Jo said:
I wonder who the Connecticut email links goes to; that isn't the Connecticut Opticians Association email address? It could be SOCO which is why there is no link to a website.
The COA (CT's state society) website has links to CEC's online for apprentice opticians; however, License CEC's must be face to face. The dates for any Super Sunday or other face to face continuing education opportunities is always posted.
A little over a year ago, a splinter group was formed by a small group of disgruntled business owners. That group was officially recognized by the OAA over the protests of the Connecticut Opticians Association.
The email address listed by the OAA is a personal/business email for one of the founders of that splinter group who is also a member of the OAA Board of Directors.
The COA remains a strong and viable association. Our membership, representing over 60% of CT opticians, has remained at an all time high. We are the only optician's association that employs a lobbyist and diligently monitors activities at the State capitol, a task made more necessary during our present state budget deficit. The governor has laid off 3,000 state employees and is eliminating state agencies and other administrative employees (...like our licensing board).
This is also our year for Sunset Legislation. Our licensing board is on the list of the first agencies to be evaluated.
It's true that mandatory CECs for licensed opticians must be didactic in a face-to-face setting. Because we represent
all optical personnel in CT, our website does provide links for apprentices to supplement their training.
(A note to any CT OptiBoarders: Dan Farren, the CT Optician who designed and maintains the COA website was just called overseas on active duty. We wish him a safe return and also send our best wishes to his family including his brand new child.)
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