I. MEMBERSHIP - QUALIFICATIONS, ADMISSIONS AND DUES |
A. ACTIVE MEMBERS1. The criteria for securing and maintaining active membership in this association are as follows: B. FEDERAL SERVICE MEMBERS1. The same criteria for securing and maintaining membership and method of application as applies to the Active Member category shall apply to this category. | C. PARTIAL PRACTICE MEMBERS1. The same criteria for securing and maintaining membership and method of application as applies to the Active Member category shall apply to this category. D. STUDENT MEMBERS1. The same criteria for securing and maintaining membership and method of application as applies to the Active Member category shall apply to this category. E. STUDENT MEMBERS1. The same criteria for securing and maintaining membership and method of application as applies to the Active Member category shall apply to this category. F. LIFE MEMBERS1. Eligibility for Consideration: |
G. HONORARY MEMBERS1. Nomination For Honorary membership shall be made in writing by a member in good standing of this Association to the President and referred to the Board of Directors for approval. H. FRIENDS OF THE AZOA MEMBER1. Criteria - Applicants for Friends of the AZOA membership in the Arizona Optometric Association shall, to the extent possible and reasonable: | I. RETIRED MEMBERS1. All optometrists applying for membership in this category shall make application directly to the AzOA, and upon approval of the Board of Directors and/or Executive Director shall become a Retired member. I. OPTOMETRIC EDUCATOR MEMBERS1. The same criteria for securing and maintaining membership and method of application as applies to the Active Member category shall apply to this category. |
II. DUES AND ASSESSMENTSDues for each calendar year shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by adoption of the budget at any regular or special meeting of the Association. |
A. SCHEDULE OF DUES AND ASSESSMENTS:1. Active: AzOA dues of $795.00 plus full AOA dues plus 100% of assessments. B. ASCENDING DUESAn Active member shall not be required to pay any dues or assessments during the calendar year in which they first obtain their license to practice optometry. The dues and assessments for each of the first, second, third and fourth calendar year thereafter shall be equivalent to ten percent (10%), twenty percent (20%), fifty percent (50%) and seventy-five percent (75%) respectively, of the annual dues otherwise applicable. | C. PRO-RATING ASSESSMENTSAssessments shall be pro-rated according to the ascending or descending scale for each membership category. D. DUES REDUCTIONSA member requesting a dues reduction must present to the Board in writing a summary of the individual’s circumstances that preclude them from meeting the obligation of payment of their dues. E. DELINQUENCY NOTICESIt is the policy of this Association that a notice be sent to all members delinquent in dues and or assessments, notifying them of the amount required to maintain membership and the procedure for future action. |
III. MEETINGSA. SPRING AND FALL CONGRESS1. There shall be a registration fee for the Spring and Fall Congress to be determined by the Congress Committee and approved by the AzOA Board of Directors. Student members will be required to pay a $20 registration fee. B.The AZOA Board of directors shall choose the sites for Spring and Fall congresses. The Fall Congress may be held in any location in Arizona, preferably remote from a downtown area. Fall Congress locations outside of the State of Arizona can be considered with the approval of the membership at a regular meeting of the association. C.Notice of special meetings of the membership shall be sent electronically or sent via regular mail to members at least thirty (30) days prior to such meetings and shall state the purpose for which the meetings are called. D. Congress Registration Refund Policy:1. Full refunds will be granted to anyone who is not able to attend the congress due to a death or serious illness in the family. E. Continuing Education Certificates2. The doctor’s registration will be verified and credited while the lecture is in progress by a designated AZOA officer. |
IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ELECTION OF OFFICERS |
A.There shall be four (4) At-Large Directors elected by the membership. B.Six (6) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. | C.Executive Board shall consist of the following members only: President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President. D.Election of officers shall be done by written ballot, if contested. |
V. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORA.The Board shall determine the compensation of the Executive Director and may, on behalf of the Association, enter into a contract with such Executive Director for a term not to exceed three (3) years; provided, however, that successive contracts may be entered into with the same person. B.The Executive Director shall administer the business and affairs and supervise the operation of the Association under the general guidance of the Board of Directors. He/She shall perform such duties as are ordinarily performed by persons in similar positions and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Board of Directors E.Any Executive Director who works three (3) days a week or more shall be considered a full-time employee and eligible for any applicable benefits. |
VI. RETIREMENT BENEFITS |
A.The AzOA has established a retirement plan for full-time employees. | B.A 401K contribution based on a 100% match up to 3.75% of the employee’s annual salary. |
VII. COMMITTEESA. NOMINATING COMMITTEEThis Committee shall be appointed by the President and include the Immediate Past-President who shall serve as Chairperson, and three other AZOA members in good standing B. BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEEThe Budget Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, who shall serve as Chairperson, and three (3) members, appointed by the President. The Budget Committee shall submit the proposed budget to the Board of Directors for ratification. B. SPECIAL AND AD-HOC COMMITTEESThe President of this Association during the period of his/her administration shall establish and prescribe the functions and appoint the members of such special or ad-hoc committees, as he/she deems necessary or desirable for the effective operation of his Association. |
VIII. CONFLICT OF INTERESTA. No member of the Board of Directors, the Executive Board, the Executive Director, or any of its Committee Chairs shall derive any personal profit or gain, directly or indirectly, by reason of his or her participation with the Arizona Optometric Association. A Conflict of Interest form provided by the Arizona Optometric Association shall be completed and returned within 30 days of the close of the Annual Spring Congress by all of above parties. |
IX. CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICEA. CODE OF ETHICS1. It shall be the duty of every optometrist to render the highest quality of vision care to all patients. B. STANDARDS OF PRACTICE1. Members shall abide by the Arizona Optometry Law and by the rulings of the Arizona State Board of Optometry. B. ANTITRUST COMPLIANCE POLICYIt shall be the policy of the Arizona Optometric Association to be in strict compliance with all Federal and State Antitrust laws, rule and regulations. Therefore; D. ADVERTISING GUIDELINESIt is the policy of the Arizona Optometric Association that the public should be provided with meaningful information on ophthalmic goods and services, to forbid any advertising that may be fraudulent or misleading, and to comply fully with all valid applicable state and federal laws and regulations. |
X. SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP |
A. MECHANISM FOR HEARING1. Upon receiving a complaint, the President shall appoint a committee of three (3) practicing optometrists, who are not AzOA Board members, to gather pertinent information on said case. The President will call a meeting of the Board for a hearing of the pertinent information. | B. APPEALS1. Either the defendant or the complainant may appeal the findings of the Hearing Committee, and be present at the meeting of the Board of Directors considering those findings. The appeal must be in writing and be justified on the basis that proper procedure was not followed, that information not available at the time of the hearing has developed, or that a decision was made that, on the face of it, ran counter to the evidence and testimony presented. B. REINSTATEMENT1. Membership will be automatically reinstated upon completion of term of suspension. |
XI. OUT-OF-STATE MEETINGSA.Authorized delegates to out-of-state meetings are to file a written report of the meeting and their reimbursement expenses with receipts attached within two weeks of the conclusion of the meeting. B.1. AOA Annual Congress: Meeting expenses for President, President-Elect and Vice President shall be reimbursed for attendance at AOA Annual Congress. Expenses shall include hotel accommodations booked in the official meeting room block, coach airfare, meeting registration fees, local transportation and a per diem of $50 to cover meals and incidentals. |
XII. LOCAL SOCIETIESThe following Societies have been approved by the Arizona Optometric Association Board of Directors: |
A.Southern Arizona Optometric Society. |
XIII. AWARDSA. OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR1. Formation of Committee: This professional service award recognizes an individual for outstanding participation and contributions to organized optometry in his or her community. It is intended that this award be used to indicate one person whose cumulative service up to the time of presentation exemplifies the tradition of unselfish service for the betterment of his or her profession and community. B. PRESIDENT’S AWARDThe President’s Award is presented at the Spring Congress to an individual selected by the president who has served in this administration in a leadership role and has made an outstanding contribution to the profession by virtue of this service. C. SIGHT CONSERVATION AWARDEach year the AzOA Board recognizes an individual or company who has made a significant contribution to the preservation of sight through the promotion of projects and programs to eye care and related fields. The award will be presented at the Spring Congress. D. YOUNG OD OF THE YEAR AWARD1. Formation of Committee: This professional service award recognizes an individual for outstanding participation and contributions to organized optometry in his or her community. It is intended that this award be used to indicate one person whose cumulative service up to the time of presentation exemplifies the tradition of unselfish service for the betterment of his or her profession and community. |
XIV. MISCELLANEOUS |
A.AzOA shall provide a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of Continuing Education annually. B.All recommendations to the Arizona State Board of Optometry and other agencies or Board shall be approved by the AzOA Board of Directors. C.A local society formed after 7/1/85 shall submit a constitution and by-laws to the Board of Directors for approval before being officially recognized. No requests will be considered without an initial minimum membership of eight (8) persons. | D.Member E-mail/e-blast release |