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See Latest President's
Message Below:
OAG Staff With Governor Sonny Perdue
(Click Image for Printable Photo.)
(Use your browser's BACK button to return to OAG)
 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.)
(previous message, Hope is not a plan, Spring 2K9, in PDF format, click here)
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE WINTER 2K9
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
by
Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO, ABOM
OAG President
In the last 2 years - at
least on paper - opticianry has made significant strides going forward in the
legislative arena. In Georgia, as it should be well known by now, Ga. HB-241 the
apprentice/trainee MBE and registration bill was passed into law effective 1
Jul. 2K8. More recently progress at the national and state level has occurred
again. In September 2K9 at the OAA national conference the OAA delegate assembly
unanimously approved a TPA (Title Protection Act) resolution. For the first
time, under new OAA President Diane Charles of Washington state, the title
optician is given a structured definition.
A resolution does not
carry the force of law, but it is the important first step in further
legislative action. Georgia has become one of the first states to endorse this
important development. The relevance, scope, and structure of the resolution can
be viewed on the OAA website which is:
www.oaa.org Why are developments like this important? The answer is, as the
nation lurches toward healthcare reform - irrespective of the politics involved
getting there - the apparent outcome points to an increasingly larger role for
ancillary healthcare personnel in the healthcare delivery system, which includes
professional opticianry. Even today, certain 3rd party insurance type
entities make reference to possession of ABO/NCLE certification in addition to
state licensure where applicable. Professional minded opticianry has little
choice but to get with the program as it relates to credentialing, so to speak,
or be left out as new programs for the delivery of healthcare services are
developed.
In an unrelated by
nevertheless significant development in Georgia, I am pleased to report - at the
suggestion of current Georgia State Board of Dispensing Opticians chairman
Stephan E. Sanford – the popular GA Law class has been approved for ABO credit
recognition. Accordingly, now ignorance of the (GA) law is less of an
excuse than ever because of this development. Watch the
OAG website calendar of upcoming events for future dates of the course. (
www.oagonline.org )
Where do we go from here?
The answer is forward!!
Have a safe and pleasant
holiday season,
Cordially,
Thomas Blair, Jr., LDO,
ABOM
President, OAG
770 348-9955 (vm)
TBlair3@bellsouth.net
(this message in
downloadable, PDF format, click here)
Officers
25th OAA
Board
Of Directors
OAG Members
By Laws
Committees
OAG App
Licensing
Education Info
Op Organization
40 Hour Myth
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Phone Number For OAG...770-666-5489
House
Bill #241, Click For PDF