The 2015
College of Opticians
Get out the Vote!
Hello Members: The College of Opticians of Alberta will be holding an election at this years AGM
being held in Red Deer, AB. Please find enclosed, bio’s of all the candidates and a Mail-In Ballot. We
encourage and appreciate member participation and input in selecting your Provincial Council.
COA ELECTION PROCESS AND PROCEDURES Annual General Meeting – May 3, 2015 Package Includes: Mail – In Voting Ballot, Candidate Summaries, Mail‐ In Ballot Envelope, COA Self‐Addressed Envelope. Enclosed are brief summaries of your 5 candidates for 4 positions available for 2015. Please select the four candidates you feel would best serve the goals of the College of Opticians of Alberta on behalf of the membership. Procedures for submitting your voting mail‐in ballots: Step 1: 1.
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Select four candidates and mark X beside the name on the Mail In Ballot form Step 2: Place your Mail‐In Ballot into the Mail‐In Ballot Envelope provided. The front of the envelope will say “Mail‐In Ballot” Step 3: Seal Mail‐In Ballot envelope, print name and license number, and sign on the outside of the envelope. Step 4: Place your Mail‐In Ballot Envelope into the College of Opticians of Alberta’s Self‐Addressed envelope and send to the office via mail. Do not place any other documentation into the Mail‐In Ballot Envelope, i.e. Registration, Con‐ed, as it will not be opened until May 3, 2015 at AGM. Ballots must be received in the office by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday April 24, 2015 or delivered to the Registrar by hand before the close of voting on May 3, 2015 The purpose of the sealed and signed Mail‐In Ballot envelope is to ensure that ballot is not inadvertently opened therefore spoiling your vote. Only ballots received in this fashion prior to the election will be counted as mail in ballots. The Registrar cannot accept faxed or e‐mailed ballots. They will not be counted and considered spoiled. Any ballots not mailed in the “Mail‐In Ballot Envelope” and inadvertently opened will be spoiled. Randy Bradley, RO - Lic. 543
Hello, my name is Randy Bradley. I have been a licensed optician for over 25 years. I have worked
in every facet of our profession and feel that I have a great deal to offer to the college and all of you
members. I have worked for everybody from independents to chains to doctors where I currently
am. I was born and raised in Calgary and still live here with my wife of 37 years. If elected, I promise
that I will do my best for all of you
Nola Hornung, RO, RCLP - Lic. 893
My name is Nola Hornung, and once again I would like the opportunity to serve you as a board
member. Some of you know me and some of you will recognize my name as being a past board
member. I have been in the optical industry for over 25 years and I am a Contact Lens Practitioner. I
was last on the board one year ago and have found that I missed the challenges that are presented
to oneself being a serving member. I ask that I again have the opportunity to help grow our industry
and keep us moving forward as recognizable Health Care Practitioners.
Gene Kerns, RO , RCLP- Lic. 1572
I have been involved in the optical field for over 30 years. It is interesting to see the “evolvement”
of our profession from a relatively obscure and unknown practice to a well-respected one. As a
business owner of 14 dispensaries in BC in the 80’s and 90’s, I was actively involved with the BC
Association of Opticians and the Opticians Association of Canada. Prior to coming to Alberta in
2007, I practiced as an ABO/NCLE Optician in Colorado. With your support, I will bring to the COA
my dedication to the advancement of Opticians and how we can best serve our profession and the
public at large. I look forward to being of service.
Julie Therou, RO, RCLP - Lic. 2055
While attending the U of A, studying political science and sociology, I started working in the optical
industry as a receptionist and optometric assistant. Upon completion of my first diploma at NAIT,
and after a rigorous seven years of post-secondary education, I made the decision to take my
education one step further and immediately entered the Advanced Practice Program. While taking
the course I was mentored by my colleagues at Parker Ford and Mackay Specialty Opticians, I am
interested in having a better understanding of how our board and association serves its members
and, even more so, in how the board aids in the evolution and education of student Opticians,
recent graduates and long standing members alike. Thank you to all the COA members for your
consideration.
Cathy Verdin, RO, - Lic. 1287
My name is Cathy Verdin. I have been a licensed optician for 13 years and worked in the optical
industry for 15 yrs. I manage a retail location in a busy mall in Edmonton. In my off hours I follow
my passion for music and am the singer in a blues/roots band. I have two grown children and enjoy
cooking and entertaining. The reason that I would like to be on council is to become involved on the
board that governs opticians. I would like to contribute ideas and act in service to the organization
that I work within.
Scott Smith - Lic. 714, RO, RCLP
In by acclamation. OAC Representative.
MAIL IN BALLOT
College of Opticians of Alberta ‐ Election May 3, 2015 There are five (5) candidates for four (4) positions. Three positions have a three‐year term and the fourth position has a one‐year term. Do not write anything on this form beyond placing a mark in the applicable boxes. Excerpt from the Bylaws: 14. Only a registered practicing member shall be eligible to vote in an election of members to the Council. 17. A mail in ballot must not be counted unless it is received by the registrar no later than the close of voting on the date of the election: (a) and is contained in an envelope on which the member’s name and signature appears YOU MUST SELECT ONLY FOUR (4) CANDIDATES BY MARKING “X” BESIDE NAME Randy Bradley Nola Hornung Gene Kerns Julie Therou Cathy Verdin 1. Ballots must be received in the office by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday April 24, 2015 or delivered to the Registrar by hand before the close of voting on Sunday May 3, 2015 2. Ballots must be in a sealed envelope with the voter's name, signature and license number on the outside of the envelope. 3. If the ballots are mailed, put an envelope that is signed with license number inside of an envelope so staff thinking they are normal mail does not inadvertently open the ballots. 4. Only ballots received in this fashion prior to the election will be counted as mail in ballots. 5. The Registrar cannot accept faxed ballots. 6. Any ballots inadvertently opened because this procedure is not followed are spoiled. Send To: College of Opticians of Alberta 201, 2528 Ellwood Dr SW Edmonton, AB T6X 0A9 DO NOT FAX OR EMAIL BALLOTS A proxy form is available on website for other voting purposes