2008 AOF Meeting

AOF 2008 Annual Meeting

The American Optometric Foundation wishes to thank all of our donors for their generosity and support. The Foundation is a vital resource for students and researchers in the fields of optometry and vision science. While we continue to sustain and expand our programs, there is still a great need for funding Optometric research and education. 

The AOF 2008 Silent Auction was a huge success!  Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we raised over $17,000, making this one of our most sucessful auctions to date! 

SILENT AUCTION 2008 Anaheim

The Foundation’s silent auction raises funds for the future of optometry. Donations provide our attendees with an exciting way to contribute to AOF.

The following are a selection of the items that were up for bid at this great annual event.

The Borish Paintings
While almost all optometrists are familiar with Dr. Borish's career in Optometry, not many of his colleagues are familiar with his love of, and talent for, poetry, the theater, and art. We are thrilled and honored that Dr. Borish has generously donated four of his paintings -- Caribbean Island Street, Red Nude, Blue Mountain and Orange Abstract -- to be auctioned off at this year's event.

• Caribbean Island Street (1975), minimum bid: $1500 (Note: This item will be auctioned off live.)
• Red Nude (1992) minimum bid: $750
• Blue Mountain (1995) minimum bid: $750
• Orange Abstract (1967) minimum bid: $750

Autographed Photograph of DiMaggio, Mantle and Ted Williams minimum bid: $750 donated by Dr. Brett G. Bence

• A true collector's item! Authentic autographed photograph of Joe Dimaggio, Micky Mantle, and Ted Williams.

Apple 80G iPod Classic minimum bid: $125 Donated By Hoya Vision Care

• 80G Capacity stores up to 20,000 hours of song, 25,000 photos, or up to 100 hours of video. -This iPod delivers everything you love about iPod with added features all wrapped in a tiny 4.9 oz. package. A brighter display, enormous 80GB capacity and full-length movie playback take the iPod experience to a whole new level.

Apple 4G iPod Nano Minimum bid: $60 Donated by Hoya Vision Care

• With a larger, brighter display and the ability to play up to 5 hours of video or 24 hours of audio on a single charge, the iPod Nano is the top small MP3 player on the market. An impressive 4G of memory stores up to 1,000 songs or 25,000 digital photos.

Australia Party ROCK STAR Band Basket Minimum bid: $75 Donated by Optometry Giving Sight

• So you wanna be a Rock Star?..... Well, here’s your chance! This Australia Party ROCK STAR Band Basket includes a certificate for you to take the stage with the band at the 2009 Australia Party. You will be the featured star to belt out the song of your choice from the band’s song list – or if you play an instrument, now is your time to shine in the spotlight! Or would you prefer to have your best buddy take the stage? Well, you can substitute the ROCK STAR of your choice…
• Not only does the basket include the performance coupon but also rock music CDs, maracas, noisemakers, and autographed t-shirts from the Bad Habits – this year’s featured band. There’s an Aussie cork hat too – (the corks swing to keep the flies away in the outback in case you wondered) So, pop that on your head and grab the microphone – now’s your chance to be an Aussie Rock Star!

Gift Certificate to Anaheim White House Minimum bid: $50 Donated by Anaheim White House

• $100 gift certificate to Anaheim White House Restaurant. This item will be auctioned of before the commencement of the meeting so the winner can use it while they are in Anaheim. Details to come soon.
• Anaheim White House is Anaheim's most famous hidden treasure. It has been graced by the likes of numerous celebrities such as Danny De Vito, Andrea Bocelli and even former president Jimmy Carter. From the Zagat guide: Phenomenal" Northern Italian cuisine is presented as "works of art" within the "well appointed", "silk-covered" dining rooms of this "luxurious" "masterpiece" in a "huge, historic home" in Anaheim, where "welcoming" host Bruno Serato's "relentless pursuit of perfection" sets the pace for "formal, attentive" service that adds the "wonderfully romantic" atmosphere; all told it's an "elegant" place to "pop the question, impress the in-laws" or celebrate any special occasion.

Bottle of 1992 Chateau Lafite Rothschild minimum bid: $200 Donated By Dr. Mark Bullimore.

• Château Lafite Rothschild is a consistent producer of one of the world's finest and most expensive red wines. This wine takes its name from the family Lafite, estate’s owner until the early eighteenth century. However, it was in 1680 that, Jacques de Ségur planted a vineyard on the land. His son, Nicolas-Alexandre, is the fruit of the union of châteaux Lafite and Latour. By improving techniques’ wineries and the release of its wine to Versailles and abroad, he earned the nickname of "Prince of vines." Thanks to Marshal Richelieu, governor of Guyenne, Château Lafite became the "Wine of King Louis the XVth." Its reputation for excellence crossed borders and seduced, among others, Thomas Jefferson.
• The 1992 Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a real achievement for the vintage, boasting plenty of fruit, tobacco and dark chocolate character. It is a full-bodied and velvety vintage, boasting impressive richness of ripe tannins.

Matching Snowflake Obsidian Necklace and Earring Set minimum bid: $60 Donated by Dr. Alyon J. Wasik

• Beautiful 20" sterling silver necklace with 14, 10, & 6 mm snowflake obsidian beans and pendant with matching obsidian earrings. Handmade by Evie's Gems.

LUXURY GETAWAY AT THE PARK HYATT TORONTO minimum bid: $300, Donated by Park Hyatt Toronto

• Receive complimentary one night accommodation for two at the Park Hyatt Toronto, an exclusive retreat in the heart of Yorkville! Surrounded by fashionable shops and world-class restaurants, steps from Toronto’s premier cultural venues, the Park Hyatt Toronto offers luxury accommodations, attentive and personalized service in an atmosphere of understated elegance. - Enjoy a $100 Canadian towards dinner for two in Annona at the Park Hyatt Toronto. Annona offers an innovative yet classic international cuisine from award winning Executive Chef Joan Monfaredi.

Rubicon - Rubicon Estate Winery Rutherford California, Napa Valley 2004 minimum bid: $70, Donated by Dr. Wendy Harrison

• Rubicon Estate’s flagship wine is Rubicon — a proprietary blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It is produced from the best selections of the Estate’s 235 contiguous acres of certified-organic vineyards, including Clone #29 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 40-year-old selection that laboratory analysis confirmed has the same genetic material as the vines Gustave Niebaum, Inglenook’s founder, brought back from France in the 1880s.
• The 2004 Rubicon reflects the warm growing conditions of the vintage, displaying a telltale scent of violets and sour cherry flavors, which are the hallmark of this wine. Its super-ripe character delivers a sweet impression, supple tannins, and a prolonged finish of licorice, dark berries, and vanilla.

Handmade Necklace and Earring Set minimum bid: $40 Handmade jewelry designed and crafted by Sarah Flanagan, materials donated by Kathy Dumbleton and John Flanagan

• Large grey agate pendant on obliquely cut metallic grey and black seed beaded necklace with silver accent with matching labradorite earrings with dark grey seed bead and silver accents with sterling silver plated earring posts.

Gold Tones Shell Necklace and Bracelet set minimum bid: $45 Handmade jewelry designed and crafted by Sarah Flanagan, materials donated by Kathy Dumbleton and John Flanagan

• Gold tones shell floating necklace on gold wire with adjustable length clasp with matching bracelet on gold wire with a gold button clasp

Swarovski crystal necklace and earring set minimum bid: $45 Handmade jewelry designed and crafted by Sarah Flanagan, materials donated by Kathy Dumbleton and John Flanagan

• Beautifully cut Swarovski crystal floating necklace on gold wire with an adjustable length clasp finish. Features three different cuts of Swarovski crystal in honey, champagne, and chocolate colours with matching Swarovski crystal earrings with gold-plated posts.

Green Glass Necklace and Earring set minimum bid: $40 Handmade jewelry designed and crafted by Sarah Flanagan, materials donated by Kathy Dumbleton and John Flanagan

• Swirled green pendant with pale green glass bead and silver wire swirl accent on a deep green seed bead chain with pale green glass bead accents with matching earrings (Swirled green pendant with pale green glass bead and silver wire swirl accent) on sterling silver plated earring posts.

Silver Glass Necklace and Earring set minimum bid: $40 Handmade jewelry designed and crafted by Sarah Flanagan, materials donated by Kathy Dumbleton and John Flanagan

• Silver foil glass beads with brown and green accents on a silver wire floating necklace design with matching earrings with a silver wire swirl accents on sterling silver plated earring posts.

Signed Copies of Borish's Clinical Refraction: Second Edition by Dr. William Benjamin, OD, MS, PhD minimum bid: $100 Donated by William Benjamin

• Dr. William Benjamin generously donated three copies, signed by himself and Dr. Irv Borish, to the AOF Silent Auction. (Copies auctioned off seperately.)
• Now updated and expanded to cover the latest technologies, this full-color text on clinical refraction uses an easy-to-read format to give optometry students and practitioners all the important information they need. Also covers a wide range of other aspects of the eye exam, including anterior and posterior segment evaluations, contact lens, ocular pharmacology, and visual field analysis. Four new chapters cover wavefront-guided refraction, optical correction with refractive surgeries, prosthetic devices, and patients with ocular pathology.

Kindle: Amazon's Revolutionary Wireless Reading Device minimum bid: $150 Donated by CIBA Vision

• The Kindle was designed to provide a revolutionary reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle's screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink and paper, and is nothing like the glare and strain of a computer screen. It is mobile and simple to use and does not require any syncing to a computer.
• Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle, and when you buy a book it is delivered directly to the Kindle in less than a minute. There are no monthly fees for the Kindle. The Kindle holds more than 200 titles, has a long battery life, and is lighter and thinner than a typical paperpack. You can even email word documents and pictures to the Kindle for easy, on the go viewing!

Flip Mino Series Camcorder minimum bid: $85 Donated by CIBA Vision

• Weighing in at just over three ounces, the remarkably slim yet powerful Flip Video Mino raises the bar for high-quality, portable, and easy-to-use video. Smaller than most cell phones, the Flip Mino fits neatly into a jeans pocket to capture life's stories whenever and wherever they happen. Despite its diminutive size, the Flip Mino produces video that rivals that of camcorders costing much, much more. With 2 GB of flash memory, the Mino can record up to 60 minutes of VGA (Video Graphics Array)-quality video that looks sharp when played back on your laptop or television (TV cable included). The high-quality microphone captures crisp, detailed audio.

Crystal Tea Service Set Donated by: Rex and Sandy Ghormley

• Stunning Demitasse set of four cups, for saucers, and an octagonal service plate. Hand painted in gold leaf on black Venetian glass. The set was generously donated by Rex and Sandy Ghormley, who purchased the set in Venice on the glass island of Murano in 1990. A striking coffee table display piece that will become a treasured family heirloom!

7 Day and 7 Night Vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota minimum bid: $1000 Donated by Bert and Lydia Corwin

• Up to 7 days and 7 nights vacation in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota with accommodations for up to six people at the home of Bert C. and Lydia Corwin. Package includes breakfasts, transportation, and guided tours. A private airplane and Crazy Horse Memorial tour is also available.
• Local attractions include Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood (an old gambling town), Sturgis - home of the Sturgis Motor Cycle Rally and the scenic beauty of the Black Hills and the Bad Lands. Other activities are available such as trout fishing, hiking, rock climbing, cave tours, golfing, skiing, and more!

Handmade "Scarf of Distinction" minimum bid: $30, Donated By Lisa Lonie

• Beautiful handmade scarf that can be worn in a variety of ways.

Handmade Quilt minimum bid: $200 Donated by Dr. Jane Ann Munroe and Dr. Lorraine Voorhees on behalf of the Southern California College of Optometry

• Beautiful handmade quilt generously donated by Dr. Jane Ann Munroe and Dr. Lorraine Voorhees. The quilt features a California Poppy and piecework motif and is quilt is 70 inches by 84 inches. Sure to become a family heirloom treasured for years to come!

Complimentary Room for Two Nights at the Orlando World Center Marriott minimum bid: $350 Donated by Orlando World Center Marriott

• Thinking ahead to next year's annual meeting in Tampa? - Amenities and activities include the Hawk's Landing Golf Club, a 600,000 gallon feature pool with slides and waterfalls, basketball courts, Hawk's Landing Steakhouse and Grill, Starbuck's Coffee Bar, a full-service spa, 24-hour fitness center, and more!

Complimentary Round of Golf for 4 at Hawk's Landing Golf Club minimum bid: $250 Hawk's Landing Golf Club

• The Hawke's Landing Golf Club is located at the beautiful Orlando World Center Marriott -- close to the location of next year's meeting. Enjoy a complimentary round of golf for (4); this includes green, cart, and rental equipment fees! Hawk’s Landing Golf Club spans over 220 acres of lush grounds at Orlando, Florida’s premier Resort, Orlando World Center Marriott Resort. The 18-Hole Championship Golf Course was designed by noted golf architect Robert Cupp III, to create the perfect setting for challenging golf and a scenic blend of native Florida wildlife and tropical vegetation.

Beautiful Handmade Place mats and Place Settings minimum bid: $150 Donated by Ruth Manny

• Beautiful handmade place mats designed and made by Ruth Manny, 4 napkins with 4 chopsticks with 4 chopstick holders, 1 serving plate, 4 small beige square plates, 4 small orange square (ginger or sauce) containers.

"Visualization" - A Wall Hanging minimum bid: $75 Donated by Ruth Manny

• This beautiful optometry themed wall hanging, hand sewn with amazing detail embroidery by Dr. Ruth Manny, will make an excellent addition to your office.

Garmin - nüvi 360 GPS minimum bid: $75 Donated by Meltzer Group Benefits

• This GPS receiver lets you hit the road with a host of helpful features at your fingertips. Voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in Secure Digital card slot and more are all available to make each trip easier and more fun.
• The Meltzer Group is a Bethesda, MD based Financial Services Firm providing products and services that include Executive Compensation Plans, Group Benefits, Estate and Retirement Planning, and Property and Casualty Insurance.

Fighter Pilot for a Day minimum bid: $3,000

• Round-trip airfare for two to select cities and a one-person fighter pilot experience. Includes four nights at select Hyatt Hotels. This package is location and date specific. Your party of (1) will experience the thrill and excitement of being a fighter pilot in a light attack fighter in air-to-air combat. This basic air combat maneuvers program (phase I) is totally unique. This is not an air combat simulator and you don't need a pilot's license! One additional combat flight certificate can be purchased upon request.

Hot Air Balloon Adventure minimum bid: $2,000

• Enjoy one hot air balloon ride for two people at more than 150 locations in the United States. First, the passengers will meet the pilot and ground crew who will take them to the launch site where the beautiful balloon is being inflated. After launching, the balloon will gently ascend and float between 500 and 1,000 feet. They will travel above the treetops and below the clouds for about an hour, covering 5 or 10 miles--wherever the wind takes them! On landing the pilot and passengers will celebrate with a champagne toast, an old European tradition. The whole experience takes about three hours.

Scotland Golf Package and London Stay minimum bid: $7,200

• Round-trip airfare for two to Scotland for four nights at the Fairmont St. Andrews Bay hotel. Enjoy 3 golf twosomes at select courses. Also enjoy three nights in London at a 4-star Hyatt properties. Euro rail passes included. - Enjoy (3) golf twosomes on the Devlin golf course. Fairmont St Andrews has exceptional courses that hug Scotland's dramatic coastline. a four-night stay in a Junior Suite (285 square feet) providing an oversized room with a well-defined seating area at this 4-star property, spacious bedroom with a King bed with a small living area to the side with a working gas fireplace. Your stay will include daily breakfast for two in the dining room.

NASCAR Racing Package minimum bid: $2,875

• Round-trip airfare for two, classroom training for two and the ability to drive NASCAR or SPRINT Cup cars on a professional track. Includes four nights at select Hyatt Hotels. This package is date and location specific. - Enjoy a package for (2) that provides classroom training AND the ability to drive SPRINT Cup and/or NASCAR cars on a professional track.

Westin Resorts in Maui and/or Waikiki minimum bid: $3,900

• Westin Resorts 5-Nights in Maui and/or Waikiki with Airfare for (2) - Enjoy a five-night stay at your choice of these two properties (or stay at both) in 512 square foot Island-view studio accommodations, complete with kitchenette, washer/dryer and sofa beds. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is just minutes from Maui's many attractions, yet remains a world unto itself, where exclusive services, first-rate restaurants, cultured entertainment, and thrilling diversions satisfy every interest. The second hotel, The Moana Surfrider, is located in the heart of Waikiki, within walking distance of major attractions, world-class shopping, dining and entertainment.

Colorado Ski Package minimum bid: $2,900

• Round-trip airfare for two plus three-night ski package at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa in Colorado. - Enjoy a three-night stay at this Prime ski-in/ski-out, 1,700-acre mountain resort in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, 8 miles west of Vail nestled in the base of the 11,000-foot of peaks of the Gore Range Mountains.

Las Vegas Golf Package minimum bid: $3,750

• Round-trip airfare for two and four nights at Loews Lake Las Vegas, dining certificates and (2) rounds of golf for (2). - Enjoy a Monday-Thursday (Friday-Sunday and holidays after 2:00pm) golf twosome including cart and range balls on each of these two championship courses. The 36 wonderful holes of golf, designed by PGA pro Billy Casper and architect Greg Nash, offer a blend of beauty and challenge - unmatched with any golf course in Las Vegas or the Southern Nevada region.

Disney World Resort Family Adventure Package for Four minimum bid: $3,500

• Family trip: Round-trip airfare for four plus four nights at the 5-star Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. This package includes $750 gift card good for four two-day Magic Your Way with Park Hopper option tickets or other. - Remember that the Academy's 2009 meeting takes place in Orlando! After the event, you and you family could enjoy a four-night stay at this 5-star property located in a huge Y-shaped tower on 1,500 tropical acres overlooking a private 21-acre lake, near the Disney World Resort area. Recreation options include an 800,000-gallon free-form pool with waterfalls, grottoes, a water slide and the Famous Grand Cypress Gulf Club.

Vancouver and Victoria, Canada in Conde Nast Gold Hotels minimum bid: $3,500

• Round-trip airfare for two and seven nights in a Junior Suite at either The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, BC, and/or The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, BC from the East Coast - Enjoy a total of seven-nights in a Junior Suite (400-500 square feet) providing an oversized room with a well-defined seating area at your choice of these two properties. Stay at both or pick your favorite one. Your stay includes daily breakfast for two in the dining room.

Caribbean or Alaskan Cruise - Ocean View Stateroom minimum bid: $4,000

• The winning bidder will enjoy a Carnival Cruise Ocean View stateroom featuring 220 square feet for a 7-night Caribbean or Alaska sailing or 8-night Caribbean from New York sailing on the Miracle. Includes (2) round trip tickets on American Airlines. - Visit exotic destinations such as Grand Cayman, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Belize, and Costa Maya. If you opt for the Alaskan voyage, you can visit locations such as Ketchikan, Sitka, Glacier Bay, Juneau, and Prince William Sound!