WHAT IS GRASSROOTS OPTOMETRY?

GO! is Michigan's answer to the problems optometry encountered in developing and maintaining influence in our state legislative process in the era of term limits. It is a system of political action tools designed by optometric leaders and administrated by a professional political action coordinator who works for the lobbying firm retained by the MOA. The Grassroots Optometry professionals work with OD's to meet three goals:

Organization and communications - A statewide network of OD's in each Senate and House District is maintained and utilized to coordinate political activities, track contributions and provide information on legislative issues and events. 

Financial Resource Development - A Pledge System targeting every registered Michigan OD is established requesting an annual commitment of funds from all optometrists in the state. When funds are needed for a legislator or candidate, individual checks are solicited by MOA Keypeople within the applicable Senate or House District from those who have pledged, as well as from local OD's. Careful records are kept to track total contributions to each recipient and to recognize those who contribute.

Human Resource Development - Not every doctor of optometry is comfortable with a political action role. GO! not only coordinates political activities, but it is also responsible for education and training OD's to be politically effective.

WHY DID WE DEVELOP GRASSROOTS OPTOMETRY?
We wanted to strengthen optometry's influence in the Michigan Legislature to allow us to realistically meet our legislative goals. As a direct result of term limits, there is a continuous rapid turnover in the state legislature. The majority of our lawmakers have far less experience in dealing with our issues compared to those who served before term limits. House members must work harder to prepare for their roles as leaders at the start of only their second term. Another reality of term limits is that we must also work much harder to deliver optometry's message to legislators. Every year we face a major effort to build new relationships between legislators, optometrists and MOA's professional staff.

HOW IS GRASSROOTS OPTOMETRY ORGANIZED?
A GO! Task Force of OD's set policy for the GO! Coordinator, each serving as a mentor for a Regional Director. The State of Michigan is divided into geographic regions headed by volunteer OD's who serve as Regional Directors. Each region has four to six Senate Districts, each represented by a Senate Keyperson who recruits House Keypeople for each of the four or five House Districts within the Senate District. Each House Keyperson is responsible for contacting the OD's within his or her House District. The "tree," thus created, allows requests for contributions and active campaign support to reach every OD, with news about optometry issues and events.

Become a MOA GO! Keyperson

Like it or not, optometry is a limited license profession, defined by and existing at the pleasure of the Michigan Legislature. We are fortunate to live in a democracy, with government by the people. We are, therefore, a participating democracy, and we must participate to ensure our future as optometrists. If we fail to participate, any worthy opponent can block our efforts to advance or even strip away the privileges earned in the past.

The only way to keep up with these sweeping changes is to continue to move our GO! efforts to the next level. We must all learn how to develop personal relationships with our senators and our representatives in order to protect our future in eye care. Because of term limits, today’s legislative clock runs much faster. Now is the time for each of us to get serious politically, keeping in mind that lobbying and relationship building is a process, not an event. It takes commitment of time and effort to be successful.

If you would be willing to serve as a GO! Keyperson, or would like additional information, please contact Stephanie Drake at 517.482.0616 or email at Stephanie@themoa.org.

Become a Federal Keyperson

The AOA has a rich history of legislative and political activism that has helped optometry reach its legislative goals in Congress through the Keyperson Program. More than 700 doctors of optometry now participate in the Keyperson Program, and through their efforts, optometry's views are heard throughout the halls of Congress.

Personal involvement in the political and legislative process is among the most important contributions AOA members can make to the profession. With the emphasis that has been placed on health care in Washington during the past two decades, grassroots participation by AOA members has been a vital component in conveying optometry's message to Capitol Hill. The Keyperson Program is an integral part of optometry's legislative strategy, and it has played a crucial role in our profession's legislative victories.

The goal of the Keyperson Program is to have at least one keyperson assigned to every member of Congress. Keypersons are volunteers who have an existing relationship with a legislator or are willing to forge a new relationship. These relationships come in many forms such as neighborhood, school, church, professional, civic or political. Many keypersons have a doctor-patient relationship with their legislator. What we seek in a keyperson is someone who knows their legislator and is willing to be a conduit for the profession.

If you would be willing to serve as an AOA keyperson, know a colleague who would be a good AOA keyperson, or would like additional information about the Keyperson Program, please contact MOA-AOA Federal Keyperson Coordinator, Dr. Matthew J. Maki at idocmaki@msn.com.