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Dear
Fellow Members,
I bring you greetings from First Vice President Kirk Hankins, and Second
Vice President Tom Fee. We continue to work as a management team with your
Board of Directors, Executive Director Alan Clark, and Office Manager
Marsha Sipes. Our decisions are not being made in a vacuum.
The greatest news is that we did receive the Federal Grant for over
$400,000 and will be establishing the new state of the art training
website. The first four courses will be delivered within 360 days. They
will be absolutely free to the fire investigation community. This grant
would not have been possible without participation of the IAAI Educational
Foundation and our strategic partnership with the ATF. More news will
follow at a later date.
It will be no news to you that it is becoming more difficult to be a fire
investigator in the current and appreciated era of fire research. The
research is expanding our knowledge base. That is not to say that we have
not been determining the proper causes of fire, but we are now able
through research to explain to juries, the factors contributing to the
fire. The very fact that you are receiving this journal and reading the
articles proves that you are interested in expanding your personal
knowledge base. The IAAI applauds you for that. Please use the new website
when established to continue your education.
It is my intent that during my term of office, this section of our journal
will be informative and not a travel log concerning the President’s
travels. I will mention, however, in this and future articles some aspects
of my visits.
Since my last Perspective printed in this fine journal, I have been
privileged to have had the opportunity to travel extensively, visiting our
chapters. It is an honor for me to meet members throughout the world. The
members always have one thing in common. They share the interest in and
dedication to fire investigations. They are willing to do the reading and
research that it takes to be prepared to determine the correct cause of
the fires that they investigate. There are new texts on the market
including the NFPA 921 Users Manual authored by your IAAI members. That
manual is relevant to the 2001 and 2004 editions of NFPA 921. Please look
for new texts by IAAI authors and our journal contributors.
I have visited the following chapters at this time, The Florida Chapter,
they are returning to fine training due to their members and leadership.
The Missouri Chapter, whose membership continues to grow in
professionalism. The Vermont Chapter, whose leadership is dedicated to
training their members. The New Zealand Chapter, which is in a rebuilding
process with dedicated professionals leading the way. The New South Wales
Chapter, who continues professional training and contributes throughout
the pacific region. The Queensland Chapter, whose leaders and membership
have shown dedication in applying learned skills. It should be noted that
the President and members of the Victoria Chapter were present in
Queensland and continue their pursuit of excellence. The California
Conference of Arson Investigators, who has a model professional training
program that should be emulated. The Tennessee Chapter, which every year
provides invaluable training seminars. The Ohio Chapter, which is
celebrating its 50th Anniversary in fire training. The North Dakota
Chapter, who for a small chapter provides high training standards. The
Illinois Chapter, who continues to raise the bar with their training
standards.
There are planned trips to visit the Greater Cincinnati Regional Arson
Fire Investigators Seminar, the North and South Carolina Chapters at their
seminar in Myrtle Beach, SC, the Connecticut Chapter, and the Israeli
Chapter. Those trips will be made in 2004. As you can see, it is my intent
to visit as many chapters (to which I am invited) as possible. In these
trips, I am discussing the concerns of the membership and informing them
of the activities of our great association. I have been shown the warmest
hospitality and respect. Each of these chapters are providing professional
training to their members. We should be proud of each and every one of
them.
I am learning from the membership and will continue to do so. We will use
that knowledge to expand our training and membership services. Speaking of
communication from the membership to the IAAI, I must say that I am very
disappointed in the number of members that responded to our recent survey.
Approximately 1% of our membership sent in responses. I doubt that this 1%
accurately expresses the opinions of all of our members. Even though the
1% are your core group of workers, they can only advise us of their own
opinions. Please respond to future surveys when posted on the IAAI
website. That website has now been improved and can tally your responses.
In that same vein, less than 10% of our membership ever votes in IAAI
elections. That means that less than 800 people determine the leadership
and direction of this organization. I hope that in the upcoming election
you will either attend the Annual Training Conference in Washington D.C.
and vote, or request an absentee ballot and vote via mail. In voting
please review the information about each candidate, noting their present
and previous assignments and responsibilities with the IAAI, and their
service to you. Let us not fall into total apathy. Have a voice, be heard,
your vote is important.
The first quarterly reports required from each and every IAAI committee
have been received. You will be happy to know that the committees are
diligently working for your interests. The committees that have been
assigned to complete courses are working on them and should be able to
deliver them by April 2005.
If you would like to become more involved in this association, have any
comments and/or suggestions about how the IAAI can assist you, please
contact one of the Directors or Executive Officers.
(letter taken from the international website....) |
