FAIRFAX, Va.—The Optical Laboratories Association announced today that it is rescheduling its 2009 annual meeting and trade exhibition to Dec. 4 and 5. The meeting, which will take place at the Gaylord National hotel in Washington, D.C., had originally been scheduled for Nov. 12 to 14 in the same location.

The move is part of a broad new OLA initiative aimed at revamping the format and content of the annual meeting, updating the organization’s image and making it more responsive to its members’ needs.

“OLA is charting a new course—evolving, contemporary—responding to member needs and wants,” said OLA president J. Larry Enright in an open letter to the optical industry announcing sweeping changes in OLA’s look, programs, and meetings. Displaying a new OLA logo for the first time, Enright called it “the most visible indication of the changes ongoing at OLA, transformed to represent OLA’s forward momentum and increasing responsiveness. This will be the most exciting meeting held in recent years,” Enright remarked.

Apart from the new dates, the most significant change at the 2009 OLA annual meeting is that it has been shortened from three days to two. The meeting will also have a renewed focus on lab education, including an operations-intensive “Surfacing & Finishing University.”

Another important change in the meeting’s format is addition of an opening reception at the close of Friday’s exhibit session. The reception will include the announcement of the OLA’s Awards of Excellence winners, an event previously held at a banquet on the third and final night of the meeting. OLA will honor its Hall of Fame inductees at a special event the evening of Dec. 3.

“These changes will save time and money for OLA delegates and exhibitors and will reduce their travel expenses as well. Changing the schedule has allowed us to offer the fabulous Gaylord National Resort for less than $200 per night,” said Enright.