Words from the President

President 2011-2012

Andrew Craven, El Dorado County Probation Department

The meeting was extremely successful and I appreciate the tireless efforts of every member of the Legislative Committee and their abilities to work collaboratively with each other to complete this difficult task.  Further, I extend my appreciation and thanks to our legislative advocates Nick Warner and Danielle Higgs for a job well done and always looking out for the interests of CPPCA and the probation, parole and corrections profession.  Lastly, special thanks to Legislative Committee Chair Jim Seal for keeping us all on task and running a excellent meeting.

On December 13, 2011, your 2011-2012, Board of Directors completed the first quarterly meeting under my Presidency.  I am pleased to announce that the following CPPCA committee chair appointments were approved by the Board of Directors:

• Legislative Chair, Jim Seal, San Diego County Probation Department
• Planning and Professional Development Chair, Julie Hovis, San Bernardino County Probation Departmet
• Nominations and Elections Committee Chair, Kim Wills, San Bernardino County Probation Department
• Membership Committee Chair, Laurel Cook-Boulan, Retired Riverside County Probation Department 
• Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Chair, Gwen Jackson-Tucker, Sacramento Juvenile Justice Commission  
• Awards Chair, Julie Hovis, San Bernardino County Probation Department
• Treasure Chair, Sharon Persall, Retired Riverside County Probation Department
•  Webpage and Technology Development Chair, Paul Vinetz, Los Angeles County Probation Department
•  2012 CPPCA Conference Chair, Michele Keller, Alameda County Probation Department

I thank all committee chairs and committee members for their devotion and unswerving commitment to the success of CPPCA.  We could not do it without them. 

Also, I thank Patricia Franco from the CDCR-Division of Adult Parole Operations, Gary Wion from the Corrections Standards Authority (CSA), and Richard Watson from the California Association of Probation Institution Administrators (CAPIA) for their participation in our first meeting.

I am also pleased to announce that on December 7, 2011, Conference Committee Chair Michele Keller held the first conference planning meeting at the Marriot Hotel and Convention Center in Oakland.  The meeting was attended by several members of the Alameda County Probation Department, as well as, Transbay Chapter Chair Madeline Welters.  I really appreciate the response we have received from the Alameda County Probation Department and the support Chief Probation Officer David Muhammad has given to his employees to assist and participate in conference operations for 2012.  If any member is interested in being part of the 2012 Conference Committee, please contact Ms. Keller.  We would love to have you come aboard.

Year 2011 came with many unprecedented challenges, changes, and has shined a lot light on our professions.  In 2012 we certainly have the ability and opportunity to make it our time to shine. Happy Holidays to all.

This next year will come with great challenge to all of us in the probation, parole, and correctional professions as we adjust to the changes created by Public Safety Realignment (AB 109).  It will be necessary for us to implement new missions, new philosophical approaches and use our ability to adapt to this unprecedented modification to the criminal justice system in the history of California.  I am confident with the wisdom, experience, collaboration, and spirit of our members we will not only accept this challenge, but we will be the leaders within our individual organizations that make these extraordinary changes successful. 

The Board of Directors over this next year will be working to continue CPPCA down a path of success.  This path of success includes the following:

• Ensuring CPPCA is respected and influential in the area of public policy development, analysis, and advocacy. 
• Ensuring CPPCA continues to provide world class education and training to our members about current issues that will assist members with the development of successful programs, tactics, and techniques in their respective agencies.
• Ensuring an atmosphere is created that supports the development of relationships that embrace the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and successes and failures of others so we can achieve and promote excellence throughout our professions.

With these simple goals it is our hope that our members will grow professionally, be part of the succession plan of their respective agency, and become the future leaders of the probation, parole, and correctional professions.

I am truly humbled to be your CPPCA President and I am proud to work with the many individuals that keep our organization working.  When I became a CPPCA member thirteen years ago, it never crossed my mind that one day I would be the President of one of the oldest and most distinguished professional organizations in California.  Through my involvement in CPPCA I have never asked just the question, “What’s in it for me” or “Why am I paying my own money to join this.”  I simply asked, “How can I help?” and “What can I do?”  Then one day I raised my hand in a room full of people I barely knew and said, “Yes, I guess I can do that”, and the rest is history.  Over this next year I challenge you to ask these same questions of yourself and hope you become involved at some level within CPPCA that is comfortable for you.  Whether your involvement is at the local chapter level, as a delegate, as a legislative committee representative, as a board committee member, or as a board of director, you are important to the mission and to the success of CPPCA.  I wish everyone the best and look forward to our future success.