COA House of Delegates Review

The 2014 COA House of Delegates (HOD) signals a fresh season for the organization. COA inaugurated a new president, 
Dr. John Rosten, and added a new board member, Dr. Ronald Seger.

The 2014 COA Board of Trustees:

In addition to the changes in leadership, delegates voted on a number of bylaw and policy resolution proposals that enhance the governance of COA, the largest state optometric association in the nation:

Bylaws Amendment Number Oneand Policy Resolution Number One are related proposals about paraoptometric membership and dues and both were passed unanimously. These changes were passed in line with those made by the American Optometric Association earlier this year. The following explains what the proposals accomplish:

• Defines paraoptometric membership eligibility as limited to staff of a COA member doctor; there is no limit on the number of a COA member’s staff who can join COA.
• Eliminates dues for COA paraoptometric membership.
• Eliminates the Paraoptometric Section; it had not been functioning for years.
• Paraoptometric membership with COA is now available; COA staff is currently devising the membership application.

Bylaws Amendment Number Two concerns the composition of the Board of Trustees (BOT). It was passed. The following explains the proposal:

• Changes the required number of trustees on the COA BOT from a fixed number of 10 to a range of 8-10.
• Allows the board to operate at full capacity with 8 to 10 members.
• Addresses that fact that board membership could be less than 10 due to any of the following factors: a trustee dies or is incapacitated in such a way that he or she cannot fulfill the duties of the position, resigns from the board, moves out of state, quits membership, is suspended from membership for not paying dues or found to have engaged in an ethical violation, or is removed on a three-quarters vote by the board for failure to perform his or her duties; as well as lack of candidate availability as happened this year (only nine members of board due to a lack of candidates).

Bylaws Amendment Number Three concerns the term of the COA secretary-treasurer position. This measure failed.

• It would have reduced the term of the COA secretary-treasurer from two years to one year.

Optometric Student Section Bylaws to govern the COA Optometric Student Section. The new bylaws were passed unanimously.

• The students of all three colleges worked with the chair of the COA Membership Committee and staff to develop the bylaws.

Policy Resolution Number Two concerns maintaining the author’s intent for COA policy resolutions. The measure failed.

• Would have required the author of a proposed bylaws amendment or policy resolution that is sent to a reference committee by the COA HOD to be appointed as a member of that reference committee.

Policy Resolution Number Three would establish that the COA HOD formally recognize the annual COA Presidents’ Council meeting. It passed unanimously.

• Provides for the creation of a COA Presidents’ Council Planning Committee comprised of two COA trustees appointed by the COA president and four representatives from COA societies chosen at random by the societies.
• Provides that a society may not be represented on the committee again until each society has been selected for the committee.

Policy Resolution Number Four concerns the retention of the California Vision Project. It was passed as amended.

• Provides that the California Vision Project be retained as a charitable program of COA within the California Vision Foundation.
• Directs that the COA secretary-treasurer work with COA staff to determine the minimum cost for COA to administer the California Vision Project.
• Directs that the COA secretary-treasurer negotiate a "fair and reasonable" charge by COA to CVF to administer the California Vision Project based upon the cost findings.
• Asks the COA Board of Trustees to thank those doctors and others who have volunteered services, products and monies to the California Vision Project.

Policy Resolution Number Five concerns the duration of OptoWest. It was passed as amended.

• Asks the COA Board of Trustees to review the possibility of retaining OptoWest as a multi-day educational function held in a major metropolitan area.

Policy Resolution Number Six concerns past policy resolutions. It was passed.

• Provides that COA HOD policy resolutions previously deleted by the HOD that are categorized as "ongoing or completed" be archived and considered in force.

Policy Resolution Number Seven concerns the duration of HOD. It was passed as amended.

Designates the House of Delegates meeting as the annual meeting of COA and for that meeting to remain a two-day meeting.

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