By Jim Tignanelli
By the time this reaches you, “Black Friday,” the Christmas holiday, and New Year’s Eve will have come and gone. I hope the new year finds you and your family healthy and ready for that which approaches.
We have some issues to bring to your attention and, as they say, there is “no time like the present” to do so. If you haven’t already, please check our new and improved website at www.POAM.net. As in the past, it continues to be a work in progress, but then, shouldn’t a website be just that? We are exceptionally proud of the new product. You might be surprised to know that it is among the top law enforcement sites visited in the country. The site now includes a “blog” where the members can comment on topics that have already been introduced or, in the alternative, offer a topic that they feel needs to be brought up. POAM merchandise is now available from just a “click” of the mouse. There is a very comprehensive section on grievances (includes a grievance form), and union representation with printable Garrity forms, details of Laudermill, Weingarten and other pertinent cases which you may need to better represent your membership. Much of our printed Law Enforcement Journal will be available online as well as a very efficient means of communicating with our POAM staff. Now you are “24/7” and so is POAM.net. Check it out!
We recently sent a request to your local leadership in an attempt to get e-mail addresses. I was pleased with the response that we got. Email has become a very efficient means of communication. Not only is it fast, but you can read and/or respond to them from your home or department at literally any time of the day. In the coming weeks, I will be sending out an “e-mail blast” of what we think are newsworthy issues to you. Often it will be to alert you to something that is expressed in detail at our website or some other electronic information source. I hope you like it.
Our June seminar is in the preparation stage. While there will be at least two topics covered, I’m certain that one of them will be on the importance of your group’s involvement in local and statewide politics and to bring you the latest rules that apply to political action committees. Good deals are hard enough to make. It behooves you to remind county commissioners, local mayors and council persons, township supervisors and their trustees that people respect your opinion. No deal gets done until they vote on it. The other topic is still under consideration. Please contact your local business agent if you have an idea on something you would like considered.
Until then, please be careful out there and be the one your fellow members can depend on. There is no substitute for good local leaders. All my best to each of you!
