Remarks From the President - Mark Webb 

These past few months have been busy times for your Association Board, as we have continued to work hard to move your Association forward.

Many hours have been spent in preparation for the upcoming North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association meeting to be held in Columbus, IN. FWOA will again sponsor the 5K Torch Run/Walk and, in conjunction, we will serve a Bar-B-Q to the participants at the completion of the event. Last year FWOA served approximately 200 people at our cookout that number is expected to grow this year. SA Larry Harris has agreed to do the cooking this year, WITH HELP, so I am encouraging any of you who have not been to a NAWEOA Conference or not attended in a few years to make an effort to attend and support the FWOA.

In addition to the run/walk, we will also man our booth, where we have the opportunity to meet and visit with many of our State counterparts as well as provide them with caps, T-shirts, and pins from FWOA.

To successfully pull off a good conference, FWOA members put in hours of preparation and work during the conference. We are always looking for additional assistance and would love to have as many of you as possible lend a helping hand.

FWOA is looking into getting a large sponsor for this event to help offset the cost of the T-shirts and food. If any of you have any ideas, please contact me. All of our proceeds go to the Wildlife Officers Museum, so the more sponsorships we can generate the more money we can send to the Museum.

The Board is also looking at holding another raffle to assist in raising funds for FWOA. If any of you have ideas on that issue or can offer donations, services, or know of a major donor, please contact me.

The first wave of FWS SAs are just finishing up their tour of duty as Air Marshals and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for a job well done. We are all proud of you and recognize the sacrifices you have made to provide a safer America for the rest of us. I know the next wave of SAs will perform equally as well.

FWOA has continued to provide funding for the families of wildlife officers killed in the line of duty and to wildlife officers who have experienced tragedy in their lives. Since the last NAWEOA Conference, we have contributed money to the families of five wildlife officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

I would like to thank the other Board members, SA Suazo and Jim Gale, for their hard work and support in making your Association stronger and all of the Regional Reps for their assistance. I would like to encourage any of you that have let your dues slip to get your dues up-to-date by returning the notice sent to you by Jim Gale. I would also like to provide a sincere welcome to all of the new SAs that recently joined. I encourage all of the new SAs that are still trying to decide whether to join, that I firmly believe that you will not find a group anywhere that is more dedicated to the wildlife resource than the members of FWOA.

If any of you have concerns or issues that you need help resolving, I encourage you to contact your Regional Rep or one of the Board members.

We recently sent renewal reminders to 120 members whose dues had expired on or before January 31, 2002. Thanks to all those members who took time to renew their membership prior to this newsletter. For any member who chose not to pay their dues, it will be your last newsletter unless your dues are up-to-date. We need everyone's support to make the FWOA strong and effective. *Note to our detailed DWS Air Marshals: we will be glad to continue your memberships until you complete your detail and get settled back at your duty stations. The FWOA Board appreciates the sacrifice you have made to help ensure the safety of the American people.

Remarks From Vice President Leo Suazo

 I would like to start off by saying "Muchas gracias!" for electing me Vice-President of our Association. I too, like Mark, have huge shoes to fill! With the help of my Maker I hope to live up to those dedicated agents I follow.

I have to tell all of you I was one of the last holdouts from my SABS class to sign up as a member. I would say, "What am I going to get for my $25.00__just a newsletter and some trinkets?" I told Jim and Tim if they would run for office I would sign on the dotted line. Even after they were elected and moving at light speed. I still dragged my feet. After telling them "you otta" or "why don't you" enough times, I was met with a challenge by them. The challenge was "Suazo, you have engaged your mouth, now engage your feet."

So with permission of my region, I was chosen to represent them and have had the honor of attending the 2001 NAWEOA Conference in Omaha, NE. We had the privilege of continuing a tradition of cooking up some roast beast for grateful fellow officers and agents. In a few short hours I came to realize how Tim, Jim, Chris, and many others had worked so very hard to forward the FWOA cause. Our inaugural Torch Run/Walk was a huge success, our FWOA booth was always one of the busiest, and our roast beast was all but gone.

Having been a Conservation Officer for the great State of New Mexico, it had been a long time since I had felt the warm feeling of being part of the best profession in the world. I ran into old wardens, some of whom

were my mentors when I was a rookie. Now in the twilight of their carers, I could still see a spark in their eyes some 20 years later. I met young wardens who were ready to pounce on anyone who dared to violate in their district. If you want your batteries charged, spend some time with a rookie!

Perhaps the greatest privilege I had during NAWEOA was being introduced by Mark to a Nebraska warden named Larry Elston. Larry is 64 years old and is in the twilight of not only his career, but of his life. It was not hard to notice the cancer taking its toll on his body but not his spirit. One look at Larry's eyes and you could see his love for the profession was as vibrant as it was in 1962. For the next few days I spent time with Larry talking about everything from God to the next duck season. I watched him tire in pain. Every day of the conference Larry was ready to serve his follow officers. After the conference Larry and I continued our new found friendship. In December, I received a call from Mark telling me that Larry was not doing so well. Larry had told Mark that he sure had an urge to eat an elk steak. A few days later we walked into Larry's hospital room with the back strap of a young elk. As I watched Larry's eyes light up and well with tears, I knew then joining the FWOA was the best money I could have ever spent! A few days later Larry was laid to rest. So what have I received for my $25.00? Well, you be the judge.

I will do everything in my power as your Vice-President to continue moving FWOA forward. I urge all of you to continue to pass on your ideas, thoughts, and concerns. I encourage you to challenge yourself and take a more active role in your Association.