee and/or Board of Trustees.  

Term limit:

• 3 years

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Dental Benefit Plans Committee
Contact staff liaison: Erika Brown, 888-538-8932 or ebrown@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Maintain a complaint resolution system to resolve problems dentists have with third party payers
• Maintain liaison between the dental profession and insurance companies, service corporations, alternate delivery systems, third party administrators and employees.  Act as an intermediary between these groups and the WDA.
• Identify and analyze trends within the dental marketplace.  Respond to employer’s requests for dental input and expertise regarding proposed dental plans as relating to managed care.
• Act as a clearinghouse and library for information regarding benefit plans
• Act as intermediary between member dentists and American Dental Association contract analysis service
• Provide information to the members regarding the implications and practical application of their participation in managed dental care plans
• Disseminate current information to the members in a timely fashion
• Provide input and feedback on proposed legislation relating to dental insurance
• Meet with government agencies (OCI, DHFS) relative to dental benefit concepts and statutes

• All committee members will participate in two meetings per year (preferably in person or via conference call).
• All committee members will have access to email and check e-mail messages for committee related business on a regular basis and respond in a timely manner.
• The Committee chair will review meeting agendas and Board of Trustees reports and House of Delegates repots submitted on behalf of the Dental Benefit Plans committee.

• 3 years

Dental Home Subcommittee
Contact staff liaison: Carol Weber, 866-431-9624 or cweber@wda.org

Objective/Purpose: 

• Work toward long-term goal of every child in Wisconsin having a dental home by age one
• Educate WDA members on importance of a dental examination by age one
• Work with dental school(s) to have pre-doctoral curriculum support the standard of a dental home beginning at age one
• Promote dental care for all patients beginning at age one to dental team members, the medical community and parents/caregivers

Expectations: 

• Task force members will participate in all meetings (either in person or via conference call) unless excused by the chair
• Task force members will have access to and scan e-mail messages related to committee business on a regular basis and provide timely responses
• Task force chair will help preview potential ideas, reports, etc. before they are shared with the full committee and/or Board of Trustees

• 3 years

Ethics & Dental Relations Committee
Contact staff liaison: Kris Anderson, 800-364-7646 or kanderson@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Consider all violations of the WDA Code of Ethics and act as a hearing body, if necessary
• Advise members on issues/questions regarding ethical considerations, including advertising
• Keep WDA members informed about the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct and WDA interpretations thereof

Expectations:

• All committee members will participate in meetings (either in person or via conference call).
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages for committee related business on an as needed basis and respond on a timely basis.
• The Committee chairman will help preview concerns/complaints before they are sent to the committee for their recommendations and decisions.

• 3 years

Jewel of the Great Lakes Committee
Contact staff liaisons: Lani Becker, 866-431-9625 or lbecker@wda.org or Susan John, 800-364-7646 or sjohn@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Plan an annual session as a member benefit including determination of courses and speakers using the line-up template.
• Set registration and course fees for members and non-members.
• Incorporate sponsorship opportunities into the Jewel of the Great Lakes. 

Expectations:

• All committee members will participate in meetings (either in person or via conference call).
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages for committee related business on a regular basis and respond in a timely manner.
• All committee members will be asked during their term to scout other CE meetings, at the WDA’s expense, for the purpose of identifying potential speakers for the WDA.
• The Committee chairman will make himself/herself available to address issues pertaining to the annual session as needed on a timely basis. 

• 3 years

Legislative Advocacy Committee
Contact staff liaison: Mara Brooks, 888-538-8932 or mbrooks@wda.org 

Objective/Purpose:

• Advocate policy positions of the Association to the legislature and agency officials to protect and further the interests of the public and the profession.

Expectations:

• All committee members will participate in two to three meetings a year and will attend the WDA’s annual Legislative Day. Members will schedule meetings to meet with their own state legislators and staff after every Legislative Committee meeting held in Madison.
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages for committee related business on a weekly basis.
• Members will serve as leaders in component/district efforts to conduct interface meetings (including hosting legislative fundraisers) between grassroots members and state legislators. 

• 4 years

Membership Committee 
Contact staff liaison: Lani Becker, 866-431-9625 or lbecker@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Make recommendations on potential benefits of WDA membership.
• Review proposals for potential benefits and services that do not fall under the for-profit subsidiaries purview.
• Evaluate existing benefits and services that do not fall under the purview of the for-profit subsidiaries n a regular basis.

Expectations: 

• All committee members will participate in both meetings (either in person or via conference call).
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages for committee related business on a regular basis and respond in a timely manner. 
• The Committee chairman will preview potential benefits before they are sent to the committee for their recommendations.

• 3 years

Peer Review Committee
Contact staff liaison: Kris Anderson, 800-364-7646 or kanderson@wda.org 

Objective/Purpose:

• Chairs screen selected complaints to determine if they are within the purview of Peer Review
• Chairs (& other committee members as needed) provide administrative oversight on peer review cases, from initiation through conclusion (concluded cases are maintained at the WDA) including review of case closing correspondence
• Serve as the appeal body of component peer review system
• Aid members and the public in understanding peer review 
• Assure that state statutes relative to the review process are observed
• Conform to the process for handling repeat offenders

Expectations:

• All committee members will participate in meetings via conference call (unless excused by the chair).
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail/fax messages for committee related business on an as needed basis and respond on a timely basis.
• The Committee chairman will help preview potential appeals and concerns/complaints before they are sent to the committee for their recommendations or formal decision.

• 5 years

Public Relations Committee
Contact staff liaison: Carol Weber, 866-431-9624 or cweber@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Provides overall direction to the WDA in-house PR team which also works closely with outside marketing communications consultant

Expectations:

• Committee members will attend all meetings unless excused by he chair
• Committee members will have access to and scan e-mail  messages related to committee business on a regular basis and provide timely review and responses
• Committee chair will help preview potential ideas, reports, etc.  before they are shared with the full committee and/or Board of Trustees
• As needed, committee chair/members serve as local media  spokespersons and co-signers of letters to editors

• 3 years

WDA Foundation Board
Contact staff liaison: Vicki Bohman, 800-364-7646 or vbohman@wda.org

Overview/Purpose:

• As the philanthropic arm of the WDA, the WDA Foundation is committed to making a difference by improving the oral health of Wisconsin residents through its support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged while meeting the current and future needs of the dental profession.

Expectations:

• Know the Foundation’s mission, purposes, goals, policies, programs, services, strengths and needs.
• Serve on at least one committee
• Devote time to understanding the organization
• Follow trends in the field of philanthropy
• Bring a whole-hearted commitment to Board activities
• Assist in promoting the Foundation and acquainting potential donors with its benefits
   

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WDA Foundation - Donated Dental Services Advisory Group
Contact staff liaisons: Julie Wilk, 888-338-6852 or jwilk@wda.org or Bonnie Townsend, 866-812-9840 or btownsend@wda.org

Donated Dental Services (DDS) is a program directed at those who are unable to afford needed dental care because of a limited income which is clearly linked to a permanent disability, chronic illness or advanced age (65 and over).

Participating dentists volunteer their services to 1-2 patients a year. Each volunteer dentist decides for him/herself whether to formally accept a person based on meeting the person and assessing his or her dental needs. The referral coordinator is available to help the volunteers with such matters as a referral to a specialist, and securing donated laboratory services should a patient need services with lab related needs.

Contact one of the DDS referral coordinators above for more information of if you would like to be a DDS volunteer.

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Web Site Subcommittee
Contact staff liaison: Kelly Schottler, 800-364-7646 or kschottler@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• Provides overall direction to the WDA Web site WDA.org.

Expectations:

• Committee members will attend all meetings unless excused by the chair
• Committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages related to committee business on a regular basis and provide timly review and responses
• Committee chair will help preview potential ideas, reports, etc. before they are shared with the full committee and/or Board of Trustees

Term limit:

• 3 years

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Wisconsin Dental Political Action Committee
Contact staff liaison: Mara Brooks, 888-538-8932 or mbrooks@wda.org

Objective/Purpose:

• To collect WIDPAC funds from member dentists and to disburse WIDPAC funds to candidates for state office based on their voting records or positions on issues impacting the profession of dentistry.

Expectations:

• Be a member of the WIDPAC program.
• All committee members will participate in both meetings.
• All committee members will have access to and scan e-mail messages for committee related business on a regular basis and respond as quickly as possible (24 hours optimal response).
• WIDPAC members help organize solicitation mailings to member dentists and also help organize all-dental fundraisers for targeted legislators in their areas of the state. 

• 3 years

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Interested in serving?

If you're a WDA member interested in volunteering for one of the following opportunities, click here to fill out a form with your contact information and up to three preferences for the areas for which you're most interested in volunteering.