12/05/2024

OOA Committees Begin Work for Upcoming Year

As a member-driven organization, the OOA relies on its volunteer optometrists to guide and achieve its mission of advocating for the profession to the public and policymakers, promoting the importance of and access to comprehensive eye care, and providing meaningful resources that strengthen professional viability. 

Last week, the OOA began its work to implement the organization’s strategic plan for the 2025 membership year as part of OOA Committee Day. Over 70 OOA volunteer leaders gathered at the Renaissance Polaris-Westerville Hotel to meet with their fellow committee members and to learn what president Dr. Tim Fries has planned as directives for the coming year. Each committee, including Zone Governors and the OOPAC Board, was given specific charges all relating to improving member engagement and advancing our scope modernization efforts. 

“Committee volunteers are vitally important to the OOA,” said Dr. Elizabeth Muckley, OOA CEO and Executive Director. “One of the primary strengths of the association is that it is led by optometrists – the experts in eye care – who set the policy and path forward for the organization and the profession. Members can be assured that their organization is led by a group of highly motivated, invested, and engaged colleagues that will work tirelessly to achieve our goals.” 

Committees work in concert with the OOA Board of Directors, with committee chairs providing progress reports and ideas for new initiatives that can benefit the profession. Most committees meet 4-6 times annually and are comprised of ODs from across the state appointed by the OOA President and Board of Directors. Committee members serve one-year terms and are eligible for re-appointment to multiple terms. OOA members interested in serving on a committee or receiving additional information about committee activities should email info@ooa.org. 

A brief description of OOA Committees follows below: 

Children’s: The Children’s Committee provides information to OOA members related to children’s vision, including, but not limited to, communicating recent evidence-based findings in children’s vision; and promoting programs designed to increase access to and awareness of the importance of a lifetime of comprehensive eye care for Ohio’s children. 

EastWest: The EastWest Committee oversees the operations of the EastWest Eye Conference to ensure OOA members and others have access to high quality continuing education, networking opportunities and updates on the latest developments in the profession. The Committee works to improve attendance and profitability for the conference. 

Finance: The Finance Committee serves as an advisory committee to the OOA Board in matters concerning the fiscal operation of the association including: the annual budget, long-term and short-term investment of association assets, general financial policies, and non-dues income possibilities. 

Membership: The Membership Committee oversees recruitment and retention efforts of the OOA, including outreach efforts to new and prospective members such as optometry students, new graduates and other members of the profession entering the state. 

Third-Party: The Third-Party Committee reviews and monitors the activities of third-party payors operating in the state and provides tools for OOA members to remain an effective and essential component of the health care delivery system. Committee members serve as liaisons between the OOA membership and third-party payors to educate payors on issues important to optometry and provide guidance to OOA members on new developments in the industry. 

Young OD: The Young OD Committee works to provide opportunities for engagement within organized optometry for those who are new to the profession. The Committee helps provide access to and promote benefits that assist professional and personal stability and growth. 

OOPAC Board of Directors: The OOPAC Board of Directors oversees all operations of the Ohio Optometry Political Action Committee and the Key OD program with the assistance of the Grassroots Advocacy Committee. The OOPAC Board works to provide optometrists, optometric students, and others the ability to contribute to the support of candidates for public office whose election is in the best interests of optometry. The OOPAC Board coordinates fundraising efforts and the distribution of political contributions to pro-optometry candidates for office. 

Zone Governors: Zone Governors are the primary point of contact between the OOA Board and the Zones. Zone Governors are responsible for organizing meetings of the Zone, providing CE opportunities for Zone members, coordinating special events, including volunteer programs, and overseeing the finances of the Zone.