AOA Internal Member Benefits Guide

AOA Internal Member Benefits Guide


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Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the latest version of the AOA's Internal Member Benefits Guide as an attachment.

About this Guide

This is an internal guide to communicating AOA benefits. It is designed to ensure we present membership benefits in a consistent and compelling way.

Notes
The current version available was updated on 2/20/2026.

Who it’s for.

Key collaborators and partners responsible for crafting strategy and public or member-facing communications, such as:
  1. AOA and affiliate staff.
  2. AOA and affiliate volunteer leaders.
  3. Consultants or marketing agencies. 

Who it’s not for.

This is not a public or member-facing marketing piece or brochure. Do not share, in full, with:
  1. Members who are not in leadership. 
  2. The public.

How to Use this Guide

Refer to this guide when developing membership or marketing copy and collateral—email, direct mail, talking points, web pages, scripts, templates, etc.
  1. Choose the right benefits. Highlighting one or a few highly relevant benefits can be far more impactful than an exhaustive list. Based on your audience and the type of message, consider which of these benefits make the most sense to include. 
  2. Copying is allowed (and encouraged). Language used in the description or blurb has been vetted and approved for use, so feel free to use it verbatim. 
  3. Customize as needed; we’ll help edit. Feel free to draft edits to fit the tone and style of your project. But use this guide as a starting point and try to stick to the spirit of the language.  Submit any proposed edits to our Proofing Pool, or contact Austin Groothuis below. 
  4. Watch for updates. We post the latest version on the Affiliate Resource Hub.

Questions?

Please contact agroothuis@aoa.org. 

Alphabetical Benefits Listing 

Here's a list of benefits in the guide, with their page number (download the full guide, attached below).

• Advocacy for the Profession 5
• Affiliate Membership 6
• AOA Focus Magazine 13
• AOA Foundation, The 10
• AOA on Capitol Hill 9
• Career Center
            For Employers 17
            For Job Seekers 19
• CE through AOA EyeLearn 13
• Center for Independent Practice (CIP) 17
• Clinical Guidelines 13
• Coding
            AOA Coding Today 15
            Ask the Coding Experts 16
            Codes for Optometry and Coding Resource Bundles 16
• Credit Cards 23
            Credit and Debit Card Processing 24
• Disaster Relief Funds 11
• Discounts
            AOA Marketplace 17
            Optometry's Meeting Registration 7
• Electronic Health Records 22
• Find a Doctor of Optometry Online Tool 15
• First Look Daily Email Updates 14
• Golden Opportunity Award 11
• InfantSEE 10
• In-Office Membership Plans 23
• Insurance
            Disability and Life 21
            Malpractice Insurance 21
• Leadership Institute 19
• Leadership Institute 2.0 20
• Networking Opportunities and Meetings 8
• Optometry’s Meeting Registration Discount 7
• Paraoptometric Staff Complimentary Membership 16
• Personal Financial Tools 24
            Laurel Road Personal Finance Tools 22
            Retirement Savings Plan 22
• Practice Management Software 22
• Public Outreach, Education, and Awareness for the Profession 6
• Scholarships & Grants 10
• Specialty Groups 9
• Staff and Volunteer Support 8
• Student Loan Guidance 23
• Support Navigating Health and Vision Plans 7
• Volunteer Leadership 19
• Week in Focus Email Updates 14
 


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