Dear OWA Members,
I have had the good fortune of experiencing many nice things in my lifetime, but becoming President of the Optical Women's Association ranks as one of the most rewarding. Never have I been associated with so many dedicated women. I fondly remember the early days when OWA was in its infancy; our financial resources were slim but our enthusiasm had no limitations! I'm proud to be in this place and time, and be a member of "Women of Vision".
Your OWA Board of Directors is evaluating options of how we will be able to better serve optical women. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsor companies, we will continue to expand the POWW (Professional Optical Women's Workshop) events around the country. We realize not all optical women attend Vision Expo East or West, and want those women not attending to be able to expand their horizons through local and regional educational sessions with some of the most prominent, distinguished speakers.
My vision is to see more of our members expand their participation by becoming even more active while committing to serve on one of our many committees. This is such a great way for younger women in the early stages of their career to learn to manage, and for those who have been in the industry for some time to continue to build and reinforce their network. Managing different functions on a committee will help the OWA, and it will also help you grow your skill sets.
Our membership continues to increase on a regular basis, but we would like to see it increase at an even faster rate. If you have a friend who is not a member, encourage her to join and become part of the OWA family. Remember, our goal is to enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support. When we do, everyone succeeds!
Warm regards,
Grady Culbreth
President, Optical Women's Association