We are proud to offer this specialedition insert in EyeCareProfessional magazine. This insert isjust one more way the OpticiansAssociation of America continues toeffectively communicate with opticians as we grow and strengthenas an industry. I hope you areencouraged by what you read and

will not only provide feedback but will get involved bybecoming a member of OAA. In order to have a strongnational organization working on behalf of opticians, it is imperative that everyone get involved.

The Opticians Association of America has been veryproactive over the past few months. OAA has recentlyhired Chris Allen to lead the organization as ExecutiveDirector. Mr. Allen’s past experiences have included sev-eral leadership roles, including a position on the staff offormer U. S. Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN), executivedirector of the Hardwood Forest Foundation, executivedirector of the Hardwood Federation—the nation’slargest forest products association, and executive direc-tor of MPACT Memphis.

After almost a year of careful deliberation, the OAABoard of Directors relocated the OAA NationalHeadquarters from Virginia to Memphis, Tennessee.OAA made this strategic move to take advantage of acentral location with a cost-effective environment forthe organization to grow and prosper. The move willallow more opticians to have better access to ournumerous services and benefits. Everyone is excitedabout the move and we feel very confident OAA willflourish in Tennessee.

OAA also recently held the 24th Annual StateLeadership Conference in New Orleans, LA. Under thetheme “The Future is Now,” the leaders from over 20states and Canada attended educational seminars andtopic specific breakout sessions that addressed subjectsfrom growing membership numbers and legislativeaffairs to hosting meetings and communication syner-gy. The conference is the only event that attracts such alarge group of state leaders to learn from one another,make new connections within the industry and obtainthe latest techniques in association management.

As you can tell, OAA continues to move forward to serveopticians around the country by promoting opticianrythough education, legislation, and communication.Please visit our web page at www.oaa.org to see themany programs that are offered from on-line educa-tion, study and reference materials for the ABO andNCLE exams, a job bank, and our legislative centerespecially for OAA members. You can also register forthe 2009 National Opticians Convention, which willtake place from September 10–13 in Cincinnati, Ohio inconjunction with the ABO/NCLE National EducationMeeting and don’t forget to check the OAA box, so thatyou have access to all the OAA functions.

We look forward to seeing you in Cincinnati inSeptember!

Tom HicksOAA President

At-A-GlanceAt-A-GlanceOpticians Association of America

Welcome to OAA at a Glance

Opticians Association of America

4064 E Fir Hill DriveLakeland, TN 38002

Tel: 901.388.2423Fax: 901.388.2348

www.oaa.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentTom Hicks, HFOAA Oxford, Ohio

1st Vice PresidentDiane Charles, HFOAAShoreline, Washington

2nd Vice PresidentShirley Earley, HFOAALoveland, Ohio

Secretary-TreasurerMike Szczerbiak, HFOAA Durham, North Carolina

Immediate Past PresidentMark F. Cloer, HFOAAJackson, Mississippi

Guild Council ChairmanDouglas Brookhart, HFOAAKettering, Ohio

DirectorsThomas Barracato, HFOAAAkron, Ohio

Sandy Brown, HFOAA Louisville, Kentucky

Russell B Fritz, Jr., HFOAAHamden, Connecticut

Bob Reynolds, HFOAAAtlanta, Georgia

Roxanne Slancik, HFOAA Saginaw, Michigan

C. Jeanine SolomonHouston, Texas

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Leaders from over 20 states and Canadaattended the 24th Annual StateLeadership Conference held January 29-31 at Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans.Hosted by the Opticians Association ofAmerica, the conference gives opticians

an opportunity to gather for the pur-pose of networking with the goal ofstrengthening their state societies.Industry leaders shared informationand techniques on topics of interestranging from getting legislation passedto writing grants and press releases. Thetheme of this year’s conference was“The Future is Now” and focused on theskills and techniques required to facili-tate stronger relationships within thestate societies.

OAA also used the occasion to intro-duce its new Executive Director, ChrisAllen from Lakeland, TN, just outside ofMemphis. Under his direction, OAA

hopes to continue the growth and suc-cess of recent years and continue torepresent the goals of opticianry in thefuture.

One of the highlights of the LeadershipConference every year is the presentationof the State Leader of the Year Award.This year the award went to OAA PastPresident Mark Cloer from Jackson, MS.

Also honored for their extraordinarydedication to opticianry were Jim Boggsof Cleveland, Mississippi and ElmoSpellman of Metairie, Louisiana, recipients of the 2009 PresidentialService Award.

24th Annual Leadership Conference by Bob Reynolds, ABOC, HFOAA

States in Attendance

Alabama, Alaska,Connecticut, Florida,

Georgia, Illinois,Kentucky,Louisiana, Massachusetts,

Michigan, Mississippi, NewHampshire, Ohio, Oregon,

Pennsylvania, RhodeIsland, Tennessee, Texas,

Vermont, Washington,Wisconsin, & Canada

The Guild was establishedby highly skilled true crafts-men of the optical industry.Becoming recognized as aGuild Optician is a very satisfying accomplishment.Today, the Guild has the roleof mentoring opticians. It is the Guild’s role to helpwith the skills and knowl-edge needed to become theindependent optician oftomorrow.

We need to keep strongquality independent opticians alive and well.Without them, we risk areduction of quality standards in the opticalindustry.

Guild membership provides a great sense ofaccomplishment; howeverwith membership comesthe responsibility of holdingthe optical industry to thehigh standard that it hasproven it is capable of providing.

ARE YOU ANHONORED FELLOW?

If not, go to the OAA website

(www.oaa.org)and upgrade your

membership toexhibit your

increasing dedicationto the opticianryindustry and your

national association.

24TH ANNUAL STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Advancing Today’s Optician

The Opticians Association ofAmerica held its Annual State

Leadership Conference on January30 and 31, 2009 at the Le PavillonHotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

We applaud and graciously extendthanks to our sponsors.

Your support created an environment that was instrumental inallowing all the attendees to obtain new ideas, participate inspecialized break-out sessions, learn new skills, and sharethose ideas with their peers throughout the State Societies.

SPONSORS

GOLD-LEVEL

BRONZE LEVEL

FRIENDS OF OAA

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Ensuring that our perspectiveand expertise are consideredwhen laws and regulationsaffecting the opticianry industry are crafted requires a strong network of politically

interested members. I encour-age you to join with other OAA

members and help advance government decisions that are in the best interest ofour industry by visiting the OAA Legislative ActionCenter. This online legislative tool allows opticians toget involved with current legislation and do it easily.The point is don’t be reactive anymore be proactiveand we can once again restore our profession to itspast stature and glory. Please visit www.oaa.orgfor more information.

Introduction of OAA’s Executive Director

First let me introduce myself.My name is Chris Allen and Ihave recently been namedExecutive Director of theOpticians Association ofAmerica (OAA). It is a sincerehonor to have been chosen tolead OAA and it is my hopethat my twelve-plus years of

professional experience in dealing with public rela-tions, fundraising, government affairs, event manage-ment, executive leadership and general businessadministration in the non-opticianry field will bring afresh perspective and approach to better serve themembers of this historic association and the industryas a whole.

With the U. S. economic outlook being bleak for thecoming year, the question being asked by most opti-cians is what can I expect over the next few years?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the opticalfield is expected to grow between 7 to 13 percentthrough 2016. As the majority of the U. S. populationbegins to fall between the middle age to elderly cate-gories, a demand for more corrective lenses and visioncare will be a necessity, thus requiring more opticalservices to address those needs.

In addition, as awareness about eye care increases, theimportance of regular eye exams across all age groupsis becoming more evident. A growing number of states

require children, as young as five, to get eye exams,which will increase the need for optical services.

Another area of growth for opticians is the consumer’sdesire to be more fashionable. As frames continue tobe produced in a growing variety of styles, colors, andsizes, this trend encourages people to buy more thanone pair. Consumers want to have better vision, butthey also want to “look good” during the process.

As they say, “recessions are temporary, education ispermanent.” For those opticians who choose to partici-pate in formal opticianry classes and master new tech-nology, including new surfacing systems, frame materi-als, and edging techniques, will have the best opportu-nity for growth during the current economic downturn.

The Opticians Association of America serves as theonly national organization dedicated to representingopticianry’s business, professional, educational, leg-islative and regulatory interests. This is especiallyimportant during these tough economic times. OAAwill, as always, continue to serve its members to ensurethat opticians everywhere will prevail through thesedifficult times and are prepared to meet the needs ofconsumers when they open up their pocket booksagain.

I have incredible faith in OAA and the industry not onlyendures this recession, but also to serve as an exampleto other industries in how to do it.

Best wishes for a successful year!

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The OAA would like to thank the Sponsors

who helped make this Issue happen.

WHY JOIN OAA?Through OAA, opticianry’s professionals have astrong voice in shaping legislation and regulation at the national level, and an effective partner inactivities at the state level. OAA fosters, supportsand sponsors programs of competency certifica-tion, licensing and continuing education for professional development. OAA membership is asolid investment in your future and in the future of opticianry.

OAA Membership Plan

4064 E Fir Hill Drive, Lakeland, TN 38002Tel: 901.388.2423 • Fax: 901.388.2348

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