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See New President's
Message Below
OAG Staff With Governor Sonny Perdue
(Click Image for Printable Photo.)
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 The
Association's Mission:
The Opticians Association Of Georgia is a professional association that
represents opticians and contact lens technicians throughout the state.
The Association's primary mission is to maintain high standards of practice
within the profession to protect the health and welfare of the public.
The Association seeks to accomplish its mission by protecting and expanding
the ability of its members to compete in the prescription eyewear
marketplace.
Strength In
Unity:
In today's complex legislative and regulatory climate, professional
occupations have learned that their survival often depends on collective
action and unity of purpose. The Association speaks for Georgia
opticians and contact lens technicians with a single voice. The
membership and participation of all opticians provide the Association with a
voice that is strong enough to command respect in the halls of government.
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Watchdog In
The Capital:
One of the duties of the Opticians Association Of Georgia is to keep a
watchful eye on legislation that could effect the future of the opticianry
profession.
Information
Services:
The Association serves as a clearinghouse of information on a broad range
of subjects: legislative and regulatory issues, technical developments
within the industry, upcoming meetings and conferences, publications of
special interest to opticians and contact lens technicians, and the
activities of local sections. The Association's newsletter is
distributed free of charge to members in good standing.
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Message From The Message From The President...
 The
President's Message
A Special
Message From Our President:
Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO, ABOM
(previous message, The Case for Raising the Bar, June 2K8, in PDF format, click
here.)
President’s Message:
Spring 2K9
“Hope is not a
plan!”
As many, if not most, of
you should be aware the past year has been an active one for OAG on the
legislative and regulatory front. In July of 2K8, HB-241, the OAG sponsored
Optician apprentice/trainee MBE and Registration bill went into effect. Later in
that same year OAG established a productive dialogue with the GSBDO (Georgia
State Bd. of Dispensing Opticians) thru the expert assistance of our
attorney/lobbyist Kirkland McGhee, to negotiate a reasonable compromise on the
utilization of online continuing education to meet Georgia license renewal
requirements. As a result licensees have an option of obtaining a maximum of 5
hours of continuing education online. There is still a 5 hour onsite or live c.e.
requirement for a total of 10 hours required for license renewal. (All courses
must be ABO approved for the state of Georgia to recognize them.) Earlier this
spring again with Mr. McGhee’s assistance, OAG Past President and current
Treasurer Thomas L. Schulz and I successfully negotiated vital language
modification to SB -195 - a blanket bill - which was poised to potentially
redirect the state of Georgia’s priorities on administering licensure
examinations. With the advent of the next legislative cycle which begins in
January 2K10 a reasonable expectation exists – in likely part due to
gubernatorial candidate posturing – “sunset” legislation will emerge as a
political issue. Essentially sunset legislation addresses, at predetermined
intervals, whether a licensing board is viable to the state’s ongoing interests
and the public.
What all of this activity
tells us, is that “if we - OAG - aren’t at the table, we might be on the menu”!
Which brings me to the point of the headline i.e., hope is not a plan. In
the course of the days and weeks, I routinely speak with opticians and others
who often comment that OAG’s efforts are “appreciated”. Interestingly and often
a corollary comment is “somebody should do something” about potential issues
that bedevil opticianry. My question is: Who is somebody? The answer is somebody
is me, it’s you. We all have priorities and challenges in our lives. Your family
and career is no more important to you than mine is to me. Yet the point is, we
must take time to address the professional issues that can potentially affect
your ability to pursue your chosen field of endeavor, and on a more basic level
is the means by which you put food on the table. Rest assured opposing political
forces are counting on indifference and apathy, on opticians’ part, to move
their agenda(s) along. Where we can make a difference, is to get our heads in
the game and stop hoping things will work out. Hope is not a plan! Things
work out when they are worked out. Do not assume there is nothing you can
do. You can make a difference among other things, when so advised, by contacting
your legislators and letting them know how or where you stand on an issue that’s
relevant to opticianry. Pass along information to OAG leadership if and when you
hear contrary or questionable information to us at:
oag@oagonline.org or call 770 666 -5489. The time is never greater or more
urgent than now for opticians to see things for what they are, as opposed to how
they are presented. The future - legislatively and otherwise - belongs to those
prepared for it. Hope is not a plan!
Cordially,
Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO,
ABOM
President, OAG
770 348-9955 (vm)
Tblair3@bellsouth.net
Click HERE to download the message in PDF format
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Phone Number For OAG...770-666-5489
House
Bill #241, Click For PDF