MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Texas Chapter members,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Officers, Board of Directors and especially the membership for their confidence in allowing me to serve as your President. On April the 3 rd 1996 I walked into the Denton Fire Department to meet and talk with Rick Jones about a fire case. The secretary told me that he was in the kitchen of the fire station and to go on back. I walked in and unknown to me they were having a board member meeting of the Chapter and was looking at appointing a new secretary/treasurer. Guess who that person was, you guessed it; I walked in at the wrong time.

No really, I served in that position with pleasure until March 2006. I then resigned as Secretary/Treasurer and was elected as a Director and then as the 2nd Vice President. On March 23rd, 2010 I was elevated to the Office of President. I look forward to serving you as the President of an Association that has helped me throughout the last 18 yrs that I have served as a Fire and Arson Investigator. Although I now hold the Office of Sheriff, my love is still with the Fire and Arson Investigation. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Professionals in this line of work and have made numerous friends.

I have many high hopes for the upcoming year and plan on a few changes. I ask that you bear with us throughout this transition as myself and the Board try to make a great association just a little better. There have been many Past Presidents that have brought the Association from the brink of death to what I believe is a viable, professional and thriving Association. Our plans are to continue this work and try to add a few other things to continue its growth.

One of the things that I plan to do as President is get back to the various local associations. As the Past President of one of these Associations I strongly believe this is where the rubber meets the road and the real work gets done. The Texas Chapter needs to be there for them and to assist them in any way they can. I plan on trying to make at least one meeting or conference in every association throughout this Great State during my term.

Another idea was getting our logo items out to the members more and selling year round. The membership voted to allow the board to pursue a contact with a company called “Cop Shop” who sells different associations and departments merchandise on the web.

I truly hope and pray that my term as President is as successful as the Past Presidents of this Chapter. This can only be accomplished with the assistance of the Board, and more especially the membership. I ask that each and every member ask themselves what they expect from the Chapter and volunteer to help that come to past. This Chapter does not belong to the Officers or Directors, we are only here to manage it in a way desirable to the membership and I earnestly ask for your support to do this.

Thank You again for you confidence in me

Paul Cunningham

President Texas Chapter IAAI

2010-2012