As I sat down to write this message, I reflected on just how blessed I have been as a man, a husband, a father, and as your President. By the time you read this I will be in my eight month as your President. Since the last message we have had two very ambitious board meetings, where we found that we have accomplished many of our goals and where we established new initiatives that will make our organization even better so we can serve our departments and our communities even better. We will have celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. We will have been to a great conference in St. Augustine and learned from our training classes and our fellowship with each other. We will be attending our Legislative breakfast on April 18, 2006, and I hope to see you there. The Florida Legislature is very busy, and thanks to Chief Al Hogle and his committee, we are ahead of the curve instead of behind the eight ball but we need your help in bringing our issues to your representatives.

I want to tell you how much I appreciate each of you for what you have accomplished and I won't try to name names because I know I would forget one of my humble friends who just works and seldom reminds me of what they do for me. I think I appreciate you the most, but I really have to thank the staff and Florida Police Chiefs for getting not just me, but us, through the many issues and deadlines we face each week. Amy and Kay are precious to us and our new addition Tammy is going to be a great employee. They all have that servant's heart we strive for and we could not ask for better. Amy, thank you for keeping me in line and on task so far this year, no easy job and remember you have to get me through the summer conference and all in between yet!

My next message will be my last as your President already. My prayer is that I will continue to serve you as well as you have served me so far this year. It has been an honor to act as your President and I know that Chief Mathieson will assume his role as we all have, with the best interest of the organization always ruling in the decisions he will be making for us all next year.

God Bless,

Chief Anthony Velong