A message from President Johnny Crumby

As part of my New Year’s resolution to clean and organize my office I came upon my Marine Corp League, Winter 2001 magazine and stopped to read it again… a letter to the editor caught my attention.

I’m the Guy

I’m the guy who asked to join your organization. I’m the guy who paid his dues to join. I’m the guy who stood up in front of you and promised to be faithful and loyal to the organization. I’m the guy who came several times, but no one paid any attention to me. I’m the guy who was left out when I volunteered to help with fund-raising projects and membership recruitment. I’m the guy who missed a few meetings because I was sick, but at the next meeting no one asked where I had been. I guess it didn’t matter very much to others whether I was there or not. I’m the guy who that decided to stay home and watch TV one meeting night. The following meeting I attended, but no one asked me where I had been. You might say I’m a good guy, a good family man who holds a responsible job, loves his country and his community. You know who else I am? The guy who never came back! It amuse me, how the heads of the organization and members discuss why the organization was losing members. It amuses me to think that they spend so much time looking for new members when I was there all the time. All they needed to do was make me feel needed, wanted and welcomed.

This got me to thinking…
COULD THIS BE US?
ARE WE EMBRACING NEW MEMBERS?
DO WE LET NEW MEMBERS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS?

All of us can remember being new to the FOP on the local level, the State level, or maybe the National level. We were the newbie, kind of the odd person out, we didn’t know anyone, we were not friends with anyone, we were eager but our enthusiam was not received, we volunteered but were never call upon to help.

New members are the lifeblood of this organization. As the cycle of life contiues we can’t sustain or grow without new members.

Each of us has an obligation to our lodges to welcome new members, get them involved, keep them involved, give them value and help them so they too can become a mentor to our future members.

Johnny

Chaplain’s Corner: Robert Michaels

As a Chaplain with the FOP (Lodge 41), it became clear that there is much that can be done to address the emotional and spiritual needs of those in law enforce-ment. Serve & Protect was launched for this very purpose – providing the support needed through interacting directly with our members, providing inspiration through our Guns’n'Hoses Bible Fellowship, starting in the first quarter, and through intervention through our 24/7 crisis line (206-459-3020) powered by our partner Safe Call Now based in the State of Washington.

Our completely confidential services, whether through a Chaplain conversation or Crisis intervention, is available at no charge to Police, Firefighters, EMTs, and Cor-rections Officers – and their families. We post a regular blog at www.serveprotect.org, addressing issues our officers confront, and explore problems and solutions for resolving struggles.

Having served with Norfolk Police (VA) both on patrol and as a detective, and the Guard as a MP, I have lived the life on the job. With 2011 Line of Duty Deaths approaching the tragic rates of the ’70′s, and officer suicides an ever present and growing crisis, as well as domestic violence and addiction issues, we are dedicated to being there to walk alongside and serve our brothers and sisters. For more information call Robert Michaels, 615-373-8000 (o) or 615-202-2204 (M). Email – rob@serveprotect.org. We are available 24/7.

The following people have announced they will be running for State Lodge Officer at the State Conference in June 2012:

Johnny Crumby—Office of President

Dan Raper—Office of Vice President

Mike Embrey—Office of Secretary

Larry McCoy—Office of Treasurer

Scottie DeLashmidt—Office of 2nd VP

David Cowan—Office of Sergeant At Arms

Robert Yoakum—Chairman of the Trustees

Duane Phillips—National Trustee

If you are a delegate planning to run for office and wish to announce your candidacy in the monthly newsletter please send that information to crumby13@comcast.net