The AAO Board of Trustees is looking for one new member who will bring diverse viewpoints and strengthen the leadership team. All Active Members (including Life Active) of the AAO are invited to apply to serve a three-year term as Trustee At-Large.

The Trustee At-Large position is a full voting member of the Board who represents the interests of the general membership. The three-year term will begin at the close of the 2025 AAO Annual Session. Applications are due by November 10, 2024 (scroll down to access the online application).

Why We Need Your Strength
Established in 2019, the purpose of the Trustee At-Large position is to support the Board of Trustees in better reflecting the diversity of the membership it serves by selecting Trustees based on demographics or expertise in need. Additionally, a Board of Trustees with diverse viewpoints and strengths will:

  • Improve the association’s ability to respond to external influences that are changing the environment for those served and in which it is working.
  • Enable the Board to have a broader perspective and capacity to identify the full range of opportunities and risks in its decision-making.
  • Have more connections to the community and its needs.

View A Video of Current Trustees Speaking on the Trustee At-Large Position

Qualities We Are Seeking
When seeking qualified candidates, the Board of Trustees will strongly consider candidates who possess the following basic leadership skills:

  1. The ability to lead, motivate and empower volunteers and staff; managing is secondary.
  2. Long term horizon in their thinking; should have strategic thinking skills.
  3. Work within a team setting by looking to the future with a shared vision.
  4. Build teamwork among peers with different needs and interests.
  5. Have the ability to guide the Association in the future through a shared vision.
  6. Understand the difference between “governing” and “managing”.
  7. Have the ability to guide peers from micromanaging to leadership governance.
  8. Demonstrate leadership commitment through past or current involvement with orthodontic, dental and other nonprofit entities including local community organizations.
  9. Have relevant expertise in the disciplines of nonprofit management including, but not limited to, branding, fundraising, component/constituent relations, international and organizational alliances.
  10. Possess sufficient technological expertise, including the use of social networks, file sharing programs, email, text, video conferencing and other electronic communication tools.
  11. Support routine performance feedback by fellow board members.
  12. Advocate for the values, intents, interests and actions of the AAO.

Time Commitment
Candidates should ensure they are able to meet the required time commitment to serve, including but not limited to:

  • Three meetings per year in St. Louis, MO: August 14-17, 2025; November 20-23, 2025 and February 12-14, 2026 (travel days included).
  • In-person orientation in St. Louis, MO, if selected: Tentatively scheduled March 21-22, 2025.
  • One Board Planning Session held in the summer: July 17-20, 2025 in Park City, UT.
  • Nine days at the AAO Annual Session: April 21-28, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Attendance at the AAO Professional Advocacy Conference: March 17-18, 2026 in Washington, DC.
  • Attendance at the AAO Leadership Development Conference with optional attendance at the AAO Winter Conference: January 21-25, 2026 at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge in Phoenix, AZ.
  • Evening and/or daytime conference calls as needed.
  • Board subcommittee work (typically at least three subcommittees) facilitated through occasional evening conference calls and/or electronic communication.
  • Trustee liaison responsibilities for 2-3 AAO councils and committees, likely to include annual in-person meetings and periodic evening conference calls.

Eligibility Requirements
A Trustee At-Large shall be an Active Member of this Association who has not been a previous constituent-elected Trustee. As a condition precedent to nomination to the Board, the nominee shall complete the Association’s conflict of interest disclosure form. A Trustee At-Large shall be nominated and elected by the Board of Trustees, have voting rights and bear all the responsibilities of a Trustee.

Expenses and Honorarium
In accordance with AAO policy, members of the Board of Trustees are reimbursed for economy class airfare, ground transportation and other actual reasonable business expenses for official AAO travel. This includes travel to Board, council and committee meetings, as well as other meetings approved by the Board of Trustees. Travel expenses may also be reimbursed for a Board member’s spouse/guest to attend the AAO Annual Session and Board Planning Session.

Each member of the Board of Trustees receives an honorarium in recognition of their commitment of time and magnitude of their responsibilities. Honorarium amounts are subject to change on an annual basis. The 2024-25 honorarium for a Trustee At-Large is $56,233, plus a telephone stipend of up to $2,500.

Ready to Apply?
If you are interested in serving in this capacity, we invite you to complete our online application, including submission of your curriculum vitae. The deadline to apply is Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Finalists will be selected and interviewed by the Board of Trustees on Friday, December 13, 2024 via Zoom.