IFCPP is very pleased to welcome aboard two new office assistants, Jennifer Davis and Mellany Coates.  We very much look forward to working with Jen and Mell, and are confident that our members will enjoy working with them as well.  Gwin Coleman, of SharpCo Designs, continues to provide outstanding IT consulting, web design, and graphic design.

IFCPP instructor and longtime contributor, Douglas McGrew, CIPM II, CIPI, CSSP (Director of Central Campus Security Services for the Ohio State University Department of Public Safety), was just awarded the Certified Sport Security Professionals designation by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security at The University of Southern Mississippi.  Congratulations Doug, and thanks very much for your continued devotion to raising the level of professionalism in the security industry!

The CSSP certification focuses on advancing the sports safety and security industry by addressing the competency requirements of current security professionals and those related professionals in law enforcement, emergency management, government, public safety, human resources, and event management, among others.  The CSSP designation is awarded to individuals who meet the education and experience criteria, and who demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skill and ability by successfully completing the CSSP multiple choice examination.

In recent queries we have learned that many cultural institutions have no comprehensive, workable, or even viable disaster plan. Effective plans include thorough analyses of your state of readiness, an objective look at perceived threats, and a practical plan for mitigating threats and/or recovering from a disaster.  Less than half of the businesses that close during a disaster ever reopen.

To address these issues in a practical manner, this two-hour workshop brings together recognized experts in Emergency Operations Planning to address elements of life safety, staffing, training, operations, agency coordination, evacuation, and asset protection.   Our panel of experts will listen to your concerns, and discuss best practices for resolving the specific issues that you face.  Participants will leave this program with an outline for formulating your own plan, responsive to the direct needs of your institution.  

Safety is certainly a concern for those attending public events, as violent incidents and copycat attacks continue to receive media attention.  IFCPP President, Steve Layne, was just interviewed by Southern California Public Radio following the recent shootings in Lafayette, LA. The question voiced by many, "is it safe to go to the movies?" And "what can theaters do to improve safety?"

Our first suggestion to anyone visiting cultural and entertainment venues (or any other business) - observe emergency exits everywhere you go. Think about how you can get out quickly in an emergency, and what the alternative may be if an exit is blocked. Theaters have made some improvements, most of which are not visible to the public. More intensive entry screening helps, but it's labor intensive, and probably too costly for many entertainment venues. It is critical that we remain alert to suspicious acts and/or persons, and we do not hesitate to report these to management or law enforcement.  Are there creative measures we can take to encourage our visitors to do the same?

While recent perpetrators appear to have acted alone, their behavior and actions prior to the incident may very well have alerted others to a potential problem. The ongoing publicity alone will spur others to imitate violent acts.  Encourage staff and visitors to report any activity where violent acts are threatened, on social media or in person.

Thanks to Donna Sack and her staff for their hospitality and excellent arrangements at the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) conference in Cincinnati. Congratulations again to those attendees attending the Certified Institutional Protection Manager (CIPM) workshop, and our thanks to those attending our special program "Are We Safe," the IFCPP-sponsored session covering a variety of timely cultural property protection concerns.

Scheduled for October 27-October 31, we begin the event with a visit to the fantastic Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK.  After special tours and an outstanding evening networking event, conference participants will depart the following day for beautiful Bentonville, Arkansas, where our hosts at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art welcome us to their world-renowned institution. Attendees will marvel at this beautiful new museum, and learn in a superb and unique setting.

Check out a bit of what’s in store for us at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_rgjzkL840

Conference Sessions will include:
CIPM Certification – New conference participants can earn industry certification with the only management-level professional designation offered in cultural property protection. 

Topics include: Personnel Management; Fire Protection; Litigation Avoidance; Protecting Collections/Assets; Emergency Management; Technology Considerations; Workplace Violence Prevention

Disaster Planning – IFCPP’s all-new interactive workshop. Leading experts will moderate a discussion group allowing participants to acquire input and creative solutions for your specific disaster preparedness and response considerations and concerns.

Agency Collaboration – Our hosts at Crystal Bridges will be leading a multi-disciplinary panel of local emergency response agencies to discuss creative solutions for cooperation, preparation and response.

Departmental Collaboration – Several Crystal Bridges team leaders will conduct a series of workshops and tours discussing challenges and success stories from a variety of collaborative efforts.  Learn how museum-wide cooperation and collaboration has been achieved, helping to make Crystal Bridges one of the world’s leading new institutions.  Plan to bring your own challenges to the table for group discussion and problem-solving.

And More – Stay tuned for program updates as we finalize details for an outstanding new educational program…

Thanks very much to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. for hosting CIPS officer certification classes on September 17-18, immediately preceding and in combination with the CIPI classes above.  For registration information, please visit: http://ifcpp.org/training-&-events

IFCPP Associate Member, SecTek, Inc., will be hosting the next CIPI instructor certification class at their training facility in in Reston, VA September 19-20, 2015.  Thanks very much to SecTek for their continued contribution to cultural property protection, and for hosting our 2015 CIPI class.  For registration information, please visit: http://ifcpp.org/training-&-events

Congratulations to several new CIPS graduates that have completed training through CIPI and DVD instruction, including officers working at the Palm Springs Art Museum, Barnes Foundation, Yale University Art Gallery, Wadsworth Athenaeum, and Woodruff Arts Center.  And thanks to CIPI-certified instructors at AlliedBarton, Securitas, and Walden Security for providing outstanding instruction.

Our heartfelt congratulations to 12 new CIPM program graduates that completed coursework at the Association of Midwest Museums conference in Cincinnati on Saturday.  IFCPP thanks you for your participation and your professional contribution to the cultural property community!

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our friends at AMM and the Cincinnati Art Museum for hosting, and to Doug McGrew and Steve Layne for their outstanding instruction.  Great job everyone!

Finally, we would like to congratulate several IFCPP members for their recent completion of CIPS and CIPM online certification!  We are proud of your professional development accomplishments, and look forward to working with you toward award of the CIPM II designation and beyond.