Frequently Asked Questions: NMDA House of Delegates

The House of Delegates is the governing body of our state Association, and the opportunity for you to directly impact the policies of our profession. 

Yes! Delegates who participate in the the meetings receive three CE credits.

Opening Meeting
The Speaker of the House will call the meeting to order, and delegates will  discuss reports from NMDA officers as well as the chairs of NMDA Councils and Committees. There could also be presentations from guests.

Caucus Meetings
At the discretion of the component leadership, component caucuses take place over the course of several days. This gives delegates a chance to review the resolutions at a component level and even develop additional resolutions if they wish. Component leadership may choose to have these meetings in person or virtually, and sometimes the smaller components may meet jointly and caucus together. The president of your component will give you the details of these meetings.

Reference Committee
The Reference Committee is where every member of our Association has the opportunity to speak on the proposed resolutions.  An individual may speak in favor or in opposition to a resolution, as well as offer changes.  The committee will listen to this testimony and provide a report to the delegates following the meeting as well as their recommendations regarding each resolution.  Delegates are welcome to attend the reference committee meeting to provide testimony, or just to listen in, but it is not mandatory.

In-person Meeting
This meeting is a little more formal in its proceedings. The House typically hears from VIPs, and it is also when delegates debate and vote on each resolution. 

The NMDA House of Delegates follows the American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure for the meeting – but don’t worry, we’re not that formal.  Remember, this is New Mexico; we’re a pretty “laid back” group.  In the end, we all just want to hear everyone’s thoughts on the issues.

There is a bit of protocol to observe during the June 4 Reference Committee meeting and the June 8 House of Delegates session.  If you wish to speak during one of these sessions, you will need to be recognized by the chair or speaker.  You would then identify yourself, your district, and proceed with your testimony.

Actually, it's more than one meeting. It's mostly virtual, but there is one meeting that is in-person only. This year, it starts on May 30 and concludes on June 8.

Thu May 30 | Opening Meeting
6:00-8:00pm
Virtual

Fri-Mon May 31-Jun 3 | Caucus Meetings
Details to be determined by component leadership.

Tue Jun 4 | Reference Committee
6:00-8:00pm
Virtual

Sat Jun 8 | In-person Meeting
9:00am-12:00pm
In-person Only
Crowne Plaza, Garden Room

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you will need to inform your component president. You will also need to fill out and sign the Proxy Form, allowing another certified delegate to vote in your place. The Proxy Form is an e-signature form; please request the form from Susan Pate at spate@nmdental.org.

Offering a resolution is similar to offering a bill in Congress. At this point, several resolutions have already been submitted, and you can see them in the Documents section of the SharePoint page; however, there could be more resolutions added before the end of the May 30 meeting.

You'll want to read each resolution and consider their implications. You have a great opportunity to discuss each one during the caucus meeting for your component. Caucus meetings are pretty informal. It's a good time to listen to your fellow delegates and offer your own input. Let your delegates hear your ideas!

The Reference Committee Chair will offer the Committee's recommendations for each resolution. Delegates will have the opportunity to debate the resolutions or accept the Committee's recommendations. The Speaker of the House will guide the debate and order of the meeting.

A resolution can pass with a simple majority unless it involves a change to our bylaws, then a 2/3 majority is required.  The NMDA House of Delegates follows the American Institute of Parliamentarians Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure for the meeting – but don’t worry, we’re not that formal.  Remember, this is New Mexico; we’re a pretty “laid back” group.  In the end, we all just want to hear everyone’s thoughts on the issues.

Great! Click HERE for a handy reference guide to more resolution protocols.