GWCO Lounge: Welcome Letter

Roaring Through the ‘20s

Hilary L. Hawthorne, O.D.
GWCO 2020-2021 President - California

Welcome everyone and thank you for graciously taking the time to register and attend the 2020 Great Western Council of Optometry’s (GWCO) Annual Congress. As a meeting participant, you are encouraged to become thoroughly familiar with all of the information on our website, www.gwco.org, or emailed to you from the GWCO Office in advance of the Congress.

Several months ago, the GWCO Board of Directors proceeded cautiously and thoughtfully to transition this year’s event from its in-person location to a primarily web-based platform. The health and welfare of GWCO’s attendees have remained our utmost concern.

Today’s world is roaring through the year 2020. There have been months of “stay at home” orders emphasizing more time spent on digital devices. Temporarily gone are the days of crowds conversing in hallways or milling about before beginning quality continuing education courses and learning new hands-on technologies.

Here is what our roaring GWCO 2020 Virtual Congress will have in store for you. We are here to deliver superb continuing education (CE) and launch an electrifying Exhibit Hall Marketplace. We are thankful for the generous sponsors who provided financial support, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our management staff for their diligent work. The fact is, all of our dedicated partners want you to experience engaging sessions that reveal, unite, inspire, motivate, and compel a change of thinking or behavior. Plan on joining us for the entire event or just dedicate a few hours each day. (CE can only be obtained by attending sessions live online.) Listen as our selection of renowned speakers present multiple CE sessions, training, and educational workshops that are sure to receive thunderous applause.

In order to have ample time to chat with exhibitors, our Exhibit Hall Marketplace will be open throughout the Congress and until the end of October 2020. Pull up a seat and let the vendors engage your mind. Become immersed as if shoulder-to-shoulder with several hundred colleagues nationwide.

While our emcee will keep the meeting punctual, the GWCO Board members will be monitoring sessions to help foster a sense of community. Everyone is also encouraged to join our interactive breaks as we feature sociable opportunities, exhibitor chats, and other various interests each day.

During September 18-20, 2020, please give this unmatched event your close attention. As a virtual attendee at GWCO’s 2020 Congress, you are demonstrating your overall commitment to strengthen our continuing education program, to elevate our industry supporters, and to uphold our profession’s value. We are sincerely grateful.

In the upcoming months, it will be a privilege and honor for me to serve as the GWCO President throughout the 2020-2021 term. In only a few days, I look forward to seeing you online.