OPTICIAN Opti-PAC
DAN ADAMS
KATHLEEN AHLBRANDT
LISA ANDERSON
LINDA ARNOLD
AMY ARNDT
JAMIE BAKER
BRENDA BLACKBURN
SONDRA BLACKHM
REBECCA BOYD
PAT BRENNER
LEE ANNE BREWER
HERMAN C. BOWMAN
MARSHA BUCHANON
RITA CARTER
SUE COE
MELANIE COLLEY
BETSY CRAWFORD
SANDRA CRIMMINS
PEGGY COLEMAN
REBECCA CROFT
GREG DECROW
STEVE DIETZE
JENNETT DOHERTY
GLORIA EASLEY
ROY R. FERGUSON, PhD.
SHARON FIELDS
TONYA GARRETT
KELLY GODSEY
MICHAEL GOGGIN
JANE GRANNIS
DONNA GREEN
BEA HALL
KATHY HAWKINS
SUSAN HAYNES
HANS HEIMOWSKI
DEBRA HEMBY
MARVIN HODGE
RAY HODGE
ROBERTA HOLCOMB
KRISTI HURST
JACKIE HUFFMAN
AMY JOHNSON
SHEILA JONES
JUNE LAMPKINS
JUDY LAWSON
JANE LINDSEY
VIRGINIA LITTLETON
SAMANTHA MARKOS
JEAN MARSEE
DEMETRA MASON
FAITH MCDANIELVIVIAN KING-MCMASTERS
CHRIS MCMILLAN
KEN MENENDEZ
CHRIS MILAM
ED MILAM
LINDA MILLER
MACK MITCHELL
A.J. MOORE
ARVENA MOORE
THEO MORRISON
DENNIS MORPHIS
EDITH MYERS
AMY NEWMAN
CHARLES L. NORTON
CHARLES W. NORTON
HELEN OWENS
JANET PASINGER
VERA PEIRCE
PAIGE PRESLEY
FRANKIE PRINCIPE
ERIC RICKMAN
TONYA RICE
MICHAEL ROTTERS
ALICIA SANDERS
DONNA SCOTT
MARSHA SIMS
PHILLIP SMITH
KIMBERLY STAHL
SALLY STOKES
DEBBIE TANNER
TONIA TRENT
DEBRA TROUT
RHONDA TURNER
M.G.VANDERGRIFF
TAMMY VON ALMEN
REGINA WALDEN
LE RHONDA WALTON-HILL
ELIZABETH WILLIAMS
REBEKAH WINNINGHAM
TONI WISE
LAURA WOOD
DEBRA WOODS
LUCELLIA WRIGHT
OptiPAC The Political Action Committee for Opticians
What is OptiPAC?
The Tennessee Dispensing Opticians Association Political Action Committee (OptiPAC) is a non-partisan, voluntary, non-profit organization of the Tennessee Dispensing Opticians Association with membership open to all Tennessee opticians, their spouses, and other friends of the optical community. OptiPAC benefits the entire optical industry through political contributions to political candidates, provides the lawful means by which opticians can effectively express their views, and increases their political impact through a united, collective effort.
OptiPAC was organized in 1998 to encourage members of the optical profession to take a more active and organized role in government and governmental affairs. Opticians needed an organization through which they could participate more effectively in supporting political candidates who understand the interests of the optical business.
Additionally, OptiPAC was created to provide a forum for educating its members about state and national political activities affecting the optical industry. OptiPAC provides an effective way for members to become politically involved at both state and national levels.
Representation on this scale is essential if we are to establish and maintain the best environment for opticianry in Tennessee.
How does OptiPAC benefit me?
By joining with other Tennessee opticians, you create a constituency that represents your professional needs and concerns. Whether you are affiliated with a national chain or an independent operation, you cannot afford to ignore the effect that public policy makers have on the future of your business.
Only through collective political action can we ensure that our lawmakers hear the voice of the optical industry. These lawmakers are shaping the future of the financial services profession, and it is the professional responsibility of all members of the optical community to be involved in the political process.
Essentially, participation in OptiPAC represents your professional interest in:
- Maintaining a licensing structure regulated by the Tennessee Department of Health.
- A fair, competitive atmosphere within the optical services industry.
- A commitment to a high standard of opticianry in Tennessee.
- An interest in and the need to foster an ongoing dialogue between opticians and public policy makers.
How does OptiPAC decide which candidate to support?
Led by Theo Morrison, he and the PAC committee carefully review candidates for public office and make their decisions based upon several different factors. The primary factors that determine candidate support are:
- Input from local opticians regarding the candidate's qualifications and background.
- Analysis of previous election returns to determine the partisan strength of a particular district.
- Input from the TDOA lobbyist and legal counsel regarding the candidate's previous support of TDOA legislative objectives (this criteria is used only when one of the candidates is an incumbent).
- Most importantly, candidate support is based on the interest a candidate shares with the optical industry in providing licensed, high-quality, competitive optical services to Tennesseans.
How much should I contribute?
Tennessee OptiPAC depends upon personal contributions from individual opticians. Under state law, corporate donations are not permissible.
The following donor categories have been established to provide suggested giving levels and appropriate recognition of OptiPAC contributors:
Titan - Over $200
Diamond - $100-$200
Optician - $26-$99
Apprentice - $10-$25
All donors will receive recognition in publications and at TDOA conferences and conventions. In addition, OptiPAC plans to host a donor reception in conjunction with the Annual Convention, which may include a few surprises, like a guest appearance by a prominent elected official in the State of Tennessee.
Shouldn't I give directly to the candidate of my choice?
Yes, you should, but don't overlook the greater impact that you gain by pooling resources with your colleagues. One voice may speak loudly, but by pooling the resources of opticians statewide, legislators will hear a much louder and unified voice for a concentrated effect in key districts. OptiPAC provides the mechanism for a well-organized, effective effort that coordinates the collective interests of the optical industry in Tennessee.
Do I receive a tax benefit by giving to OptiPAC?
If you are a Tennessean, you are not eligible for a tax benefit. But you do receive the benefit of knowing that you are making a difference by helping to elect individuals who believe in the practice of opticianry.
P.O. Box 210454
Nashville, TN 37221
Phone: 615-646-5245
Fax: 615-646-5780
Email: TDOA@TDOA.org