Get Involved

The North Carolina Optometric Society offers many ways to get involved, from simply providing financial support to serving on Executive Council. No matter what your commitment level is or your interests are, there is an opportunity for everyone to be involved. To give you a better understanding of all our opportunities and also showcase all the work our volunteers do, we've provided the details below along with a way for you to submit your volunteer interest. 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the North Carolina Optometric Society. The NCOS would not be what it is without the service of our members. Member involvement is two-fold. It allows the NCOS to utilize member knowledge, resources, and time to help carry out its mission and core competencies. It also provides members the opportunity to network and grow professionally while supporting and giving back to the profession.

The profession of optometry continues to become more diverse. The NCOS is committed to having those serving within its volunteer structure be reflective of our overall membership and the profession as a whole.

Executive Council

The NCOS Executive Council is made up of the following positions (click on each for position description):

  • Officers (5) – serve 1-year term
    • President
    • President-Elect
    • Vice President
    • Secretary/Treasurer
    • Immediate Past President
  • Trustees (6) – serve 2-year term; serve maximum of 3 consecutive terms 
    • Administrative Affairs Trustee
    • Membership Trustee
    • Professional Education Trustee
    • Public Affairs Trustee
    • State Affairs Trustee
    • Third Party Trustee
  • District Presidents (10) – serve as long as they are President

The terms for Officers and Trustees are November-November. Historically, members serve as a Trustee before moving up to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

The NCOS Nominations committee is tasked with considering interested candidates to serve as an Officer or Trustee on Executive Council. The committee, which is appointed by the President and President-Elect, prepares a slate of nominees to be presented and voted on by membership during the annual business meeting at Fall Congress.

To be considered for an Officer or Trustee position, please submit a Volunteer Interest form by September 16, 2024.

Other Volunteer Positions

(click on each for position description) 

    • Committees are set each year in December by the newly elected President. Each committee falls under one of the six Trustee Divisions. The committees for 2025 include:
      • Administrative Affairs
      • Continuing Education
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Grassroots
      • Investment
      • Membership
      • Public Affairs
      • Third Party
      • Young ODs - made up of Young OD Representatives

To be considered for a committee position, please submit a Volunteer Interest form by November 1, 2024.

Other Ways to Get Involved

(click on each for more details) 

Programs:

  • Leadership Program - creates more avenues for young ODs to engage and experience the significant role NCOS plays in the profession through active participation.
  • Mentorship Program - provides an invaluable method of networking with optometrists across the state of North Carolina, bringing prospective and young optometrists into the mix in an effort to increase civic engagement and build new foundations for growth.
  • VISION NC - provides free eye exams to low-income, uninsured individuals in North Carolina.
  • Diabetic Eye Care Collaborative - provides a dilated diabetic ophthalmic examination with results submitted to patient's primary care physician. 
  • InfantSee - provides no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessments for infants 6-12 months old regardless of a family's income or access to insurance coverage.

Financial Support:

  • NCOS PAC - funds are used to support the candidates identified as most supportive of the issues facing NC optometry (donations must be made from a personal credit card or checking account).
  • AOA PAC - funds are used to support the candidates identified as most supportive of the issues facing optometry on the federal level.
  • Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation - philanthropic and charitable organization that raises awareness about the importance of eye health, increases access to vision care, and provides support to doctors of optometry and students in need.

Attend local and state meetings:

  • Districts - Joining your local district provides a great way to connect and socialize with local colleagues while earning CE credits. All CE provided is included in your local district society's membership dues.
  • Virtual Seminar - this one-day seminar allows you to earn CE virtually from national speakers.
  • Spring and Fall Congress - Our Congresses offer a non-formal setting to connect and socialize with fellow optometrists while earning CE from both state and national speakers. Attending the annual business meeting at Fall Congress allows you to vote on matters of the Society.
  • Legislative Day - Advocate for your patients, practices, and profession by attending our annual Legislative Day in Raleigh.