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MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW PRESIDENT
Bob Heales
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Dear Members,
It is hard to believe that 2013 is almost a memory. This has been an important year for NCISS, and we have seen many changes. First, we bid farewell to Larry Sabbath who has served our association so well as our lobbyist and legislative advocate for the past two decades. We enjoyed seeing Larry at our Annual Conference in Charleston, and we wish him well in his retirement.
While we are sad to see Larry leave at the end of the year, we are happy to welcome Paul Kanitra and his team from Lobbyit as our new legislative advocates and lobbyists in Washington, DC. We will begin this transition on December 1st, and hit the ground running on January 1st. Francie Koehler is our Legislative Chair for Investigation, and she recently met with Larry and Paul in Washington. We also welcome Maria Landry as our new Legislative Chair for Security. One of the changes you will notice effective April 1st is our new State Legislation Awareness Monitoring program (SLAM). SLAM will become an important part of our State Association Advisory Board (SAAB) and will add tremendous value to our state associations and their members. Participating state associations will no longer be caught off guard with proposed legislation at the state level, they will have assistance with grass roots letter writing and individual lobbying, and further assistance as needed by our Officers and Board members. Sample letters regarding their state issues will be available online, easy to sign and send. Our Vice Presidents are currently revising the SAAB program with the goal of having these new programs fully implemented by the time we Hit the Hill in Washington, DC. I am excited with the team of Regional and At-Large Directors we now have in place, as well as our dedicated Officers and Committee Chairs. All of our Committee Chairs this year are active Past Presidents of NCISS. We are moving forward, and implementing changes for the better which have been discussed among the Executive Committee and at our most recent Board of Directors Meeting. Please put April 6 - 8 on your calendar now, and make plans to join us in Washington, DC as we hold our Mid-Term Board of Directors Meeting on Monday and Hit the Hill on Tuesday. Walking the halls of Congress and having your voice heard is something everyone should do at least once in a lifetime. It is an experience you will never forget. This year we will be organizing a luncheon in the U.S. Capitol building, something very few people or organizations are able to do. As we approach this special time of year, on behalf of your Officers and Directors I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and a Blessed New Year!
Sincerely,
Bob Heales
NCISS President
bob.raheales@mindspring.com
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A Special Message from Larry Sabbath
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 NCISS is in Good Hands
I have had the honor of representing NCISS in Washington for many years. It has been, and remains, the most effective organization representing private investigators and security firms in the nation's capital. Working with modest resources, NCISS has successfully protected its members from numerous legislative and regulatory threats.
Our first major success was obtaining an exception to prohibitions in the Drivers' Privacy Protection Act. That provision remains law today and allows access to department of motor vehicle information in most states. Our security members have been able to ward off legislation which would have allowed the Teamsters and SEIU to organize security officers. And we were able to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to remove requirements which made investigations of workplace misconduct virtually impossible. NCISS has also warded off numerous attempts to limit access to social security numbers and other data critical to the conduct of investigations.
There will always be legislative and regulatory threats to members of NCISS. But fortunately, NCISS has the leadership team in place to continue this record of achievement. Your officers and board members, and legislative committee have the skill and experience to carry out the programs required to protect NCISS members in the 21st century. And NCISS has retained an energetic and skilled lobbyist to represent the association in Washington, DC. I have met with Paul Kanitra of Lobbyit to share background information on issues affecting NCISS. We will be meeting again to make the transition as smooth as possible. Paul has some exciting plans for how to represent NCISS in Washington. I am confident that he will be successful in that endeavor. I urge every member of NCISS to welcome Paul and to assist him during the transition.
Let me conclude by expressing just how much my long relationship with NCISS has meant to me. I have had the opportunity to work with a great group of professionals, many of whom have become friends. I will miss you all.
Larry Sabbath
NCISS Legislative Advocate - over 20 years
Please join us in thanking Larry for his long, dedicated and successful service with NCISS! You can send him a message of appreciation to lsabbath@lobbyist4u.com
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Legislative Update - Investigations
|  I recently had an opportunity to spend a few days in Washington D.C. meeting with Larry Sabbath and Paul Kanitra to facilitate a smooth transition from the lobbying program under Larry's guidance to our new legislative advocacy group called Lobbyit. Paul is the founder and President of Lobbyit. Following the meeting with Larry and Pau  l, I also met with the folks at Lobbyit 's office where we spent some time discussing the process of working together on our legislative and regulatory efforts. Lobbyit 's second in command, Keith Nelson, has considerable regulatory experience, is an attorney and former prosecutor, and will be quite helpful when we navigate regulatory issues. In addition, Lobbyit's office is literally two blocks from the Capitol and two blocks for the Sout  h Capitol Metro Station so access is very convenient . While I was in the area, I was fortunate to be able to address both the Maryland Investigation and Security Association (MISA) and the Private Investigator's Association of Virginia (PIAVA) where I received a warm welcome. I was able to update both associations on NCISS's legislative direction for 2014. Many thanks to the presidents of both associations, Robert Hoffman from MISA and Kenneth D'Angelo from PIAVA and their respective members. We are plowing new ground as we maneuver into 2014. Suffice it to say that NCISS has some surprises in store for all of us and I am very excited to be part of it. After a staged transition, starting April 1 we will be able to monitor state legislation and assist those states without either a lobbyist or legislative program assistance with advocacy in those states. No, Lobbyit will not actually be advocating in those states, but they will certainly assist with facilitating needed meetings, position papers, letters either in support or opposition and other needs as they arise. So, stay tuned for exciting developments over the next several months. I will keep you posted as we move forward. Please do not hesitate me if you have any questions at all. Working together, we can make a difference. Francie Koehler NCISS Legislative Chair francie@nciss.org |
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Legislative Update - Security
|  Its been a little busy for Maria lately. Please join us in congratulating Maria and her family with the recent birth of a grandson.
Evan Christian was born on November 11th, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and 19.5 inches.
Everyone is doing well.
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NCISS on Tour
| Minnesota Association of Private Investigations (MAPI) N CISS member and MAPI Secretary, Tim Braatz, organized the annual MAPI training conference at the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, MN.
Thank you to 3rd VP Dean Beers for attending and speaking at the MAPI Conference in Minnesota last week. Also attending and helping to spread the NCISS message was Regional Director Andrea Orozco. Several new members were recruited and both MAPI and the Minnesota Licensing Board (PI and Security) are excited about our new State Legislation Awareness Monitoring (SLAM) program. In ternational Association of Security and Investigative Regulators Conference (IASIR) 2nd VP Tom Shamshak attended the annual conference of the International Association of Security and Investigator Regulators (IASIR) that was held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the Lowe's Hotel Le Concorde from November 12th - 15th.
The theme of the conference focused on the partnership between private security and public law enforcement. Tom delivered a presentation entitled - The Role of Private Security in the Aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
Tom also represented NCISS at the event. The conference had 60 plus registrants. Among the attendees were representatives of Security and Investigative Regulators from the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as security professionals from the US and Canada, including the Executive Director of the National Association of Security Companies, and private investigators from the US and Canada. Ohio Association of Investigation & Security (OASIS) Regional Director Terry Myer reports that he is the new Vice President of Investigations and Gary Kuty is the new Executive Director. OASIS is developing a new membership recruiting program that includes new members for NCISS. The Winner is... North Carolina Association of Private Investigators (NCAPI) Members at Large Larry Flannery and Bill Fletcher (also NCAPI board members) attended the NCAPI Fall 2013 Training & Education Conference. There were over 140 attendees. Larry and Bill manned the NCISS vendor table, and were given 10 minutes to talk the first day and 20 minutes to talk the second day. They signed up 16 new members! They also held a drawing amongst the 16 new members for a free membership. The person whose name was drawn was so pleased that he donated his winnings back to NCISS in honor of his deceased wife, who was a lobbyist.
NCAPI will hold their 28th Annual Meeting January 17-18, 2014 in Salisbury, NC. NCISS Legislative Chair (Investigations) Francie Koehler and a person from the Lobbyit team will speak. Are you part of the NCISS Tour? Board Members, please let us know of your plans to attend any other local conferences. We have members available to speak in many locations on a number of topics. It is clear to see why we are clearly the most significant association specializing in Federal Legislation and now State Legislation as well.
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NCISS Annual Conference Awards
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2013 John J. Duffy Memorial Achievement Award
Maria Vinson Landry, CPP, of Lacombe, LA, past president of NCISS is the 2013 recipient of the prestigious Duffy Award. A family member of the fifty-year-old Vinson Guard and Detective Agency, Landry has served as a team member of the Security Companies Organized for Legislative Action and is presently Chair of the NCISS Legislative Committee for Security. She holds a BA from Southeastern Louisiana University and has over thirty years of experience in the security and investigation fields including sales, operations and management. She is a licensed private investigator in Louisiana and recently served as Chair of the NCISS Board of Directors.
 2013 Wayne J. Wunder Memorial Award Jimmie Mesis of Freehold, NJ, past president of the New Jersey Private investigator Association, NJPIA, and with his wife Rosemarie, owner of PI Magazine, a trade publication for private investigators. He is a licensed private investigator in New York and New Jersey. Mesis has served multiple terms as a Director and chair of committees on the NCISS Board of Directors. Most recently he served as chair of the NCISS Legislative Committee for Investigations.  2013 The Vinson Award for Outstanding Service
Vincent Ruffolo, Blue Island, Illinois, Past President of NCISS and CEO of A & R Security. The Award was presented posthumously to Mr. Ruffolo's family. Ruffolo, who passed away in 2013, was a founding member of NCISS and chaired the Security Companies Organized for Legislative Action, SCOLA, as well as the NCISS Legislative Committee for Security, for many years. He was a revered and highly respected leader of the security industry and recipient of the John Duffy and Wayne Wunder Memorial Awards. He also served as Chair of the Illinois Private Detective, Security, Alarm and Locksmith Board, was Past President of the Associated Guard and Patrol Agencies of Illinois, AGPA, and the Associated Detectives and Security Agencies of Illinois, ADSAI, who awarded him the Charles H. Wessel Memorial Achievement Award in "Appreciation of his Outstanding Dedication and Distinguished Service to Our Profession and Association."
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Dues Renewal and New Categories of Membership
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Dues Renewal is Here...
Increase NCISS Membership and Make a Donation Today!
By now you should have received your Dues Renewal Notice in the mail. Please note that the default invoiced amount is $175 for the regular member (Silver) level. If you are interested in including a donation to NCISS and having the annual conference fee included, please consider the Gold Level and adjust your invoice and payment accordingly.
The following are the new categories of membership:
- Bronze: $99 - Only available to new applicants for one year. No voting privileges.
- Silver: $175 -- $35 of which goes to our legislative fund. Receives all rights and privileges of membership.
- Gold: $395 -- $100 of which is designated to our legislative fund. Gold members receive one free annual conference registration per year.
Contact your Regional Director if you have any questions or need assistance. Membership and dues information is also at http://www.nciss.org/membership/membership-information.php
To pay your dues online, please visit http://www.nciss.org/membership/membership-dues.php
NCISS Represents over 950 members
We can reach 1,000 by the end of the year!
As a member of NCISS, you know the importance of the NCISS mission - please share this with your colleagues and encourage them to be part of the NCISS mission for the first year introductory dues of $99.
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NCISS LEGISLATIVE FUND
The NCISS Legislative Fund is a key component of our association's ability to represent the private investigation and security professionals interest s before Congress. Fundraising efforts are ongoing throughout the year, and include requests to individual members, state associations, industry vendors, database providers, and more.
There are many who benefit from the services of our two professions. As we continue to seek ways to replenish the Legislative Fund on a monthly basis, you are encouraged to contribute, not only monetarily, but through ideas to raise funds in other ways.
One easy way to support the NCISS Legislative Fund is to use the NCISS - Office Depot Discount Card. You save money on your purchase AND a percentage is donated back to the Legislative Fund.
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Brownyard Programs - Endorsed Insurance Provider
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Brownyard Programs has developed a liability insurance program that is specifically designed for small private investigation agencies with up to 5 investigators. The program is endorsed and sponsored by the National Council of Investigation & Security Services, Inc
For details visit http://www.nciss.org/membership/membership-insurance-broker.php |
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Office Depot Discount Benefit
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This is a reminder that the paper promotion from Office Depot is still good until the end of the year ($26.99 a case for 10 reams). In addition, if you have not previously purchased online, there is an additional 15% off the price. This takes the cost to under $23.00 a case. Fantastic prices!
Also, if you order over $50 there is no charge for shipping. Your NCISS membership entitles you to special Office Depot purchase discounts and significant savings at the copy and print center. Get the word out about this ongoing Office Depot promotion.
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The eReport and The Report
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You are the voice of NCISS
The next edition of The Report, our print publication, will be the Spring 2014 "Hit the Hill" issue. We welcome contributions on investigation or security related topics of interest to our members. If you have an idea for an article contact the editor, Don C. Johnson, at editor@nciss.org. In the meantime, check out the Fall 2013 edition and past editions at the link "THE REPORT" on our home page at www.nciss.org. Bi-annual The Report magazine - doncjohnson@comcast.net(click to read current issue online)  Fall 2013 - In This Issue - President's Report
- Farewell Larry
- Who's on First
- Security Industry Trends
View or Download The Report Fall 2013 Edition To submit articles, special recognition and association news:
Bi-monthly eReport - beersda@DeathCaseReview.com
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On The Alert
| NCISS continues to watch bills and pending legislation at the federal level that may impact investigative and security guard services.
To view these, and other bills, currently being tracked, and donate to the NCISS legislative fund, visit:  | |
Larry Sabbath Legislative Advocate
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| Francie Koehler Legislative Chair,
Investigations
Maria Landry Legislative Chair,
Security
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Your Membership, Your Voice ...
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The National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Inc., is a cooperative effort of those companies and associations responsible for providing private security and investigation services to the legal profession, business community, government and the public.
It is the role of NCISS to meet and solve these problems while seeking to uncover and recommend action on any hidden potential problems which may have an effect on our profession.
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Office Depot
Member Savings!
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The National Council of Investigation & Security Services has partnered with Office Depot� to bring you a FREE national discount program. Save up to 80% off preferred products.
Effective July 1st all online Office Depot orders will be delivered next day with a $5.95 shipping & handling charge if the order is under $50.00. All orders that are $50.00 or more will be delivered next day for free.
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NCISS Board
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Executive Council
President
Bob Heales
1st Vice President
James Huckabee
2nd Vice President
Tom Shamshak
3rd Vice President
Dean Beers
Secretary
Debbie Anderson
Treasurer
Brad Duffy
Chair
Jim Zimmer
Executive Director
Carol Ward
DirectorsRegion 1 Terry Myer
Region 2
Thomas Jackson
Region 3
Ken Cummins
Region 4
Greg Carter
Region 5
Andrea Orozco
Region 6
Tawni Tyndal
Members at Large
Dean Gluth Bill Fletcher Dr. Daniel Benny Larry Flannery
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