Board Committees

The Los Angeles Dental Society bylaws provide that the standing annual committees of the Society shall be: Executive, Program, Finance, Nominating, Peer Review, and Membership. In addition to those committees outlined in the Bylaws, LADS has several other committees including, but not limited to: New Professionals Committee, Dental Community Relations Committee, Bylaws Committee, Ethics Committee, Legislative Committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee shall be a standing annual committee consisting of the President as Chairman, President-Elect, Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor. It shall be the duty of this committee to: 1) supervise the work of the Executive Director; 2) make recommendations on matters referred to it as well as on matters it initiates; and 3) to conduct and supervise the business of the association when the board is not in session. All decisions and interim policies of the Executive Committee are subject to review and approval at the next board meeting.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: The Finance Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of the Treasurer as Chair, the President, President Elect and Executive Director. It shall be the duty of this committee to: 1) to review annually preliminary estimates of income, expenditures and additions to reserves and to review and submit an annual budget to the board; 2) to oversee and provide guidance concerning investment of reserve funds; 3) review and annually report to the Board the adequacy of footnote The LADS Bylaws provide that the standing annual committees of the Society shall be: Executive, Program, Finance, Nominating, Peer Review, and Membership. In addition to those committees outlined in the Bylaws, LADS has several other committees including, but not limited to: New Professionals Committee, Dental Community Relations Committee, Bylaws Committee, Ethics Committee, Legislative Committee disclosures, including but not limited to the monthly accounting records and the portfolio managed by the capital management company; 4) provide oversight of the internal control structure 5) to annually review the insurance policies maintained by the society to ensure adequate coverage; 6) recommend to the board an independent audit firm and the frequency required for a complete audit versus a review or a compilation; 7) review the form 990 that is filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The Nominating Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of the following representatives: President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor and up to three (3) general members recommended by the Board of Directors and chosen by the President-Elect. The final committee member count must be an odd The Nominating Committee shall meet at the discretion of the President-Elect and as necessary to select leaders for an elected or appointed position. In any event, the business of the Nominating Committee in connection with any election shall be finished at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the election of candidates for the offices for which nominations are to be made. A majority of the meeting quorum of members of the Nominating Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: The Membership Committee shall be a standing committee. It shall be the duty of this committee to continuously encourage and stimulate membership of all eligible dentists. The Membership Committee, and any rotating or ad hoc committees working to develop membership of eligible dentists, may execute new programs with the objective of such, for a defined or undefined period by two-thirds (2/3) of the votes of the Society’s Board of Directors. 

PROGRAM COMMITTEE: The Program Committee shall be a standing committee. This Committee is responsible for identifying professional continuing education programs and speakers for the general membership meetings and special programs. The Program Committee is also responsible for implementing education that improves the skills of auxiliary personnel. 

PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE: The Peer Review Committee shall be a standing committee. The duties of the Peer Review Committee are to follow the policies and procedures outlined in the California Dental Association’s Peer Review Manual. The Committee shall provide information and promote peer review as a membership benefit.

NEW PROFESSIONALS: The purpose of the New Dentist Committee is to seek out new members and to retain existing members, as well as facilitate the process of welcoming new members and offering a forum of particular interest to dentists who have been practicing for less than 10 years. It allows the newer dentist to form professional and social ties in a nonthreatening environment and will hopefully encourage more participation in LADS core programs. The committee will also work with the other committees to assist where needed in providing support on membership issues. 

COMMUNITY/DENTAL HEALTH RELATIONS COMMITTEE: The Community Dental Health Relations Committee is responsible for promoting dental education and the overall dental health of the Los Angeles community. The primary duties include recruiting members to participate in various community oral-health activities/events; Interact/liaise with other organizations and agencies that share our common objectives; to explore new programs and respond to special requests from community organizations.

BYLAWS COMMITTEE: The Bylaws Committee shall serve for a period of one (1) year and up to three (3) consecutive terms. The Committee shall report to the Executive Committee all proposed amendments to the Bylaws, with its recommendations for ratification or rejection. The Board of Directors shall provide final ratification or rejection. Whenever any question of interpretation of the Bylaws shall be raised, it shall be referred to the Bylaws Committee in writing. The Committee shall consider the question and give its decision in writing to the Board of Directors.

ETHICS COMMITTEE: The Ethics Committee is responsible for assuring that the ethical standards held by the dental profession and organized dentistry are consistently adhered to by the membership. The primary responsibilities include: ensuring adherence to ethical standards established by the CDA and the ADA; providing information to help member dentists remain in compliance with the Code of Ethics; acting as an advocate rather than an adversary, resolving issues on the local level whenever possible.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Legislative Committee is to identify and monitor local political issues of importance to dentists and small businesses, and to educate LADS members accordingly. The Committee maintains relationships with the CDA Policy Development Council, relevant ADA councils, the Dental Board of California and legislative agencies of allied health groups, as well. Primary responsibilities includes: keeping informed on local legislation that impacts small businesses and dentists and keep the LADS Board of Directors apprised of such information; keeping informed on bills presented to the California Assembly and Senate that in any way pertain to dentistry or health laws of the state and keep the LADS Board of Directors apprised of such information; carry out the policies of the Society on all matters pertaining to legislation; establish key contacts for each supervisor in Los Angeles; establish key contacts for each legislator within LADS’s boundaries; inform the membership and solicit their input and action on local, legislative or regulatory issues through articles and alerts in the LADS publications.