Board of Directors Archives - Operation Eyesight

Q&A with Rob Ohlson, Board Chair

Admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:38:52 +0000

In June 2014, Rob Ohlson was announced as new Chair of the Operation Eyesight Canada Board of Directors. We are delighted to have Rob, our former Vice Chair, lead our volunteer directors as they provide strategic direction to assist us in fulfilling our mission to eliminate avoidable blindness.

We checked in with Rob to get the scoop on why he became involved with Operation Eyesight and what he’s looking forward to in his new role as Board Chair.

Q. What inspired you to join the Board of Directors?

A. I’ve been a supporter of Operation Eyesight since 2005, and I’ve made one trip to India and three trips to Africa. So when I was asked to be part of the Board, I was thrilled to be able to work more closely with the organization. I’ve always been very impressed at how far Operation Eyesight can stretch a dollar and the massive effect we are able to achieve with the resources we have.

Q. What is one of the most important things you have learned through your involvement with Operation Eyesight?

A. The most important, and really amazing, thing I’ve learned while being involved with Operation Eyesight is how much a relatively small group of people can achieve with a simple vision and an enormous amount of hard work. It’s been a significant inspiration in all areas of my life.

Q. What are some of the challenges Operation Eyesight will face in the next two years? How will these challenges be overcome?

A. We’re challenged with promoting the organization to a wider demographic and sharing our story with a larger audience. This is currently being addressed with the addition of fresh, young team members with great ideas.

Q. What are you most looking forward to as the new Chair of the Board?

A. I look forward to promoting the organization to a wider demographic and sharing our story with more people. I’m also excited to have the opportunity to work closely with such great individuals, both on the Board and within the organization.

Rob is the director and president of Maillot Homes, a Calgary-based custom home builder and land development company. He also worked in the oil and gas services industry for four years.

He grew up in Tripoli, Libya; Calgary, Canada; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which helped enhance his understanding of cultural and development issues. Rob founded the Bob Ohlson Centre for Sight in Visakhapatnam, India and spent three months visiting projects in Africa. He has a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Calgary.

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What does ‘sheer enthusiasm’ look like?

Admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:29:02 +0000

Rob Ohlson, president of Calgary’s Maillot Custom Homes, has seen first-hand the devastation caused by avoidable blindness in India and Africa. Families facing poverty and starvation because a blind parent can’t work, children with no chance of education because they can’t see, and elderly people begging in the streets are all realities in too many places.

As vice-chair of the Operation Eyesight board of directors, Rob is working to change lives, giving his time, energy, money and sharing his passion for helping. We sat down with him to talk about why he was inspired to give to Operation Eyesight’s sustainable development programs.

We find his enthusiasm infectious, and we hope you will too!

http://youtu.be/QhSX8o1UXpU

Operation Eyesight’s water projects have a special appeal for Rob. Learn more about how he helped bring safe, clean water to a community in Zambia… and how he hopes you will help, as well!

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Not just an AGM: Wasn’t that a party?!

Admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:29:01 +0000

Close to 100 donors, supporters, board members, staff and longtime friends of Operation Eyesight gathered in Calgary on June 12 – not only for the business of our annual general meeting, but also to celebrate our 50th anniversary of providing sight restoration and blindness prevention in the developing world.

We were especially pleased to have representatives from both the Gullison and Jenkyns families on hand for the celebration. Back in 1963, Canadian doctor Ben Gullison inspired businessman Art Jenkyns to found Operation Eyesight here in Calgary; and their family members remain strong supporters of the organization to this day. We are grateful for their ongoing support!

We’re also appreciative of our generous sponsors, who covered the entire cost of the celebration:

Active Accounting;
Davis LLP;
Greg McKernan Graphic Design;
Maillot Homes;
Renfrew Insurance; and
Sure Systems.

Other donors and supporters from across Canada and other countries weren’t able to be there for the event, so we’d like to express our deep gratitude to them for helping us prevent avoidable blindness since 1963. Thanks to you, millions of people have had their sight restored, or else never lost their vision in the first place. What an impact we have made together!

How did a recognized international development organization get started as a tiny charity in a Calgary church basement? Read more. Photos by Desiree Peters.

You need a really big cake when you turn 50! Thanks to Calgary Co-Op for the donation.

A few of Operation Eyesight’s longest-time supporters.

Special thanks to Maillot Homes for hosting our celebration.

Marilyn Gullison, daughter of Dr. Ben, receives flowers from interim president and CEO Brian Foster.

Jim Jenkyns, son of Operation Eyesight founder Art, speaks on behalf of his family.

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Our annual celebration: A photo essay

Admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:38:21 +0000

Local donors, volunteers, board members and staff gathered for our Annual General Meeting at the Best Western Village Park Inn in Calgary, Canada on June 20. Each year, we take the time to pause and reflect on the progress we and our partners have made in the fight against avoidable blindness – progress made possible by our kind and generous supporters. For those of you who couldn’t join us, here’s the evening captured in a photo essay (click on the image for a bigger version).

Guests were greeted by staff in the welcoming reception area.

Thanks to Boyden Global Executive Search, our generous AGM venue sponsor.

Renfrew Insurance kindly sponsored refreshments for the event. Thank you!

Pat Ferguson, our president and CEO, presented last year’s progress and achievements. Her speech included the inspiring story of the Kenyan village of Ongata Naado, which has been totally transformed by clean, abundant water from a well drilled with the support of Operation Eyesight donors.

Glenys Jenkyns, the granddaughter of our founder, Art Jenkyns, also made a special presentation, thanking donors for their dedicated support and for continuing her grandpa’s passion and mission.

A big thank you to the board directors who made it out to the event: (left to right) Dan Parlow, our new chair of the Canadian board of directors; Sophia Langlois, a newly elected board member from Calgary; and Rob Olson, board treasurer.

A big THANK YOU to our donors and volunteers. None of our work can happen without you!

Photos by Ming Emma Ko.

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