Connie Vaughn

View from the Chair

Reflections...

Dear Members;

I am a procrastinator (those who know me, stop already with the sarcasm). I know I am not alone, yet it is not a trait I am proud of.

If you were to ask most procrastinators, “why?” I think the standard answer is “because I do my best work under pressure or deadline.” …As if we know what it is like to finish early or work without a deadline looming close.

I mention this because I am constantly at or just past deadline for my monthly ASIS column. The funny thing is as my year draws to a close, I find it harder and harder to write the article. I have been thinking about this for the last week or so (as I have used my “procrastinating” time to philosophize about my procrastinating).

It is not the writing. I have a Bachelors in Speech Communications (minor in Journalism for goodness sake!). “No, that’s not it,” I pondered and procrastinated longer. I have come to realize that completing a very rewarding and challenging year, as SFBAC Chair, is bittersweet. As much as I want to look back on our accomplishments, I also want to participate in the continued growth and success.

Yes, I know I can still participate in San Francisco ASIS. No one ever turns a volunteer away. It is just that I should take what I have gleaned from SFASIS and help a struggling chapter grow stronger. It is the right thing to do.

I won’t be a stranger by any means, but I may not be at all the monthly meetings as I have been for the past years. I will make the major events: Law Enforcement Appreciation, May Seminars, Golf Tournament (maybe, if I ever learn how to golf!), and Security Officer Appreciation Day (this year it is October 17th beginning promptly at 11:45 with lunch at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City), but not every meeting. I realize now I will miss the many friends, colleagues, and professional acquaintances I have made. I will miss the people and the unique energy, even synergy that is the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of ASIS International.

We, the Executive Council, Committee Members, and General Membership, have had a tremendous comeback year. We have made tremendous inroads in monthly member attendance and participation. We have had huge success in promoting professionalism through our educational monthly meetings. As I work with the Executive Council, I see a team ready and willing to work just as hard next year to deliver to the membership what YOU want. How very exciting!

My year is going out with a bang. Our traditional year-end wind down, isn’t winding down at all. Our November meeting looks to be a very educational and eye-opening topic. Hitachi in Brisbane has very graciously offered their facilities on November 21st. Jeanne Perkins with Association of Bay Area Governments (and I thought ASIS was a funny acronym!) will be providing some very clear, and scary, information on road closures and other transportation problems the Bay Area faces during the next major earthquake.

This is one speaker you won’t want to miss. Jeanne knows her stuff and will be able to not only present her information, but also provide additional resources for earthquake preparedness.

Our usually mellow December social luncheon has been replaced. We were able to get Ed Gomez, Director of Security for SFO, to speak to the membership December 12th. I know a lot of you will ask the “tough” questions, but I also know Ed can handle it. We traditionally have not held a full-blown luncheon in a special venue for December. Once the speaker was confirmed, we made an executive decision to hold the meeting either at the San Francisco Aviation Museum, the Airport, or, if those two don’t work out, at a hotel near by.

It is a full plate, but I relish every bite as I face my retirement as SFASIS Chair.

October, November, and December are shaping up nicely. Stay plugged into YOUR chapter—visit www.sfasis.org for the most up to date information on what is happening at SFASIS!

With warmest regards,
Connie Vaughn
chair@sfasis.org
SFBAC ASIS Chapter Chair