Message from the Secretary
By Edward S Thaete
This is the first HOTSHEET issue for 2010. I hope
and look forward to a year full of prosperity for all.
I would like to share some of the APA’s
involvement that I participated in during the last part of 2009. First of all, I
joined many other volunteers who donate a couple of hours to take part in the
Salvation Army’s annual “Christmas
Shopping
Spree
” on December 4th. Children are taken to WalMart to buy $80.00
worth of clothes (underwear, socks, shirts and pants). Shopping for girls
isn’t one of my best traits, having two boys myself, so I let the woman
volunteers handle that! I can honestly say that WalMart does an exceptional job
making a buck go along way. We probably spend a good hour shopping at Wal-Mart
before going over to payless shoe store where each child is given a pair of
shoes valued at $20.00. After the shopping spree WalMart employees cook up
breakfast for the kids before the busses take them back to the YM CA. The
association has proudly supported this cause for several years. I have enjoyed
being apart of this event because of the honest joy you see come over a child
who doesn’t have anything.
Soon after, on December 8th Greg, Kerry
and I headed out to
Tacoma
,
Washington
for the funeral service for
Lakewood
,
Washington
Police Sgt. Mark Renninger, Ofcr. Tina Griswold, Ofcr. Ronald Owens and Ofcr.
Greg Richards who were tragically assassinated on November 29, 2009. While
sitting in a coffee shop briefing each other prior to the start of their day a
deranged individual walks in and starts shooting at them without any warning
fatally wounding each of them. The December 9th Seattle
Times headlines read, “WE WILL
REMEMBER THEM ALWAYS”. How very true that headline was. Approximately
20,000 law enforcement officers’ packed into the Tacoma Dome. A brotherhood
brought together from a dark day in
Washington
. A procession of approximately two thousand police vehicles held up the
beginning of the services for about 1 hour. All police vehicles met at McChord
Air Force base and travelled 10.3 miles to the dome. The most impressive group
at the dome was a contingent of approximately 700 Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
A fine array of life stories was shared for each officer bringing the services
to approximately 3 ½ hours.
2010 started off with the CCLEA Legislative
Reception held on January 12th in
Sacramento
,
California
which Greg & I attended. The purpose of this event is to meet with our
state legislator’s. Our concerns over state and city financial dilemma’s we
are currently experiencing were discussed with current and prior legislatures.
We will keep in touch with each other and continue to work collectively on our
concerns.
Remember please be careful out there and wear your
vest!