National & State Organizations

[Jo]

Are you affiliated with any National or State Associations? If you would like to offer additional information, tell us why or why not. Do you think that one of the ways to secure our position in the optical trades will involve some form of inification? How do you propose we get this unification.

Some of our Aussie members have posted or emailed saying they have programs in place that are similar to some of our states requirements. Do any of you know how you were able to come to a set of national standards? To our members in Britain what is the history of how mandatory minimum education requirements came to be?

Here are some links to associations in the US:
Opticians Association of America (http://www.opticians.org/)
The National Academy of Opticianry (http://www.nao.org/home.htm)
Guild Opticians (under the OAA) (http://www.opticians.org/Guild/index.htm)
State Opticianry Organizations (just a few) (http://www.ctopticians.com/OpticalLinks.htm#STATE-WIDE OPTICIANRY ORGANIZATIONS)

Note:
The above poll is annonymous unless you decide to reply to this poll and mention your affiliations.

[optigoddess]

I have been trying to find out if Oregon has an Optician's Organization (thanks, Jo, for the link, but alas, Oregon wasn't there). I THINK I once heard that Oregon DOES have something but information seems to be elusive. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Karen :):confused:

[Jackie L]

Just voted. State and OAA and proud of it. Anybody else?

[Steve Machol]

Originally posted by optigoddess
I have been trying to find out if Oregon has an Optician's Organization (thanks, Jo, for the link, but alas, Oregon wasn't there). I THINK I once heard that Oregon DOES have something but information seems to be elusive. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Karen :):confused:

Yep - they've got one. Here's the link:

Opticians Association of Oregon (http://www.oregonoptician.org)

You can also email them at: optician@teleport.com

[optigoddess]

Steve:

Is there NO end to your infinate knowledge ? (let's all hope not)

Thanks SO much for the info on the Oregon Association. I have already emailed requesting info -

You da' man...

Karen :)

[hcjilson]

Jo, you will be happy to hear that your poll was sent to a friend of mine who may be in a position to provide a way through the confusion of having to provide FOUR links to sites that should all be telling ONE story.Both he and I think there is a very simple solution to the problem which seems to be plagueing this industry.More on this later (perhaps!)
best wishes from Harry

[Jo]

Harry,

Does that mean you will attempt to be at this coming Sunday's Net Meeting?
:D

[PBS]

I just heard this weekend that the OAA is in deep financial trouble and may go down soon. I guess this may be old news but it's the first time I heard it. It seems the one to belong to is NAO

[Homer]

That OAA has had some financial difficulty is old news. Your statement of "deep financial trouble" may be your statement or someone elses. What we need is unity that only comes from a willingness to listen and understand the other side of the story.

While NAO has done a very good job of preparing and providing educational materials and opprotunities, to my knowledge it has no other goals - such as advancing the position of opticianry in the market place, licensing or even the unity of all opticianry.

Depending upon which goals you may have, NAO may not be the ONE.

homer

[EyeManFla]

Being a member of some 10 different Optician's organizations, I find that the National Academy of Opticians and the National Academy of Sports Vision are the two that I find most useful.

[MVEYES]

:cool: Many of us fit contacts and eyeglasses. I belong to OAO which is a member state of OAA. OAO pays dues for each member. I am also a member of NAO. You didn't have CLSA listed.

Jerry Sherman

[Jo]

Jerry,

Thanks! Chip is a member of the CLSA also; I should have posted that.

:) Jo