January 2016 Newsletter

Heather Smith, OWA President

Resolving to Accept Resolutions

I have to admit, I'm not one for resolutions . . . usually. I've always found them to be short-lived and rooted in things that I couldn't possibly maintain in any sort of long-term manner. But even as I read that sentence back to myself, I can't help but say, "That's because your resolutions focused on the wrong things!"

When I look back on my life, particularly the past two years, I have to admit that I haven't found myself here by chance. I'm a new Mom, I love my job, and I have been honored with the role of President of the OWA. At some point, I made decisions about what I wanted, where I wanted to be, and I set a plan in place to get there. Then I honored that plan. I committed myself and made it happen. Without realizing it, had I made a resolution and stuck to it?

It turns out, resolutions aren't so bad after all. In fact, I can't help but wonder how much more I could have accomplished if I had been actively acknowledging and working toward a resolution that I really cared about? This year, I'm going to find out. I hope you will join me!

The OWA has been a launching pad in my life. It has given me opportunities that I never thought I could have when I started my career in the industry. So my resolution for 2016 is to help other women experience what I have. The encouragement, the mentorship, the sponsorship and the friendship. I believe that I have experienced this because I dove right in. This year, I'm going to help other women take the same approach, and I'm challenging each of you to do the same!

I hope that you will make it a point to find ways to get the most value from an OWA membership. Get familiar with what programs and tools are accessible to women in our industry. Get engaged with the organization and look for ways to help other women benefit from the OWA. Expand your network and help those who need an introduction in the industry to expand their reach as well. I believe this is a worthwhile commitment and that the long-term effects are tremendous.

Now that is a resolution I can get behind. Will you join me?

Heather Smith
OWA President

The Optical Women's Association Announces 2016 Award Honorees
Christie Walker (Jobson Optical)
The OWA is pleased to announce that Sue Downes, CEO at MyEyeDr., has been selected as the 2016 Pleiades award recipient; and Ann Englert, owner and sole proprietor of Solutions Consulting has been selected as its 2016 Pyxis award recipient. The two women will be honored at two special OWA events in New York City during Vision Expo East.
Read more . . .

Why Mentorship Matters
Katherine Allen (Luneau Technology)
You may be wondering; does mentorship still exist? Does it even matter? I firmly believe mentorship in today's business world is more crucial than ever. It is my sincere hope that if you have not experienced a mentor relationship, that this year, especially as a member of the OWA, you will.
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Why You Might be Losing Social Media Followers
Sharon Chin (VisionWeb)
For those monitoring your social media followers, some gains and losses are normal, but if you see a steady decrease in those numbers, these might be the reasons why.
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Welcome New OWA Members!
Michelle Schroeder (OWA Associate Executive Director)
The OWA membership continues to grow! We are happy to welcome these 51 new members since the September 2015 newsletter.
Read more . . .