I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and let you all know what an honor and privilege it is for me
to lead the Washington State Law Enforcement Records and Information Association (LEIRA) as president
for 2010.
I want you to consider the times that your membership, experiences and participation in LEIRA has earned you some recognition, maybe was that little bit to get you to the top of the list for the job or promotion you wanted, or connected you to a new friend or colleague. I know I have stories and experiences that fall into more than one of those areas and many more not mentioned here, even in my short time working in WA.
You may be asking what LEIRA has really done for me or my organization. Well, I can say as your new president and board member for the last few years I and others have been asking the same thing and working diligently to find an answer and long term solution not just that quick fix. Unlike other associations, LEIRA was founded with a mission embedded in education, relationships and experience. We are not funded by endowments or wealthy benefactors so we must work to offer opportunities that bring value to the organization and member equally. Especially in these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to consider our mission, the needs of our members and recognize that the financial challenges that exist are not borne by just a few, but by all agencies in the state. I recognize those challenges and proudly take the helm with the help of the LEIRA Board and you, its members to make changes that benefit us all, while offering those opportunities and experiences that bring value whether that value is personal or professional, to you as a member or your organization as a whole.
I want to remind you all that an organization like LEIRA is better equipped to ensure we all get what is needed to be successful by preserving the past, working in the present and preparing for the future. We have reason to be proud of what we do and how we contribute to our organizations and to the criminal justice community. With that said, I believe that, because of LEIRA we have and can grow as professionals and that because an organization like LEIRA we are able to preserve the knowledge of our past and present members so we are better prepared to move forward.
Again, I thank you for this opportunity and am excited to bring forward the change you all want and expect from LEIRA. As I have stated many times please feel free to contact me with any input be it positive or negative so together we can continue to build on the foundation set by those who came before and worked so hard to get LEIRA to where it is today.
