For the last two years, I've been the OWA president and now my term is ending and a new president, Heather Smith of VisionWeb, will be stepping into the position. Originally, I thought I'd impart some words of wisdom on the experience of being president, but in reality, these past two years have gone by so quickly that I think it would be more meaningful to look back at my 16 years of involvement in the OWA instead of just the past two years.
As one of the founding "mothers", I've seen this organization blossom from a small seed of an idea into the bouquet of flowers that is today's OWA. From humble beginnings of about a dozen women sitting around a hotel room brainstorming over wine and "smuggled" cheese and crackers, to the success of our recent Champagne Breakfast, the organization has grown not only in the number of members but in the ways we now reach out to women and the industry, and the types of programs we have created to enhance the leadership skills of women.
For me, I've been in the OWA my entire optical career, and couldn't imagine being in the industry without my fellow OWA members. Since I work from home, I don't get out in "the real world" as much as most people. Sure I go to VEE and VEW, and a few other trade shows, but it's the members of the OWA that keep me connected and inspired. For most of my OWA career, I've been happy to be a "worker bee" getting the job done; doing everything from creating the newsletter, writing articles and press releases, taking event pictures, planning and running events, smuggling cheese, and organizing local "meet and greets". There are so many opportunities to get involved. It wasn't until recently that I agreed to be on the board and then worked my way up to president. I've been involved in so many aspects of the organization . . . from the trenches to the board room . . . that I feel the OWA is in my blood. So instead of feeling sad about stepping down, I simply look at this move as the next OWA experience . . . immediate past president. I'm confident that Heather will be a wonderful leader for the group, adding youth and enthusiasm to the leadership position of president.
In the meantime, I encourage all OWA members to find a way to get more involved in YOUR organization. Whether you're a worker bee type or have aspirations to be president someday, it all starts with joining a committee and getting involved in the "doings" of the OWA. As the new head of the Nominating Committee, I'll be looking for our future leaders to keep this organization growing and strong.
Thank you to the current OWA board for making my two-year term as prez a real joy.
Christie Walker
OWA President (for a few more weeks!)
Why Do THEY Think That Way?
Generational differences can cause conflict and misunderstandings in the workplace because generations DO speak a different language, based on when they grew up and the different cultural events and experiences happening at that time. This year's OWA Connection Series event, Getting Four Generations to Work Together, brings together six panelists from the four generations in the workplace today to tackle common "sticking points" that arise.
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OWA Presents Annual VEW Networking & Raffle Event!
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails while networking with friends and entering raffle tickets for designer items, sports gear, gift certificates, and much more!
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Special Feature: And now a word from the OWA Platinum Sponsors . . .
OWA Platinum Sponsors are invited to provide a feature article on any product, service, or company related topic that they'd like to share with members via our newsletter. This issue includes articles from VSP and Safilo. Thank you to all of our sponsors for their incredible support and enthusiasm!
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Introducing Michelle Schroeder, OWA Associate Executive Director
Michelle recently became the Associate Executive Director of the OWA. In this role dedicated to serving the membership, she works closely with Executive Director Dave Beebe and with the OWA Board of Directors. Michelle has jumped in enthusiastically and is a great addition to the team. She shares a bit about herself with us.
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Welcome New OWA Members!
Dave Beebe, OWA Executive Director
The OWA membership continues to grow! We are happy to welcome these 16 new members since the July 2015 newsletter.
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