ASIS INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON CHAPTER

MEETING MINUTES: May 25, 2005

The luncheon meeting was held at Renaissance Hotel. Chapter Chairman Darin Dillon CPP presided. 68 members and guests attended.

Opening prayer and Pledge: Lewis Eakins CPP

Committee Activities:

Treasurer: The report was reviewed and distributed.

Newsletter: Tom Hamilton CPP stated the next deadline for the newsletter is June 17. The issue will be mailed early in July.

Golf Tournament: We had 152 players on 38 teams, which exceeded expectations. We netted approximately $19,346. The silent auction was also successful.

Certifications: Karim Vellani CPP reminded the attendees of a CPP Crash Review session will be on Saturday June 4 at Baylor Medical College from 9:00-13:00. This review is open to anyone meeting the CPP exam qualifications. For further information, contact Steven Bourg CPP at 832-824-2516. We have three new CPPs in our Chapter and average a 90% pass rate for the exam.

Training:

o UHD is working in conjunction with the FBI to present training in October.

o UHD is working with a newly organized group to apply for grants to apply for federal funds for Port security.

Membership: Ross Johnson CPP introduced 3 new local members who attended the meeting.

Social: Andrea Laughlin announced she is planning another “after hours social” sometime in June.

Foundation: Randy Simpson CPP reminded everyone of the June 4^th deadline to apply for the Cross Scholarship, which pays for the CPP Review class at the next conference. They can only accept 20 applicants.

ASIS International will match many scholarships. Randy is working on getting some matching funds for our Chapter.

Roundtable: Charles Hutchinson talked about the newest initiative for the group: the integration of security systems.

Web: Mike Crocker CPP announced we were short two sponsors for the website. Immediately, Newbart Products and Dr. Ward, on behalf of SHSU, offered to become sponsors. We are averaging 1,000 hits/month.

Law Enforcement Recognition Award: HPD Officer David A. Kamyk was unable to attend. We will award his plaque in the near future.

Speaker: Dr. Richard Ward

Dean of Criminal Justice for Sam Houston State University

Topic: Bridging the Gap: Improving relationships between Public Sector, Private Sector, and Higher Education

Some highlights of Dr. Ward’s background include service with the Marine Corps; service as a patrol officer in Queens and Brooklyn, New York during the 60’s; Chief of the Chicago Police Department; and service on the ASIS National Committee on Terrorism.

Until 2001, there were no formal studies on terrorism and since 9/11; the public level of interest is dropping. Dr. Ward’s goal is to marry the academics with the practical. In his opinion, the next attack will likely be a corporate structure that results in more deaths than at the WTC. Houston is the most likely target. Many issues affect this prediction:

• The high level of drug trafficking through Houston
• The high level of human trafficking through Houston
• The largest American port
• An easily accessible city
• Overall national corporate sector intelligence is weak; whereas within companies intelligence is good; but the intelligence information is not cross-pollinated.
• Terrorists are working together with the criminal element; and international groups are working together to attack the U.S.
• They have the ability to buy weapons such as RPGs
• There is increased intelligence and property theft for terrorist fund raising
• Al Qaida is not the only group capable
• Terrorists have the patience, planning capacity and resources for complex operations
• Border security is weak
• Fake IDs are common
• Government and private initiatives are not integrated

The terrorists’ goal is not to kill but to destroy economic structure. Killing people must have economic impact, which is most likely why there have been no suicide attacks in the U.S. It will not change policy. Many analysts have no first hand knowledge of the cultures they are analyzing. They have never visited the country and don’t speak the language. DHS Centers of Excellence is trying to pull the sectors together and are beginning to tap into the resources at our academic institutions. Academic institutions have the best human capital available: the students. They have extensive libraries and research facilities.

Universities need industry to stay current and for institutional development. Industry needs the universities for training and education development. Universities can do product testing and evaluations. Academe specializes in evaluation. Universities have excellent facilities to host conferences, which is the best way to transfer knowledge from sector to sector.

What are the ways we can continually bring people together? How can we get the knowledge back into the operational agencies? At SHSU for example, there are several activities:

• They have students who speak 22 languages and have knowledge of these cultures
• They are studying over 1200 violent groups
• The Center for Digital Forensics works on cyber-crime and electronic crime.
• The Critical Incident Management group has an $800,000 high-tech simulation facility. Schools, municipalities and corporate clients are currently using the facility.
• They provide a MS in Criminal Justice Management program; Masters in Forensic Science; on-line TCLEOSE training
• They have the Border Intelligence Network Project
• They provide training for every Police Chief in Texas; with annual training programs

The University can provide state of the art resources and be one of the best consultants in the market.

After a question and answer period, Dr. Ward accepted a plaque in appreciation of his time and presentation.

Our next meeting is June 29^th. Our speaker is Glenn Hegar, Texas State Representative for District 28.