Constitution of the
Tennessee Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Article I
Name and Jurisdiction
Section 1.
The name of this organization shall be the Tennessee Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
This academy is a component of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Society 2.
The confines for active membership shall be the geographical limits of the State of
Tennessee.
Article II
Purposes
Section 1.
The purpose of this academy shall be as follows:
A. To promote study, research, fellowship, cooperation and understanding among the
pediatric dentists of the State of Tennessee.
B. To act as spokesperson for Tennessee pediatric dentists in legislative matters,
publicity and public relations.
C. To act in advisory capacity to state and local dental societies on matters pertaining
to pediatric dentists.
D. To provide liaison to the Tennessee Board of Dental Examiners and the Tennessee
State Licensing Board for the Healing Arts.
E. To provide liaison to the Tennessee State Dental Association and the Southeastern
Society of Pediatric Dentists, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
F. To provide counsel and liaison, through state and component dental organizations,
to government at all levels, teaching institutions, and dental service corporations.
G. To provide liaison to the Bureau of Tenn Care and the managed care provider.
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Article III
Membership
Section 1.
The membership shall consist of charter, active, life, honorary and affiliate members.
Section 2.
Charter membership shall be recognized as limited to those specific members of this
organization who were qualified for membership at the time of the beginning of the
academy.
Section 3.
Active membership may include charter members and all active members shall have
met the following qualifications:
A. They shall have graduated from a qualified pediatric dental specialty program.
B. They shall be in the active and exclusive practice or teaching of Pediatric Dentistry.
C. They must be current in paying dues to the Tennessee Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry.
Section 4.
Life members shall have met the requirements for active membership prior to
retirement. They shall be exempt from dues.
Section 5.
Honorary members are defined as those individuals who have made significant
contributions to pediatric dentistry and who have received a unanimous vote of the
active and life membership present in business session. Honorary members have no
voting rights and are exempt from dues.
Section 6.
Affiliate members (general dentists) are defined as a general dentist who maintains
membership in the ADA and is in good standing. They must keep dues in the TNAPD
current. Affiliate members may not use the Academy name, membership status or logo,
or imply special expertise or training in pediatric dentistry.
Article IV
Officers
Section 1.
The officers of this Academy shall be a President, President-Elect, and a SecretaryTreasurer.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee of the Academy shall consist of the officers outlined in Article
IV, Section 1. The executive committee shall also consist of the following members:
A. West Tennessee Representative
B. East Tennessee Representative
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C. Middle Tennessee Representative
D. The Public Policy Advocate to the AAPD
E. The Immediate Past President of the TNAPD
F. Current Officers and/or Trustees of the AAPD/TDA/ADA
G. Ex-officio Member (past officers of the AAPD)
Section 3.
The President and the President-Elect shall be elected annually and serve for one year
The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve for one year but may be re-appointed (re-elected)
each year to maintain consistency in contacting the academy and accounting.
The East, West and Middle Tennessee representatives and the Public Policy Advocate to
AAPD will serve for three years.
The immediate past president will serve for one year.
Current officers and/or Trustees will serve during their term at the AAPD.
Ex-officios will serve for one year terms at the invitation of the officers
Article V
Meetings
Section 1.
The time and place for the annual meetings shall be determined by the Executive
Committee.
Section 2.
Business meetings of the Tennessee Academy of Pediatric Dentistry may be attended by
charter, active, life and affiliate members. (See Article III Section 2, 3, 4, 6)
Section 3.
Only active members shall be allowed to vote
Section 4.
Guest of any member may not attend the business meeting unless prior approval has
been given by the Executive Committee
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Article VI
Business Status
Section 1.
This academy shall exist as a nonprofit organization chartered under the laws of the
state of Tennessee.
By-Laws of the Tennessee Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Article I
Quorum
Section 1.
Thirty percent of the active members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
the business of the academy.
Section 2.
Items voted on in a meeting shall be deemed “passed” if a majority of the quorum
present votes in favor
Article II
Nomination and Election of Officers
Section 1.
The Executive Committee shall nominate the President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, the
East, West, and Middle Tennessee Representatives, and the Public Policy Advocate. The
executive committee shall send the nominations for these positions to the SecretaryTreasurer 90 days prior to the annual spring meeting.
Section 2.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall send out a report of the nominations for executive
committee members to the membership 60 days prior to the annual spring meeting.
This report may be sent by email.
Section 3.
Following the report of the nominating committee at the annual meeting, the floor shall
be opened for additional nominations by active members.
Section 4.
The officers shall be chosen by a simple majority vote of the active membership present.
Section 5.
With the exception of the Secretary-Treasurer, the officers of the organization shall not
succeed themselves in office.
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Article III
Duties of Executive Committee Members
Section 1.
Duties of the President:
A. Preside at all meetings of the Academy.
B. Appoint all committees and serve as a member ex-officio of all committees.
C. Call a special session of the academy upon the written request of twenty-five
percent of the active members.
D. Deliver a President’s address before the academy.
E. Perform such duties as usually pertain to this office and serve in this office until
their successor is duly elected and installed.
Section 2.
Duties of the President-Elect:
A. Assist the President in the performance of his or her duties.
B. They shall succeed to the office of President in the event of death, resignation, or
removal of the President. They shall serve until their successor is installed.
Section 3.
Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer:
A. Keep the records of the society and make an annual written report to the academy.
B. Notify in writing all officers and committee persons of their election or
appointment.
C. Send notice to the members of all sessions of the academy.
D. They shall keep an accurate account of money collected and pay bills of the
academy.
E. They shall conduct the correspondence of the academy and maintain a file of official
letters along with the replies to same.
F. They shall have printed the official program, with members’ names in good standing
included, and mail same to membership (30) thirty days prior to each annual
meeting. This mailing shall include the report of the nominating committee.
G. They shall have printed stationery to be used by the academy and send a supply to
members that may need it.
H. They shall serve until his or her successor is elected and installed. At the expiration
of his or her term in office, they shall turn over all records of the academy to their
successor.
Section 4.
Duties of the Public Policy Advocate
A. The PPA will help represent the state pediatric dentistry association in promoting
children’s oral health issues with the state legislature and other elected bodies,
state regulatory agencies (including Medicaid and health departments), licensing
bureaus, professional health and child welfare organizations, oral health coalitions,
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foundations, institutions of dental education, public-funded safety net programs,
and the private sector benefits industry.
B. The PPA will coordinate their activities with the TDA.
C. The PPA will serve as the TNAPD’s advocate for oral health issues of infants,
children, adolescents and patients with special health care and developmental
needs
Section 5.
Duties of the East, West, and Middle Tennessee Representatives
A. The representatives will help coordinate meetings of the TNAPD
B. They shall bring issues of concern of TNAPD members in their area to the attention
of the executive committee.
C. They shall provide representation of the TNAPD to their local dental districts.
Article IV
Order of Business
Section 1.
The order of business is as follows:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
Meeting called to order by the President.
Reading of minutes of the previous meeting.
Secretary-Treasurer’s report.
President’s report.
Report of special committees.
Unfinished business.
New Business.
Report of the nomination committee and election of officers and committees as
provided in Article II of the By-Laws.
Installation of Officers.
Adjournment.
Section 2.
The order of business may be altered or suspended by a two-thirds vote of the active
members present.
Section 3.
All business of this academy shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of
Order, Revised where not in conflict with the constitution and the by-laws of this
academy.
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Article V
Amendments
Section 1.
The constitution and by-laws of this academy may be amended by a three-fourths
majority vote of the active members attending the annual official business meeting,
provided the proposed amendment has been presented in writing to the membership at
least thirty days prior to the annual meeting.
Article VI
Dues
Section 1.
The annual dues of the academy shall be set by a three-fourths majority vote of the
active members present in a business meeting. Pediatric dental residents from any
program are exempt from annual dues and from registration fees. Retired and disabled
members will be evaluated as to their responsibility to pay dues by the Executive
Committee. Dues will be set at the annual meeting and should be returned by a
deadline determined at the meeting. Dues returned after the deadline are subject to a
late fee.
Article VII
Application for and Selection to Membership
Section 1.
A prospective member must have met the membership requirements set forth in Article
III of the Constitution and they must submit a letter and/or application to the SecretaryTreasurer stating his or her desire for membership thirty days prior to the annual
meeting.
Section 2.
The Secretary-Treasurer will add new prospectives to the mailing list before the next
business session. An affirmative vote of the majority of the active members present at
the annual meeting grants membership.
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Article VIII
Termination of Membership
Section 1.
Membership shall be terminated for the following reasons:
A. Resignation
B. Violation of the constitution and by-laws of the American Dental Association of its
code of ethics.
C. Violation of the responsibilities of membership as defined by the constitution and
by-laws of this academy.
D. Conduct deemed by the Executive Committee to be unprofessional or unethical to
the profession of Pediatric Dentistry.