Pennsylvania Optometric Association
Spring Congress 2023

Date & Time: March 30 – April 2, 2023
Location: Wyndham Gettysburg

Connect with PECAA Solutions Specialist, Dan Lombardo and PECAA Executive Vice President & General Manager of Strategic Sales, Laura Dorris at Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s spring event!

The Spring Congress features 25.5 hours of education, an exhibit hall, social events, and more! See more info below:

• DOCTOR, STUDENT, AND GUEST REGISTRATION
• PARA REGISTRATION
  
• HOTEL RESERVATIONS
• CHECK OUT THE FULL CONGRESS BROCHURE

Gettysburg – Where History Was Made

Gettysburg is known around the world for the three-day battle that took place there in 1863. You can learn about the Battle of Gettysburg and its place in American history several fun and exciting ways. Take a tour of the battlefield by Segway, scoot coupe, horseback, scooter, carriage, or by bicycle. You can go by foot, in a car, on a bus, or even in a hot air balloon! Let a Licensed Battlefield Guide, a CD, or an iPad show you the way. Choose the method that works best for you. Explore the hands-on museums for a further understanding of the town’s history. President Eisenhower also left his mark on Gettysburg. Learn all about it at the Eisenhower National Historic Site where his Gettysburg retirement home is preserved and open for tours, or head into the countryside and explore the farm markets lining the back-country roads. From wine to cider to beer, there is something for everyone along the Adams County Pour Tour craft beverage trail. For something that will get your heart racing, sign up for a nighttime ghost tour and learn all about the haunted buildings that are steeped in Gettysburg history.

The Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel

Retreat to a sprawling hotel, dining, and entertainment campus near the heart of one of America’s most historic and beloved cities. A charming, family-friendly hotel, the Wyndham Gettysburg features beautifully appointed, stately rooms and suites, farm-fresh cuisine, and easy access to Gettysburg’s historic monuments and sights. Reservations can be made by calling the Wyndham Gettysburg at 717-339-0020 and asking for the POA rate of $149.00 per night plus tax, or by making your reservation online here.

2023 Gettysburg “Historic” Road Rally

Proceeds benefit student attendance at Congress

A family friendly challenge to explore interesting, historical sites in and around Gettysburg. Each car needs a minimum of two people: a driver and a navigator. The more eyes, the better! The rally is a mobile scavenger hunt while traveling along a predetermined route. Put your navigational skills to work and learn a little history about the Battle of Gettysburg. Follow clues along the route, answer questions, and log your mileage. Prizes awarded to the most attentive. Allow two hours to complete the course. Water and snacks will be provided.

Starting time is 1:00 p.m. on Thursday in the hotel parking lot. However, if you can’t be at the official start on Thursday, you can still enjoy the challenge and compete for a prize; just pick up a rally packet at the POA registration table and complete the course on your own time. All answer sheets need to be turned in by noon on Saturday. Winners will be announced on Saturday in the Exhibit Hall. The entry fee is $50 per car.

Annual Awards Ceremony

The POA’s annual awards ceremony takes place Friday evening. Come and congratulate all the recipients, both those nominated by local societies and the state winners.

Rep Your College Night!

A Night at Battlefield Brew Works – Hosted by 2023 POA President Dr. Jesse Jones

This brewery, distillery, restaurant, and pub building is special. Built around 1848, the barn was part of one of the largest Confederate field hospitals after the battle. It stands as an excellent example of adaptive re-use. This historic building is just a short drive from our host hotel. We have taken over the Brewery for Friday evening to enjoy their craft beer, artisanal spirits, good food, and live entertainment by Dr. Mark Margolies and his band. Make sure to get your tickets early because this will be a sell-out, and capacity is limited. Your ticket includes a variety of food, drinks of your choice, entertainment, and a CD from the Mark Margolies Band! Rep your Alma Mater by dressing in your school colors. Let’s create a little school rivalry among friends!

Check out the Mark Margolies Band here!

Saturday Night Ghost Gathering

Gather around the fire pits at the hotel for an evening of ghost stories and s’mores. Lance Windish from Gettysburg Ghost Stories will entertain, thrill, and scare you with stories from the history of Gettysburg. This is a family-friendly event and will be held indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Pack a sweatshirt!

Find the Latest and Greatest in our Exhibit Hall

POA will be offering a continental breakfast in the exhibit hall on Saturday morning, coffee break mid-morning, and lunch later in the day. So stop in for a quick Danish and coffee, and say hello to the exhibitors. Walk around and see who you’ll come back to talk with over lunch. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the lunch session.

“What Does My Association Do For Me?”

State of the Association Lunch

All POA members are invited to join this lunch program. Enjoy networking with your colleagues over lunch, and then engage with our Platinum Business Partners as they let you in on what’s new and hot with their companies. This will be followed by an update by 2023 POA President Dr. Jesse Jones on what your dues dollars are doing for you relative to membership benefits and legislative efforts in 2023.

Have questions? Contact Ilene Sauertieg

Email: Ilene@poaeyes.org

Phone: 717-233-6455