| One thing that I like about security professional | | | | business. I asked him his expertise and he said that |
| organizations like American Society of Industrial | | | | he consults churches and non-profit organizations on |
| Security Professionals International (ASIS) is their | | | | security. |
| emphasis on giving to the community. The group | | | | Coincidently, in a church meeting the next month our |
| sponsors scholarships, provides security services and | | | | leadership raised concerns of recent violence in |
| training opportunities designed to help non-profit or | | | | religious institutions during the past year. I thought of |
| not for profit organizations. Churches, charities, and | | | | my friend and offered a solution. After a few |
| students benefit from the generosity of local and | | | | months of planning, we hired him as a consultant. One |
| national security professionals. In my own community | | | | Monday night, with over 50 people present, we |
| I began to look at examples of how security | | | | learned how to possibly prevent or reduce the |
| professionals could contribute in a meaningful way. | | | | impact of an active shooter incident. Interestingly, we |
| The best examples I can give are what we have | | | | have police officers and federal agents at our church |
| done in my neighborhood. For one organization in | | | | and many were in attendance. However, just |
| particular, I arranged for an FBI agent to present a | | | | because one is in law enforcement, does not |
| small presentation on cyber security. The audience | | | | necessarily mean they are an expert in a certain |
| consisted of interested parties representing the | | | | discipline. What we learned was how to plug law |
| community and various demographics. We had | | | | enforcement into the scenario and rehearse |
| teachers, children, baseball teams and senior citizens | | | | responses. The best part was that even though my |
| all together for breakfast and training on a fine | | | | buddy presented the training, my church leadership |
| Saturday morning. The presenter gave valuable | | | | began to view my skills and training as a security |
| information derived from real data. The audience was | | | | professional in a new light. |
| appreciative and provided positive comments. This, of | | | | So, how can you contribute to your community? The |
| course was a few years ago. We are thinking of | | | | first step is to look at needs and trends. Look at the |
| presenting it again since social networks like Face | | | | crime rate, high risk neighbors, gang affiliations, unique |
| book, LinkedIn, and MySpace are so prevalent. | | | | issues and national trends. You might consider identity |
| Just recently I invited a fellow security professional | | | | protection, family security, loss prevention, |
| to present "Active Shooter" training for my church. | | | | anti-terrorism or cyber security training. Your security, |
| I've known the presenter for the past few years as | | | | operations security and risk management training |
| a result of NCMS (Society of Industrial Security | | | | offer very valuable opportunities to train volunteer |
| Professionals) and ASIS. We've both spoken in the | | | | based organizations with tiny budgets. Each |
| professional organizations' seminars and luncheons. | | | | community's needs are different; however you may |
| We've set up booths next to each other during | | | | just have the necessary skills or connection to fill in |
| conventions. One day while he thumbed through my | | | | vital gaps. |
| latest book I had on display, he told me of his side | | | | |