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Things
Change
By Ann Ball
I got two big shocks at convention this year.
First, of course, was my being named a life member. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. That’s a first on two counts: I am the first non-past-state-president and the first female to be given that honor.
The second shock was when everyone stood up to honor the Texas flag. I smirked to myself knowing I would be among the few who actually knew the pledge. That is, I smirked until I realized I was saying the wrong words!
After all those years I taught Texas social studies, they changed the pledge? Yup. As of May 2007 it was revised.
Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee,
Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
I hope we continue its use at all our ASSIST meetings and functions.
That incident started me thinking about the changes I have seen since I joined ASSIST in 1980.
We have changed. Our industry has become a profession, with better educated and informed personnel from top to bottom. We use modern technological tools more and more each year. More women and minorities have been attracted to the security field, and have taken an active part in our workforce.
Attempts at a cooperative effort between police and private security were made in Houston in the 1980s, but few concrete steps were taken. Two programs were instituted but did not last. Dallas stepped in and began the LEAPS program which has waned and revived. El Paso formed a cooperative group and then jumped on the LEAPS bandwagon. Today, throughout the state, public law enforcement and private security are working better together, which is a really good thing for Texas.
Some things don’t change, though. The value of membership in ASSIST is still a giant plus. Don McGray of Aramco Services will tell you that when we met at a security panel hosted by another security organization, he realized that ASSIST alone was the organization that was going to be informative and concerned with the Texas laws that regulate our daily operation. He, like many others, realized that it made good sense to be a member of both groups.
Change happens, it happens now, and if we don’t get on at the cooperation station today, tomorrow we may be left standing alone on the street corner with empty pockets.
Some things don’t change. As a friend of mine once told me, “When I works, I works and when I plays, I play!” ASSIST is like that. Ours is a rough and tumble job, but our sense of humor carries us through. As you can tell by the photos, Our Gulf Coast Regional Chapter Christmas party was lots of fun. I personally wish each of you much success, changes only for the good, and joy in 2008.
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