It is a pleasure reporting this: With 40 years facing up to the optical arena and virtually a whole lifetime of romancing eyewear and sunwear, 20/20 is being inducted into the Accessories Council Hall of Fame. And in special consideration of the factor that most of our opti-friends will be attending Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, the Accessories Council is hosting their presentation event right at Expo. The entire 20/20 team is… THRILLED.

Here are the details directly from the Council press release:

The Accessories Council, the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing accessory design in America announces it will honor 20/20 Magazine with the Hall of Fame Award. Celebrating 20/20’s 40th anniversary, the ceremony will take place on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 at Tao in The Venetian, Las Vegas. Addressing a wide array of optical and fashion industry elite, guest speakers and influencers will include Accessories Council president Karen Giberson.

In recognition of this special tribute, the Accessories Council will donate 50 percent of the net proceeds of this event to The Rick Bay Foundation, which strives to create excellence in the field of optometry by supporting students through financial scholarships given to those studying the field.

 “In the Accessories Council’s 20th year of embracing the world of design, we are thrilled to honor 20/20 with the annual Hall of Fame award,” says president of the Accessories Council, Karen Giberson. “We commend 20/20 and its diligent editorial team for consistently elevating the publication’s stature as an arbiter of eyewear industry innovation.”

For sponsorship information and tickets, please contact Karen Giberson at
[email protected] or 212-947-1135.

The Rick Bay Foundation is particularly special for all of us at 20/20. Rick was a dear friend and amazing leader to all of us here. He was actually 20/20’s Publisher for a brief time in the late ’90s and especially remembered for his enthusiastic support of our “Rat Pack” cover photo shoot when Expo made the westward transition to Las Vegas. I’m truly hoping any and everyone makes an effort to join us in the honored celebration as 20/20 looks forward to the future of eyewear as… the ultimate (need AND want) accessory. I’m taking THIS page of opportunity to deliver some of MY favorite cover instances of this insightful home I know as perfect vision: 20/20.

—James J. Spina