We have often stated that the Academy Sections offer a “home” for Fellows to expand their expertise in specialty areas, to facilitate information sharing for the benefit of the Academy and profession, to promote camaraderie, to encourage leadership, and to recognize those with significant accomplishments in their specialty. With the recent upswing of interest groups in the ophthalmic industry in areas that include glaucoma, dry eye, nutrition, and retina, among others, the time is right for a structure that allows these interest groups to form Special Interest Groups (SIG) within the American Academy of Optometry.
Over the past several years, the Board of Directors and a hard-working Presidential Advisory Task Force did a careful review of the Academy Sections. Included in the evaluation was a Section self-assessment with the following components examined: Section Bylaws, Diplomate programs, symposium development and coordination, leadership, and benefit to AAO membership. The Board has decided that there should be requirements for Sections to remain viable, and for SIGs to be created; this will be discussed further in detail at the business meeting.
Your Board welcomes you to attend the business meeting on Friday, November 13th at 6:00 PM in Grand Ballroom 8A where we will make this recommendation to the Academy membership and present a necessary Bylaws amendment. Our goal is to incorporate Special Interest Groups (SIGs) into our organizational structure. You will receive a detailed presentation of this proposal, and have an opportunity to ask questions and participate in further discussion prior to the vote on the issue.
Won’t you please join us?
