The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 23, Number 5 | Page 13

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2017 Continued from previous page which has proved an important benefit to the members of the Board of Officers as they balance their various responsibilities and integrate their role with the Association into their professional and personal lives. Monthly Police Chiefs Briefings: The regular Association meetings, conducted each month, have been a tradition since the organization’s inception in 1912. They remain an important component of the Association’s functioning and tradition, and attendance is as strong as it has ever been, and perhaps even stronger than ever. Website & Digital Communications/Publications: As of 1999, the Association had no digital presence, with neither a webpage nor an official email address. In March 2000 the Association notified the membership that we were constructing our internet homepage, which made its debut shortly thereafter. Since that time, the Association has invested a significant amount of effort into staying current with the use of technology, both internally and externally. Some highlights:  E-lerts: Consisting of requests from members for assistance from fellow chiefs, information on important matters or of interest to the membership, notices about events, services, programs, etc.  Daily E-News: Our most popular digital offering, provides headlines and links to news stories from around the state and nation that are of interest to police chiefs.  Quarterly E-Newsletters: Provides information, updates, and offerings from the NJSACOP Professional Services and the Professional Development Divisions, as well as from our associated organizations, the NJ Police Chiefs Foundation and the NJSACOP C ommand & Leadership Alumni Association.  NJSACOP Internet Homepage: We have just introduced a completely revamped website, which is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also utilizes the most current technology and interactive capabilities.  Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube: The Association maintains an active and popular social media presence. NJ Police Chief Magazine: As mentioned, when Mitch arrived in April 1999 the NJ Police Chief was not a magazine, but rather it was a newsletter. In fact, it was an 8 page newsletter that was copied in the State Office, stapled, folded, stamped and mailed out, all by hand in the State Office. By March 2002 the newsletter had grown to 24 pages, and was printed and mailed offsite. Starting with the September 2006 edition, The New Jersey Police Chief became an actual magazine – printed in full color, with a wide range of articles, notices, ads, and promotions for the Association’s various programs and services. The March 2009 edition notified the membership that the current issues of the New Jersey Police Chief Magazine would be the final edition of the printed version of the Magazine. Thereafter, we would transition to an online only journal, not only saving us money, but also allowing us to stretch and expand the nature of the publication, as well as expand exponentially the reach of the magazine, and therefore of the Association itself. Public Affairs Division Annual Conferences & Police-Security Expo: In 1999, the NJSACOP annual Conference consisted of the following: an Opening Ceremonies at the host hotel, followed by a “Pasta Party” in one of the ballrooms; 2 combined breakfasts / training sessions (in the same room) on both Tuesday and Wednesday morning (for Chiefs and spouses only), and the annual Installation Banquet. There were also Spouses’ events scheduled. The Police Security Expo was scheduled, then as now, on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the Conference. Annual Conference: Over the past 18 years, the Conference has grown significantly in several ways. First, the “Pasta Night” was replaced by an opening Host Chief’s Night Reception, which over the years has expanded and grown into a “must-attend” annual event. In conjunction with this change, the poorly attended Opening Ceremonies were finally eliminated in 2010. Additionally, in 2001 the morning breakfast (on Tuesday and Wednesday) were separated from the training sessions, professionalizing the presentations and permitting the expansion of the sessions’ capabilities. Accordingly, the two morning training sessions were opened up to other personnel, at the discretion of the Chief. Attendance has grown to an average of 350 – 400 per session, with high- profile presenters a regular feature of the conference. Police-Security Expo: There is no mistaking the fact that our Expo was an exceptional event prior to my connection with the Association. According to our records, the Expo had 450 vendors at the 1999 show, which was – and would still be – quite an impressive event. Along with our Expo partner, Sitework Associates, we have 12 Continued on next page