MISSOURI OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION

One of the biggest undertakings this year hasbeen to increase our MOA-PAC fund. Whetheryou like it or notpolitics will be a partof our professionforever.In April I asked thatour membership startcontributing to theMOA-PAC on aregular basis. I askedthat each memberstarting giving justIn Jefferson City,where even thesmallest componentof our profession issubject to changewith a simple vote ofthe legislature, PAC’sare extremelyinfluential.$45 a month. For most of us that is about ½ ofone exam. A pittance when we consider it willhelp us keep our current scope of practice in tactas well as help us expand it in the future. I havebeen pleased with the numbers who have signedup to date, but I’m issuing the challenge againto those of you who are not participating. Asimple way to do this is to have that smallamount charged to your credit card each month.After filling out the enrollment form (found inthis publication) and sending it to the JeffersonCity office, you have nothing more to do. Eachmonth you will help ensure the strength of ourprofession that we can continue to serve ourpatients in the manner they deserve.As I mentioned in an earlier edition of the Visionour board is currently exploring the possibilityof a five year public relations campaign toimprove our image in the state of Missouri. Aninitial plan has been submitted and we areworking hard to iron out the details. This couldbe the single most influential activity we do tonot only maintain our current scope of practicebut also allow our patients to be better served byenhancing our scope of practice. I sincerelyhope that our entire membership will understandits significance and support it in any wayneeded.The MOA has a new Executive Director onboard. Joyce Baker has only been with us a fewmonths but I am already impressed with hermany skills. I know all of us are excited aboutJoyce’s strengths in association management,convention planning and working with thelegislature. She is fully committed toimplementing the goals of the association andthat in itself will be significant as the years pass.In summary, I am extremely proud of where westand at the end of the year. We have moved theball down the field. We have a strong and stableplan for the future, and we have the staffing onboard to carry it out.Notes