MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - MARK WEBB

This will be the last newsletter that you will receive prior to the next annual meeting of the Federal Wildlife Officers Association (FWOA), which will be held at In-Service the last week of April and the first week of May 2003. We will be holding annual meetings during both sessions of In-Service. It is important that we have input from each and every one of you during the annual meetings. Many issues have come before the Board and they will be addressed at the annual meeting. A listing of the current agenda is as follows:

1. FWOA is considering creating a death benefit for the surviving family of any Special Agent (SA) who looses his/her life. It has been suggested that FWOA would issue a check to the family immediately upon being notified of the death of the SA. The Secretary/Treasurer would then contact each Regional Representative and request payment from each charter member of FWOA for reimbursement of a pre-selected amount of money. An example would be that each charter member agree to contribute $25.00. We currently have approximately 160 charter members so FWOA could issue a check to the family for about $4,000.00. It could be much needed funds in a family's time of need.

2. FWOA will be addressing the need for each and every SA to recruit the best of the best for our agent ranks. Each of the new agents hired could be your partner in a takedown or contact and could be your backup in a violent encounter. We all have an interest in developing the best pool of candidates that is available. We hope to discuss ways in which FWOA and our members can help recruit for our next agent class. Give it some thought and bring your ideas.

3. FWOA is in need of developing a promotional packet/brochure to assist us in promoting FWOA to new potential members and to potential sponsors of our programs. SA Suazo has been very successful in promoting FWOA to some major sponsors who have assisted us in our efforts to provide clothing items for the Ranger Relief Program. A colored glossy brochure would be a real asset in this effort. If you have any ideas or have experience in this field, please step forward during the annual meeting and offer your assistance to a committee that will be assigned to help make this a reality.

4. During the past year, the FWOA Board of Directors and the Regional Representatives have discussed the need to look at a possible increase in dues. This issue will be discussed and brought to a vote during the meeting. The Board is regularly asked to support different issues for items and our current level of funding simply does not allow us to do everything that we are requested. What exactly do you want FWOA to support and how much are you willing to pay to support those items?

5. The Board has also discussed ways to reduce our current level of spending and one of our largest expenses is our quarterly newsletter. I would love to see the newsletter expanded and improved, but the shipping of it is a very large expense. We have discussed the ability to send it to each member electronically. Are you willing and able to accept the newsletter by electronic mail? Let us know your thoughts and also your e-mail address!

6. The FWOA Board has been approached to reintroduce the commemorative firearm that was supplied a few years back. The Fish and Wildlife Service now has more than 100 new SAs and many may be interested in the Sig Sauer commemorative handgun. We could also look into a new commemorative rifle or shotgun. We need to know the level of interest by the members. Do we have existing members who did not order a handgun the last time, but would like to do so now?

7. Interest has been shown for FWOA to create an annual scholarship for a son or daughter of a FWS Special Agent. It has been suggested that FWOA create a scholarship that would be given to a member's child who would compete for the scholarship by writing an essay on Wildlife Law Enforcement or another selected topic. The essay would be submitted along with a resumé of their grades and/or accomplishments during high school or college. With two sons in college, I find this to be a very interesting idea.

8. FWOA would like to recognize our members and fellow SAs that have been called to duty to serve our nation during these troubled times. I know that Jerry Summers and Tom Tidwell have both been recently called up for duty.

9. The FWOA Board has been requested to look into the possibility of recognizing retired SAs by presenting each SA with a plaque upon their retirement. Suggestions include placing the SAs name and dates of service on the plaque along with recognition for their many years of service to our nation's wildlife resources. Give us your thoughts and ideas.

10. The FWOA Board has continued to push for the issuance of credentials to our retired SAs. We hope to receive an update on the status of this effort at In-Service. SA Webb has recently been in contact with Assistant Chief Marks who is pursuing the status of this issue for us.

11. At the request of several SAs, the Board has been involved in reviewing the overtime issue when SAs are assigned to work on weekends. We have been in contact with Chief Adams and Assistant Chief Marks on this issue. We are hoping that this issue can be clarified for us at the annual meeting. Chief Adams has agreed to meet with the SAs at each session of In-Service to discuss issues of concern. If you have issues that you would like to discuss, I would like to encourage each of you to forward them to me and I will then provide the list to Kevin, so that he is prepared to address each and every issue in depth.

12. The Board, along with several members, have been researching the status of field grade GS-13 positions within the Federal Government in agencies that have 1811 Criminal Investigators. The Fish and Wildlife Service is among the many agencies that currently have field grade GS-13 positions. For the most part the requirements to obtain one of these positions are not clear, so we plan to continue our research in an effort to determine if FWS SAs qualify for field grade GS-13 positions.

13. Lastly, we will be voting to replace all members of the Board of Directors and many of the Regional Representatives at this annual meeting. SA Jim Gale has worked diligently for FWOA for two terms, but his time is now up and we will be required to vote in a new Secretary/Treasurer. The existing terms are also up for VP Suazo and myself, so come prepared with nominations for these positions. Several of the Regional Rep positions are up for reelection as well, so volunteer to either represent your region or nominate someone who is willing to spend the time to represent you.

We will look forward to seeing all of you at NCTC.

JOE OLIVEROS AWARD

On behalf of the Federal Wildlife Officers Association, I would like to congratulate Special Agent Jeffrey Odom for being selected as the recipient of the Joe Oliveros Award. SA Odom graduated on March 7, 2002 from Special Agent Basic School at FLETC and will be stationed at Houston, TX.

Odom was selected by his classmates to receive the award, which included a plaque presented by the Federal Wildlife Officers Association. The Joe Oliveros award is presented to a new Special Agent from each class that is voted by his classmates to most exemplify the qualities of dedication and professionalism to our Nation's Wildlife Resources displayed by SA Oliveros throughout his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

NAWEOA TORCH RUN/WALK

The Federal Wildlife Officers Association will again be sponsoring the 3rd Annual North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Annual Memorial Torch Run/Walk to be held at St. John's, Newfoundland, on July 24, 2003.

Funds raised during the event are donated to the North American Wildlife Officer Memorial Museum being constructed at the Peace Gardens on the Manitoba and North Dakota border. During the past two years with the support of many FWOA members, officer associations, and wildlife law enforcement officers and their families, we have been able to raise approximately $8,000 for the museum.

At the present time only SA Frank Kuncir has confirmed his assistance to me and my wife to organize the 5K run/walk at St. Johns. If any of you are still considering where to spend your summer vacation, St. Johns has a lot to offer. Fantastic whale watching and fishing opportunities exist as well as the opportunity to assist FWOA in organizing the Torch Run/Walk.

This is a good opportunity for FWOA to make great strides in developing relationships with the NAWEOA Board of Directors, the State Officer Associations, and our fellow officers and their families. If any of you think you may be interested in attending this year's conference and assisting FWOA, please give me a call.

FWOA will be following up by sponsoring the event in 2004 in Manitoba and 2005 in British Columbia. So start making your vacation plans now and take the opportunity to assist in promoting FWOA!

FLEOA

Federal Agent Pay Reform:

H.R. 466 Introduced - What You Can Do To Help

On January 29, 2003, Representative Peter King (R-NY) introduced a House Resolution (H.R. 466) with 30 original co-sponsors. This legislative proposal would do two things: (1) amend the locality pay adjustments paid to federal agents [under Public Law (P.L.) 101-509] in all of the 32 pay districts; and (2) allow mid and high level supervisors to earn up to 25% of their salary LEAP (overtime).

The Federal Law Enforcement Officer Association (FLEOA) hopes you can support this bill, and will make your support known to your elected representative by calling his/her office in Washington, D.C. and voicing your support (the main number for all Congressional offices in D.C. is 202.224.3121__they will connect you to your local rep's office).

Also, we hope you can actually take a moment to sit down and write a two paragraph letter and fax it to your elected representative. In addition to calling your elected representative's offices in Washington, D.C., you can also call their local office in your home town. Lastly, we need you to pass this on to every agent, FLEOA member, and non-members, and ask them to take the time to make a phone call.

We need your help! Because, in plain English, without your help, this pending proposal will go nowhere. 

Your representative and his staff are working on a huge number of issues...from their committee assignments to the war on Iraq, the North Korea situation, pharmaceutical drugs, and most likely, dozens upon dozens of other issues. Your representative is not sitting around doing nothing. So, UNLESS THEY HEAR FROM YOU, THEY WILL NEVER KNOW THAT H.R. 466 IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD CARE ABOUT!

Your Representative wants to "do the right thing by his/her constituents"...but what is that "right thing"? Pick up the phone and tell him/her that the "right thing" is to become a co-sponsor on H.R. 466.

Call 202.224.3121 and ask to be patched through to your representative's office. Don't know your representative's name? Just give the switchboard operator your address, they will find your representative for you. If you called them last year, be advised that last year's numbers are still the same numbers to call this year.

Once you are talking to your representative's office, ask for the Legislative Assistant who handles law enforcement issues and tell that person that you live in the district that the representative is representing (you are a constituent), and that you want your representative to come a co-sponsor on H.R. 466. Tell this Legislative Assistant that the person handling this issue for Rep. Peter King is Kevin Fogarty, and that they should call him (Kevin Fogarty can be reached at 202.225.7896) and get your representative on H.R. 466 as a co-sponsor.

Avoid being blown off!

Some staffers will assure that you representative "supports this idea, we always support law enforcement". Thank them but tell them we are not looking for "supporters", we are looking for co-sponsors, the difference is as huge as the Grand Canyon, bigger than the Pacific Ocean...greater than...well you get the picture. If they give you this "support" stuff, thank them, but then say I want my representative to take the next step. I want him to become a co-sponsor. Insist on this, nothing else will do. Tell them you, your family, and your circle of friends (if you are active in Little League, Scouting programs, soccer league, PTA, alumni associations, etc.), mention this, and tell them these groups will be very disappointed to learn that the person they sent to Washington does not listen to his constituents.

So, make your phone calls and write and fax your short letters. We need you to take five minutes to do this. Get your spouse, your parents, your brothers, sisters, your in-laws, and your friends to do the same. Please ask them to do us a favor. Ask them to do a favor for all of Federal law enforcement. Ask them to pick up the phone, dial 202.224.3121 (maybe even dial the phone for them) and get them to tell the representative that they want him/her to become a co-sponsor on H.R. 466.

Please pass this along to all agents, FLEOA members and non-members. TO GET H.R. 466 PASSED, WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP!

Thank you for your support and be safe out there.

Rich Gallo
FLEOA National President
www.fleoa.org