pride • power • progress
May 2019
What's New At POF?

We are excited to report that we have a new face leading the way for the Professional Opticians of Florida !  Dee Pace, our new Executive Director , has been with POF for over nine years. In her new role as Executive Director, she has organized our educational events with fun, flare and expertise. Under her leadership, our last three shows have had record attendance, and we expect future growth as we connect with opticians in Florida.

The new touches include:

  • Opticians After Dark - This event is held on the Saturday night of each conference. It is a great opportunity for the attending opticians to network, unwind — even sing karaoke. This sponsored event is one of the highlights of the meeting, the icing on the cake to all the quality education tracks.

  • ABO/NCLE Exam Review Webinar - This brand new series is a 12-hour comprehensive and interactive review that future opticians can take part in from the comfort of their own home.

  • State Board Exam Prep - This newly added exam prep helps candidates prepare to take the Florida opticians licensing exam. This review has had a healthy enrollment, so more reviews are in the works to be added to future conferences.

POF works hard to attract seasoned, national speakers of diverse backgrounds and expertise. And attendees often share how much they appreciate the wide scope of course options offered at POF events.

POF continues to be a strong supporter of the Opticians Association of America, the only organization dedicated to the advancement of opticianry nationally.

Visit us at pof.org

How Many Members? 1894

How Many Meetings Annually? 3-4

Licensed State? Yes

CE's Required? Yes: 20 hours

Deregulation?
How To Protect Yourself
  • Stay Informed - Read All Emails And Newsletters
  • Join Your State Association - Make Your Voice Heard
  • Know Your State Representatives - You May Need Them
  • Get Involved - Step Into Leadership, We Need You
  • Be Ready To Act - Make Calls, Spread The Word
The winds of change are blowing and they could be bringing tough times for opticians. It seems that there is a surge in attempts to deregulate or consolidate licensed professions by doing away with or combining state licensing boards.

Attempts at deregulation have been made recently in Ohio, Arizona, Virginia and Florida.

And they will not be the last!

We must all be ready to mobilize and fight for our profession .  There is power in numbers, and George Bourque and his Legislative Committee stand ready to help mobilize an organized response. Those who would deprive the public of the groups that are in place to protect their interests must hear from all of us. Our legislative consultant, Kris Pickford, knows the ins and outs of government processes, and guides the OAA in dealing with any threats . The OAA is here and ready to offer advice, organizational help or financial assistance as needed.

Remember: communication runs both ways. If you hear of a potential threat, let us know. We will do the same. Together we can meet and defeat these threats. The public counts on knowing that their optician is what they expect.

~ Bob Reynolds, OAA President
Opticians Guild of America

Being an independent optical business owner doesn't mean you have to go it alone.

OGA History
The Guild was formed in 1926 to establish the highest level skill set for opticianry that an office could attain. To be a member of the Guild meant your office had met the strictest standard achievable.

Times Changed
Over time, the world around us has changed, and entrepreneurial optical establishments have become a rarity. Individual opticians, more often than not, are practicing in retail settings for much larger corporations as opposed to smaller local "shops."

The Guild Today
It is our hope that opticians with a desire to show their patients that they have  worked to set themselves apart from other competitors in the area will join the Opticians Guild of America.  Many individual opticians in the United States can qualify and differentiate themselves from the "rest of the pack."

Power In Your Voice
Join  this esteemed group of professionals to increase the power of our collective voice in the optical marketplace . The OGA is designed to help you be independent and strong —  together .
Do You Belong To Your State Optician's Association?
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My State Does Not Have One
MAY

FRI.3 - SUN.5
2019 Annual Conference
Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn, Newport

SAT.4 - SUN.5
2019 Annual Convention
Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona

THU.16
2019 April Education Meeting
Milleridge Inn, Jericho

FRI.17 - SUN.19
Spring Fling 2019
Ocean Creek Resort, North Myrtle

TUE.16
2019 West Coast Better Vision Conference
Safety Harbor Resort & Spa

JUNE

SAT.1 - SUN 2
2019 Spring Continuing Ed. Meeting
Georgia Piedmont Technical School, Clarkston

THU. 20
Opticians Alliance of New York
2019 June Education Meeting
Milleridge Inn, Jericho

September 18-21, 2019
[CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS]
Joint Statement from Aspex Eyewear, Inc. and VSP Global
April 15, 2019
VSP Global and Aspex Eyewear, Inc. announced today that Aspex has agreed to pay a financial settlement to VSP Global and the parties have agreed to settle their disputes arising out of several prior lawsuits filed by Aspex Eyewear against VSP and Marchon Eyewear. 

The parties further announced that Aspex Eyewear will be reinstated as an in-network frame provider under VSP’s vision care insurance policies.

“While court rulings over several years have resulted in favorable decisions for VSP Global, we are nevertheless pleased with this agreement and the opportunity for our respective organizations to move forward,” said Thomas A. Fessler, Chief Legal Counsel and General Counsel of VSP Global.

“Aspex is happy to be reinstated as an in-network frame provider,” said Thierry Ifergan, Executive Vice-President of Aspex Eyewear. “We are excited to offer Aspex’s top fashion and innovative technologies to VSP’s members through their extensive network of eye care professionals.”
About VSP Global

VSP Global® is a doctor-governed company that exists to create value for members and opportunities for VSP network doctors. Our industry-leading businesses include VSP® Vision Care, the only national not-for-profit vision benefits company, which provides access to eye care for 88 million members through a network of over 40,500 doctors worldwide; Marchon® Eyewear Inc., one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and distributors of high-quality eyewear and sunwear; VSP Optics, industry leaders in ophthalmic technology and lab services, providing custom lens solutions for the vision and lifestyle needs of patients; Eyefinity®, the industry leader in practice management and electronic health record software; VSP Retail, which focuses on increasing access to eye care and eyewear through multiple channels, and VSP® Ventures, which offers care-focused, customized choices for doctors looking to transition their practice. Together with VSP network doctors, VSP Global Eyes of Hope® has provided access to no-cost eye care and eyewear for more than 2 million people in need.

About Aspex Eyewear, Inc.

Aspex Eyewear is a global distributor of quality eyewear and sunwear, serving markets in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Since its inception in 1965, Aspex Eyewear has established itself as one of the industry’s leaders in both eyewear design and technological development. Aspex Eyewear serves over 50,000 accounts in over 80 countries and is responsible for some of the top fashion and technology breakthroughs including the magnetic clip technology and memory metal eyewear as well as its patented Turboflex and Easytwist technologies.