Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016 - 8

Trustee Report Trustee Report, July 2016 Dr. Norman Nagel AAO Trustee I trust all of you have had a wonderful summer. My family and I really enjoyed the past few months as we took advantage of holiday weekends and a (slightly) relaxed schedule. In addition to spending time with my immediate family, I shared time with my AAO family: the AAO Board of Trustees. Although the AAO doesn't schedule many educational meetings, and the number of face-to-face council meetings is fewer during the summer, there are still lots of exciting activities that I'd like to share. The months after the AAO Annual Session offer a time for the board to reflect and refine. We celebrate the year we just completed and reflect on all we learned with our colleagues from around the world at the Annual Session. We kick off the year with a new president, and welcome a new trustee. This year, Dr. DeWayne McCamish of SAO will be at the head of the table; Dr. McCamish will lead us as we consider new programs, embrace new opportunities, and navigate new challenges. I am also excited to have Steve Siegel, MASO trustee, at our table, offering fresh perspectives and sharing thoughts from his constituents. This year promises to be a great one for our board as we work together on behalf of our members. These months are also a time to refine. The AAO does many things well and works hard to offer an excellent array of member benefits. Still, there is always room for improvement. Just as in our practices- where we are diligent about learning of new technology or techniques, where we work with our staff on excellence in patient care and clinical execution- the AAO Board must always be vigilant to ensure we are implementing best practices in association management and member service. It is extremely important that we execute our programs effectively and that all communication with members goes both ways. While it's important that we share with you what we are thinking and doing to improve our specialty, we recognize it's important that we also listen and learn from our members. 8 Ideally, the AAO Board would gather every member in a room and plot our future together. Although this is not practical, we think that involving as many members as possible and sharing ideas, challenges, and visions will lead us to the best association, not only for our current members, but for future members as well. AAO has held such stakeholder meetings in the past, but typically on an ad hoc basis. Recently, the board implemented a new approach to strategic planning that will ensure a regularly scheduled meeting of member representatives that will have direct input into the goals and programs of the AAO. This group will be diverse and ensure that members at all phases of their practice lives, from all regions of North America and all levels of involvement, feel empowered to set the course for the AAO. Our first meeting with this group will be held this fall, and I couldn't be more excited about this new direction for ongoing strategic planning. The BOT met in Williamsburg, VA, this past July for a planning session facilitated by Jeff De Cagna, chief strategist and founder of Principled Innovation. Jeff led the board through various scenarios, imagining what the world (and our profession) might look like in 2023. Boards have a duty of foresight, and with changes taking place exponentially around us, it is important for us as well as our Councils, Committees, and Task Forces to anticipate change and adapt. The value of foresight is to be helpful, not hurtful. I was very impressed with Jeff's presentation and will discuss his other insights in future Trustee reports. As you read this, I'm preparing for our upcoming BOT meeting. If there is something on your mind in this regard, I would love to hear from you. In fact, I would love to hear from you anytime. I'm honored to represent my fellow PCSO members at the national level, and your input enhances my effectiveness as your trustee. You may reach me at nnagel@aaortho.org. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your input as we work together to make our AAO the best association it can be.  PCSO Bulletin  Fall 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016