Dear SBOS Doctors
I am looking forward to serving as your society president for the next two years. I have learned so much and met so many wonderful optometrists not only in our society, but also on the state level being the president-elect. I have learned more about how optometry works at the state level, how truly great and intelligent our speakers for our lectures are, and the generosity of the various companies that sponsor our events. I have also learned more about computers, the projector for our lectures, and to check my e-mails regularly over the past two years. Now that the SBOS has “Gone Green” with our paperless bulletins I will be learning even more.
It is an exciting time for optometrists in California with the SB 1406 bill already on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk waiting to be signed. I want to thank everyone who helped get the bill this far by writing that letter to our Governor or to our legislators, or with their added donations of time and/or dollars. I want to give a special thank you to our PAC representative Scott Fleming, O.D. for all that he has done and continues to do for us politically. All that needs to be done is for Governor Schwarzenegger to get a balanced budget signed and then he is expected to sign our SB 1406 bill.
The current SBOS Board is fantastic! We have a great group of doctors who work well together. I found out very quickly that the duties or work that is needed for our society to run smoothly are shared. Everyone pitches in and helps each other. When I was a new optometrist, I was told that getting involved with the society will help you in your career as an optometrist. I didn’t understand how that could happen, but having been on the board for at least five years it didn’t take long and wonderful changes occurred for me professionally. I saw these opportunities with other doctors before me and now with me personally. I would encourage all of you who haven’t come to a board meeting, to come and join us and to get involved. Oh, and by the way….the President Elect Position is currently open.
As your society president, I want to give Past President, Amy Jo Calder, O.D. a special thank you from all of the SBOS members. With her up-beat personality she brought life and excitement into our society and actually inspired me to be president elect. She will continue assisting with any questions the board might have. She put in countless hours of her time to serve as our president and we can’t thank her enough. We will never forget that she gave birth to her first child the day after becoming the SBOS president, and became pregnant with her second child about the time she finished her two years of being our president. We wish her all the best and again thank you Amy Jo!
Sincerely,
Deborah L. Geering-Fend, O.D.