HOUSE OF DELEGATES 124TH ANNUAL CONGRESS JUNE 24-26, 2021 | Denver, Colorado OPTOMETRY’S MEETING® 2021 House of Delegates Barbara L. Horn, O.D., Speaker of the House Committees of the House of Delegates Credentials Committee Matthew E. Jones, O.D., Chair Roya Attar, O.D. Dwight M. Burchett, O.D. Blytheville, AR Madison, MS Richmond, KY Nominating Committee Selina R. McGee, O.D., Chair Christopher C. Cordes, O.D. Erin L. McCleary, O.D. Edmond, OK Albuquerque, NM Plainville, CT Eric C. McPeak, O.D. Christine F. Renner, O.D. Daniel D. Schrempp, O.D. Hiawatha, KS Mauston, WI Lewiston, ID Nathaniel D. Shilman, O.D. Jennifer Vincent, O.D. Alan G. Wegener, O.D. Dickinson, ND Avon Lake, OH Liberty, MO Resolutions Committee Robert M. Theaker, O.D., Chair Brian S. Klinger, O.D. Breanne B. McGhee, O.D. Hollister, CA Rye, NH New Orleans, LA Johndra U. McNeely, O.D. Maria S. Richman, O.D. Annabelle M. Storch, O.D. Greenville, SC Manasquan, NJ Newport Beach, CA Christopher W. Wroten, O.D. Hammond, LA Sergeant-at-Arms Committee Andrew J. Mackner, O.D., Chair Bibin J. Cherian, O.D. Golden Valley, MN Yukon, OK Officers President President-Elect Vice President William T. Reynolds, O.D. Robert C. Layman, O.D. James P. DeVleming, O.D. Richmond, KY Toledo, OH Pullman, WA Secretary-Treasurer Immediate Past President Ronald L. Benner, O.D. Barbara L. Horn, O.D. Laurel, MT Myrtle Beach, SC Trustees Steven T. Reed, O.D. Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D. Lori L. Grover, O.D., Ph.D. Magee, MS Greeley, CO Oakbrook Terrace, IL Teri K. Geist, O.D. Terri A. Gossard, O.D., M.S. Curtis A. Ono, O.D. Omaha, NE Cincinnati, OH Seattle, WA Staff Executive Director Jon F. Hymes Alexandria, VA The AOA Optometric Oath With full deliberation I freely and solemnly pledge that: I AFFIRM that the health of my patient will be my first consideration. I WILL practice the art and science of optometry faithfully and conscientiously, and to the fullest scope of my competence. I WILL uphold and honorably promote by example and action the highest standards, ethics and ideals of my chosen profession and the honor of the degree, Doctor of Optometry, which has been granted me. I WILL provide professional care for those who seek my services, with concern, with compassion and with due regard for their human rights and dignity. I WILL place the treatment of those who seek my care above personal gain and strive to see that none shall lack for proper care. I WILL hold as privileged and inviolable all information entrusted to me in confidence by my patients. I WILL advise my patients fully and honestly of all which may serve to restore, maintain or enhance their vision and general health. I WILL strive continuously to broaden my knowledge and skills so that my patients may benefit from all new and efficacious means to enhance the care of human vision. I WILL share information cordially and unselfishly with my fellow doctors of optometry and other professionals for the benefit of patients and the advancement of human knowledge and welfare. I WILL do my utmost to serve my community, my country and humankind as a citizen as well as a doctor of optometry. I HEREBY commit myself to be steadfast in the performance of this my solemn oath and obligation. HOUSE OF DELEGATES INFORMATION March 26, 2021 The 124th Annual Congress of the American Optometric Association is scheduled be held June 24 -26, 2021, at Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado, with the first meeting of the House of Delegates called for 8 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Credentials Desk will open on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at a time and location to be determined. Beginning on Thursday, June 24, 2021, the Credentials Desk will be located outside the House of Delegates room. CREDENTIALS Credentialing materials to be completed and signed by the affiliated association president and secretary will be sent under separate cover. Once you receive them, please complete and return the credentialing materials to the AOA St. Louis office no later than June 9, 2021, so that the secretary-treasurer and the credentials committee may examine and verify credentials of all delegates and alternates for the purpose of seating delegates. Each affiliated association shall be entitled to one (1) delegate for each fifty (50) of its members and optometric educator members, except that student, honorary, associate or provisional members shall not be counted at all, and any members, except optometric educator members, who pay less than the full active member dues (not taking into account the reductions in dues permitted under paragraphs C.8., F and G of Section 2 of Article I of these Bylaws) shall be counted as one-half (1/2) member. A member shall only be eligible to be counted in the foregoing calculation if the proper amount of dues owed by that member for all financial quarter periods ending not less than 60 days before the first day of the annual congress, and all prior periods have been paid and received at this association not more than 30 days (said 30 days to be deemed to be a grace period for submitting such dues) after the last business day of the last financial quarter ending not less than 60 days before the first day of the annual congress, which excludes any Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday (and such dues must be actually received by said date and not just be postmarked by said date); provided, however, that an affiliated association having less than fifty (50) such members shall nonetheless be entitled to one (1) regular delegate. Any member who receives any dues waiver pursuant to the process described in paragraph G of Section 2 of Article I of these Bylaws shall not be counted for credentialing purposes during the year following the year in which the waiver applied (Article II, Section 3). VOTING Each affiliated association shall be entitled to one (1) vote on any matter coming before the House for each ten (10) of its members and optometric educator members, except that student, honorary, associate or provisional members shall not be counted at all, and any members, except optometric educator members, who pay less than the full active member dues (not taking into account the reductions in dues permitted under paragraphs C.8., F and G of Section 2 of Article I of these Bylaws) shall be counted as one-half (1/2) member. A member shall only be eligible to be counted in the foregoing calculation if the proper amount of dues owed by that member for the last quarter (as defined in Article II, Section 11) and all previous financial quarters have been paid and received (not merely postmarked) at this association by the credentialing deadline (as defined in Article II, Section 11). Any member who receives any dues waiver pursuant to the process described in paragraph G of Section 2 of Article I of these bylaws shall not be counted for credentialing purposes during the year following the year in which the waiver applied. However, each affiliated association as of the last business day of the last quarter (as defined in Article II, Section 11). The delegation representing the student members shall be entitled to three (3) votes on any matter coming before the House. The total vote of each delegation may be cast by its delegate or delegates present when the vote is called. RESOLUTIONS All resolutions submitted by affiliated associations and delivered to the AOA Secretary- Treasurer at least 15 days prior to the first day of the annual congress are automatically submitted to the resolutions committee. (Any resolution not submitted at least 15 days prior to the first day of the congress shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote by the House in order to be received and referred to the resolutions committee.) Resolutions should be submitted in typewritten form, double-spaced, with source of origin of the resolution clearly indicated on the first page. The House of Delegates will be also be asked to consider the recommended revisions to AOA resolutions and substantive motions made as part of the Judicial Council’s required five-year review process in 2020. The recommended revisions are available for viewing on the “Governance” tab on the aoa.org homepage. DECEASED MEMBERS During a session of the House of Delegates, tribute will be paid to all of our departed brother and sister practitioners who were members of the American Optometric Association. You will receive from AOA Dues Accounting a list of AOA members who were affiliated through your association and who have passed away between November 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. You will be asked to make corrections to the list and return it to AOA. We do not want to overlook a single one of these members. DELEGATE SEATING The House of Delegates will be composed of delegates representing members of the affiliated associations. Past presidents, members of the AOA Board of Trustees, and the delegates representing sections are privileged to participate in all matters before the House but do not vote in such capacity. An alternate delegate may be selected for each delegate. If a delegate is unable to attend the congress or is absent from a session of the House, the delegation may designate any of its alternate delegates to act in the place of the absent delegate. After being so designated, the alternate should inform the Credentials Desk, receive a delegate's ribbon, and then be seated with his/her delegation.