Membership Information and Forms

Benefits of the Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry (WSPD) District VI of the AAPD

As a member of the WSPD-District VI of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), you may be asking yourself, "How does my membership in WSPD benefit me?"

District VI of the AAPD is comprised of the following: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory. Of the six districts of the AAPD, the two most active are the Southwestern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (District V) and the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (District III). Both are well known for providing both quality continuing education and top-notch social events. WSPD-District VI is becoming a much more effective regional district representative organization and encourages our state components to become more involved like the largest state component in our district: the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry (CSPD).

The AAPD Bylaws require that all AAPD members have membership in the component district. In our case WSPD is our representative district. Besides the camaraderie, here are some of the benefits and value of WSPD membership:

• Continuing Education:
  WSPD has traditionally held their annual meeting in conjunction with the CSPD. You are eligible to attend this outstanding meeting and scientific session at a reduced member registration fee. The WSPD has offered a PALS course in the past and sponsors a program/speaker. Members also enjoy reduced registration fees at continuing education courses held within District VI.
• AAPD Representation and Cultivation of Leaders:
  Every three years, each district elects a District Trustee to represent them to the AAPD. The WSPD provides the opportunity for the Trustee and AAPD to understand your state's issues and concerns in order to better represent you at the AAPD. With my exception, the trustees have always been from Washington State or California. The district structure allows members of smaller states a better chance to pursue leadership roles at the District and National level such as representatives on Councils and participation in the Leadership Institute. The relationships that I forged through the WSPD were instrumental to my election as District VI Trustee, in spite of the fact that the Nevada Academy is not a very active component of the AAPD. One voting member of District VI sits on the Nominating Committee of the AAPD. It is a committee that recommends the candidates for both the Secretary/Treasurer and Trustee at Large of the AAPD. Involvement in the WSPD provides opportunity for our district members to get involved in the activities of the AAPD.
• Address Issues Specific To Our Region:
  WSPD allows each state in our district to share their concerns and issues in order to effectively solve these problems. Further, it allows for states within the district or the entire district to collective address issues to the AAPD.
• Strength in Numbers:
  When the District speaks as a unified voice, we have significantly more influence. Without the WSPD, the smaller states in our district would have a very minimal voice within the AAPD. A recent example was the decision by the AAPD Board of Trustees not to make any changes to Affiliate Membership privileges, specifically, not allowing the use of any logo materials or AAPD membership status. Without the voice of the WSPD and its component members, this may not have occurred.

At the past meeting of the WSPD, a strategic planning session explored the future of the WSPD. I feel we will continue to see the WSPD playing a bigger role in our profession. It is critical that we receive your support and involvement. I realize that some people are concerned about the value of the WSPD...especially in this economic climate. Besides it being a requirement of the AAPD tri-partite structure, the WSPD has significant benefits for you and pediatric dentistry that make it well worth the $40.00 membership fee.

Sincerely,
Jade Miller, DDS
District VI Trustee