Membership Development Committee Report [Q4 2025]

As the newest Trustee of the FOA, I would like to wish everyone happy holidays.

As we come to the end of 2025, let us reflect on our accomplishments, both professional and family. Let us look forward to the New Year, all the new possibilities, and future successes. We need to keep optometry in the forefront, grow our membership, continue performing optometry to the highest level of our education, serve our patients as they deserve, and never stand still.

What does it mean to be a member of an organization, and why do we need to be a member of the FOA?

Having a common purpose with a specific mission; our mission: to protect, promote, and progress the profession of optometry in Florida.

Receiving member benefits such as professional development, networking, and resources: legal and regulatory support, discounted credit card services, and others.

Continuing to promote optometry by lobbying, performing public outreach, and educating the layperson.

Sustaining membership by retention and addition; finding new and interesting ways to gain new members, reminding them about benefits and the importance of membership. Sometimes, just asking non-members is all it takes.

Continuing fundraising for the FOA, as a legislative profession; what the pen gives, the pen takes. When choosing continuing education events, please think local. Local FOA society CE helps optometry; private corporate CE helps corporations, not optometry.

Think about mentorship; contact an optometry student or a new graduate, ask them if they need any advice, take them for a coffee, bring them to a meeting, introduce them to the society, and get them to join the FOA.

Long ago, as a new OD, I was approached by a senior OD about going to Legislative Lunch Day in Tallahassee. Legislative Lunch was an opportunity to meet with state legislators and their staff to discuss optometry, educate them on what an optometrist is and what we do—a grassroots approach with direct contact. I was not “asked” about going; I was “told” I was going. As a U.S. Army veteran, that was the best order I have ever received. On this trip, I learned that legislators are just regular people—citizens elected to represent the people of the great state of Florida. They want to meet their constituents face-to-face and get to know about us as we get to know them. Make direct contact; get phone numbers and emails for future encounters. Many engagements were very positive, but not all; legislators may have different agendas, backgrounds, and values. Knowing this is a very important learning experience as well.

This was my eye-opener about the importance of being a member, becoming involved, and staying involved.

My involvement started as a member, progressing to leadership as Vice President of SWFOA, then President of SWFOA, to the Board of Optometry, and now your newest FOA Trustee.

Involvement means different things to different people. Not everyone wants to be in a leadership position, but everyone can be involved in some way and stay involved.

Of course, if you are reading this, you are a member of the FOA and involved in optometry—thank you.

Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing everyone at the 2026 FOA Convention at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, July 16–19, 2026. Registration is open: https://www.floridaeyes.org/

Sincerely,

Stuart I. Kaplan
FOA Trustee, Membership Committee