President’s Column – 08/19
Pardon me if this is getting repetitious, but July has been quite a month of the FBI Birmingham CAAA. Fresh off the success of our co-hosting duties for the Active Shooter workshop “Protecting Houses of Worship” in Huntsville in June, we hosted the inaugural Sub-Regional Gathering, where our chapter was joined by members of the Nashville and Jackson (MS) chapters in Huntsville. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first such event for this or any FBI CAAA chapter, and it has garnered national interest. It was terrific to spend time with our local members and our many guests, and to tour and visit the FBI’s facilities “behind the gates” at Redstone Arsenal. More about this event elsewhere in the newsletter.
On a more serious note, when Birmingham police officer Cullen Stafford was shot multiple times and seriously injured as he pursued a robbery suspect, our chapter stepped in to help. Through the Herculean efforts of our board member, Bill Conway (who has done magnificent work on this project), and Executive Director Sandy Mangold of the National FBI CAAA, we have handled meals for the officers of Birmingham’s West Precinct for the past week. Furthermore, upon learning that Officer Stafford was shot the day before his 36th birthday – and the day of his EOD date for the Birmingham Police – we’re working on plans to host a delayed birthday party -- complete with gifts, refreshments, and decorations -- for the officer, just as soon as he is healthy enough to enjoy it.
And one more thing: I received official notice this week that our chapter has been selected as a Chapter of Excellence by National FBI CAAA. Our representatives will be called up to receive an award to that effect at the National Leadership Conference in Houston in mid-August. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication, as well as the inspiration and innovation, that marks our chapter as among the finest in the nation. It is heartening and reassuring to receive such an honor; however, we should resolve that any such awards or recognition we may receive should serve as landmarks in our history…but not campsites. We may be excellent, but we can and will be even better in the future.
More good things are in the works, and I’ll provide details as they are available. However, in closing, allow me to note an area that needs improvement: we need more opportunities for our membership to get together. The turnout for our sub-regional gathering was excellent, and it pointed to the fact that when we present an opportunity, our members show up; and we have a great time together. We will address this need and we will do better. If you have suggestions for opportunities or occasions for us to gather, please let me know. Meanwhile, this (more open events for our members) will be an item that we will be visiting more aggressively in the coming months.
Paul H. Franklin, President
FBI CAAA Birmingham
