Combined Federal Campaign and United Way of the National Capital Area contributors will find COPS listed as #1209. Contact the COPS National Office for COPS brochures with this number on them to encourage your co-workers to support COPS.
Monthly News From
COPS
Concerns of Police
Survivors, Inc.
September 2005
Limited Information So Far
on COPS Members in Areas Hit by Katrina
COPS joins with the
nation in mourning the loss of life and property in the areas hit by Hurricane
Katrina. Our hearts go out to all the victims and especially to law enforcement
and other public service personnel who have put their on personal losses on hold
while they join in the rescue and clean up efforts.
COPS has heard from 2 surviving families requiring assistance, so the National Board has asked COPS' 48 chapters and survivors to contribute to National COPS, earmarking those donations to aid affected survivors.
We salute the law enforcement volunteers from across the country who have gone to assist agencies in the stricken areas.
COPS has 351 surviving families in Louisiana, 186 in Mississippi, and 319 in Alabama. A large percentage of those families could be at risk.
Fall Hands-On Programs
Ready to Roll
Siblings Retreat,
September 9-12, is the first of COPS' fall hands-on programs. Ten staff and 71
survivors are registered to attend this event, held at Trout Lodge in Shirley,
MO.
Spouses Weekend will follow, September 23-26, also at Trout Lodge. Parents' Retreat will again be held at Windemere Conference Center near Camdenton, MO, September 30-October 3.
Registrations are
still being accepted for Adult Children's Retreat and In-Laws Retreat:
Adult Children’s
Retreat - October 14-17, registration
deadline September 14
In-Law’s Retreat -
October 21-24, registration deadline September 21
Registration forms can
be found at
www.nationalcops.org/forms.htm <http://www.nationalcops.org/forms.htm>.
Survivors are responsible only
for their travel to St. Louis (if flying) or to the Retreat site (if driving).
There is limited travel assistance available for each Retreat. Requests for
travel assistance should be received by the COPS National Office 30 days prior
to the start of the Retreat. A from can be printed from
www.nationalcops.org/TravelAssist.htm
<http://www.nationalcops.org/TravelAssist.htm>.
COPS Walk 2005 - For an
Emotional High and a Physical Challenge to Benefit COPS
The US Secret Service Employee
Recreation Association is sponsoring COPS Walk 2005 in November. This two-day
event, November 12-13, is a 25-mile walk along the Potomac River outside
Washington, DC. The Walk is a physical challenge, an emotional high, and an
opportunity to help COPS. Participants are expected to raise a minimum of $1,000
in pledges to Concerns of Police Survivors.
One hundred percent of the funds raised will go
directly to COPS. Travel to and from
Washington-Dulles Airport is at the participants’ expense.
To register for COPS WALK 2005, or if you have any questions, email Kam Flynn at: npc50@verizon.net <mailto:npc50@verizon.net> or call 703/904-8600. A registration packet with further details about the event and fundraising information will be sent to registrants. The deadline for registration is Friday, September 30, 2005.
Camp Counselor is
Outstanding COPS Ambassador
Sarah Koch has
been a counselor at "C.O.P.S. Kids" Summer Camp for three years. As a surviving
child herself (Fairfield, CA, Police Officer Arthur Koch, EOW 07-28-1984), Sarah
understands fully the trauma that is inflicted on survivors by a line-of-duty
death. Knowing that her soon-to-be father-in-law had a connection to a
foundation that supports children's charities, she relayed her enthusiasm for
COPS and the benefits of COPS' programs for survivors. COPS provided financial
information that was taken before the foundation's board, and the foundation
awarded COPS a $25,000 donation. Thanks, Sarah, for being an OUTSTANDING
ambassador for COPS!!!!
COPS needs MORE ambassadors like Sarah! Does your company make donations to charities? Do you know someone who could influence a business or foundation to support COPS? All that is needed is your enthusiasm for COPS to open the door.
COPS Welcomes New Chapter
in Utah
The COPS National
Board recently voted to grant a Chapter Charter to Utah COPS. Utah COPS is the
48th local/regional COPS Chapter across the country providing peer-support at
the grass-roots level. Welcome, Utah COPS! For a complete list of COPS Chapters,
visit
www.nationalcops.org/chap.htm <http://www.nationalcops.org/chap.htm>.
Condolences to Congressman
Ike Skelton
COPS was saddened to
hear of the death of Susie Skelton, wife of Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), last
month. The COPS National Office is located in Congressman Skelton's 4th Missouri
District. He visited the COPS National Office last year to learn more about the
organization and visit with staff. Our heartfelt sympathies to the entire
Skelton family.
Poker Run
for COPS - Washington, DC
The Gold Eagles
Motorcycle Club of Washington, DC, is sponsoring a Poker Run to benefit COPS.
The Run is Sunday, October 9, 2005 (rain or shine). Everyone is welcome to ride,
$10 donation per poker hand. Visit
<http://members.aol.com/goldeaglemc1/goldeagles.htm>or
email GoldEagleMC1@aol.com.
<mailto:GoldEagleMC1@aol.com>
Or contact Roxanne Brown-Ankney at 703-209-0899.
WANTED - Cheerleaders in
Workplace Campaigns
The fall
workplace charitable campaign season is at hand, and Concerns of Police
Survivors can use your help. Last year, COPS received $130,000 through payroll
deductions. We'd like to see that figure doubled this year!
Combined Federal Campaign and
United Way of the National Capital Area contributors will find COPS listed as
#1209. Contact the COPS National Office for COPS brochures with this number on
them to encourage your co-workers to support COPS.
State and City Employee Campaign
contributors, and some Corporate Campaign contributors, will find COPS on the
list of approved charities in most states. Look for the Human Care Charities of
America Federation, then locate Concerns of Police Survivors in the list of
members.
United Way contributors (other than the National Capital Area and the California Bay area) must specifically request, before the campaign begins, that Concerns of Police Survivors be named to receive payroll deductions, as there is no "centralized" approval for United Way. Each United Way local campaign has its own rules and guidelines. Contact your campaign coordinator NOW, before the campaign begins, and see what is needed for donations to go to COPS. Does your campaign allow Donor's Choice designations? Then contact Terrie Merritt at the COPS National Office with the requirements.
Remember that COPS has been named a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator and has received the Best in America Seal from Independent Charities of America. When you donate to COPS, you know that your money is being utilized in the very best way to assist America's surviving families. Check the Charity Navigator website at <http://www.charitynavigator.org./>
Mid-Atlantic Police
Motorcycle Safety Competition
The 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic
Police Motorcycle Safety Competition will be September 17 at Cameron Run
Regional Park in Alexandria, Virginia. Proceeds benefit "C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens".
For information, visit <http://www.mapmrc.com/>.
Concerns of Police Survivors has
been awarded the "Best in America" seal of approval from Independent Charities
of America. The Independent
Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities
of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous
independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual
basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program
effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by
the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the
most exclusive fund drive in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in
the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent,
meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been
awarded this Seal. Visit www.independentcharities.org
Charity Navigator has named Concerns of Police Survivors a Four Star Charity - " Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause." Visit www.charitynavigator.org.