Anti-Vehicle Crime

Waukesha Police Dept.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

 

The Anti-Vehicle Crime Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (AVCAW) will hold it's annual meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. at Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI.

The purpose of this meeting will be to elect members to the Board of Directors of AVCAW to fill the terms of those expiring at the end of 2003, and conduct other business that comes before the Board.

The meeting is open to all AVCAW members in good standing as of the date of the annual meeting. Attendance is encouraged.

 

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

 

There are five Board member terms expiring at the end of 2003. Nominations are now being accepted from or for any AVCAW member in good standing. You may nominate yourself or any other AVCAW member in good standing by emailing the information to avcaw@avcaw.org. Will Tingue is chair of the nomination process at the annual meeting.

 

RON AEBLY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

 

This is the last call for nominations for the Ron Aebly Award of Excellence. Please forward your nomination(s) to AVCAW Board member Fred Haas at 262-246-5917. You may also send your nomination(s) to avcaw@avcaw.org. Deadline for nominations for the 2003 Aebly Award of Excellence is October 1, 2003.

 

FALL SEMINAR PLANNED!

Plan to attend not only the AVCAW annual meeting, but also the AVCAW/WIASIU Joint Seminar on October 22 & 23, 2003. Two of our highlighted topics this year are low velocity impacts, presented by Biodynamic Research Corporation, and the psyche of negotiation. BRC has been very well received on their presentation several years ago. The negotiation session should prove to be useful to the insurance people dealing with claimants everyday, and also to law enforcement in virtually every situation they find themselves in throughout their daily duties. This speaker will help give you the edge!

Check out the whole schedule, find and use your registration form at this link!

Get it filled out and mailed in today! Share a copy with your co-workers. Have them sign up and attend too!

 

 

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT: Per Don Sebetic, there are 77 paid members to date. Kurt inquired about ADAMM membership. Rich Waldherr said that a letter was submitted. Membership is down from 85 last year. Larry indicated that law enforcement membership is down, while insurance membership has stayed the same. The problem with law enforcement is that they have to take personal time and money to join and attend our meeting and functions. Kurt made the point that more people will become members at the seminar because they may realize that they are not members and will pay.

 

HOT LINE & TIP AWARD REPORT: Larry Burzynski stated there will be a new P&C person to assist him. They have identified a theft cell in SE Wisconsin, which covers many states. Milwaukee Police along with State Patrol and the feds are investigating.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS/NEWSLETTER REPORT: No update.

SEMINAR/EDUCATION REPORT: Per Brian Bettinger, the cost for the spring seminar was about $100-150 less than last year, yet there was two times the number of people. The hotel rooms and meals were less expensive. The Fall Seminar meeting will immediately follow this meeting. Per Glen Jones, everything is on schedule.

BAIT CAR COMMITTEE REPORT: Per Rich Waldherr, he would like someone to help him from the insurance side. Larry would like to help out, as NICB may be able to help out with providing a bait car. They have a case going on with Asian cars. A Sergeant with the Cudahy police has contacted Rich. He was inquiring about the bait car still being in their name. Rich explained that it will remain in their name until another department takes it over or car dismantled and sold. Per Larry, Hondas, Toyotas and 87, 88, 89 Impalas are being stolen. Larry and Rich will meet to discuss their plan.

BY-LAWS COMMITTEE REPORT: No activity.

AWARDS COMMITTEE REPORT: Per Fred, there have been no names submitted for the Ron Aebly award of excellence. He encouraged members to submit names, even company names if you feel they deserve it. Larry suggested honoring the Milwaukee County Sheriff, as they have helped out with task forces and they support us. Please contact Fred Haas or Bob if you have any nominations for the Ron Aebly Award of excellence.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE: Nothing to Report.

BIKE THEFT TASK FORCE: The Milwaukee Rally was June 5^th at State Fair in Milwaukee, WI. Larry, Bob f., Bob S., Glen, and Brian, along with the Waukesha Sheriff and Milwaukee PD picked up stolen bikes. State Fair police left an open invitation to come back whenever we want to. The task force worked very well, even though the rain slowed the turn out. On August 22, 15 people will be coming in from all over the US and even Helsinki to participate in the task force for the Harley celebration. Two teams will be out there and hit areas where there are a lot of bikes. Nextel gave phones in June and will give 10 in August. Bob S. sent a thank you letter.

Rich Waldherr was contact by Elmbrook church. They will help feed the bike theft task force. They can provide showers and food. Bob F. will let him know the numbers and time frame for that.

Bob Feinen gave a Sturgis update. They got a lift from the Sturgis PD and go-jacks from NICB. They worked for the State of South Dakota. Greg indicated they found a bike in South Dakota for $30K that was a staged theft.

OLD BUSINESS: Bob Suehring got the virus scan software for free due to the rebate offers available.

NEW BUSINESS: Ron Springer sent in a resignation letter on 7/18/03. His board term will expire at the end of 2004. His Board position is now open and we will need to elect someone to fill it. Fred nominated Kelle Taylor. She was elected to the board with one opposition. Bob S. and Bob F. discussed donating a brick to Milwaukee County Sheriff Memorial Fund. Fred made a motion to support his, as they are doing a lot to support us. He recommended that we donate a large brick for $250. Glen seconded the motion. Motion approved. Bob S. will speak with treasurer and get paperwork sent in.

Kurt indicated that the presenter from Texas will waive his fees for the seminar. Larry Burzynski will send condolences the Steve Reid, whose mother passed away this morning.

ADJOURNMENT OF GENERAL QUARTERLY MEETING: Meeting adjournment motioned by Rich Lesniewski, seconded by Fred Haas.

The next AVCAW Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at Chula Vista Resort-Wisconsin Dells at 2:30 PM. Any suggestions, recommendations, or newsletter information should be forward to AVCAW via e-mail: avcaw@avcaw.org.

 

 

The Anti-Vehicle Crime Association of Wisconsin helped sponsor a motorcycle theft "recovery" unit this year in Milwaukee, also known as the Bike Theft Unit (BTU). In past years AVCAW has provided funding for the purchase of equipment to assist a team that works in the Sturgis area. Every year they seem to recover bikes that come back to a Wisconsin insurer or two.

This year, with the 100^th Anniversary celebration of Harley-Davidson Motor Company efforts were made to gear up for this event. In May AVCAW paid for flight and hotel accommodations for Sgt. Robert Kenney, Connecticut State Police, to fly into Milwaukee and provide training in the identification of Harley-Davidson and other "aftermarket" cycles and parts. Sgt. Kenney is a recognized expert in this field. Training was provided in Milwaukee to 144 different individuals from 27 different law enforcement agencies.

In June a small group of BTU members, including AVCAW members, Brian Bettinger, Glen Jones, Larry Burzynski, Bob Feinen & Bob Suehring got together and worked the Milwaukee Rally, held at State Fair Park, recovering a couple of stolen motorcycles. This was an opportunity to scope out and work on some of the logistics for the big event in August.

August brought together a bike theft unit made of up professionals from 10 different law enforcement agencies and two different insurance carriers from around the country. One member of the team was from Finland! Working with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office the unit recovered whole or partial bikes valued at approximately $108,000 during this event. Most of these bikes belonged to insurance carriers who had paid theft claims on them. Many of those insurance carriers contribute as sustaining members of AVCAW.

Long hot days walking the hot asphalt paid off. AVCAW again covered some of the expenses associated with putting this team together, including housing at one of the dorms at State Fair Park. All totaled, AVCAW contributed approximately $2500 to help make this a reality in 2003. $2500 vs. the $108,000 return proved to be a good investment.

The NICB Team of Burzynski & Henderson work the Nextel's in support of the teams in the field.