Welcome to the OptiBoard Community Newsletter for February 2002!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Date is: 03-11-2003. This newsletter covers activity activity since 02-01-2003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Optiboard Launches New Forum!

I am very pleased to announce a new OptiBoard service - the Optical Product Review Forum

Talk about the importance of a single thread! A poll was started last fall to find out how we could improve Optiboard with new forums. Out of the many types of forums listed, far and away, Optiboarders choose to have a Product Review forum.

We launched this forum on Feb. 23rd. The purpose of the product review Forum is to publish reviews written by OptiBoard members for products and services they use in their jobs.

The Product Review forum was created by the members to provide information on products currently in use, or new products coming out in the marketplace. All members are encouraged to visit this new forum and to post comments or questions on the posted reviews or - to submit reviews yourself. You can find the forums here:

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/foru...?s=&forumid=45

...and the forum rules and guidelines are here:

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6629


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIBOARD MEETING AT VISION EXPO EAST
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Live Eyewear is again hosting the OptiBoarders meeting at their booth during Vision Expo East. The date and tuime for this meeting is set for Saturday, March 22 at 1:00 EST. We hope you everyone at VEE will be able to make it.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIBOARD SPONSORED FORUM!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please show your support for OptiBoard and our forum sponsor by visiting their forum and learning more about the products and services they offer.

o Smart Lens Technology by Transitions Optical
http://www.optiboard.com/forums/foru...?s=&forumid=28


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIBOARD FEATURED MEMBER OF THE MONTH
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This month's featured member is:

Diane Drake (aka Diane on the forums)

Diane has been a member and a contributor to OptiBoard for many years. According to one of our Moderators, "Dianne's posts are always well thought out and balanced. She always maintains decorum with perfect manners even if things get warm." Another said, "Diane puts the 'Optical Professional' in OptiBoard's premier community of optical professionals. When Diane replies to a thread, you know that the posting member's question is going to be answered clearly and completely."

In addition to her contributions on the Board, Diane is also a well-known and popular Speaker in the industry. In fact she is part of the OptiBoard Speakers' Bureau which you can read about here:

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=4414

Congratulations Diane, and thanks for being a valuable member of the OptiBoard Community!


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOT TOPICS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Threads with the most replies:

Title: "TIPS ON DISPENSING" (posted 05-31-2001 by harry a saake)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=1034

Title: "Strange Facts!" (posted 07-31-2002 by Sean)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=5183

Title: "Being Silly" (posted 03-28-2002 by optispares)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=4315

Title: "Wisdom To Start The Day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," (posted 11-07-2002 by Chris Ryser)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=5855

Title: "Armani" (posted 11-21-2002 by Mikol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=5954

Title: "Progressive Lens Design: Where do we go from here?" (posted 04-15-2002 by Steve Machol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=4446

Title: "The French Pt. 2" (posted 03-06-2003 by Cindy Hamlin)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6731

Title: "The "new" VSP??" (posted 01-22-2003 by Jana Lewis)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6319

Title: "Product Review Forum - Ideas and Suggestions" (posted 10-03-2002 by Steve Machol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=5616

Title: "The Bates Method and Other Eye-Related Quackery" (posted 04-28-2002 by Steve Machol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=4541


Threads with the most views:

Title: "OptiBoard Member of the Year Contest!" (posted 12-08-2002 by Steve Machol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6048

Title: "world wide" (posted 06-05-2001 by John R)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=2134

Title: "Can someone explain the heirachy of Lens Crafters ?" (posted 02-11-2003 by Gary)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6504

Title: "Do you charge for nosepads?" (posted 02-18-2003 by HarryC)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6583

Title: "May - June Sales Trends" (posted 06-17-2002 by Jo)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=4871

Title: "Retail chain busted for no Licensed Optician on staff!" (posted 02-13-2003 by Optician)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6540

Title: "Every one's opinion on this..I mean EVERY ONE" (posted 02-10-2003 by Jeff Trail)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6483

Title: "Patient's Own Frame Usage" (posted 02-12-2003 by eyeGJ)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6511

Title: "The best lab there is" (posted 02-27-2003 by docwatson)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6675

Title: "The French" (posted 02-10-2003 by Night Train)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6494


Threads posted most recently:

Title: "Preventing late jobs!!" (posted 03-11-2003 by vinmcmahon)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6774

Title: "Horizan III for sale.............." (posted 03-10-2003 by Mikol)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6772

Title: "Optician with Personality and Sales Experience Wanted in Wheat Ridge/Golden, Colorado" (posted 03-10-2003 by Dr. John Bardash)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6771

Title: "Bankruptcy?" (posted 03-10-2003 by Kevin Howtopat)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6770

Title: "Optical Illusions" (posted 03-10-2003 by Cindy Hamlin)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6769

Title: "Please Note..." (posted 03-10-2003 by John R)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6767

Title: "Its time to stop talking and start stomping!" (posted 03-10-2003 by hcjilson)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6766

Title: "Huge selection of Factory Finished Lenses" (posted 03-10-2003 by tyancy)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6765

Title: "Iraq soldiers tried to surrender!" (posted 03-10-2003 by dfisher)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6764

Title: "Wanted: Diamond Hand Edger" (posted 03-10-2003 by Robert Wagner)
o http://www.optiboard.com/forums/show...&threadid=6763


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTIBOARD STATISTICS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
We had the following activity in February:

o New members: 97 (2,155 current total*)
o New message threads: 254 (6,510 current total)
o New posts: 1,950 (50,210 current total)
o Total hits: 933,016
o Total unique visits: 11,714
o Total Kb downloaded in January: 2,311,695 KiloBytes of information!

* Some obsolete memberships were removed last month.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once again, thanks to all of you for your support and for helping make OptiBoard truly the 'Premier Online Community of Eyecare Professionals Worldwide!'

Steve Machol
OptiBoard Administrator
smachol@optiboard.com