THE EYE NYSSOOPENER A Publication of the State Society of Opticians, Inc. March 2013

A Message from the President A mentor is a trusted advisor—someone who takes interest Opticians Helping Opticians: in the professional development of another. A mentor has the opportunity to meet and interact with some of our best In Times of Need & Mentoring Our and brightest young Opticianry students. Through mentoring Future Colleagues you can share your experiences to help better the profession and perhaps even find a future prospective associate for your Dear NYSSO Members & Colleagues: practice. The positive influence of a single individual, as mentor Since becoming President of NYSSO, I have had the honor or role model, is very significant in terms of career choice, and privilege of representing the Society at the National direction and success. If mentoring speaks to you, you will find Opticianry Summit, meeting with New York State officials, out how you can become involved on page 5. speaking to students about the profession and most of Like any profession, Opticianry has its challenges, such as illegal all—meeting you—our members at NYSSO events. And practice and online sales. NYSSO takes these threats seriously no matter where I am, one thing really stands out… and is always vigilant in fighting for you. We are always PRIDE IN BEING AN OPTICIAN! monitoring new legislation that may impact Ophthalmic All of us at NYSSO take pride in experiencing how our Dispensing and our scope of practice. profession came together to help colleagues in need. After Finally, we hope you will make plans to join us for the 2013 Hurricane Sandy hit and we saw the devastation that it caused New York State Opticians Gala & Professional Development across the New York Metro-Long Island-New Jersey area, we Symposium on May 4-5, 2013 at Turning Stone Resort immediately knew the Society had to do something to assist & Casino. This annual event allows us to gather as a Opticians impacted by the storm. The Board of Directors statewide association, get the latest in continuing education established the Opticians Storm Recovery Assistance Fund. and celebrate our profession—one that provides us with We quickly received donations from concerned colleagues success and pride! across the country, New York and Canada—and we thank Sincerely, them for their generosity and support! (You can find our benefactors on page 4.) Another aspect of pride is the desire to pass along the wisdom Ethan J. Brown acquired through a successful career. NYSSO is strengthening President its connections with the three schools that teach Ophthalmic Dispensing in New York State. These institutions taught many of us and have provided our practices with qualified and motivated Opticians for generations. In the changing May educational environment, there is greater emphasis on gaining practical knowledge and experience throughout a student’s 4-5, 2013 academic training. Many of us received guidance from practitioners whom we JOIN US! Details respected and admired in our career choices during our 2013 NYS Opticians Gala & Professional Development Inside! formative years, and many of today’s students simply do not Symposium have such positive role models. Because of this, I want NYSSO to become a source of mentoring for tomorrow’s Opticians.

renew your membership or join nysso today! www.nysso.org EXECUTIVE BOARD Region 4 President: Ethan J. Brown Diane Melnik (2013) NYSSO Leadership Vice President: Howard Braunstein R. Bruce Mapes (2014) Secretary: Deborah Ullrich Linda Greaves-Miller (2015) Treasurer: Scott Tressler Region 5 Past President: Laurie A. Schreiber Laura Frezza-Chiarello (2013) Joseph Sollecito (2014) REGIONAL DIRECTORS Ethan J. Brown (2015) Region 1 Region 6 Kevin Poveromo (2013) Howard Braunstein (2013) Alicia Rabb (2014) Richard Bauman (2014) Arthur J. Todoro (2015) George Hsu (2015) Region 2 Region 7 Ronnie Orlowski (2013) Thomas Guthlein (2013) Laurie A. Schreiber (2014) Dennis Casey (2014) Michelle Alfieri-Hammell (2015) Laura DiMattei (2015) Region 3 NYSSO Staff Lisa Lund-Dolezel (2013) Executive Director: John A. Graziano, Jr. Deborah Ullrich (2014) Society Administrator: Brian Buff Scott Tressler (2015)

ENVISION THE BENEFITS OF ENROLLING IN DMV’S ONLINE VISION REGISTRY! Your patients depend on you for qual- office for an eye test. This is certainly a ity eye and vision care. Now you can service that patients will be grateful to offer them an added service by joining have available to them. the New York State Department of Authorized vision screening providers Motor Vehicles (DMV) Online Vision will be identified on DMV’s Web site Registry! and in other promotional materials. Under New York State Vehicle and So, in addition to increasing your Traffic Law, anyone renewing a driver customers’ satisfaction by sparing license must pass a vision screening them time and paperwork, test. The test involves having the ap- participation in the Registry may plicant to read one line from a Snellen bring more patients to your practice. chart mounted on a wall or screen. The Registry is simple and user DMV has traditionally allowed doctors, friendly, requiring minimal time and nurses and most eye care effort for staff to enter test results. professionals to perform vision Participating eye care professionals screening tests for their patients that may charge a fee for the service. could be used for license renewals. Eye care providers can easily enroll in But the results had to be placed on a the Registry on the DMV Web site at paper form that could be presented http://www.dmv.ny.gov/visionprovide. to a Motor Vehicle Representative in a htm. It should take only about five DMV office or mailed to DMV with the minutes to complete the license application. application. If you would like more The DMV recently launched an Online information about the Registry and Vision Registry that will allow the how it works, The final webinar is test results to be electronically submit- being offered on March 25. For more ted to DMV and applied to an information about the Registry or how individual’s record. Patients who have to access the Webinars, email DMV their test results electronically at [email protected]. submitted through the Registry can Clearly, it’s a great idea! then renew their licenses online or by mail without having to visit a DMV Opticians Gather Across the State at NYSSO Events In Western New York… In the Capital Region… Opticians from the Buffalo and Rochester areas met Opticians from across the Capital-Saratoga recently midway in Batavia. A big announcement Region met recently for an “Opticians Roundtable”-- was made at this gathering as Marc Rubinrott (far a wide-ranging discussion about the profession, right) of Advance Optical announced a $2,000.00 how its practiced and where it ‘s going. donation by Advance Optical & Essilor to support The discussion was moderated by Region 4 NYSSO’s Opticians Storm Directors Linda Recovery Assistance Fund. Greaves-Miller and Accepting the donation on Bruce Mapes. NYSSO’s behalf were Region 1 Director Art Todoro (left) and Region 2 Director and Society Past President Laurie Schreiber. In the Southern Tier… On Long Island… At the recent Southern Tier Regional Symposium in Opticians from Nassau and Suffolk Counties came Elmira, Past President John Kennedy, Regional together for a full house at the recent Long Island Director Lisa Lund-Dolezel and Immediate Past Regional Symposium in Plainview. NYSSO President Laurie Schreiber conducted an welcomed 15 new and returning Long Island “Opticians Roundtable. Past President Dick members at the Symposium. Buchanan lent his years of experience to the discussion. Attendees also had an opportunity to tour the labs of Winchester Optical prior to the Symposium.

Remaining 2012-13 Membership Year Schedule April 2013 June 2013 April TBD Joint NYSSO-OANJ Event with Villavecchia June 12 Long Island Meeting in Farmingdale April 10 Region 2 Meeting in Rochester July 2013 April 10 Long Island Meeting in Farmingdale July 1 2013-14 Renewals Posted April 28 Metro Regional Symposium at City Tech August 2013 May 2013 August 11 Metro Regional Symposium May 4 & 5 2013 NYS Opticians Gala & Professional August 31 2012-13 Membership Year Ends Development Symposium at Turning Stone May 4 Spring Board of Directors Meeting For up-to-date scheduling and full event details, at Turning Stone please go to the NYSSO Online Calendar of Events May 8 Long Island Meeting in Farmingdale at www.nysso.org May 15 Region 4 Meeting in Poughkeepsie May 19 Buffalo Regional Symposium at ECC May 21 Metro Regional Meeting at TCI in Manhattan NYSSO’s Storm Recovery Assistance Fund Remaining Ever When Hurricane Sandy came ashore last fall, the NYSSO Vigilant & Representing Board of Directors knew it had to do something to assist Opticians who may have been impacted by this devastating You Before New York storm. The Society was very fortunate to have a number of State Government associations and companies come forward to assist NYSSO Latest News… in this effort. Over $5,000.00 was raised through this NYSSO Submits effort—and 47 New York State Licensed Opticians were Memorandum of Support assisted by this generosity. for Joint Practices Bill Storm Recovery Assistance Fund Benefactors Senate Bill 3756 (Ranzenhofer)/ Assembly Bill 1384 (Cahill) This bill would allow Ophthalmic Dispensers, Ophthalmologists and Optometrists to jointly own practices that provide a broad range of professional eye care services. Current law prohibits physicians from owning professional practices with other professionals. This bill would allow the 3 O’s to enter into a legal relationship to jointly own businesses which provide eye care services. You can find full information on NYSSO’s Legislative Agenda by going to the Government Affairs & Advocacy webpage at: www.nysso.org.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for NYSSO’s Annual Awards AND Nominate a worthy colleague for the The Spectacle Shoppe Optician of the Year Award Thomas Ryder Richard A. Terry Award Lifetime Achievement Award NYSSO and our fund benefactors hope that their contributions assisted fellow Opticians in the Award criteria and nominating form can be found at www.nysso.org. Act today…nominations must be process of rebuilding their practices and lives. received by 5:00 p.m. on April 12, 2013. NYSSO Establishing Mentor Program Use the form below to express your interest in the NYSSO Mentor Program. We will contact you and Experienced Opticians Sought to Assist answer any questions you may have. NYSSO will also Ophthalmic Dispensing Students and provide mentor training. Newly-Licensed Colleagues I want to learn more about becoming a NYSSO Mentor! Please contact me. Mentoring is a process in which a senior and more Name: experienced professional assists the development of students or younger colleagues. The senior is called the Title: mentor, who advises, counsels and guides a student or Business: young professional to perform to the best of his or her abilities. The mentor also provides clarifications of Address: doubts as they occur. The mentoring exercise is beneficial to both the practice and the person being City: mentored. State: Zip: Mentoring sessions hone and develop the latent skills Phone: and talents of the mentored. The mentor is one who has vast knowledge and experience on the job and in E-Mail: the profession. The mentor cultivates the performance Check all that apply: of the student or young professional. He or she coaches the student or young professional on the technical I would be willing to speak with young requirements of the job, the policies and practices of colleagues regarding the profession. the practice and on interpersonal skills. Because the I would be willing to offer a field experience mentor is supportive of the student or young to an Ophthalmic Dispensing Student. professional, the rapport and camaraderie between both of them is strong. I would be willing to visit a school and speak with Ophthalmic Dispensing Students. By guiding and supporting students and young professionals, the mentor helps advance future careers. Please return this form to: The hands-on training and one-on-one counseling of NYSSO Mentoring Program, 1450 Western Avenue, mentorship ensures that the future Optician will be Suite 101, Albany, NY 12203-3539 or fax to: equipped to take on the roles, duties and higher (518)463-8656 or e-mail to: [email protected] responsibility in the profession. NYSSO is seeking experienced Opticians who are willing to offer their time and talents to assist the future of our profession. How? • By making yourself available to speak with Ophthalmic Dispensing Students and newly- licensed Opticians—answering their questions NYSSO and offering encouragement. • Allowing Ophthalmic Dispensing Students and newly-licensed Opticians to visit your practice or sponsor a field experience where a future Optician can observe and learn more about what it is to dispense. MENTORS • By joining a NYSSO school visit team and meeting with Ophthalmic Dispensing Students on campus. Celebrating new York State’S ophthalmiC diSpenSing profeSSion the 2013 new York State opticians gala professional development Symposium may 4-5, 2013

New This Year! we have a new setting…the Shenendoah Clubhouse…offering so much more for our event!

NYSSO_Gala_Reg_Cover.indd 1 3/26/13 4:12 PM AFTER-EVENT PARTY Join us for continued celebration of our profession! Turning Stone Reservation Line: 1-800-771-7711 NYSSO Rate of $175.00 for Tower Accommodations Tell them you’re with the NYS Society of Opticians.

New York State CEC Mail-In Course #13-13

View/Download NYSSO NYS CE Sponsor #042001 - 042003.001 New Mail-In Course at www.nysso.orgHelp! My Inventory is Out-of-Whack! Circle the best answer for each question (or write in the correct answer) and return to: NYSSO, 1450 Western Avenue, Suite 101, Albany 12203 • fax (518) 463-8656 Name: ______License #: ______

Mailing Address ______NYSSO Member: ❑ Yes ❑ No If no, the registration fee is $30.00; please complete the section below or the membership application on next page: Method of Payment: ❑ Check (payable to NYSSO) ❑ Credit Card (please complete section below): Type of Credit Card: ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ❑ Mastercard ❑ Visa Dollar Amount ______Expiration Date: ______Card #:______Signature: ______

1. What is every optician’s nightmare? 8. Who is responsible for addressing un- 15. Before bringing in a new frame line, a. Double-bar frames healthy patterns with vendor relations? make sure to set up an appointment for b. Grumpy patient a. Reps a(n): c. Green nose pads b. Frame Company a. eye health exam d. Inventory freeze c. You b. refraction d. Doctors c. frame viewing 2. This is when a frame company takes your d. brand training event “duds” and replaces them with new prod- 9. How often should you meet with your uct at a discount: reps? 16. When opening up an order with a frame a. Buy-backs a. Every week company, who should choose the frames b. Rip-off b. Once per month that go on the frame board? c. Double-dip c. Once per quarter a. Reps d. Dots-galore d. Twice per year b. Frame buyer c. Doctor 3. Ask many of your ______to share their 10. Host a ______event at least once per d. You observations on what builds a successful quarter. optical. a. trunk show 17. How often should you place a frame a. neighbors b. family order? b. reps c. brand training a. 3 times per week c. friends d. board management b. Once per month d. doctors c. Once per quarter 11. What is a great way to communicate rep d. At Vision Expos only 4. Develop a(n) ______before and product updates with your team? making any big purchases. a. Email 18. Always have ______reps waiting in line a. inventory freeze b. Conference call for underperforming reps and lines. b. trim-down c. Weekly meeting a. happy c. true partnership d. Skype b. 2-3 d. frame matrix c. 3-4 12. Deliver an open invitation to all of your d. 5-6 5. Patients that request ______to shop reps to educate staff with all there is to elsewhere are telling you that the selec- know about their ______. 19. As part of Board Management, consider tion is not exciting. a. company and frame lines allowing _____ to decorate their space. a. prescriptions b. fashion views a. reps b. directions c. family history b. frame buyers c. frames d. demographics c. managers d. pricing d. opticians 13. What is the goal of a Brand Training 6. It is crucial to be on the same page as your: Event? 20. When learning about brands, it is impor- a. optical team a. Eat fancy foods tant to know the ______of the frame b. reps b. Learn the brand inside and out company. c. doctors c. Team cohesiveness a. location d. manager d. Look at magazines b. style c. colors 7. To calculate the number of frames re- 14. With online options, lower prices, and d. history quired, collect specific numbers on pa- more competition, you must create a Read course tient ______. better: online - a. style a. marketing strategy then send in b. gender b. frame display c. demographics c. rules and guidelines this test. d. income d. patient experience Membership Application for 2012-13

INDIVIDUAL’S NAME ______COMPANY ______ADDRESS ______FAX # ______CITY, ST, ZIP ______EMAIL ADDRESS ______

PHONE (HOME) ______PHONE (BUSINESS) ______Preferred Address: ❑ Home ❑ Business Preferred Phone:❑ Home ❑ Business

Membership Type: ❑ Active ($185.00) ❑ Active/Member Loyalty Program ($150.00; must be renewed by 9/30/12 to maintain) ❑ Newly Licensed-Active (See below/$150.00) ❑ Associate ($100.00) ❑ Corporate ($185.00) ❑ Student (Dues Waived)

Method of Payment: ❑ Check (payable to NYSSO) ❑ Credit Card (please complete section below) Type of Credit Card: ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ❑ Mastercard ❑ Visa Dollar Amount:______

Expiration Date: ______Card #: ______Signature: ______

Voluntary Opticians PAC Contribution (Contributions to the NYSSO Political Action Committee) ❑ $25.00 ❑ $50.00 ❑ $75.00 ❑ $100.00 ❑ Other ______

Membership Year is September 1-August 31. Mail Application to: NYSSO, 1450 Western Avenue, Suite 101, Albany, NY 12203. NYSSO State Office (518) 426-0599 E-mail: [email protected] • Web Page: www.nysso.org

To be listed accurately in the NYSSO Please Complete the Following: Membership Directory, please indicate Region (see map) ______Date of Birth: ____/____/____ which of the following services are offered by your business: NYS License # ______Sex: ❑ Male ❑ Female ❑ Artificial Eyes ❑ Contact Contact Fitter # ______Signature ______❑ Eyeglasses ❑ Refractions Available ❑ Hearing Aids ❑ Low Vision Sponsor (if applicable): ______Date______

Region 1 -- Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus Please indicate to which organizations you belong: Region 2 -- Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, , Yates, Seneca, Schuyler, Chemung, Steuben, Allegany ❑ Region 3 -- St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Oneida, Herkimer, American Board of Opticianry Certified (ABO) Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Otsego, Chenango, Cortland, Tompkins, ❑ Fellow, National Academy of Opticianry (FNAO) 3 4 Tioga, Broome, Delaware 1 2 Region 4 -- Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, Saratoga, ❑ Opticians Association of America (OAA) , Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Schoharie, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Ulster, Sullivan, Dutchess ❑ National Examiners (NCLE) Region 5 -- Bronx, New York, Queens, Kings, Richmond, Orange, 5 7 Putnam, Rockland, Westchester ❑ Contact Lens Society of America (CLSA) Region 6 -- Nassau 6 Region 7 -- Suffolk

Membership Categories ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP — Annual dues of $185.00. Any person possessing a valid CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP — Annual dues of $185.00. Any proprietor- New York State Ophthalmic Dispensing License is eligible to become an Active Member. ship or corporation maintaining 51% of its licensed opticians as members of this (Member Loyalty Program rate of $150.00; must be renewed by 9/30/12.) Society and upholding the by-Laws and constitution of the Society is eligible to become a Corporate Member. Corporate Members are entitled to all rights of an NEWLY LICENSED MEMBERSHIP — Upon obtaining a NYS License, the Active Member, except voting and may participate in all activities of the Society, optician will receive a complimentary year of membership. the following year, the unless specifically excluded by the Board of Directors. optician will be invoiced for the rate of $150.00. Newly licensed opticians who join under the special offer will be entitled to full Active Member benefits. STUDENT MEMBERSHIP — Annual dues waived. Any person who is enrolled as a student in a New York State-accredited program for Ophthalmic ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP — Annual dues of $100.00. Any person who does Dispensing is eligible to become a Student Member. Student Members are entitled not qualify for Active membership but is supportive of opticianry shall be eligible to to all rights of an Active Member, except voting and may participate in all activities become an Associate Member. Associate Members are entitled to all the rights of an of this Society, unless specifically excluded by the Board of Directors. Active Member, except voting and may participate in all activities of this Society, unless specifically excluded by the Board of Directors. 2012-12 MY WE ARE NEW EASY TO TECHNOLOGY WORK INDEPENDENTFAMILY EDGING WITH OWNED EXPERTS 24HR SUNGLASS LARGEST & WRAP FREEFORM Turnaround FRAMES SUPERMARKET (6 & 8 BASE) Uncuts/AR COMPETITIVEPRICING

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2013 New York State Opticians Gala & Professional Development Symposium… full details inside!

A New Look for Your Society You may have noticed our new “eyeball” logo! NYSSO is updating our image and preparing for the future. Throughout the fall and winter, NYSSO’s leadership discussed how it wanted to position the Society and mission, further promote programming and the value of membership and increase visibility across the entire profession. The result of these deliberations are a new logo and color scheme which captures the essence of our profession— the care and health of our sense of vision. The new logo will be brought into use over the next few months. We are also currently in the process of designing a new highly interactive website, which will come online over the summer… watch for it!

renew your membership or join nysso today! www.nysso.org