Christmas in June?! 2017 AGM

Written by Admin, published on June 20, 2017 Donate Today

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our “Halfway to Christmas Party” and Annual General Meeting! More than 90 donors, board members, volunteers, staff and friends of Operation Eyesight gathered at the Delta Calgary South Hotel on June 19 to spread some Christmas cheer. It was a fun-filled evening complete with turkey dinner, holiday music, inspiring updates and, best of all, great company!

This year we were fortunate to have three staff members join us all the way from India and Ghana. Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, Global Director of Programmes (based in India), delivered a presentation on our Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Program – a program model that is effectively eliminating avoidable blindness on a sustainable basis.

Yashwant Sinha, International Programme Coordinator (also based in India), had the chance to meet many of our donors for the first time, while Dr. Boateng Wiafe, Director of Quality and Advocacy (based in Ghana), was reunited with some of our long-term donors. And of course, all our staff and partners from South Asia and Africa were with us in spirit!

Operation Eyesight staff from around the world.
Some of our staff members from around the world. From left to right: Jordan Lehmann, Director of Donor Relations; Yashwant Sinha, International Programme Coordinator; Dr. Boateng Wiafe, Director of Quality and Advocacy; Brian Foster, Executive Director; and Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, Global Director of Programmes. [Photo by Lucas Taylor]
Rob Ohlson, outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors, facilitated the board meeting portion of the evening. Rob, who served as Chair from 2014 – 2017, announced Ray Mowling, former Vice-Chair, as his successor. We thank Rob for his leadership and contribution and wish Ray the best of luck in his new role!

Turkey dinner
Is there anything better than turkey dinner in June?! [Photo by Lucas Taylor]
We’re especially grateful for our generous sponsors who made our “Halfway to Christmas Party” possible:

  • Active Accounting;
  • Collis Insurance;
  • DATA Communications Management;
  • Everybody Benefits Inc.;
  • Greg McKernan Graphic Design;
  • ICICI Bank of India;
  • MNP LLP;
  • SerVantage;
  • Sure Systems;
  • TOPLINE Printing;
  • Western Union Business Solutions; and
  • Three anonymous Santa Clauses.

Guests at Halfway to Christmas Party
We were fortunate to have so many of our wonderful donors and friends join us to celebrate another great year! [Photo by Lucas Taylor]
We’d like to thank all our friends and supporters around the world for helping us prevent blindness and restore sight. On behalf of all of us at Operation Eyesight, thank you for giving the gift of sight and for making every day feel like Christmas. We hope you’ll join us in keeping the spirit of giving going all year long!

We’re also excited to announce that Report to Donors 2016 is now available! Click here!

Special thanks to Lucas Taylor for the great photos! Stay tuned for more photos in the coming days. 

Nora and Blaire
We’re lucky to have so many amazing volunteers who help in our Calgary office! One of our volunteers, Nora, poses with Blaire MacNicol, Stewardship and Volunteer Relations. Thanks for volunteering – and for sharing this photo – Nora!