The President's Corner

The Palm Springs Conference was the most successful our association has ever conducted.  With our law enforcement partners we are able to provide our membership a formalized training curriculum that was both comprehensive and accredited.  Through early pre-planning, on-site attention to detail and thorough after-action review, we now have a template for success that will serve our membership for all future conferences.

Relationships were forged early in the planning process with key individuals representing program areas vital to all law enforcement working throughout Indian Country.  I want to extend the overwhelming appreciation of this association to the below listed individuals who comprised the all-star advisory and planning committee responsible for this year's outstanding effort:

In addition, I would like to further extend our appreciation to Curtis Zunigha for the traditional Indian prayer that opened this year's conference.  His powerful presentation was again a reminder of our Native heritage and responsibility we must all bear to the future of our peoples.

The association was honored to have received this year's opening address from Robert M. Bryant, FBI Deputy Director.  His message of "Partnership" and "Commitment to assistance" was clearly evident by the FBI presence in every aspect of this year's conference.

Once again our session was held in conjunction with the annual conference for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).  Ernie Stevens, NCAI Treasurer, provided remarks that again emphasized the necessity for our respective associations to share a cooperative relationship.

There are many, many others deserving recognition for this year's tremendous conference, particularly the numerous outstanding instructors.  To all who contributed, our entire membership is grateful.

While in Palm Springs, initiatives for the millennium year were addressed both in the executive and general membership meetings.  The agenda for both these meetings reflected issues typical of growing associations.  I'm confident that the balanced composition of our executive committee and general membership will continue to provide healthy solutions to the many complex issues that confront all Indian law enforcement.

Beginning with this newsletter our collective membership will be asked to weigh in on association business across a variety of topics.  Through this interactive process I believe we can be more responsive to the larger association and ultimately the communities in which we serve.  In sharing the determination of the directions taken our association will inherently prosper through an improved organizational structure, financial security, new sponsorships and membership growth.

The NNALEA constitution and bylaws, often referenced, have properly provided cautious guidance across many sensitive issues we have addressed in our short history.  Therefore, we share the responsibility to evolve those documents as necessary, in order to continue serving the future managers of this association.  We have quickly achieved a reputable status throughout all law enforcement and Indian country.  In this we can take great pride.  However, with this recognition and our continued growth we must remain true to our law enforcement mission and yet adaptive to the continual societal fluctuations pressuring our communities.

I look forward to serving as your president and I honor the responsibility you have given me.  Please get involved this year and become a positive contributor to the greatest law enforcement association serving our people today . . . the NNALEA.

 
Happy 2000 and stay safe!
Gerald A. Cavis, President

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Last updated June 4, 2001.