Dear Opticianry State Association Leader:
I'm pleased to inform you that there will be a state leadership meeting this coming year. OAA has asked Tom Hicks, Jim Slightom and I to co-chair the state leadership conference. Our group will likely expand by 3 or 4 people in the next week or so, but for right now, we're beginning the planning. The location of the meeting will be Charleston, South Carolina. The tentative time
of the meeting will be Jan 18, 19 or Feb 1,2. We’ll have a definite date for you in about 3 weeks.
Many of us (including me) have been disappointed with our profession and OAA's leadership for a long time. The time of disappointment is over and it's now time for action. At this coming meeting we will focus on three specific areas; basic training for new board members, programs needed by experienced
state leaders, and a forum to discuss how we are going to address the problems of our profession and our national organization, OAA. In my opinion, this may be the most important state leadership meeting we've ever had... or will ever have for some time. I'm sure you are aware of the dire position OAA is in and how our profession has lagged behind in gaining the recognition it deserves. It's time to do something about all this and the state leadership meeting will play a large role in shaping how this will be done.
I urge you to do what you can to attend this coming state leadership meeting. Our committee will create the framework for you to develop the ideas to affect the kind of change our profession needs, but you'll need to be there to do that. In the next few weeks the committee will be developing the program and will keep in contact with you via e-mail and posting on the
wwoptiboard, oaa website, and other web media. We've given you at least 7 months notice of the meeting so you can start planning now.
Our profession has many issues to resolve and the time has come to resolve them or move on. Our committee will do its part to provide you a first class leadership meeting and facilitate the dialogue needed to make change begin. I hope you'll join us to help begin putting opticianry back on the right track.
Ed De Gennaro
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