Vision Expo West
Area wide and Affiliate Events
September through November is a busy time for the NOA Executive Board and Executive Director Terri Ogden, with events across the West. 
Vision Expo West is the ideal time to reconnect with our industry partners and ask them for their continued support of our patients, our NOA doctors, and the NOA itself. The dues we pay to the AOA ($972) and the NOA ($878) for full-time ODs are not enough to keep the organization going daily. We must maintain those relationships to continue supporting the organization. Terri will be at VEW in Las Vegas to connect with current and potential partners about being NOA Partners in 2025. Vision Expo is also a great place to learn about some of the latest optometric innovations and optical offerings in person. Terri would love to see you there as the host state and in-kind partner of Vision Expo.
Every Fall, the AOA invites all affiliates to a State Government Relations Committee (SGRC) meeting. This past year, the AOA split what was once a sizeable national meeting into regional meetings; the NOA met in San Diego last October. Our Executive Director was accompanied by NOA Legislative Committee Chair Dr. Jonathan Mather and NOA President-Elect Dr. Troy Ogden to meet with the other Western state AOA affiliates to discuss our ongoing legislative issues and grassroots challenges. Nevada had our big win with our consumer protection bill in June 2023, but seeing what Oklahoma and Texas have passed is one reason why the NOA Board is considering a further cleanup bill for patient protection. This, along with scope expansion and "Not a Doctor" bills, will be discussed at the SGRC Western Regional Advocacy Meeting in Seattle on October 4 and 5. NOA member Assemblyman Dr. Greg Koenig will be a panelist at this event. Any member is welcome to attend.
The Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) Congress in Portland every October is four days of excellent continuing education, networking, and sharing with colleagues from the 11 other member states. The NOA President, NOA President-Elect, NOA Executive Director, and the NOA GWCO Representative attend the GWCO Presidents' Council. This meeting is an opportunity for us to understand better the challenges that our optometric friends in other Western states face. This collaboration is a cornerstone for the future of the practice of optometry. The 2024 GWCO Congress is at the Hyatt Regency Portland, October 17-20. The GWCO Congress will move across the Willamette River to its new home at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront in 2025.
Another meeting of note:
Academy 2024 Indianapolis - November 6-9
Our Executive Director will attend the AOA's ED2DC meeting on September 25-27 in Alexandria, Virginia, and the annual International Association of Optometric Executives (IAOE) meeting on November 13-15 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Report Your Concerns Regarding Managed Care Plan Abuses
Do you have a complaint or concern regarding abuses by managed care plans (i.e., vision or medical plans)? The NOA now has a reporting tool for you to use to submit your concerns.