Dispensing Optics - ABDO

30 dispensingoptics July 2009
Representatives from the Areas listen to the updates from colleagues Jo Holmes from Area 7 Keith Dickinson from Area 2
Areas get together
at President’s Day
Representatives from most of ABDO’s 12 Areas attended the recent President’s Day at
199 Gloucester Terrace. Updates were given on the latest Area events that had taken
place around the UK, while members were given the chance to feed back their thoughts
on a variety of issues during round-table discussions.
Area 2 reported on a
successful, free CET day it
ran in April (a deposit of
£25 had been refundable
on attendance). Feedback
had been positive and
thanks were expressed to
the organisers. Twenty-three
students had attended a
student revision day in May,
while plans were moving
forward for the Area 2 AGM
in November, which would
probably coincide with a
social event.
A highly successful CET day
had taken place in Area 3
in March, though the
committee had suffered a
small financial loss. A tour of
the Hoya factory had been
arranged in June, with a
further evening event
planned in September and
the AGM in December
2009 – which would
hopefully see the
committee break even
financially. Area 3 had, as
previously agreed, returned
surplus funds to ABDO and
was operating on a smaller
budget. It was felt that this
new system was working
well.
Area 4 had recently held its
first meeting for four years,
after the previous
resignation of most of the
officers. The event had
been successful and it was
hoped that other members
would become involved in
arranging further meetings.
Area 5 was pleased to
report that it had
continued to run twiceyearly
CET days; the last
one in March was
attended by 90 members
and the next one was in
the diary for 14 September.
A decision had been made
to restrict numbers to 100
per meeting. In previous
ABDO Benevolent Fund
If you know of a dispensing optician, or a dependant
of a dispensing optician, who might benefit from the
ABDO Benevolent Fund, please get in touch with
Barbara Doris on 020 7298 5102 or email
bdoris@abdolondon.org.uk or write to her at ABDO,
199 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6LD. ■
years, the same content
had been used for both
CET days, which took place
in different geographical
areas. In future the content
would be different for each
meeting, so that members
would be able to obtain 25
CET points per year simply
by attending the two Area
meetings. The AGM in the
autumn of 2008 had been
poorly attended and in
future, the AGM would be
incorporated into a CET day.
The next Area 6 CET day
would take place in
September, attracting 6.5
CET points.
Area 7 was busy preparing
for its CET day which would
take place on 11 June,
attracting 7 CET points and
sponsorship for most of the
sessions. The Area
Secretary expressed her
thanks to ABDO’s head of
membership for her support
in emailing all Area
members. She noted that
the Area had been
volunteered to trial an
ABDO roadshow on frame
repairs. She paid tribute to
very active and
participatory committee
members.
No activities had taken
place in Area 9, although
the AGM would be held in
June and a few members
had expressed interest in
joining the committee. It
was hoped that a more
positive report could be
given at the next
President’s Day in
November.
In Area 11, the Committee
had two new members,
including a student
member. Thanks were
expressed, again, to the
head of membership for
her help with the CET event
that was due to take place
on 28 June.
Area 12 reported it had
held three meetings so far
this year – one at Eyecare
3000 in January, one in
February and one in May.
A CET day was planned for
14 June for practitioners in
Aberdeen and another
event was scheduled for
November.
Area online forums
During the day, ABDO
president Barry Duncan
raised the issue of the Area
forums provided on the
ABDO website being underutilised
by members. Mr
Duncan emphasised that
the forums allowed
members to exchange
views in their own localities
and he urged Area
representatives to use them.
Visit the ABDO Area forums
at www.abdo.org.uk ■