Holiday Message
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and joyous holiday season! Please know how much you are appreciated and how much of an impact you make on our neighbors and our communities. Unfortunately, our profession is one that forces us to come face-to-face with tragedy and loss. However, we solider forward striving to provide answers when they are needed the most. I am immensely proud of what we do, and I know that you often sacrifice of yourselves without complaint or hesitation. During this holiday season, please take time to not just be around friends and family, but to be WITH your loved ones. Their sacrifice and love allow us to step up when needed, and also heal us when we come home.
I wanted to take a moment and share a story. On a recent Saturday, I was waiting on a to-go order at a local restaurant when I saw a fellow chapter member walk in with his family. He was wearing one of our NC-IAAI shirts and I immediately recognized him, but he did not see me as I stood in the back of the business. I smiled as I watched him hold the door open for several customers while he waited. When a lady dropped an item and was unaware, he retrieved it and took it to her much to her appreciation. When he placed his order, he thanked the clerk who was half his age with “thank you ma’am.” He conducted himself the way that I know that many of you do every day. I could not have been any prouder to be his fellow chapter member and it was an honor to shake his hand.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our meeting in January! I am excited to announce that in addition to the chapter meeting, we will provide a short training session for those attending either in-person or online. Special Agent/Forensic Scientist Kristen Crawford from the NC-DOJ Crime Laboratory will join us in Conover. She will speak about current evidence processing and packaging trends the lab is seeing as well as hold a question-and-answer session. SA Crawford is a wealth of knowledge and this will be an excellent opportunity to ask any laboratory or forensic sciences questions you have. We will also update the membership on a number of other issues and look forward to your feedback.
Again, thank you for everything you do. I hope that everyone has a joyous holiday season full of blessings and good health. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish in the new year!
V/R,
Darren
