There is an old expression that goes “You can’t have a great team without having great players.” The CLSA Board of Directors is developing into a great team. The five new members of the Board have already made major contributions. Your Board of Directors will continue to look for the best ways to achieve the CLSA’s mission—to provide the best contact lens education possible.

I want to thank all the participants of the CLSA Summer Management Meeting recently held at Myrtle Beach. Craig Norman, FCLSA, was the creative mastermind for this event, and we owe him special thanks. The Summer Management Meeting agenda differs from the technical format presented at our Annual Education Meeting; while educational, it also focuses on innovative business management concepts designed to improve all aspects of a contact lens practice.

Yet another upcoming educational opportunity is available at our Contact Lens Hands-On Clinical Courses scheduled this fall. Jean Ann Vickery, FCLSA, this year’s Course Director, has assembled an outstanding faculty for the CLSA Clinical Courses being held at Dean A. McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City, OK. The Basic Clinical course dates are October 19–20. The didactic lectures are presented on Friday, with hands-on patient clinics being offered on Saturday. The Advanced Course, being held November 17–18, will demonstrate advanced techniques for the more difficult-to-fit
patients. Enrollment is limited, so sign up soon.

The CLSA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the CLSA 2008 Annual Education Meeting will be held at the InterContinental New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. The meeting dates are March 5–9, 2008. Jean Ann Vickery has agreed to be the Education Chairperson for the meeting. (Yes, we are taking advantage of Jean Ann’s active volunteerism.) One of the objectives of this meeting is to present more
advanced, Level 3 courses. You will be receiving the call for submissions in the near future.

In closing, I would like to mention the recent loss of a very good friend to CLSA. Larry Schott passed away on June 2, 2007. Larry was not only the President of Schott Management Group, CLSA’s management team, he was also husband of Tina, and father of Michael and Matthew. I didn’t know Larry well, but what I did know was that he was often there when CLSA needed him. Recently, at a CLSA Executive Committee Meeting in Washington, we needed some advice on a legal issue. Though it was late in the evening, Larry was  there to assist and advise. He will truly be missed.


Benny “B.W.” Phillips, FCLSA
President, CLSA