New Year! New Beginning!

January 2022

Where Did It Go? &

What Did We Do?

Wow! How can it be 2022?

Even with obstacles of Covid-19, the OAA was busier than ever.

Here is a glimpse at

What We Accomplished Together!

Reach For the Stars- Virtual Leadership Experience- Our First Virtual Leadership Conference!

OAA Forms Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee - Focusing Mentorship and “If You See It, You Can Be It” Campaign

The Guild Geared Up! Holding Three Forums for Members on Best Business Practices

Membership Committee- Two New State Societies were Birthed - Nevada and Illinois!

United States of Opticianry Held Three State Leaders Virtual Meetings -Learn From Your Peers!

OAA Partnered with My Financial Coach to offer Fortune 500 Benefits for Opticians

OAA Participated in Vision Expo East - Opticon Booth

OAA Participated in Vision Expo West - Opticon Booth

United Vision Care Committee was Born! Collaboration with American Optometric Association and American Academy of Optometry

Participated in The Vision Council’s “Open Your Eyes Scholarship”

Practical Dispensing Optician was Prepared for Launch!

and more...

Leadership Conference Rescheduled

Out of an abundance of caution, the Opticians Association of America has made the difficult decision to postpone the OAA State Leadership Conference scheduled for February to June 2-4, 2022 due to the evolving Covid-19 pandemic, disruptions to domestic travel, onsite safety precautions, and hotel staff shortages.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused but we are very confident this will be an amazing conference!!

2022 OAA State Leadership Conference Information

New Date: June 2 – 4, 2022

Location: Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area

1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard

Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

Room Rate: $160 per night + $8 Resort Fee: good three (3) days prior and post event

Group Rate Expires: April 29, 2022

Hotel Reservation Link: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/lake-buena-vista-florida/wyndham-lake-buena-vista-resort-downtown-disney-resort-area/rooms-rates?&checkInDate=05/26/2022&checkOutDate=06/07/2022&groupCode=052622opt

Hotel Reservation Phone: (800) 624-4109 (ask for OAA Leadership Rate)

Previous Hotel Reservations:

If you made hotel reservations prior to the event postponement, your hotel reservation should have been cancelled directly by the hotel. An email should have been sent to you from the hotel stating this development. Please verify with the hotel that your reservation has been cancelled – better to be safe than sorry. For legal reasons, the hotel cannot change your reservation to the new dates.

New Hotel Reservations:

You must make new hotel reservations for the conference. That can de done by clicking here or calling the hotel at (800) 624 – 4109 (ask for OAA Leadership Rate). All hotel rates are the same as the ones for the postponed event. Group block reservations cut-off on April 29, 2022. Please make your arrangements as soon as possible as the hotel block will sell out quickly.

Leadership Conference Registration:

If you have already registered for the conference, you are good to go. Your fee is simply being applied to the new event dates. If for some reason, you can no longer attend the conference due to the new dates please email c.allen@oaa.org for a full refund. If you have not registered yet, you can do that by visiting the State Leadership Conference Registration page on the OAA website (www.oaa.org).

Early-Bird Registration ends on March 31, 2022

Travel:

If made flight arrangements prior to the event postponement, OAA encourages you to reach out to your airline and explain that our event was postponed due to Covid. Most airlines are working with customers to help them reschedule their flights. OAA apologizes for any inconvenience or extra expense the postponement may have caused; however, OAA made the event adjustment to ensure the health and safety of all attendees.

Are you an Independent Optician or do you aspire to be one?

Do you sometimes feel like you’re having to go it alone and you’re unsure of who to ask various business questions?

Do you wish there was someone who could help you with best practices when it comes to marketing, insurance, practice management, and even product selection?

Look no further- the OGA is here!

The Opticians Guild of America (OGA) is a group of independent Opticians who understand the challenges optician-owners face in operating a small business. Our goal is to keep Independent Opticianry alive - we want to help you succeed on your business journey! We believe in “Independent Together” and we strive to share our collective experiences with other Independents- We Are Stronger Together.

The Guild will soon be offering a mentoring series!

Click here to sign up for information!

OGA Mentoring Series!

Let us set you up for success with a mentor who will help you navigate any number of business decisions. Most importantly, we are people who understand what it is like to be in your shoes, we get it. We know the joys and challenges you face as a business owner, we know how it impacts your family, we know the many decisions you face daily and we want to help you succeed. We look forward to working with you and we hope you will join us on the OGA! If you’re interested in joining us, please visit www.oaa.org and click on the membership tab and follow the prompts for the Guild!

OAA Appoints New Directors To ABO-NCLE

The Optician Association of America is very proud to announce the appointment three new directors to the ABO-NCLE Board of Directors. George Bourque Jr., OAA director and Past President of Opticians Association of Massachusetts, and Doug Pelkey, OAA director, will serve as a director to the American Board of Opticianry. Lanard Atkins, OAA director, will serve as a director to the National Contact Lens Examiners.

Congratulations all!

George Bourque Jr.

Doug Pelkey

Lanard Atkins

Ready to Join Now?

CLICK HERE

At OAA we

believe that:

”If you can see it, you can be it”. Offering a promise to embrace programs that design and support opportunities to create a more equitable world around us.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee mission is to encourage inclusivity and diversity within the field of Opticianry.

By leveraging our Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee mission to encourage inclusivity and diversity within the field of Opticianry, we offer a promise to embrace programs, and policies designed to promote a culture of belonging.

In This Together,

Tyjia Sherman

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair, OAA