Date: September 24, 2002
Subject: Houston's role in global campaign: Vision 2020, the Right to Sight

InFOCUS (Interprofessional Fostering of Ophthalmic Care for Underserved Sectors)
Invites the community to attend its annual meeting and observance of World Sight
Day, Thursday October 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the University Club, 5051 Westheimer.

Guest speaker Dr. Jerald Strickland, Dean, University of Houston College of Optometry, will chart a course for Houston's participation in Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, a global campaign to eradicate avoidable blindness in the world. InFOCUS is the only Houston-based member of the World Health Organization's coalition of vision care and humanitarian organizations working together to achieve this goal.

Dr. Ian Berger, president and founder of InFOCUS, will report on his recent trip to Uganda, where InFOCUS is helping a local organization establish a network of village-based Vision Stations. The program is creating year-round access to eye care and eyeglasses for villagers in remote rural areas. The Rotary Club of Houston and Rotary Club of Mbale, Uganda teamed up to make this project possible

InFOCUS works at home and abroad to bring primary eye care to poor, hard-to-serve communities. Through the InFOCUS Vision Station project, needy children and adults can now get low-cost eye exams and eyeglasses in 15 low-income neighborhoods in Houston and Matagorda County. Executive Director Barbara Kazdan will outline how InFOCUS helps community partners offer affordable eye care to the people they serve.

Vice president Jed L. Howard, M.D will conduct the annual election of officers and directors.