Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I want to start out by saying thank you to everyone who voted for me and for the confidence you have in me to elect me for a second term. I would also like to thank my executive board members who have stepped forward and have accepted the many tasks by working on committees and special events. I realize that being on the board is challenging and takes time away from your family to help with your FOP family and I am very thankful to you all.

Even though I am retired now and away from the job, I will continue to devote as much time as is needed to make this term more successful than the first. Already during this term, we have redeveloped our website, which includes a forum page for officers to post comments or questions on. We also started to develop a Pac Fund to aid our legislators in maintaining laws to assist police officers. We moved forward by improving our FOP home by installing a fully functional kitchen that will be used by members for parties and other functions. All this was done while still working with the administration to achieve the best possible working conditions for our officers. We are working on getting better bullet-resisted vests for our officers and more improved tools to insure the safety of our officers and citizens.

Moving forward, I would like to see our lodge improving our membership involvement by more officers volunteering for committees and special activities. By having more officers involved we can move ahead with the aforementioned projects and achieve other ideas to make our job safer and easier. Remember one idea may be developed into a great gain to our membership if only more members came forward with their ideas and opinions by communicating at our monthly meetings and committees. Also, member’s wives and families have developed an auxiliary to improve our support team during times of need and crises and assist in lodge activities. I would encourage anyone wanting to help to attend these monthly meetings.

I will continue to work with the administration on your behalf and will be willing to stand up and fight if the need arises. The next two years promises to be challenging with contract negotiations with a mayor that is reluctant to give our members the support and benefits they deserve.

Even though you may not see me as often at the station as you did during my last term, I encourage you to call on me or stop by the lodge with your questions and concerns. Once again this is your lodge and I cannot be successful without your input and cooperation so come forward with any suggestions you may have. Once again thank you for your confidence and I look forward to working with all of you.

Fraternally,
Michael Rooney
President