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A Letter From Your 1st Vice President
Greetings Everyone,
Here we are starting another new year and I believe that things will be great in 2008.
I hope everyone had a good holiday season and all is well with you and yours.
The Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators is going to have a great year.
The Chapter is doing well with the website being updated with new information, the newsletter being posted on the web and plans
to re-vamp the website are in the plans.
The Ohio Chapter will be hosting the 5th Annual Training Conference on May 14th, 15th and 16th this year.
It doesn’t seem possible that here we are doing this for the fifth time already.
This year, the topic is Explosions & Post Blast Investigations.
The topics to be covered will be natural and propane gas explosions, agricultural explosions, industrial explosions,
I.E.D’s, terrorist and suicide bombings, among other things. There will be HANDS-ON investigations of blast sites
so bring proper attire.
We will be featuring Captain Steve Saltzman and the Columbus Fire Department Bomb Squad along with Chief Sonja Rawn
with the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Forensics Laboratory among other, yet unnamed instructors.
You can download a copy of the registration form/ brochure on our website under the training section
at www.ohiaai.org.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE AWARDS OFFERED BY THE CHAPTER!!
PLEASE check the website awards section and NOMINATE someone for the various awards to be presented.
Last year there were many awards not presented because of no nominations.
I know there is someone you may be thinking of nominating so, just do it.
We are very fortunate to have the very best there is to offer anywhere in the field of fire investigations.
Blow your own horns folks. Let someone know they are worthy of recognition by nominating them for an award.
Your Ohio Chapter is the #1 chapter in the country and that is not only because we were the first chapter.
It is because of the training and education you people have and continue to pursue in your chosen field.
We have one of the toughest jobs there is but also, one of the most rewarding.
When you are able to pin down a cause of a fire because of something you learned at a seminar you attended
or heard from someone that passed the information along to you, it is a great feeling.
Communication in this field of fire investigations is key to our survival.
Networking between our members is SO important. If we don’t communicate and pass along information the bad guys will win.
One way of communication is attending classes and seminars then passing on what you have learned.
Let your chiefs, training officers and employers know that they have not wasted their money when they pay for a training session for you.
One way of doing that is receiving an award or recognition for what you have accomplished.
I have been blessed to be surrounded by so many people with the knowledge they have and the willingness to pass that
information along. The business of fire investigation is like a never-ending training session,
just when you think you have seen or heard everything, the bad guys think up a new way of setting fires.
There are so many new products being manufactured that can cause fires, we will have to continue to network
with each other to keep up on what is happening out there.
As I said in the beginning, I believe 2008 will be great.
Everybody stay safe out there.
Respectfully,
Randy Dunn
First Vice President
Ohio Chapter I.A.A.I.
Click Here to download a copy.
Membership Letter
Ohio Chapter Membership:
As I look back upon my thirty years in the fire service and law enforcement, and
my twenty-five years as an investigator, I am humbled to the realization of all the
information and data I have learned; all of the education I have; and all of the
individuals that have formed my destiny. I remember at one time asking myself if
I would ever be able to accomplish the necessary requirements and tasks to fulfill
the necessities of an investigator. I look back in time to a point when I would sit
in the audience and listen to the speakers and officers and wonder what it was like to
be in such a position. Even today, I sometimes look at different state and federal
agents with admiration as to what they have accomplished and gained to have been
placed in such a responsible position and so respected.
As investigators, whether civil or criminal, we all have a responsibility to not only
our clients whether it be the general public or the insurance industry, but to our
profession as a whole. Whether we like it or not, we find ourselves in the
“lime-light” of attention as the holders of the unknown, the universal wand of
knowledge, or the holder of the crystal ball.
The “secrets” of this profession are like those of anything else in the world of
science. Our profession is based upon the premise of science; the laws of physics,
and the knowledge of experience, that when combined with one another, provide the
answers to questions that only few can disseminate.
Our chapter has been around promoting Arson Awareness and Prevention longer than most;
if not all its current active members are old. As a matter of fact, one of our oldest
members is the same age as the difference between our inception and the Great Chicago
Fire. That in itself is a sign of success. It is also a sign of belief in something
that is right. And, something with a foundation that is supported by entities which
include local, county, state, federal and private organizations, which by the way is
the foundation of the National Fire Protection Association. Coincidence, I think not.
And now, I have the realization of honor, tradition, leadership, responsibility, and
assertiveness. This realization is the clear understanding of the privilege this
administration has to oversee the belief this chapter maintains in training and
teaching our comrades all of the secrets of this institution while, in its own way,
helping to maintain and enforce the laws of our great land and nation.
In addition, this administration and board has taken it upon themselves to commit
further. The officers, members of the board and the numerous committees have
personally committed themselves to the growth, expansion, and resourcefulness
for this organization.
As you may recall at the general meeting in August, your first vice-president and
myself shared with you a three to five year plan for this organization. In this
plan were goal dates for each step of the plan. As of the printing of this
communication, we are currently 90 days ahead of schedule. However, always remember
in any plan there is a need of movement one way or another. As it stands, we have 90
days and pray for no less.
There are three great objectives facing this year’s administration. The first involves
the Membership Committee. Ms. Karla Nevel is the chairperson of this committee. Her
plans include asking permission of the seven individual state training seminars to set-up
and display our Chapter at their events. In addition, she will be asking for permission to
speak, or have one of her committee members speak at each seminar introducing us and our
beliefs and goals to potential new members. In addition, she will seek to plan for a general
meeting to be held, one in each quadrant of the state this year. These planned meetings will
be open to all wishing to attend.
The next major objective is being handled by Mr. Bob Marihugh. His biggest project, among several,
is the updating and reorganizing of the web-site. Mr. Marihugh began working on this project before
our meeting in August and plans are to have it completed in the very near future.
The third major project is research. Currently, our chapter is awaiting interest and commitment from
another organization as to their interest in one of two projects planned in the next three years. The
first project this administration wishes to explore is the phenomenon of “depth char analysis.” The
plans for this undertaking include goal and objective setting, resource gathering, location planning,
data recovery, and data interpretation. We would like to plan this project to begin in the spring of
2008, with the first of several cubicles being designed, constructed, furnished and tests conducted.
As soon as decision has been made as to participation with our Chapter by outside interests, you
will be informed.
The fourth major goal of this administration will be to put in place, activate and use as much as
possible the data gathered by so many individuals during Mr. Michael Linscott’s administration.
Mr. Linscott worked very hard, as did the individual committee members of the membership committee
during his administration, to allow all of this hard work to go unused. Prior to the August
meeting, Ms. Debbie Carter reviewed, organized and tested the “E-mail” project. Currently, Ms.
Carter is working out the last of several “bugs” that have plagued this project from the beginning.
A special thank you to the membership committee that brought this information together, to Debbie
and my wife, Faith Carol, for organizing the data, and to Mike for his insightfulness to have this
project initiated and completed in a timely manner.
On the web-site is an organizational chart. This chart reflects all of the committees and the immediate
Vice President or President overseeing them. Should you be interested in joining a committee or
wish to assist in another, please contact the Vice President or President over that committee and
you will be directed to the committee chair? In addition, Ms. Carter has the necessary information to
direct you directly to the chairperson of any committee.
In closing, I share this; if you have not committed to this organization by active participation on
a committee, please consider doing so. This chapter grew for your benefit and now could use your
help. Secondly, if you EVER have anything you wish to discuss, wish to share, or would like to
comment or make recommendation too, call me or contact one of the vice presidents. We are VERY
interested in any ideas, thoughts, or concerns you may have regarding our chapter, its direction
and future. My telephone is ALWAYS open and I will ALWAYS find the time for a friend. Lastly,
if you have or could have access to building materials such as 2”x4”s, OSB board, sheet rock
(drywall), or used furniture, please contact Ms. Debbie Carter via E-mail
(Deborahl.carter@gmail.com) If you wish to be part of the upcoming research projects, again,
simply let Debbie know via E-mail. Debbie will forward the information to my office for logistical
purposes.
Randy Dunn, Scott Bennett and the Board of Directors thank you for your continued support in this
organization. This chapter is the best, has been the best, and will prove in the very near future
to remain the best. The best in tradition, leadership, responsibility, and assertiveness.
Respectfully,
John Yust Randy Dunn Scott Bennett
President First Vice President Second Vice President
P.S. – A great theologian, John H. Yoder, once wrote, “It is better to choose the better instead
of the good, obedience instead of necessity, love instead of compromise, brotherhood instead of
veiled self-interest.” This quotation is applicable to many things, including our chapter.
Your help, support, involvement, and sharing is what has made, makes, and will continue to
strengthen us as a whole and as individuals in a world that depends upon us and our profession
in the prevention, supporting, enforcement, training, and educating the citizens of our state
and great nation about Arson.
JRY
Click Here to download a copy.
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IMPORTANT
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Members,
Debbie Carter is working on a master membership list with
your contact information. The recent draft was review and I
noticed that many of the members have not given us their
email address. The future goal of the Chapter is to be able
to keep members updated in a more rapid and efficient
manner. Posting of messages and notices on website can help
with that, but also emailing that the notices were posted
will help greatly. Please take the time to submit your info
to me or Debbie. It is your chapter and contact with you is
essential.
Robert Cabral
Ohio Chapter President |
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PROFILE
OF AN
INVESTIGATOR
We are waiting to hear from you
-- send me your nomination/BIO, and photo for consideration!
Isn't it time yourself, or someone you know, is featured as our
"PROFILE OF AN INVESTIGATOR".....
(Click here to read
featured profiles from previous months....)
The time is now.....so
email me ASAP.....I need to fill this space :)
Go Ahead PARTICIPATE.....
I DARE YOU.....
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