Good day to our members and friends. I’d like to share some headlines with you. Some may be short on details but I am hopeful you will use our communications system (either e-mail or phone) to acquire details as you see necessary.
Welcome to our new members from Lapeer County. Both the corrections and road patrol units joined recently and we are thrilled to have them on board. Early meetings have produced positive results and we look forward to serving them.
We recently welcomed new board representatives from the Ann Arbor POA and Saginaw County Corrections units to our office for a day of training. We had prepared work manuals for them and spent several hours with representatives from our legal department, our research and negotiations specialists, and office staff. truly believe that seeing the place, and the resources that are available to you helps dramatically when you are in need of service. If you haven’t visited us recently, please contact your business agent and make a date to stop in. There is no substitute for good local leaders. Please take advantage of us!
Our website has become a very valuable tool to our members statewide. It is reviewed almost daily and I welcome your input. It is a service-driven/member-driven. Let me know what you think of it. Is it easy to traverse? Can you find what you need? Are there things you need that we have neglected to cover? Email Ed Jacques at ejacques@poam.net as we encourage your comments whether critical or complimentary.
While on the topic of the website, we have recently initiated a “podcast” that we are very proud of. New ones will be posted approximately twice a month and will cover a variety of topics. As usual, I encourage you to let us know what topics would be helpful to you. We will put it to good use at this year’s convention and am looking forward to producing some from Police Week in Washington, DC as well. Thanks to our friends at Trademark Productions for getting this “on the air.” Be sure to check the POAM.net often for updates and registration information on this year’s convention and seminar.
Can’t mention “Police Week” without reminding you that POAM will have a presence there on the 13th and 14th of May. We are planning a political reception that will be something to be proud of. Generally, we find all or almost all of the Michigan delegation present as well as members of the “Law Enforcement Caucus” from the Congress. These are legislators that have served in law enforcement at some level that are always interested in what POAM members have to say. I expect the Metro Detroit Police and Fire Pipe and Drum Corp to put on their usual show as well as honor guards from throughout Michigan. We enjoy showing off our professionals. Please join us. Watch the website for details or call Ed Jacques at the POAM office. It will take place on Thursday the 13th. We will have it in the afternoon.
While still in Washington, on May 14th, we will be hosting our friends at the Tune Inn. This has become an annual tradition. It started about seven years ago when we realized that many of our uniformed friends needed a place to relax with some food and a beverage. Often they are expected to stand vigil at the Memorial or attend other events in the capital. Often there is some discomfort in doing so while in uniform. All of our law enforcement friends (POAM or soon to be POAM
members!) are encouraged to join us at the Tune Inn, 331 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. We will have a van (marked with POAM) moving people from the fire station near the Memorial to the Tune Inn continuously from about noon on the 14th until midnight. Please join us.
