Don Owens Memorial Lodge #88
Fraternal Order of Police
Fraternal Order of Police
President's Message
| Your FOP has many exciting challenges for 2009. Of course the website you are now visiting is the latest example. Plans are to improve the condition of our building so it is a more comfortable place to spend time. Increasing Associate and Professional Associate memberships are of special priority to the Vice President and myself. If you have friends who are Dispatchers, Reserve Police, or Jail Officers, please encourage them to join. One benefit of their membership permits them to participate in our Legal Defense Fund. There are plans to replace fundraising by telephone solicitation with Bingo nights at AmVets. We are restricted to Active and Associate members only to run the operation, so a little help will go a long way. The Lodge will return to having Spring and Fall Socials, which is a way of thanking Associates for their membership. In the past, the FOP socials were an important place for elected officials and candidates to meet and greet. With the FOP being the Bargaining Unit for Bloomington Police Officers and the Sheriff’s Deputies, all the political goodwill we can muster will pay dividends. We found during our loss of Deputy Sarah Jones that an Auxiliary unit would have been of benefit to assist the ceremony and services. An interest was expressed by those who wished they were in a position to help during times of need. To establish our own unit is another one of our goals. Again, please encourage persons you think may be interested to join. New ideas for Police Week are in the works. Some other fundraising activities to keep the Sarah Jones Memorial Fund in good shape will also occur this summer. We intend to use this new website as the primary source of distributing information on activities with your Lodge. WELCOME AND VISIT OFTEN! Brad Swain President - Don Owens Memorial Lodge 88, Fraternal Order of Police March 2009 |