ASIS INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON CHAPTER
MEETING MINUTES: November 16, 2005
The luncheon meeting was held at Renaissance Hotel one week early due to the holidays. Chapter Chairman Darin Dillon CPP presided. 69 members and guests attended.
Opening prayer and Pledge: Lewis Eakins CPP
Committee Activities:
Treasurer: The report was discussed and distributed.
Newsletter:
Membership:
o We currently have 296 local members from those assigned to our Chapter.
o New members and guests were introduced.
Certifications:
TPSB: Kevin Galloway has graciously accepted responsibility to manage the luncheon CEU program for the TPSB licensed members. One credit can be earned for attending an eligible luncheon.
Chapter Elections: Committee Chairman Captain Mark Curran presided over the Executive Committee election. The proposed slate was accepted unanimously: John Brady, Chair; Posie Clinton CPP, Vice-chair; Bob Cascino CPP, Treasurer; Pamela Duncan, Secretary.
Seminar: Our annual local chapter seminar was November 8 & 9 at the AIG, Life Building. We had 39 attendees. Some of the topics included The Global Fundamental Islamic Terror; Digital Intelligence; Incident Command Simulation; Security Response to Rita/Katrina – lessons learned; Ethics; and Port & Transportation Security (see the web page for a full listing). Because AIG provided the accommodations, we were able to save all the rental fees, which resulted in proceeds greater than any other year.
Golf Scholarship Tournament: We are looking for a new course, with an anticipated date in May. Recommendations for new locations are welcome, as we must book soon. Many of our Platinum/Gold/Silver sponsors have already committed their support.
Houses of Worship:
o Committee Chairman Lewis Eakins CPP taped a segment on ID Theft and Fraud for Channel 14, which will be showing on several time slots from 11/14-11/19.
o We will be expanding this committee with a subcommittee that will offer free security assessments for Battered Women.
Legislation:
o The NFPA is attempting to establish standards that will greatly impact security issues. ASIS International is best qualified to write standards for our industry. National will join with other Chapters to become involved in this complex issue.
Placement:
o Mike Mason CPP announced there are several job opportunities posted on our local web page. He also has knowledge of other unpublished positions. Please contact him directly for a list.
Misc. Announcements:
o
The NBA Playoffs are coming to Houston February 15-19th. Other venues, such as Atlanta, LA and
Denver, have reported increased crime, particularly in the malls.
Law Enforcement Recognition Award: HPD Officer Keith E. Roy
Officer Roy is a 29 year veteran of the Houston Police Department. He was accompanied by his Supervising Captain Mark Fougerousse, a 27 year HPD veteran.
We are recognizing Officer Roy for his outstanding dedication. Even after these many years of service, he still exhibits an enthusiasm for his profession. His conscientious and hard-working nature led him to an active year of service during 2004.
In June 2004, Officer Roy recognized a Homicide investigator in plain clothes and quickly responded to a request for assistance. As a result of Officer Roy’s alertness, a suspect was arrested for the shooting of a fellow Houston Police officer.
In October, Officer Roy was on patrol when he saw two men fighting in a parking lot. As the officer pulled into the parking lot, the one man stabbed the other in the chest. Officer Roy took immediate action and was able to disarm the suspect without incident. The victim, however, did not survive his wound.
In November, a citizen stopped Officer Roy and led him to a residence where a car was burning in the driveway. The vehicle was engulfed in flames and exploded. Having called for assistance, Officer Roy and the other officer entered the residence and safely helped an elderly woman with a walker escape before the fire damaged the house.
In December, Officer Roy noted the details from a general broadcast of a stolen vehicle taken in an aggravated robbery. He soon located the vehicle with the dangerous suspects still inside. Officer Roy solicited the assistance of other officers in the arrest of the three suspects.
Officer Roy has developed a keen sense of locating on-going crime patterns and criminals in his patrol area. His ability to study, observe and pursue has truly aided in the apprehension and arrest of many criminals during his career. In recognition of this achievement, the Houston Chapter presented Officer Roy a plaque in appreciation of his service and dedication to the community.
SPEAKER: Offer Baruch
Director of Homeland Security; Air Security International
|
Offer Baruch is the Director of Homeland
Security for Air Security International. Born in Israel, Offer has more than
25 years of experience in counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence and
security management. Recruited by the Israeli Security Service in 1978, Offer
became a member of the Counter Intelligence Division and has been involved in
the investigation of hundreds of terrorist incidents over the course of his
career. Offer has extensive experience and training in dealing with radical
militant groups and became the supervisor of a counter intelligence unit for
the Israeli Counter Terrorism Task Force in 1991. He later served with a
specialized negotiation unit that coordinated counter intelligence
information with the Palestinian Authority. Offer served as the Director of
Security for several diplomatic missions during the course of his nine-year
career with the Israeli Foreign Ministry. These included high-threat posts
such as Egypt and Jordan where he facilitated executive protection details
for diplomats and security oversight for expatriates. He also was responsible
for all aspects of physical security at Israeli missions in these locations
and worked to bolster local security measures for El Al Airlines. Since
joining ASI, Offer has developed the most updated concept for
counter-terrorism which has become a major asset with Homeland Security. |
The Muslim Brotherhood was established in 1928 by an Egyptian, Hassan al Banna and his brother. The Brotherhood’s ideology states “there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”. The MB believes it is a struggle for life to the death. By providing basic essentials such education, medical clinics, food and mosques, the MB has proliferated. In 1934, there were 50 branches in Egypt. By 1945 there were 2,000 branches in several Arab countries with over 500,000 members.
The MB extremists feel the need to purify the world through Sharia, their religious code. It began with the desire to purify Egyptian society of Western influence, particularly the British influence. They are against secularism and want to apply Sharia law within all Arab society. They apply the verse “The religion in the sight of God is Islam” from the Qur’an to their ideology by believing that “those who are lost” are infidels and need to die. Infidels include Christians, Jews and Secular Muslims. You either believe what they do or you are against them. The motivation is their faith and their ideology (the dream); there are no personal motives for it is all about God. The extremist clerics will issue a Fatwa, which is a religious justification for a terrorist act, granting the assailant with a blessing and reassurance that they will still meet with God in Heaven and the 72 virgins. Not all Muslims meet God; only those that die to serve God’s plan (the Sharia). Al Zawahiri is a cleric that can issue a Fatwa; Bin Laden is not a cleric, just the financier. This ideology is very deeply embedded in their minds. The MB goal is to reoccupy the “trusted” land (Andulusia), which is comprised of Spain, Portugal, southern France, the Kingdom of Granada and the Middle East.
Mr. Baruch detailed a time line of important dates to the movement, including the Iranian Revolution and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. In 1998, a Fatwa was issued to 1) include America in the Jihad with the primary goal of undermining the economy and 2) eliminate all “Apostate” regimes, such as Egypt and Jordan. There are seven phases to Victory:
2000-2003 The Awakening
2003-2006 Opening Eyes
2007-2010 Arising and Standing Up
2010-2013 Overthrow secular Arab regimes
2013-2016 Declaration of Islamic State (or Caliphate)
2016 and on Total war between Islamic Army and the Infidels
Phase 7 Victory
On 11/12/05, the King of Jordan stated we were in a “struggle between the perverse view of Islam against the rest of us moderate Muslims”. In summary, we must create our own network in order to defeat the Al Queda network.
Mr. Baruch was awarded a plaque in appreciation of his time and sharing his expertise.
The next luncheon is again early due to the holidays and will be held on December 14th.