Minnesota Opticians

[fvc2020]

hey Minneosta Opticians


What are your thoughts of putting a new association together dedicated to education, mentoring, and community relations?

I am contemplating some ideas and wants some feedback...





Christina

[Jacqui]

I would be interested in seeing it. I didn't know that we even had an active association here.

[Chris Ryser]

I would be interested in seeing it. I didn't know that we even had an active association here.

Minnesota Association of Optometrists and Opticians

The Minnesota Association of Optometrists and Opticians (MAOO) is a non-profit organization with a history of promoting quality eye care, eye wear service and education. MAOO has been providing continuing education for over 30 years. This year’s program will feature nationally recognized speakers and provide 20 hours of COPE-approved courses

http://maoo.org/

[wmcdonald]

Chris,
I reviewed the speakers, and there are some very fine people lecturing there, but little for Opticians. If the folks there need help, all they have to do is call. Several of us will be there to assist them.

Warren

[price]

Wow great idea hope you get it started.

[Diane]

The Midwest Optical Conference ran for a long time and due to lack of attendance shut down a couple of years ago. It was run by some really great Opticians from Minnesota and the surrounding states. I know that they didn't want to see it go away, but support by Opticians is a must. I'd love to see it start up again. We need the support of Optician organizations that have people who want to work. These folks worked...they just didn't get enough support from Opticians to keep it. In addition, it was a multistate conference, not a state association. Let me know if I can help. I love the folks up there.

Diane

[fvc2020]

Thanks for the answers...Jacqui I knew I could count on you:-) Surprised other Mn opticians didn't ring in...Thanks Diane for offering your support!!!! I want to get something started so we can reestablish education and our value as opticians...Once I can put something together Jacqui I will swing some ideas at you ok?

Christina

[Johns]

Surprised other Mn opticians didn't ring in...
Christina

How many opticians are there in Mn?

[Jacqui]

How many opticians are there in Mn?

Heaps and gobs

[Jacqui]

Thanks for the answers...Jacqui I knew I could count on you:-) Surprised other Mn opticians didn't ring in...Thanks Diane for offering your support!!!! I want to get something started so we can reestablish education and our value as opticians...Once I can put something together Jacqui I will swing some ideas at you ok?

Christina

Start writing pronto !!! I'll send you my e-mail address

[fvc2020]

I will send you my outline....tell me what you think and then we can work together.....


Christina

[MikeAurelius]

The Midwest Optical Conference ran for a long time and due to lack of attendance shut down a couple of years ago. It was run by some really great Opticians from Minnesota and the surrounding states. I know that they didn't want to see it go away, but support by Opticians is a must. I'd love to see it start up again. We need the support of Optician organizations that have people who want to work. These folks worked...they just didn't get enough support from Opticians to keep it. In addition, it was a multistate conference, not a state association. Let me know if I can help. I love the folks up there.

Diane

Diane -- if this is the conference I'm thinking of, one of the reasons for poor attendance was the time of year. Now, I could be thinking of another conference, but weren't they held in deep winter at the downtown Radisson? We always used to go, but got caught a couple of times in snowstorms and decided it was not worth putting our lives on the line to attend. If it had been in the spring or fall, it would have been great.

[Diane]

Diane -- if this is the conference I'm thinking of, one of the reasons for poor attendance was the time of year. Now, I could be thinking of another conference, but weren't they held in deep winter at the downtown Radisson? We always used to go, but got caught a couple of times in snowstorms and decided it was not worth putting our lives on the line to attend. If it had been in the spring or fall, it would have been great.

No, from the time I knew about it and was there it was held at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, MN during early October. It was run by a great group of people. I hated to see it close, but they needed more attendance.

Diane

[Jacqui]

I tried at one time to get the 'Unexpo' to meet in Minneapolis, but didn't get any real interest. It would have been a good spot with X-cel, Vision-ese, etc, etc here abouts.

[Johns]

I tried at one time to get the 'Unexpo' to meet in Minneapolis, but didn't get any real interest. It would have been a good spot with X-cel, Vision-ese, etc, etc here abouts.

The UnExpo was held in locations that were the easiest to access for the majority of the member. The first UnExpo was open to all, and I threw Richmond, Va., out. It was accepted, and that's where it was held. We even had an attendee from Texas, and had no problem with it.

I don't remember anyone from Minnesota even responding to the survey.

[Jacqui]

I don't know if I responded to the 'official' survey, but I did make my opinion known.

[Johns]

Well, from the sound of this thread, Minnesota is ready to start something! Let me know if you need any help. (It's GOT to be summer though...I was there once in the winter-by accident)

[MikeAurelius]

It was the North Central Optometric Association that I was thinking of.

And yes, anytime spring through fall would be awesome.

[fvc2020]

Diane just to let you know the last few conferences were not a sucess for multiple reasons and lack of attendence was one of them. I know the other reasons but prefer not talk about rumors and impolite politics here...I just love the help everyone is offering.......I hope that we can get a strong group going and everyone sees value in it:-)

Christina

ps all help is accepted

[sharpstick777]

I recently started a Facebook page for Optical people from the Midwest, its been great tool in other areas to build interest and get the word out.

If you are interested in joining, go here: Midwest Optical Professionals: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/335389963184524/