Volunteer Opportunities

Get Involved!

There are many opportunities for members to volunteer and get involved at the component, constituent, and national level! We encourage you to get the most out of your membership and actively participate!

Component

Your component is the state or province where you live. Each has its own independent association. Getting involved at the local level is a great way participate in leadership, education and advocacy! Contact your component to see what opportunities may be available at the state/province level:  Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario and Pennsylvania.

Constituent - GLAO

Every AAO member is automatically assigned to a constituent based upon where you live. The Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists (GLAO) has members from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario and Western Pennsylvania.

Here are some current volunteer opportunities at the GLAO:

  • GLAO Trustee to the AAO Board of Trustees:

Dr. Michael Sherman's final term as GLAO Trustee will conclude in 2028. A new GLAO Trustee will be elected in 2027 to begin to serve in May, 2028, following the AAO Annual Session.

View the Election Process for the new GLAO Trustee. 

View the article from Dr. Michael Sherman, which includes an overview of the Trustee roles and responsibilities to the AAO and to the GLAO. 

Trustee Election Timeline:

  1. If you are an active member, interested in serving as GLAO Trustee, and wish to be included on the list of candidates proposed to the membership, submit a letter of interest, addressed to the GLAO Nominating Committee to GLAO@AssnOffices.com  by 9/8/26.
  2. Candidates that meet the qualifications of the Trustee position, and who have expressed interest by 9/8/26, shall be presented to the membership, by the GLAO Nominating Committee, at the GLAO Annual Business Meeting on 10/23/26 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio.
  3. Additional nominations for the position may be made from the floor at the GLAO Annual Business Meeting in October. After nominations are closed, no additional names can be added. Each candidate will be provided up to five (5) minutes to address the members present. 
  4. The GLAO Nominating Committee will vet the candidates and present a slate of all the eligible candidates to the GLAO Leadership at the March, 2027 Board Meeting. The GLAO Leadership will determine no more than two (2) Trustee candidates to put forward to the membership for their vote in the summer of 2027.
  5. The elected GLAO Trustee will begin to serve in May, 2028.
  • GLAO Delegate to the AAO House of Delegates:

The AAO House of Delegates is the ultimate governing body of the AAO and meets every year at the AAO annual session. Members of the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists serve as our representatives to the AAO House of Delegates. Delegates and Alternate Delegates are elected annually by the GLAO membership. Those elected will serve a two-year term. The GLAO Nominating Committee is seeking interested and qualified candidates to serve at the AAO House of Delegates.

Click here to view the position description. If you are interested in serving the GLAO as a Delegate at the 2027 and 2028 AAO House of Delegates, please submit a letter of interest to the GLAO office at GLAO@AssnOffices.com by March 1, 2026. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the GLAO office (877-274-6420; GLAO@AssnOffices.com).

  •         Share your knowledge and expertise!

Submit an article for consideration in the GLAO e-news, a quarterly e-news bulletin to GLAO@AssnOfffices.com. GLAO Coffee Chats provide informal opportunities to engage with other members! If you have a topic in mind or would like to facilitate a discussion, contact GLAO@AssnOffices.com! 

National - AAO

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has many opportunities for member participation.

Here are some current volunteer opportunities:

·        AAO National Advocacy Network (NAN):

There are many opportunities within the National Advocacy Network (NAN) that exist. The Component Advocacy Liaison (CAL) is open to US and Canadian membership, and the AAOPAC Captain is open to US citizens and permanent residents only, due to FEC regulations.  Members are invited to join the candidate search within every state and province across the United States and Canada.  The AAO will continue to build state Component Advocacy Liaison teams in all states, so even if there has been a CAL identified in a state, we encourage you to reach out to be considered as a part of the NAN Team in that state. Interested AAO members can reach out to Kim VanVeen, AAO Specialist of Grassroots and Digital Advocacy, at KVanVeen@aaortho.org, to complete your NAN Pre-Interview survey and Kim will set up time to discuss the opportunities upon its completion.

AAOF Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS):

The Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS) program provides orthodontic treatment to children from families with a financial need. The purpose of DOS: create opportunities for children to have access to professional orthodontic intervention through a volunteer network of AAO members. Consider serving as a program provider! To learn more about the DOS program or becoming a DOS volunteer, contact DOS Program Administrator, at dos@aaortho.org or (314) 292-6582.