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OSA Says No to Merger with SPIE

BELLINGHAM, WA, Oct. 5 -- The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) has announced that its members have approved the plan to merge with the Optical Society of America (OSA). However, OSA announced last week at its annual business meeting that its membership had failed to approve the plan, effectively ending any further action on the issue. A favorable vote by both organizations was required in order for the merger to take place.

According to OSA, its official vote tally included 2,420 votes in favor of unification with SPIE and 2,551 votes opposed. OSA's by laws require a two-thirds vote by those participating in the balloting in order for the proposal to pass. In last week's, vote only 48.68 percent voted in favor of the merger plan. Fifty-three percent of OSA's membership took part in the vote.

"The members have spoken. In their view, a merger of OSA with SPIE is not in the best interests of the Society at this time," said OSA President Tony Siegman."We still, however, are committed to continuing our proud OSA tradition of highly acclaimed, peer-reviewed publications, important international conferences, exhibits and topical meetings, and well-respected awards."

SPIE said that while OSA's vote means that a merger will not occur, there is support in both societies for greater interaction and coordination of OSA and SPIE programs that support the worldwide community of optical scientists and engineers.

"I feel the best initiative at this point is creative OSA-SPIE cooperation in tangible projects," said Dr. Paul Schenker, SPIE president. "I would hope we all retain the sense of commitment and spiritual partnership -- among both the memberships and staffs -- that grew significantly during the merger deliberations."

Close to 40 percent of SPIE's eligible membership participated in the vote; of the 4,481 who voted, 51 percent approved the merger.

The voting results followed nearly two years of discussion and debate between the leadership and members of SPIE and OSA. Last year, the boards of directors of both societies chartered a Joint Task Force (JFT) comprised of past officers and senior members from each organization to explore the possibility of a closer collaboration or expanded structural relationship, such as a federation or merger, between SPIE and OSA. Meanwhile, groups of dissenting members waged intensive campaigns against merging the two societies.

According to OSA president-elect, Erich Ippen, "The OSA has always enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for excellence in the field of optical science and engineering. This vote will allow OSA to build upon that reputation as an independent international leader representing the optics and photonics community."