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Dr. Nelson served in 2001-02 as 80th President of the American Optometric Association (AOA), a 33,000 member organization of optometrists, following his eight years of service on the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees of AOA, in concert with the AOA Executive Director, oversee the headquarter offices in St. Louis, Missouri and Washington, D.C. with approximately one hundred employees and a nationwide group of volunteer colleagues.  Dr. Nelson’s involvement while on the Board of Trustees included resolving a nationwide, eight-year, anti-trust defense against the association leveled by the state's attorney generals, increasing the association assets nearly forty-fold while defending the lawsuit, initiating the AOA Ophthalmic Council for industry partners and increasing the annual meeting attendance more than threefold.  He served as liaison to each of the organizational centers of the AOA; Federal and State Government Relations, Communication, Membership, Clinical Care, and Administrative Centers.  Dr. Nelson participated in two Executive Director Search Committees.  He served on the personnel, building, finance, and pension fund committees in addition to his year as Secretary-Treasurer of the organization.  Dr. Nelson served as the United States representative to the World Council of Optometry in 2000 and 2001, an organization for optometrists from more than 40 countries, attending meetings in South Africa and Finland.  In addition, Dr. Nelson attended meetings in Japan for the Ophthalmic Council in 2001.  For five years following his term as President of the AOA, Dr. Nelson served on the Judicial Council of the organization.