Membership & Retention Committee Update
Howard Braunstein, Chair

The 2006-07 Membership Year is off to a great start with renewals and new memberships setting the Society on the course for having one of its largest membership years.  The continuing education program at the 70th Anniversary Conference and active fall schedule has encouraged New York State opticians to either renew or join NYSSO at these events.  Renewals rates for all of NYSSO's seven Regions are well-ahead of where they were at this same point last year.     

The Society is formulating plans to continue expanding our outreach and recruitment efforts across the state. Mid-Hudson Valley member Claudia Hecht has offered some excellent ideas on reaching out to the young opticians and showing them why it is important to be involved with their state society.

NYSSO is also working with the Opticians Association of New Jersey in holding a Special Joint NY-NJ Continuing Education Seminar in order to reach out to opticians who hold dual licensure between the states.

We will continue to expand on last year's initiatives to increase our ranks and therefore, our effectiveness in advancing and protecting the ophthalmic dispensing profession in New York State.    

The Committee is laways looking for new ideas on how the Society can increase its effectiveness and grow as an organization and force in representing the true interests of opticianry across New York State. If you would like to be involved with these efforts, please contact Howie Braunstein.