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REGIONAL
ROUNDUP
CENTRAL TEXAS REGION
Alan Trevino - President
Greetings to all from the Central Texas Region. We have been busy since the last Managing Security article came out. On Dec. 5, 2007 and March 5, 2008,
I attended the ASSIST State Board Quarterly meeting held in Austin with the hot topic of discussion being
training. In specific, completely changing the Level II, Level III and Level IV training from the current requirements to the proposed requirements outlined on the ASSIST website. If you have not already reviewed the material, I highly recommend you take a look at it, as it is significant. Rest assured, your elected board members each presented substantial argument in representing their respective region.
The Austin chapter held bi-monthly meetings Dec. 17, 2007 and Feb. 25, with, you guessed it, the hot topic being training. The February meeting was well attended with more than 20 people participating in a heated debate over the proposed training requirements. We had a number of instructors (5 or 6) present and two Austin TPSB investigators also in attendance.
The other hot topic we discussed is the proposed amendment to the Drug Screening Board rule
35.143. These topics have a daily impact on how you operate your company as an owner/manager and what it will take to remain compliant and the process you as an officer will be subjected to. Attend our bi-monthly meetings and have your voice be heard.
Also in February, TPSB Capt. Leonard Hinojosa retired and in April Lt. Renearl Bowie was promoted to captain and will take over operation of the TPSB. Congratulations to Hinojosa on his retirement and Bowie on his promotion. We look forward to a great working relationship with Capt. Bowie.
The last TPSB Executive Board Meeting was held March 6. Due to the election of new officers on the board, much of the anticipated discussion on training and drug screening was tabled and committees formed to allow the new board members to further study these agenda items. It is expected that these items will be presented at the June 2008 meeting.
Finally, our last Austin chapter meeting was held April 29. Again we had a very well attended meeting (20 plus). The only topic discussed was employment law basics presented by Austin Attorneys Jacqueline Rixen and Judy Osborn. Both attorneys specialize in this type of law. We covered the application process, payroll deductions, employee manuals, record retention, required posters and confidentiality agreements, non-competes and other related agreements.
The information provided was very valuable and all it cost was your time. In addition, you had a chance to earn 1.5 hours of continuing education. I bet you wish you were there. Hope to see you next time.
We have moved our meetings to the last Tuesday of every other month at 1 p.m.
For more information, contact Alan Trevino at 512-206-0515 or e-mail
alan.trevino@sbcglobal.net.
EL PASO REGION
Jessie Ruelas - President
I want to personally thank all of our members and non-members for supporting our regional monthly meetings; we have an average of 43 attending our meetings monthly. I want to thank our monthly guest speakers Andrew Neal of Neal Technologies Corporation, retired Chief Richard Wiles, attorney Dan Hernandez of Ray, Valdez, McChristian & Jeans, and our special guest for March ASSIST President Dan Flores, and in April Bob Marquis from the Dallas region.
A special thanks to Otto Maser of Maser Alarms Company El Paso, representing West Texas Alarm Association, which is no longer in existence, for donating to the Fallen Office Fund a check for $1,119 at our April meeting.
For additional information and monthly programs, contact Jessie Ruelas, 915-751-6811 or 915-588-4002. As an ASSIST member or non-member, license manager, owner, or private investigator, Letter of Authority or security officer, you are also invited to our meeting. Managers and owners may receive one credit hour of continuing education, approved by the Texas Private Security Bureau and ASSIST, which you may use for renewing your license. You will also receive a Certificate of Attendance. Non-members and guests are welcomed.
At our monthly luncheons we accomplish or feature the following:
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Promotion of local and state ASSIST region activities.
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Guest speaker(s) addressing topics of relevance and interest to members and guests.
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One hour of Continuing Education Unit Credit applicable to Texas Private Security Bureau licensing requirements.
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Update on Texas Private Security Bureau and board rules and legislation and activities.
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Opportunity for professional networking, informal discussion and information sharing.
We encourage you to bring your clients to be involved with our meeting as our guest.
SCHEDULE OF GUEST SPEAKERS
May 28: Stephen Perry, Texas Mutual Insurance, Loss Prevention Consultant Austin, Austin, Texas, (806) 787-2540. Class: Workmen’s Compensation Insurance: Why and what you need to know if you have it.
June 25: Officer Stephen Plummer, El Police Auto Burglary and Thief Task Force, (915) 298-9600. Class: Tactics of Auto Thieves.
Aug. 27: Andrew Neal, Neal Technology Corporation, (915) 544-2034. Class: Forensic Computers Employees - Home Families - Indications Suspicious or Illegal Use Tips How What When to use a Forensic Specialist.
Sept. 24: Dan Hernandez, Attorney, Ray, Valdez, McChristian & Jeans, P.C. 5822 Cromo El Paso, Texas, (915) 832-7200. Class: Arbitration: Why any company with one employee or more should use and have signed by each employee an arbitration form.
Oct. 22: Val Ceniceros, Attorney DPS Trooper Investigator, Texas Private Security Bureau. Class: Board rules and upcoming events, inspections.
Meetings are held regularly on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, 2027 Airway Blvd., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., (915) 778-4241.
2008 BOARD MEETINGS
May 28, June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. No meetings in November and December.
Most importantly, as a professional group we are attaining our goals of promoting that our members continue to conduct their affairs with the highest of business ethics and dependability.
Our goal is to provide competent and professional business support and services with the highest regard to the safety and security of our employers, employees, our client’s personnel, and the general public.
For more information contact Jessie Ruelas, president of ASSIST El Paso region, at (915) 751-6811 or (915) 588-4002, or Dave Scepanski, treasurer.
GULF COAST REGION
Kevin Galloway - President
The Gulf Coast Region hosted Katherine Cabaniss, executive director of Crime Stoppers Houston, in February. Cabaniss discussed security’s role in helping local police forces remove wanted criminals from our streets, and gave an excellent presentation on Crime Stopper’s history.
We will be hosting our fourth annual Fallen Officer BBQ fundraiser at Charlie’s House restaurant on May 3.
This event has been a rousing success every year, and has raised more than $10,000 for the Fallen Officer’s Fund. We would like to thank Dan Flores for donating Houston Texans’ tickets for the silent auction at the bar b que, and Walt Roberts for purchasing 200 raffle tickets for his security officers!
The entire region is diligently working to put on the best convention in ASSIST’s history! We have lined up fabulous CE speakers, and a Celebrity Mystery Dinner Theater that will be a time to remember!
Our Convention will be held from October 1 through 4 at the Omni Houston Westside hotel. Feel free to contact Kevin Galloway at
kevin-galloway@sbcglobal.net for more information.
NORTH TEXAS REGION
Kathy McReynolds - President
The North Texas Region has had several CEs this year, including the Dallas Police Department’s LEAPS coordinator and members of the state board regarding drug testing in the industry.
The region is busy planning two large events, our annual Law Enforcement/Security Symposium, which is always very well received, and a fund raiser for fallen officers, which will be in the fall. This promises to be a great day, so stay tuned for more details.
Each meeting has the following goals: recognize and welcome new members and visitors, welcome law enforcement guests, update members on TPSB actions and legislative concerns, and most importantly, an opportunity for sharing information relevant to our industry.
The North Texas Region normally has meetings the third Wednesday of each month, and on alternating months we offer one hour of continuing education. Please join us for these great classes and lunch at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen at 10248 Lombardy Lane in Dallas. For more information,
e-mail Kathy McReynolds at northtexaspresident@assisttexas.org.
SOUTH TEXAS ALAMO REGION
Pete LaBonte - President
Our chapter covers the major metropolitan area of San Antonio. We are hoping to become more active in the area and ask those members and potential members to contact the regional president and help develop a plan to increase local interest.
The state organization is going strong with the Houston and Dallas chapters continuing to influence the decisions for the state. Please let your voice be heard and join us in representing the San Antonio area.
There have been many changes in the law and management of the Private Security Bureau that each of you needs to be aware of, as it affects your business. Let’s get together and become a strong voice for the San Antonio area.
I have made arrangements for a special meeting having our president of ASSIST Dan Flores, our new Capt. Bowie of the Private Security Bureau along with our local investigators at a meeting July 10, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Marmacita’s Restaurant and Cantina (8030 West IH 10, San Antonio).
As an ASSIST member or non-member, license manager, owner, or private investigator, Letter of Authority or security officer, you are also invited to our meeting.
Managers and owners may receive Two credit hours of continuing education, approved by the Texas Private Security Bureau and ASSIST, which you may use for renewing your license. (Non-members and guests are welcomed).
The topic of conversation will be changes and trends in the Private Security Bureau: recent personnel changes within the bureau, changes within the laws and trends/problems they are seeing with our paperwork, etc.
There will be two hours of CEs for attending.
For information on when and where we will hold our meeting call (210) 681-8221 or e-mail
alamopresident@assisttexas.org.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGION
Jamie Ochoa - President
May 7 we had our quarterly meeting, which was held in Harlingen. During the meeting we were informed about some of the activity troopers encountered and
I would like to thank and applaud Trooper Carlos Martinez and George Martinez for a productive quarter in the Hidalgo and Cameron County. They had various arrests of illegal security guards and/or administrative fines.
He informed us that due to the fact on certain cases that the DPS Troopers process for conviction they give benefit of the doubt to guards that might be working illegally because they are not aware of the law and the owners are the ones to blame. The owners are the ones that gritty and rather hire illegal guards than follow the law so those are the ones DPS Troopers should be going after them.
We also discussed the idea of putting some kind of public announcement or legal notice in the Rio Grande Valley local newspapers to inform the business owners and citizens about complying with the Texas Administrative Code and Texas Occupation Code 1702. These ideas came about during our last meeting when we had our guest speaker Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos. He agreed that this would help him in pursuing these kinds of violators who claim ignorance of the law when DPS brings these charges against them. We will be finalizing the announcement shortly and expect to publish it soon.
We have also discussed our annual fundraiser “Top Gun Shoot Out” and we will be sending our Top Gun to the Houston Convention to represent the Rio Grande Valley ASSIST Region. Be forewarned that the Rio Grande Valley ASSIST Region plans to take the first place trophy.
I would like to thank our new members Yolanda Flores and Chris Bustos for joining our region and attending our meeting. We look forward to working together in promoting and elevating the security profession to meet the security needs of our respective communities and addressing various security issues.
Lastly, I would like to invite anyone that would like to attend our next RGV ASSIST meeting. It will be held at Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ, 209 W Nolana Loop - Pharr, TX 78577 (956) 781-8888 Aug. 6 at 11:30 a.m. For more information contact me, Jaime S. Ochoa, president, RGV ASSIST Region at (956) 544-4726 or at
riograndepresident@assisttexas.org.
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