About NCSOC

The mission of the North Central States Optometric Council (NCSOC) is to provide a forum for exchange of information between member state associations, enhance optometric education in the region and further the political interests of member states in the American Optometric Association. These state associations in turn represent approximately 7,000 licensed doctors of optometry in the region.

The NCSOC was formed in 1965 with the state optometric associations in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota as the original members. Nebraska became the sixth member in the late 1960's, followed over the next 20 years by Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. State associations pay $600 annually in dues.

NCSOC has become an influential force in politics of the American Optometric Association and has provided a long list of AOA leaders, including six national presidents. North Central member states comprise the largest regional block of votes in AOA.

NCSOC is governed by a cabinet (board of directors) consisting of four elected officials plus the president, president-elect, and executive director of each member state association. The Cabinet typically meets three times a year to share information on legislative issues, third party developments, new association services for member doctors, technology, and trends impacting the profession nationally and throughout the region. This information exchange includes a caucus at the annual AOA Congress.

You can reach the NCSOC office by phone at (402) 476-3852; by fax at (402) 467-6547; by email at dmcbride@assocoffice.net; or by mail at 1633 Normandy Court, Suite A, Lincoln, NE, 68152.

President: John Warren, OD 4060 N. Main Street Racine, WI 53402 (262) 752-2020 Fax: (262) 752-2030 jwarren@eyecoderight.com	President-Elect: Scott Ream, OD 4060 N. Main Street Thayer, MO, 53402 Tel: (262) 752-2020 Fax: (262) 752-2030 jwarrenod@tds.net
Secretary/Treasurer: Marshall Dorsett, OD 310 8th Ave. NW Aberdeen, SD 57401 Tel: (605) 225-2020 Fax: (605) 226-2614 drdorsett@visioncareassociates.net	Executive Director: David S. McBride 1633 Normandy Court Suite A Lincoln, NE 68512 Tel: (402) 476-3852 Fax: (402) 476-6547 ncsoc@assocoffice.net
Immediate Past President: Kyle Brost, OD 352 S Broadview Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 Tel: (573) 334-8595 Fax: (573) 335-1934 drbrost@charter.net
How To Reach State Associations:
Illinois Michael Horstman, Exec. Dir. 304 W. Washington Street Springfield, IL 62701 Tel: (217) 525-8012 Fax: (217) 525-8018 ioaed@ioaweb.org Charlene Marsh, Assoc. Exec. Dir. 304 W. Washington Street Springfield, IL 62701 Tel: (217) 525-8012 Fax: (217) 525-8018 ioabb@ioaweb.org	Wisconsin Charles Brownlow, OD, Exec. Dir. 6510 Grand Teton Plz, Ste 312 Madison, WI 53719 Tel: (608) 274-4322 Fax: (608) 274-8646 brownlowod@aol.com Peter Theo, Assoc. Exec. Dir. 6510 Grand Teton Plz, Ste 312 Madison, WI 53719 Tel: (608) 824-2200 Fax: (608) 824-2205 petertheo@tds.net
Kansas Gary Robbins, CAE, Exec. Dir. 1266 SW Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS 66612 Tel: (785) 232-0225 Fax: (785) 232-6151 gary@kansasoptometric.org	Iowa Gary Ellis, Exec. Dir. 1454 30th St., Ste. 204 West Des Moines, IA 50266 Tel: (515) 222-5679 Fax: (515) 222-9073 ioaaed@aol.com
Minnesota James Meffert-Nelson, Exec. Dir. 26 E. Exchange St., 5th Floor St. Paul, MN 55101 Tel: (800) 678-8232 Fax: (651) 290-2266 jimm@mneyedocs.org	Missouri Joyce Baker, Exec. Dir. 100 E. High Street, Suite 301 Jefferson City, MO 65101 Tel: (573) 635-6151 Fax: (573) 635-7989 joyce@mmoeyecare.org
Nebraska David McBride, Exec. Dir. 1633 Normandy Court Suite A Lincoln, NE 68512 Tel: (402) 476-3852 Fax: (402) 476-6547 noa@assocoffice.net	North Dakota Nancy Kopp, Exec. Dir. 921 S. 9th Street Bismark, ND 58504 Tel: (701) 258-6766 Fax: (701) 258-9005 ndoa@btinet.net
South Dakota Cathie Ellis, Exec. Dir. P.O. Box 1173 Pierre, SD 57501 Tel: (605) 224-8199 Fax: (605) 224-6047 sdeyes3@pie.midco.net