View from the Chair

All I can say is “Wow!” I cannot believe that April is gone, and we are already into May. I knew the year would go fast, but this has been non-stop-express fast! The Seminars and Exhibits are upon us, Thursday, May 16th, and I can still remember thinking “how am I going to get these rolling and accomplished in just five months!”

People. That’s how.

People like Patrick Sharkey and Dennis Haw who were already preparing for the event before I even took office. People like Darryl LeDoux who took on the unpopular and daunting task of asking for sponsors and money and Larry Reid who is becoming more visible and active each year (this year the Seminars and Exhibits AND the Golf Tournament, next year the world!)

People like Curtis Given of Electroglas, Lee O’Banion of American Century Investments, and Carole Martins of Fairchild Semiconductors who said “yes” when I asked for help in the very beginning. Names that are unfamiliar to many members because they are new to the chapter or new to volunteering. But when ASIS asked them for help, they said “yes” and I commend them all.

One other highly visible and ever-volunteering member is Ed Loyd. He has been instrumental in the last three major events, either chairing the event or assisting with the committee. He is even volunteering on the Golf Tournament at some level.

I know there are other people that I have missed who have been a part of the Seminar and Exhibits from the start. Please accept my apology in advance for the oversight. You will all be recognized for your superior efforts and the people mentioned are the ones who came immediately to my mind.

I just heard last week that we SOLD OUT the booth space. Thank you exhibitors. There is still time to register for attendees. But if you are planning on lunch, please make your reservations now because they could sell-out and not be available the day of the event.

The Seminars and Exhibits are a huge undertaking for our chapter and our number one source of income. It is a very intimidating event and every member of the team that is pulling these together deserves a “thank you” and “pat on the back.”

Overall this year, we have seen increased attendance at all of our meetings and the one event so far, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. There are “old-timers” who had commented “what happened to this event?’ Those same members saw the difference this year and agree that the event is back on track.

Maybe it was 9/11. Maybe it is our executive council, whom 75% are CPPs. Maybe it is the overall renewed interest in security. Maybe it is our change in format and quality speakers at the monthly meetings.

Quite frankly, I don’t care “why.” I am just proud and thrilled to be part of a Chapter that appears to be rejuvenating itself, redefining its goals, and picking up momentum. Proud to be the Chapter Chair of a chapter that is meeting its memberships’ needs and a membership that is responding by participating.

Before I close for this month, I want to also recognize April’s host and speakers. April’s meeting could have been a real disaster, but People made the difference again. Adobe had to bow out of presenting because of a merger that may have meant their security team being out of town the day of the meeting. Adobe never broke their promise to host the event. Hospitality had to abandon the meeting because of commitments their company made for them. Hospitality’s back up had to resign two days before because he was called away to LA.

Hinman Consulting Engineers came through with a tremendous presentation, though they were given less than a month to put it together, on mitigating the effects of terrorist attacks on buildings. The speakers, Holly Stone and Lorraine Lin, PhD, were both qualified and thorough. It was educational and practical information, some of which could be easily and quickly applied to existing structures.

Adobe’s hospitality was gracious and their accommodations excellent.

April’s hospitality team, Kathy Goelkel and Art Lesser, are two people who came to the chapter’s rescue at the last minute and only had to be asked once.

It appears the theme to this month’s View from the Chair is People and more specifically volunteers. Without our member volunteers, we would not be able to implement the programs and events that the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter is always being recognized for. Thank you volunteers and members alike for making our chapter one of the best in the nation.

Thank you,
Connie Vaughn
chair@sfasis.org
SFBAC ASIS Chapter Chair