The Great Western Council of Optometry (GWCO) is a non-profit association formed in 1991 to provide a common voice for members within organized optometry, facilitate communication, enhance professional development, and provide financial support to affiliated state optometric associations. Today, GWCO is comprised of thirteen member state optometry associations including; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. A representative from each state makes up the GWCO Board of Directors. The board members volunteer countless hours throughout the year planning the annual GWCO Congress. In order to provide financial support to GWCO member states, all after-expense revenue, raised through the support of GWCO, is given back to the states each year. Since 1997, that has meant more than $2 million dollars in non-dues revenue to member state optometric associations! About GWCO Congress GWCO's annual education and networking event is packed full of outstanding ophthalmic education including courses on breakthrough technologies, pharmaceuticals, glaucoma, contact lenses, nutrition, increasing profit, paraoptometric research, and more! GWCO usually welcomes more than 750 attendees and more than 170 industry partner representatives for an educational and fun themed event. In 2020 we will be celebrating with a roaring 20's theme and educational sessions for ODs and AOPS. GWCO Congress was developed to provide an educational venue for the optometric professional in GWCO member states to come together and receive high-quality, multi-track optometric education. As a way to encourage the participation of members and state leaders, net profits from the annual congress are returned to the GWCO states based on an attendance formula.