Live from Lexington

The United Nations has played a significant role in making this an historic conference. It is truly remarkable to see the women police peacekeepers taking part in the parade, opening ceremonies and training sessions.

During the opening plenary session, Commissioner Ann-Marie Orler spoke of the monumental steps made by women during police peacekeeping missions. She is an inspiring speaker.

After the plenary session yesterday morning, I had an opportunity to meet and congratulate the very first recipient of the IAWP International Female Peacekeeper Award. Congratulations to Deputy Superintendent Shahzadi Gulfam of the Pakistan Police on her award. She is photographed here with IAWP Chaplain Tamia Dow.

LIve from Lexington

Wow...time flies by when you are having fun. And like every other IAWP Training Conference before, it has been lots of fun here in Lexington. Job well done to the Conference Committee!

But also like other conference, it is not all fun here. The training sessions are sure to offer many new insights and learning for everyone in attendance.

Constable Andree Huberdeau, one of TEAM WINNIPEG 2014, was seated in the audience early in the morning to here remarks during the opening plenary session.

Later in the afternoon, just after TEAM WINNIPEG 2014 set up shop to highlight all that we will offer in Winnipeg and Manitoba during the conference in 2014.

Live from Lexington - Parade Day

Breakfast before the opening Parade

The day started off...and stayed...hot and humid. But that did not dissuade the enthusiasm and energy at the Annual Parade of Nations. Following the parade, the opening ceremonies took place at the Lexington Opera House.

The days events continued in the afternoon with the Board of Directors attending a reception to commemorate the UN Police Peacekeepers Women's Network while conference delegates enjoyed an afternoon at the Kentucky Proud meet and greet.

There is no shortage of entertainment and hospitality here in Lexington. Tonight is no exception with the evening hospitality suite open right now as I type. The week is shaping up to be one great day after another.

More to report to you tomorrow....

Live from Leington

While the conference has not officially opened, it is actually day 2 of work for the IAWP Board of Directors/Trustees. And what a full agenda it was.....

Several items from the meeting agenda were tabled until today. I will not go into full detail as most of that will be discussed at Region meetings on Tuesday and the AGM on Wednesday. Even after a full day of meeting, the Board still made time for a some strategic planning led by our very own Region 12 member, IAWP First Vice President Margaret Shorter. I will provide you with some further insight on that tomorrow.

For me, today was very exciting. This morning, several members of TEAM WINNIPEG 2014 attended the Board of Directors/Trustee Meeting to present a bid to host the 52nd Annual Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 2014.

Team Winnipeg 2014 waits in the wings to present their bid.

Team Winnipeg 2014 was a big hit with their very fashionable Canadian scarves.



Constable Andree Huberdeau speaks about the importance of French Language programming in the 2014 Bid.

Team Winnipeg responds to questions about their bid for 2014.

At the end of the presentation, we were pleased to be informed that our bid had met the standards of policy 10 (IAWP Conference Policy) and so was approved to proceed for a vote at the Annual General Meeting. We hope that you will take some time before then to visit us at our booth during the conference trade show.

Well...another full day ended with wonderful time meeting and chatting with old and new friends at the first of several Lexington hospitality nights. Time for some sleep ....in anticipation of my one of my favorite IAWP events tomorrow...the annual Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremonies. I know it is going to be another great parade!

Good night from Lexington.

Live from Lexington

It's here...the 49th Annual International Association of Women Police Conference...in beuatiful bluegrass country.

We (me and two fellow members of TEAM WINNIPEG 2014) started off early Wednesday morning to head south. After fuelling up with our Canadian fav...Tim Hortons coffee...we were on our way. 1,900 kilometers and 23 hours later we arrived at the Hilton Downtown in Lexington, Kentucky.

After a quick breakfast and short nap to restore our energy levels, we headed out to explore downtown Lexington. We discovered this a city full of fabulous historic buildings and lots of activity.

Today, Friday, August 19, the Board of Directors work got underway at the late (AKA Fall) board meeting. We got through a full day of discussion on day one with lots more to follow tomorrow. Over the past two years of my work on this board, I have been amazed at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, both at a conference and with the Board of Directors/Trustees. I am also continually amazed at the energy and dedication that my fellow board members bring to the table (and it is a big table this meeting!).

Now...about TEAM WINNIPEG 2014. We are very excited to be in Lexington this year to present at bid to host the IAWP Conference in 2014. Over the next few day I will introduce you to each of these women and tell you a bit more about our bid.

I will also fill you in about all of the great events going on this week. At this point I will start by simply saying JOB WELL DONE TO THE LEXINGTON CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS!! This is going to be another fabulous IAWP event.

Congratulations

On Friday, May 13, the Winnipeg Police Service hosted their 21st Annual Awards Day. This year, Sergeant Karen Timchuk of the Forensic Identification Unit was awarded the James Toal Award of Excellence for her outstanding contributions to police forensics and her community.

Also recieving an award this year was Patrol Sergeant Shelly Glover. She was awarded an Police Exemplary Service Medal in recognition of more than 20 years of dedicated service in policing.

Further Congratulations to Patrol Sergeant Glover, who is currently on a leave of absence from the WPS, for her success in the recent federal election. Shelly won her second term as a Member of Parliament this past May 2nd. Well done!

Also to be congratulated is several winners from the annual Ontario Women in Law Enforcement awards banquet. See all the highlights at www.owle.org. Also congratulations on this fabulous new website!

Please remember to send me your news and awards for inclusion on the blog.

Stay safe everyone!

Royal Security

I have been up and glued to my television since 3:30 a.m. I am a fan of the Royal Family and proud that Canada is part of the British Commonwealth so I could not resist watching.

It was a spectacular, and historic, event. But as I sat watching TV, surfing from channel to channel, I began to hear commentary of another historic proportion. 5,000 police officers were present for this event (many will still be on duty for many more long hours). Newscasters were using language like "professional", "monumental", "historic proportions" as the police on scene around London ensured the safety of the crowd, guests and the Royal Family.

One of the most amazing sites to see was the thin blue line of police officers leading the massive crowd toward Buckingham Palace. As the crowd neared the circle in front of the palace, that think blue line split with military precision and led the crowd calmly around and in toward the palace gates. It made me proud to be a police officer and hear one of Canada's top news person, Lisa LaFlamme, make special note of this.

It made me proud to be a police officer, knowing that their work did not go unnoticed. Well done to all of our British friends for a spectacular display of policing.

Unity Through a Critical Incident

The sad reality of police work is that we face injury and harm every day. None of us truly knows what each day will bring our way. The paradoxical reality of police work is that officers seize every opportunity to learn from each incident where we have faced harm or injury in order improve our tactics and mental preparedness for the after shock of it. That is the is the reality of learning from Critical Incident debriefings and Critical Incident Analysis. And that was the central discussion at the 8th Annual Winnipeg Police Service Policewomen's Network Conference. Constable Tammy Friestleben of the Minneapolis Police Department started the day off by describing her involvement in a police involved shooting in 2002. Tammy survived the shooting but another officer, Melissa Schimdt was fatally wounded. Several officers from the Winnipeg Police Service heard Tammy tell her story this past year at the 2010 IAWP Conference in Minneapolis and recommended Tammy as a speaker for this year's agenda in Winnipeg. Police involved shootings are less frequent in Canada than the United States, and police shootings involving a female are even more rare. Tammy's willingness to tell her story provided valuable insight and lessons for the 100 policewomen who attended. Also on the agenda this year were Sergeant Lisa Mandziak and Constable Belinda Duncan of the Winnipeg Police Service. Nearly ten ago, Lisa was acting the capacity of a Field Training Officer in the downtown division of Winnipeg. Along with her new recruit, Belinda, who was only into day 5 on the street, Lisa attended what she described as a typical domestic violence call. While the two officers began to take statements from the female victim and her new boyfriend, the ex boyfriend returned to the scene and attacked Lisa with a metal car club. Lisa was injured but struggled with the suspect. Belinda reacted immediately and eventually with the assistance of the two original victims, subdued the suspect and summoned backup. Both officers described how this experience helped them prove to themselves that could handle a critical incident. And, both have used the experience to train and mentor other officers on how to cope with the everyday reality of violence in our workplace. Lisa and Belinda's presentation tied in with a discussion with Monika Dyck of the Victim Services Unit, Manitoba Justice. Lisa's case was about to go to a plea bargain with the suspect when word of that deal made it's way back to the investigating officers. In response to concerns that this could have happened and the victim, in this case a police officer, was not even notified, Manitoba Justice amended the Victim Bill of Rights. Ms. Dyck explained that now, police officers in Manitoba can register as victims and will be updated on a regular and ongoing basis about the status of their case. Constable Jennifer McKinnon of the Winnipeg Police Service Forensic Identification Section also spoke at the conference. She described the procedures that are used to collect evidence from officers when they are involved in a critical incident. And finally the day was capped off with a presentation by Patrol Sergeant Ron Bilton of the Behavioural Health Unit who reinforced the necessity to use the experience of other officers to learn and improve our own capacity, both physically and mentally. Congratulations to the Policewomen's Network for another successful conference.

News from Manitoba

A big congratulations for a Manitoba Women who have recently been promoted.

RCMP Promotions

Gerry Kerr, who worked on the IAWP Conference Committee in Edmonton, has been promoted to the rank of Inspector. Inspector Kerr is leaving Manitoba to assume a position in Iqaluit. She is very excited about her new position and her new posting in this northern community.

For those of you in other regions who wish to learn more about Iqaluit, please view the city website at http://www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca/i18n/english/index.php. I am sure you will agree, with me that working in the north will be a unique experience to round out her already interesting career.


Record number of women promoted in the Winnipeg Police Service

This past week marked the end of the promotion period for the Winnipeg Police. I am thrilled to announce that there were a record 6 (out of 14) women promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Included in that group was IAWP Region 12 member Lisa Mandziak.

Sergeant Mandziak will assume leadership of a shift in downtown Winnipeg. She will also be one of the featured speakers at the Annual Winnipeg Police Service Policewomen's Network Conference on April 6th.

I am also hopeful some of the other newly promoted women will be taking part in the Annual IAWP Conference this coming year in Lexington.

Congratulations to all and please remember to send me news from your Province or Territory to include in the blog.

Stay safe!
Sandra

The Next 100 Years

Yesterday was March 8th, International Women's Day. It came and went, marking 100 years of achievements and gains in rights for women all over the world.

Today marks the start of the next 100 years. The start of more women officers on the front line. The start of more women climbing the ladder, into positions of management. It is the start of the next 100 years when more women take on executive roles and become Chief of Police.

Today marks the start of more women working in peace keeping missions, helping the United Nations achieve their goal of 20% female peace keepers in 2014.

Today marks the start of the next 100 years of the International Association of Women Police connecting women around the world in friendship and in leadership.

It all starts by reaching out to one new woman in your organization, making her feel welcome and that her work is appreciated.

It starts by never forgetting those who came before us, and worked hard for the benefits we enjoy today.

Or maybe it starts with nominating an officer who has shown dedication and commitment to excellence for one of the IAWP Annual Awards.

There is still so much to do, to achieve for women in law enforcement. I say we start right now...the next 100 years will pass quickly!

Lots of news from Vancouver Police Department

Chinese New Year begins each year on the new moon of the calender year and ends 15 days later. This year, Chinese New Year began on February 3rd. It is the Year of the Rabbit.

Up until 2006, the Vancouver Police Lion Dance Team, which takes part in the annual festivities, consisted only of officers. That was until IAWP own Maureen Ing became involved in the Lion Dance Band. Since she joined, Maureen has made a concerted effort to invite officers with children in hopes of more youth involvement in the future.

IAWP Region 12 member Maureen Ing with the VPD Lion Dance Band

Valentines Day is another special, yet very sombre, occasion on the streets of Vancouver. This past February 14 marked the 20th Annual Women's Memorial March which marks the death of women from the Downtown Eastside. Last year's event saw 5000 people turn out. This is the first year that the VPD has been invited to join the marchers.

For our IAWP friends from other regions, the Dowtown Eastside of Vancouver was made infamous by one of Canada's most horrific serial murders, Robert Pickton. He targeted vulnerable victims from this area of the city. Even though his crimes began years ago, he has only recently been brought to trial.

RIGHTing History...

I have had a recent, and very pleasant, conversation with Retired Vancouver Police Department Deputy Chief Carolyn Daley. She is more busy now than when she was in control of the Justice Institute of British Columbia training programs.

(Ret'd) Deputy Chief Daley is currently researching information about the "firsts" of many who have worked for the VPD. She enlisted the support of current VPD Chief Constable Chu and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police for this project. She has graciously shared some of her initial findings with me so check back here for further information.

She just keeps climbing the ladder...

There is an update on Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface (which is my riding), Shelly Glover. Shelly has just been appointed as the parliamentary secretary for finance. Shelly continues to round out her experience as a MP with this new assignment.



Shelly is currently on a leave of absence from the Winnipeg Police Service in order to work in government. For more on the story please see http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Manitoba-MP-Glover-gets-new-posting-114900239.html



Good luck with your new duties Shelly.



And also climbing the ladder this week is Winnipeg Police Service member Liz Pilcher. Liz was promoted to Inspector earlier this week, making her only the 5th female officer in Winnipeg to hold this rank.



Way to go Liz!



Please remember to send me promotion announcements from your agency for posting on the blog.



Coming Events



The Thrive Conference is in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada this year. The conference will take place May 5-6, 2011. For those of you interested in Asset Development as a Youth Crime Reduction Initiative this will be a worthwhile event.



See the website for further details.

http://www.thrivecanada.ca/section.asp?catid=139&subid=171&pageid=135

Did you make a New Year's Resolution?

We are already into the second week of 2011. Wow, how time flies by...

I have been a bit remiss in updating my blog but not to worry. That is one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2011. If you happen to cross paths with IAWP First President Margaret Shorter after you read this posting, please tell her that I have made SMART goals (not resolutions). That is more in keeping with the IAWP Strategic Planning lingo, which Margaret oversees.

So what do I resolve to do in 2011?

1. I am going to try very hard to update this blog on a regular basis. Please look for a new post every two weeks. I am going to go back to basics with a past feature of the Women Police Magazine by featuring one Region 12 member every month this year. So if I come asking for your bio please help me out with photos and tidbits about your work/life to include on the Region 12 Member Profile.

Please also continue to send me updates on awards, promotions and other news from your area of the region.

2. I am going to celebrate the achievements of women in law enforcement by encouraging everyone in Region 12 to nominate a friend or colleague for an award.

Please note that the IAWP now has an online award form which you can download at http://www.iawp.org/awards/annualawards.htm. I know we have some outstanding women in this region so please consider a nomination. I am willing to assist with researching and writing nominations if you require assistance.

In addition to the IAWP Awards, there are some awards to consider. The YWCA has opened its call for nomination in most Canadian cities for their annual Women of Distinction Awards.

And, in early February, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police will make the call for nominations to the Order of Merit of Police Officers. This is a very prestigious award handed out once a year at Government House in Ottawa.

Please check back here, or email me with suggestions, on other awards programs that are fitting for women in law enforcement.

3. I am going to begin sending out information packages to various law enforcement agencies in Region 12 in an effort to increase our IAWP membership. If you have a contact name that you think will benefit from IAWP please pass it along to me.


4. I am going to keep closer tabs on my fellow IAWP Bloggers. I recently visited the IAWP Blogs and saw that Region 11 Coordinator, Deputy Chief Leanne Fitch has now posted her second blog. Please take a look at http://www.iawp.org/regions/region11.htm. It looks fantastic!

5. I am going to register early for the 49th Annual IAWP Training Conference, Lexington, Kentucky, August 21-25, 2011. Information can be viewed at http://www.iawp2011.org/.

I am sure it will be another wonderful IAWP event!

It sure is shaping up to be a busy year. I look forward to our continued work in highlighting the work of all women in law enforcement.

Happy New Year All!

Recent Achievements

Region 12 members have been busy over the past year as evidenced by the list of awards and achievements I have received. Congratulations to all!

Academic Excellence

Staff Sergeant Gerri Kerr (whom some may recognize from the Edmonton 2001 IAWP Conference Committee) recently received her BA Professional Arts, Criminology, from Athabasca University.

Staff Sergeant Gerri Kerr

Superintendent Corrine Scott, another Athabasca University Alumni, was presented the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award at a ceremony in Winnipeg this past October. (No photo available)

Manitoba Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards

The Manitoba Chiefs of Police held their 2009 awards banquet in November in Winnipeg. Sergeant Karen Timchuk of the Winnipeg Police Forensic Services Unit received an award for commitment to excellence in police forensics.

Manitoba Minister of Justice Andrew Swan and Sergeant Karen Timchuk

Constable Kathy Antymis was also presented with an award at the MACP Awards Banquet for her outstanding work in counterfeit investigations. Kathy has now moved from the investigations area and is continuing her efforts to combat counterfeiting at the Winnipeg Police Service Training Unit.

Manitoba Minister of Justice Andrew Swan and Constable Kathy Antymis

Inaugural Ceremony for Operational Service Medals

RCMP Commissioner William Elliot recently announced the names of the police recipients for the Operational Service Medal (OSM). Among the recipients were Constable Shelley Jayne Birston, RCMP E Division and Staff Sergeant Jennifer J. Turner, RCMP K Division.

The OSM will be presented by Governor General David Johnston at a ceremony at Government House in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The OSM was created to recognize exemplary service of Canadian military personnel, police officers and civilians who have worked under the Canadian Forces' authority on approved overseas missions.

Constable Birston and Staff Sergeant Turner will be among 50 members being honoured this year. To date, 32 police officers have been identified (17 from the RCMP) as being eligible to receive this medal.

What would you do to honour a friend?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to a close. But the importance of this issue remains with us beyond the end of October.

Over the years I have noticed many of my IAWP friends have found unique ways to honour a friend who has suffered with breast cancer. We can be very creative....

....would you....dye your pink?

IAWP Third Vice President Myra James and IAWP Business Manager Wendy Wilson at the 2006 Saskatoon Conference.

....would you....shave your head?

Me and my very good friend Winnipeg Police Service Constable Sandra Murner at 2001 Annual Cops for Cancer Head Shave

....would you....create a legacy fund?

A group of friends who worked on the Conference Committee for the IAWP Annual Training Conference in Edmonton, 2001 created a tribute to IAWP Region 12 member Beverly McLean by starting the Beverly McLean Legacy Fund. Beverly died a short time after the Edmonton conference but her memory lives on each year through this fund. The fund enables one Edmonton Police Service member and one RCMP member from K Division (Alberta) to take travel to the IAWP conference every year.

Be healthy, be happy and continue to honour our friends who are fighting this disease throughout the entire year.

PERSONS DAY

In the early 1920's, when asked to define a women's legal status the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women could not be appointed to the Canadian Senate because they were not deemed to be "persons". Five of the most courageous women in Canadian history challenged the decision in what is now commonly known as the "Persons Case".

On October 18, 1929 they won their case when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled that women were in fact "persons". This ruling allows Canadian women to participate in all aspects of public life....including police work!

Every year in Canada this landmark decision is celebrated by The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) who continue to fight for the status of women through litigation, law reform and public education. On Friday, October 15, 2010 I was honoured to attend the local LEAF breakfast here in Winnipeg along with (retired) Winnipeg Police Service Patrol Sergeant Barb Tobin who challenged our department many years back to fight for equality of female officers during pregnancy.

I have come across other remarkable Canadian women in policing who showed as much courage on our behalf as the "Famous Five".

Vancouver Police Department
Phyllis Mortimore began her groundbreaking career with the VPD in 1943. Up until 1957 women officers recieved only 2/3rd pay of their male counterparts. Sergeant Mortimore fought that injustice and is credited with achieving equal pay for all VPD officers.

Phyllis is also the first VPD female to rise to the rank of Sergeant. She died last November 8th but we continue to celebrate her spirit on this Persons Day.

Winnipeg Police Service
Helen Woolard became the first female officer to graduate from recruit class in 1959. She was also the first to wear a Winnipeg Police Uniform and serve an entire (20 plus years) career to retire with a full police pension.

Helen attended the second annual WPS Policewomen's Network conference where her achievements were celebrated by over 110 WPS policewomen. We celebrate her life and work on our behald this Persons Day.

Edmonton Police Service
Danielle Campbell, Superintendent in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division became the first female with the EPS to head this section. She has served 21 years and is featured on the WPS Women in Policing recruiting page at http://www.joineps.ca/home/abouteps/women%20in%20policing/femaleperspectives/danielle.aspx

For her hard work and dedication to service we celebrate Danielle's achievements this Persons Day.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
In December 2006, Bev Busson became the first femal Commissioner of the RCMP. She has been awarded the Order of BC, The Queen's Jubilee Medal, the RCMP Long Service Medal, and is a Commander of the Order of Merit of Police Forces (just to name a few of her achievements).

Retired Commissioner Bev Busson was among the first 32 female officers hired by the RCMP (over 35 years last year). We celebrate all that she achieved in her career on this Persons Day.

Please remember and celebrate the achievements of these women today. Like the famous five, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Louise Crummy McKinney, they have quietly worked to achieve a status for women that allows us to enjoy a rich career in policing today.

The International Association of Women celebrates women in policing around the world who, in thier own way, show the remarkable courage of the Famous Five. Please join us in celebrating that today.

For more on the Persons Case please see Wikipedia files at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_Five_(Canada)

Looking forward...

... to seeing you all in Minneapolis in 16 days! If you have not been the to IAWP home page lately please take some time to do so at www.iawp.org to see profiles of this year's scholarship award winners. These are just two of the amazing women that will be honored during the 2010 Minneapolis Conference.

Coming Events

I will be working post conference to update my blog with a coming events section. I encourage all of you to send me information on training events, courses, or community events that are taking place in your part of Region 12.

Corporal Gertrude Maxwell sent me information on this conference:

The Canadian Safe School Network is hosting two Safe School Conferences this year in
La Ronge - Oct 1, 2010 and Saskatoon - Feb. 10-11, 2011. Parents, teachers, administrators, students and community members are all invited so please feel free to forward the registration forms to anyone who may be interested in attending. Please contact me or Gertrude if you would like a registration form.


From Region 10:

Inspector Robyn Mathews, who is also IAWP Region 10 Coordinator, has been looking into a regional event in Hawaii. I have it on good authority that they would welcome other IAWP members if you are interested. Go to her blog at http://www.iawp.org/regions/region10.htm for more details.


Stay safe everyone and see in 16 days!

GO PURPLE!!

I have been home this evening watching the Minnesota Vikings play their pre season game against the Denver Broncos. And it got me excited about my up coming visit to Minneapolis. I can hardly wait to get there.

Guess what....

Guess what...I have some news about a long time Region 12 member who is having a baby! You have to attend the Regional meeting to find out who it is.

Guess what else...Winnipeg has a connection to the Minnesota Vikings. Attend the Region 12 Meeting and tell me what the connection is in order to have a chance to win a prize.

Well back to the Vikings game. See you all in 24 days.

What do the IAWP, WPS and NASDAQ have in common?

...Superintendent Corrine Scott ...that is what they all have in common.

Superintendent Corrine Scott featured on the NASDAQ bill board

Superintendent Corrine Scott graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce degree long before she began her career with the Winnipeg Police Service. She has more recently graduated from Athabasca University Center for Innovative Management with her MBA. Corrine was selected to join a group of current students of the U of M's Asper School of Business (featured above on the NASDAQ bill board) to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ.

It wasn't all business though. Corrine had some time to do some sightseeing. Leave it to a police officer to take a souvenir photo of a police bus!

And of course...every good Canadian can find a Tim's when she really needs a caffeine fix.

Count Down to 48th Annual IAWP Conference

I hope where ever you hang your hat in Region 12 you are enjoying the summer. I have been enjoying mine so much I seem to have forgotten to blog for the past few weeks....

...I will try not to let that happen again.

If anyone has summer photos, work, recreation, vacation or whatever, I would love to post a few for others to see.

46 Days to Go!

I have just checked in with IAWP Awards Chair Mylan Masson and have a few updates.

The Regional Meetings are set for Tuesday, September 28th from 1700 to 1830 hours. I would like to invite all of you to attend and bring any (potential) new Region 12 members.

The Annual General Meeting is set for Wednesday, September 29th from 1700 to 1830 hours.

Fellow IAWP Region 12 member, Gertrude Maxwell is looking for a room mate. Anyone who would like to bunk with her can send me an email and I will put in contact.

I can hardly wait to see you all again soon!