OptiBoard Meeting at OLA!

[Steve Machol]

[Edit: The new time for this meeting is 2:30pm. - Steve]

This is to announce that there will be a meeting of OptiBoarders in New Orleans during the OLA convention. This meeting is open to all OptiBoarders and everyone is encouraged to attend. In addition to taking pictures and getting to know each other, we will also discuss the beginnings of a new organization - the Opticians' Council International. If you have any interest in helping us promote the profession of Opticianry, please plan to attend and lend your views.

The time and place are:

Date: Thursday, November 1st
Time: 2:30pm
Place: Avenue Plaza Hotel, 2111 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans
Hotel phone: (504) 566-1212

If you have any questions, please post them here or feel free to contact myself or LaurieC.

I look forward to seeing everyone in New Orleans!

[LaurieC]

Can't wait! Of course, you already know I'll be there!

[Cindy Hamlin]

Unfortunately, I will be unable to be there! Hope you all get lots done.

~Cindy

[Karlen McLean]

Steve,
You know I really want to attend this thing. Problem is that I already have a meeting scheduled at 4:00 p.m. Thurs. Is it presumptious of me to ask for it to be resheduled a little earlier that afternoon, say 2: 30 or 3:00 p.m., or the next day (Fri.) afternoon 1 - 5 p.m.? If it is presumptious and/or if you go ahead with the meeting as it is planned, can I meet briefly with you later for an update? Let me know, thanks.
Karlen

[JRS]

Karlen, I think it will need to be on Thursday - Steve's on a plane Friday AM.

As of now.... my Thursday is still open, so if the time changes, just post it. Will be there if humanly possible. I've scheduled 4pm until I hear different.

[LaurieC]

It's up to Steve but maybe there's some flexibility. I'm flying in at 11:45 that day and the meeting place is my hotel since neither Steve or I have a booth. We could probalby swing 2:30 or 3. Karlen, if it can't be worked out, I would be happly to meet with an update later.

[Steve Machol]

Any time after Laurie arrives on Thursday is fine with me. As JR said, I'll be leaving Friday morning so Thursday afternoon is the only time I can make it.

[Karlen McLean]

Ya'll, it's your show. Do what's best for you. I'm just an interested optician and journalist who would like to help as an optician and also get the word out on the new organization as a journalist. So you can meet as planned, and send me the info via e-mail afterward if you prefer. I don't want to mess up your timeframe. How would that work for you? Meet as ya'll have planned and then I can hook up with one of you later or just e-mail me later? -- KL

[Steve Machol]

We've moved the meeting time to 2:30pm. Also I will be arriving Tuesday afternoon, so if anyone would like to meet with me before then, you can reach me on my cell phone: (707) 953-1881. If that one doesn't work, try my wife's phone (she has a longer battery than me!): (707) 953-8100.

[hcjilson]

OLA is out for me as well, but what the hey is OCI??I know I was out of touch for a while but this is the first I've heard of this! What gives Steve? Was I really asleep that long?
best to all from hj

[Karlen McLean]

Now 2:30 p.m. Thursday I can do. Thanks for the change and I'll look forward to seeing y'all there. -- Karlen

[Pete Hanlin]

I was going to shoot for an arrival time of 6pm on Thursday, but I will now make an effort to be there by 2:30pm!

See you there!

Pete

[Steve Machol]

Thanks Karlen!

And Pete, it's a pleasant surprise that your coming to the OLA! I haven't seen you for several years. I wish I was staying an extra day or two, but the airfares were outrageous!

[shanbaum]

I have an appointment at 2 so I probably won't make it... so, y'all stop by the Gerber Coburn booth and say howdy...

[Steve Machol]

By the way, I'm staying at the Garden Plaza Hotel (2203 St. Charles Ave.) which is only one block from the Avenue Plaza. If anyone wants to reach me, they can call the hotel at (504) 566-1200. Or you can try my cellphone: (707) 953-1881.

[LaurieC]

But Steve and Pete promise they'll be waiting in the lobby lounge area at the Ave Plaza for the meeting! Any questions, call my cell (909) 268-5934. Since gathering will be informal but lots of fun I bet some of us "can't get enough of it" types will still be going to about 4"30 or so anyhow. See you there.

[ioconnell]

How did the meeting go? was there a big turn out? Did you take many pics?

[Steve Machol]

Not a big turnout, but it was still nice. (The OLA draws fewer of the OptiBoard crowd than Vision Expo.)

In addition to myself, there was Laurie Chreitzberg, Pete Hanlin, J.R. Smith, Jim Grootegoed, Laurie's husband Jim, and my wife Marlena. Laurie has a picture and I'll post it when she sends it to me.

[ioconnell]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it!:D