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RUNDOWN NEWS BYE BYE TO COLA The last of the regional laboratory associations, COLA (California Optical Laboratory Association), has suffered the same fate as all the other regional organizations and is no longer in existence. Since 1957, it had combined good fellowship, sharing of problems and solutions, sponsorship of scholarships to three optometric colleges, and support of charitable organizations, all while ftting in a little golf with the same guys, mostly salespeople, winning every year. COLA has been reborn as a functioning division of The Vision Council which is embracing the philanthropy of the organization and pledges to increase support to needy causes, throwing behind it the added strength and resources of the organization. Additionally, processing labs west of the Mississippi will be encouraged to join to help strengthen the whole organization. The agreement between COLA and The Vision Council, announced in January, was signed on Friday, April 26 by Raanan Naftalovich, chair of The Vision Council's Board of Directors, Virginia "Susie" Lesher, chair of The Vision Council's Optical Lab Division, and Lori Treadwell, president of COLA. Negotiations had been positive but emotional for the COLA folks with Treadwell and the COLA board serving as the point people for the organization. The negotiators have achieved a renaissance for COLA—stronger and poised for the future…but with a new name. Under the terms of the agreement, the current COLA leadership will remain in place to ensure a seamless transition. COLA members will join The Vision Council as The California Lab Subcommittee under the Optical Lab Division umbrella, one of six operating divisions within The Vision Council that provide guidance, education, marketing, research, and advocacy outreach to address common interests among members. In addition, each individual COLA member is eligible to serve on the various committees, subcommittees, and task forces under The Vision Council structure. The Vision Council leadership has committed to supporting the continuation of the association's programs, including its annual spring meeting. COLA members are also immediately eligible to receive all benefts and Attendees at COLA's spring meeting. services offered by The A NEW DEPARTURE FOR COBURN Coburn Technologies, Inc. which has exclusively been a surfacing lab equipment supplier since its beginnings in the '40s is now moving into the feld of diagnostics equipment. It has announced an extension of its business plan with the introduction of a new, complete line of diagnostic systems manufactured by Huvitz. The partnership between the two companies means that Coburn is now offering Huvitz's technologies, including auto ref-keratometers, digital refractions, autolensometers, and digital charts, to the U.S. market. 18 july 2013 Signing documents to transfer ownership of COLA to The Vision Council, are from left to right: Ranaan Naftalovich, Susie Lesher, Mike Daley, and Lori Treadwell. Vision Council, including: • Member pricing for exhibiting at International Vision Expos • Golf at the spring meeting • Complimentary optical industry research reports • No cost registration for the Optical Lab Division meeting • Discounts for products and services • Technical representation The annual spring meeting is much more than just golf, as can be seen by this year's program which included: • A presentation on Regulatory/Industry Standards with a special focus on California's Proposition 65 and what it means for optical labs. • California Optical Market Update—which optical products are selling in the Golden State? • What eyecare professionals expect from their labs and the impact of Health Care Reform on that decision. • A panel discussion about what California lab professionals are doing to successfully address upcoming challenges and opportunities. Participants included representatives from retail, independent, corporate, managed vision care, and optical labs, and provided insights into their respective segments. These discussions and the Q&As; that followed were one of the most benefcial aspects of the meeting for me. Over the next few months, COLA members will receive updates and information about the new programs and services available to them through The Vision Council. There will also be an in-person opportunity to learn more while networking, exploring exhibits, and taking continuing education at the Optical Lab Division's annual meeting October 2-5 in Las Vegas. Despite his history, or maybe because of it, Mike Daley has emerged as a signifcant force dedicated to the survival…and success...of processing labs. He is taking the responsibilities of his new title seriously: Optical Lab Division liaison to The Vision Council. If you have any questions about what The Vision Council can do for your lab, give him a call. - Jim Grootegoed WEB SITE UPGRADE FOR OPTISOURCE Optisource International has launched an easy-to-navigate Web site for its online customers. The Web site has been re-organized with a large selection of new products, images, and a secure checkout. It also offers quick response times for customers via chat or e-mail, order receipt, and tracking information. totallyoptical.com