10 MOA Dues Structure For more than a century, the MOA has been dedicated to making optometry a stronger profession through education, professional development and public policy advocacy. The advances in the practice of optometry have been made possible through the dues paid by MOA members and serve to benefit all optometrists practicing in the state of Missouri. Basic MOA Dues Structure The dues structure for MOA / AOA is as follows: AOA dues $880 MOA dues $800 Together, the combined total is $1,680. *The MOA also has a Legislative Fair Share Assessment of $75 to support the annual MOA Legislative Conference. MOPAC contributions of $250 are also added to the dues statement. See page 20 for a complete explanation of both AOA and MOA PACs. Basic dues are combined with the Legislative Fair Share and the MOPAC contribution for the final dues balance. MOA Ascending Dues Scale for New Licensees Invest in your future. Invest in a membership in organized optometry. Do it today when you have the best advantage. The MOA has a strong commitment to mentoring and encouraging new optometrists to become part of the professional optometry. New practitioners are exempt from dues in the calendar year that they are first licensed. Thereafter, your reduced dues gradually increase over the next several years. Licensees in residency or post-graduate programs receive reduced membership fees and will begin or resume their dues obligation at the end of the program, so long as membership has been maintained during the residency/ postgraduate program. Don t lose this opportunity by waiting. The following dues scale applies: New grad free Residency/post grad $35.00 1st year $493.00 2nd year $661.00 3rd year $1,165.00 4th year $1,585.00 5th year and after $2.005.00 Dues may be paid in one lump sum, or thru quarterly or monthly billings. Tax Deductionabilty of MOA / AOA Dues Contributions or gifts to the AOA or MOA are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for income purposes. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association lobbying activities. The AOA estimates the non-deductible portion of your AOA dues the portion allocated to lobbying is 11.5%; for the MOA this amount is 18%.
11 MOA Membership Benefits The MOA provides many benefits that enhance your practice and your career. Missouri is a state with many diverse career opportunities. Hundreds of successful optometrists work in all types of health care environments in Missouri. They have found success in Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, commercial and private practice. The MOA has grown stronger by representing doctors from all modes of practice and joining forces to protect, promote and improve the optometric profession for a strong and healthy future. Strength in Numbers It is essential for all optometrists to band together to plan the future of their profession. A strong association with hundreds of members is much more effective than a single individual. All optometrists are vital links to the success of the MOA and ultimately the success of optometry as a whole. The MOA is the largest network of optometrists in the state of Missouri, representing more than 500 members. Many opportunities, friendships, mentorships and professional relations have grown from contacts at MOA events. For new graduates, membership is especially important. The MOA is a good resource for questions about the day-to-day practice of optometry. Your membership in organized optometry puts you in contact with other optometrists in Missouri and across the nation. You become a part of a tremendous network that gives you opportunities to participate in social events, business meetings, and educational seminars with other professionals who understand your concerns and share your specialized interests. Our association looks forward to assisting you in making your optometric career rewarding and fulfilling. Your Voice for a Positive Change The MOA is governed by its members optometrists like you who are elected to leadership positions and appointed to committees that serve the activities of the organization. The MOA works because it represents you and all of the other optometrists who support the profession with service, commitment and dedication. Because of that support, the MOA has played and will continue to play a major role in developing and guiding the strong growth of our profession in Missouri. Because optometry is a legislated profession, the decisions made by politicians have a direct and often longlasting effect on optometry. The rules set forth in federal and state legislation have a broad impact on what optometrists can and cannot do with regard to patient care and the overall practice of optometry. Defending the rights of optometrists to practice full scope optometry is one of our most important roles. This may include working to defeat or modify bills which are unfair to optometry, or proposing bills which will advance our ability to practice and provide quality patient care. The MOA is dedicated to preserving and forwarding the interests of optometrists and their patients in the legislature to ensure that our patients continue to have access to quality vision care. The MOA ensures that optometry has a united voice in advancing our profession and our ability to care for our patients to the fullest extent of our training and licensure. Optometrists face obstacles from many groups such as government regulatory agencies, insurance companies, big business and other professions. Only a united optometric association can effectively lobby for and against legislation, protect the rights of optometrists in the courts and negotiate with the government on behalf of the individual optometrist. The Association continuously and strategically addresses issues in the legislature, courts, and regulatory agencies that benefit its members and the patients they serve.
12 Educational Excellence The profession of optometry is dynamic and rapidly changing. Technological advances demand individuals who are educated and well trained in the ophthalmic field. The MOA offers high quality continuing education programs by nationally recognized speakers to keep you up-to-date with the changing profession of optometry, learning new technology and improving management skills while fulfilling state licensure requirements. For the professional optometrist who wishes to compete in today s demanding health care environment, continuing education of this quality is a must. The MOA offers several different educational opportunities throughout the year, which MOA members may attend at reduced registration fees. Our annual convention in October and our legislative conference in January both offer opportunities for cutting-edge courses by renowned speakers. A unique CE course that is held in various areas in the Caribbean and Mexico is our annual Spring CE. Enjoy relaxing on a warm beach and scuba diving in between great educational courses. Local societies may also offer CE opportunities. Public Exposure for Optometry Your public image as a primary eye care provider is vital to your success as a doctor of optometry. The MOA works to enhance the public s perception and awareness of comprehensive optometric health care. We distribute information to better inform the public, educators and legislators about the role of optometry in providing primary eye and vision care. MOA membership gives you credibility. Your association membership lets your patients and your associates know that you subscribe to the highest standards of professional ethics, conduct and practices. Your #1 Information Source Your membership in the MOA gives you access to professional periodicals and communications. This includes a subscription to the online Vision newsletter, which is filled with interesting articles on the ophthalmic industry, state legislation, and information on upcoming events around the state that affect you, the association and your practice. A membership directory provides members with a reference to their fellow optometrists, including society and committee information. The MOA Web site www.moeyecare.org is your information resource for press releases, legislative updates, and up to the minute information about association activities. A Doctor Search feature allow patients to find your practice(s). There is also an online placement service for practitioners looking for buyers, partners or associates. The MOA periodically will send e-mails and faxes for urgent items that need immediate attention. We have also taken an active role in social media. On Facebook we have a closed MOA-Members Only group which provides a forum for member discussions. We also have a Twitter feed, which is available only to members. The MOA is your place for answers. If we don t have the answer, we will find it for you. No organization is better prepared to help Missouri optometry advance. With all of these benefits, MOA membership is a great bargain.
13 MOA Membership Classifications Active Member An optometrist who is a member in good standing of the Missouri Optometric Association, and who is licensed to practice in the State of Missouri. Active members may be elected to offices of the Association, have voice in the affairs of the Association and have voting rights on all business brought forward at the Association s annual convention. Partial Practice Member An optometrist who works a maximum of 16 hours per week in compensated optometric related activities and whose status is certified annually by the Missouri Optometric Association as a partial practice member in good standing and is licensed to practice optometry in the State of Missouri. Partial practice members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as an active member. The amount of dues paid is based working a maximum of 16 hours per week, and partial practice members shall pay 60% of base dues. Federal Services Member An optometrist on active duty in the armed services of the United States or on active duty in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or a full-time employee of the Veterans Administration or other federal governmental entity who is a member in good standing with the Missouri Optometric Association. Membership may continue until the end of the calendar year in which the federal services member retires or is released from active duty in the armed services of the United states public Health Service or leaves the full-time federal service. A federal services member shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as an active member. Federal services members shall pay annual dues equal to one-fourth of the MOA base annual dues paid by active members plus AOA dues. Student Member A student of optometry in a school or college accredited by the Council of Optometric Education who is a member in good standing of the Missouri Optometric Association. Such student membership may continue until such student has been graduated and been licensed to practice in the State of Missouri. Such student membership shall not continue after the end of the calendar year in which the student member has been licensed to practice, and in no event shall continue for more than eighteen months after graduation. Student members the MOA shall not be required to pay dues. An optometrist not engaged in the practice of optometry who is a full-time student or resident in an accredited institution or professionally accredited institute of higher education or a facility affiliated with such accredited institution. Such student membership shall continue during the period of attendance at such accredited institution. The dues shall be $35 annually during the year(s) of attendance. Student members shall have privilege of the floor but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.
14 Retired Member An optometrist who has been an active, partial practice, federal services, or optometric educator, has attained the age of 55 years, is no longer engaged in compensated optometric related activities, and whose status is certified annually by the Missouri Optometric Association as a retired member, who has not been approved for life membership and is a member in good standing. Retired members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of an active member. Retired members with MOA/ AOA benefits shall pay $100 annually. Retired members with MOA benefits only shall not be required to pay dues. Life Member An optometrist who has been an active, partial practice, optometric educator, retired, or federal services member of the Missouri Optometric Association for an extended period of time and who has been approved by the general membership for life membership to continue membership in the Missouri Optometric Association as a life member. Subject to the above, the following are eligible for consideration for life membership: A member who was current member for at least one year prior to transition in for life membership A member with at least 45 years accumulative, not necessarily continuous, years of membership A member, regardless of age or status of practice, with incapacity, the evidence of which is properly filed with the Missouri Optometric Association in support of the nomination. Life members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of an active member. Life members are not required to pay dues. Honorary Member Honorary membership may be conferred by majority vote of the membership present at the Missouri Optometric Association s annual convention upon any person who shall have rendered a distinguished service to the optometric profession. Honorary members shall have privilege of the floor but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office. Honorary members shall not be required to pay any dues. Associate Member There are three types of associate membership in the MOA: 1. Faculty Member. An individual not licensed to practice optometry that holds a faculty or an administrative position in an educational institution or program accredited by the Council on Optometric Education. Faculty members shall pay MOA base dues in the percentage equal to the AOA dues. 2. Paraoptometric. An individual who is, and continues to be, sponsored by an optometrist who is a member of the Missouri Optometric Association. Paraoptometric members shall pay $30 dues per year. 3. Non-Optometrist. A non-optometrist is a person who contributes to and supports the objectives of the Missouri Optometric Association. Non-optometrist members shall pay $500 dues per year. Associate members shall not be eligible to vote, hold office, or have privilege of the floor at the annual convention.
15 Non-Resident Member An optometrist who is an AOA member or is licensed by the State of Missouri but who resides and practices outside of the State of Missouri. Non-resident members shall have privilege of the floor but shall not be eligible to vote or hold office. A nonresident member shall pay annual MOA dues in an amount equal to 10% of the base annual membership dues for active members. Optometric Educator An optometrist who is a full-time educator primarily engaged in school related activities such as teaching, research, and administration at a school or college. An optometrist must be certified annually by a school or college of optometry for purposes of this membership classification determination as being at least ½ (one-half) full-time equivalent. Such optometric educator members are permitted to engage in the industrial, clinical or private practice of optometry for no more than 16 (sixteen) hours per week. Optometric educator members shall pay MOA base dues in a percentage equal to the AOA dues.