President's Message

Gord Kotow President, FIAA

Big plans and new faces! This is how the FIAA Board has started the new fiscal year.

A warm welcome to new board members Les Mroz, John McDermott and Scott Hanelt. All are well known to the board and have attended many FIAA seminars in the past.

On a sad note, we have to say 'see ya later' to members Ed Rostalski, Wayne Pawlowski and Joe Towers but not farewell as they will still be involved with training and the accreditation process of the FIAA. Thank you ever so much and we look forward to continue working together.

Great news for our members in Southern Alberta! We may have two seminars planned in 2011 south of Edmonton, Back to Basics in Lethbridge in the spring and a photography course and AGM in Red Deer in September.

The 2010 AGM came and went successfully. There was a small turnout for the seminar Effective Evidence Collection, but a positive comment made, "the small numbers allowed for a much more intimate affair and we were able to network with all of the attendees in a much more effective manner." Thanks Crystal.

It's still going to be a long process but the Board is working hard towards accreditation. We are meeting this month with a member of the AEMA (Alberta Emergency Management Agency), with our intentions.

I have been attending meetings throughout the year on behalf of the FIAA hosted by the AFCA. Also in attendance were representatives of Partners In Protection, AEMA and Alberta Search and Rescue. Our intentions are to research the effect of an umbrella organization, sharing grant funding, office administration, and resources.

The hard work is slowly paying off for our website and our members only section. Carl and Amanda will keep us updated as work progresses. It's great to see the emails from members in regards to seminars, product recalls and other important information. Keep it coming!

A big thank you to all our members who support our association and to the board members, past and present, for all their hard work and dedication.

Gord Kotow
FIAA President