Committees
Education Committee – Paul Hammond, O.D. and Trevor Fosso, O.D.
The Education Committee coordinates educational events for optometrists providing high quality continuing education. The committee would coordinate 2 larger meetings annually, Spring and Fall, as well as working to add small educational opportunities throughout the year, which may be virtual, in person, or a combination. The committee should meet quarterly via Zoom or in person, as well as regular email communication while coordinating speakers for various meetings. Committee Chair/Co-Chair invited to attend one board meeting per year.
Public Vision Awareness Commitee - Chair – Emily Ellingson, O.D. and Meredith Stallone, O.D.
The Public Vision Awareness Committee provides relevant and educational materials to our doctors to help educate their community. This committee with the help of MOA marketing will develop a minimum of 4 campaigns throughout the year. Ideas to cover include: Back to School, Glaucoma Awareness, Contact Lens Care, etc. This committee will also take responsibility for projects bringing awareness to the importance of eye health in MN.
Legislative Committee –
The MOA Legislative Committee Chair works to elect and re-elect pro-optometry candidates to the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives, allowing us to support the lawmakers who support us. Optometry is a legislated profession. The decisions made by state and federal lawmakers and agency officials have a direct, and often long-lasting, impact on doctors of optometry and patients. The Chair should serve as a catalyst and encourage the members and Executive Director to promote our profession through policy change. The committee should meet a minimum of quarterly. Committee chair/Co-Chair invited to attend at minimum one board meeting per year.
Activities include:
- organizing the legislative committee,
- assisting in planning and implementation of fundraising events.
- keeping an up-to-date database of contacts for key legislators.
- helping ensure grassroots organizing statewide
- reporting on legislative progress to the MOA board
- assisting MOA PAC chair with fundraising and donations
- helping organize Capitol Day
- assist in the planning of legislative workshops
Third Party Committee – Chairs – Josh Hanen, O.D., J.D. and Michael Wallerich, O.D.
The MOA Third Party Committee Chair advocates for the inclusion of full-scope optometric care and the inclusion of comprehensive ophthalmic examinations as a core benefit in all medical insurance and ERISA plans so that all Minnesotans have access to quality eye care through their choice of appropriate provider. The committee should meet a minimum of quarterly. Committee chair/Co-Chair invited to attend one board meeting per year.
Young O.D. / Membership Committee – Chairs - Megan Haresdin, O.D. and Anna Percival, O.D.
The Membership Committee works to obtain and retain members with effective networking, social, business development, and educational benefits. The membership committee supports Young OD's, NOW, optometry school liaisons, and assists with meet and greet employment/sale opportunities. The committee assists the MOA board in contacting non-renewing members. The committee should meet a minimum of quarterly. Committee chair/Co-Chair invited to attend at minimum one board meeting per year. Zoom meetings allowed and encouraged to allow additional out state involvement.
Networking Optometric Women (N.O.W.) - Chair - Amanda Thurmes, O.D.
This is a networking group of female member and non-member O.D.'s. They meet about every two months and they change their meetings each time. They have social events, community service and education events. Great way to meet and network with other female O.D.'s in Minnesota.
Minnesota Contact Lens Society (MCLS) Task Force - Trevor Fosso, O.D.
The MCLS (Minnesota Contact Lens Society) task force role is to coordinate educational opportunities for technicians and staff within the optometric and ophthalmological industry, with an emphasis on high level contact lens education. This would include an annual meeting as well as the possibility of smaller educational opportunities that may be virtual or in person including lectures and wet labs when appropriate. This committee should meet quarterly via Zoom or in person, as well as regular communication while coordinating educational events. Committee chair/Co-Chair invited to attend one board meeting per year.
Interested in volunteering with one of our committees please click here.
