On the Local Front

Our members will note that across IPA South Africa much has been happening, but and due to limited space, not all activities can be highlighted. It is wonderful to note the variety of the various initiatives and how these all fall in line with our objectives. Apart from the Regional projects and initiatives, we have seen three of our members participating in three international events abroad:

Kim Whitton attended the FORUM ON GLOBAL ANTI TERRORISM during April that was hosted by IPA Macau, China. All costs for the conference was paid by IPA Macau – Kim merely had to pay for her travel costs to Macau and back.

During July, Mondray van Eck who was awarded the 2016 Arthur Troop Scholarship, attended the Seminar “Understanding” Cyber Crime at Gimborn Castle, Germany – A scholarship valued at 2500 EURO.

Also during July we had seen Danielle Harding participate in the International Youth Gathering hosted by the IPA USA.

From feedback and what you will read below, all three members have had a wonderful time and have made new friends for life. It once again proves that there is more than sufficient opportunities for our members to travel abroad and partake in various IPA activities.

What’s Up

2017 International Youth Gathering (IYG)

IPA South Africa will be hosting the 2017 IYG during August next year. The 14 x day program that will stretch from Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Southern Cape and end in Cape Town. I will be presenting the final program at the 2016 International World Congress in New Zealand during October – so please watch out for the formal communication during October.

Revamp of the IPA (SA) Website

Jacques Loots, our Webmaster is in the final stages of revamping our website. Apart from the layout and feel, he has the intent to make it much more interactive. We intend to launch the first phase of the revamped website during the week of 22 August. We hope you will find the new format much more interesting. Feel free to comment and provide inputs directly to Jacques.

International Socio-Cultural Commission (ISCC) Activities

Having been honoured with an appointment to the ISCC during January 2016 for the 2015 to 2019 term and assigned to the portfolio of IPA Houses, I will be attending an ISCC meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria from 25 to 28 August with the intent to discuss the key Commission topics being presented at the New Zealand Congress. Three key aspects on the agenda relate to IPA Houses, rules regarding international travel by IPA members and the third the intention of the IPA to in the very near future organise a formal IPA Games.

IPA Houses

Regarding the IPA Houses, we will following the Congress after the launch of the concept communicate more, but for noting now is that we are compiling information guides of IPA Houses – 1 x for official IPA Houses and Apartments of which there are currently 62 and the second a reference guide of all “Other IPA Accommodation” where IPA members get discounted rates and of which there is over 400 internationally. Going forward there will be a greater focus on increasing our “Other Accommodation” as a benefit for our members. I will in this regard in due course provide more information and call on all members to identify those facilities where we can get some discounted rates.

IPA Games

With sport being one of the key objectives of the IPA, the need to arrange a formal IPA Games is becoming a greater need. This is a wonderful idea and will provide members of Sections across the globe to represent their various Countries in such games – just thinking of how wonderful it will be to have Team IPA (SA) represented at such Games.

IPA (SA) National Council Meeting

The 32nd National Council Meeting of IPA (SA) is to be held in the Wilderness, George from 20 to 23 October 2016. As an elective Council Meeting, 17th National Executive Committee (NEC) will also be elected and per the newly adopted principle that is aligned to that of the International Executive Board (IEB), the term of the new NEC will be for four years – 2016 to 2020.

International Travel

Across all Sections, we find that IPA members traveling abroad are not complying to the rules relating to international travel. Too often Sections find out only after individuals have left that they were in a country, or a day or two before they arrive they suddenly after knowing long before that they will be traveling now require assistance from IPA. The aspect most of concern, relates to foreign IPA members making contact with local friends in a Section, with those local friends then not ensuring that the approved rules are applied. These local friends then request Sections or other Region to assist. IPA Sections all want to assist, but our members need to ensure that the rules are applied. Following the adoption of the Motion in New Zealand, Sections will NOT be required to provide assistance if the International Travel Rules are not fulfilled. To our members – please let us do the right thing and apply the rules correctly.

IPA Growth and Financial Sustainability

Irrespective the fact that the cause of the IPA is sound, ethical and built around the principle of friendship, no Association can sustain itself without having members – and in this regard sufficient members to ensure that it remains financially sustainable in order to provide its members with value for membership. This is a challenge the IPA across the Globe is facing. The question – how do we grow our membership?

Internationally at 31 December 2015, the paid up membership of the IPA stood at 358,001 members (6.1% of a total international police contingent of 5.9m policing officials. IPA (SA) had a paid up membership of 3627 – a mere 1.8% of the SAPS (excluding other services such as the Metro’s, Provincial and Municipal Traffic Officers, Parks Board Officials).

I have stated it at various forums – IPA South Africa can either decide to become an “exclusive club” for a selected few remaining or if we truly believe in the cause can become a well transformed and diverse Association upon which all will look up to, respect and want to become a member of.

As a Non-Profit Organisation, we do have obligations. But more than that, we as the IPA is to create value for those members who join the IPA. Being able to plow back into members and associated activities is directly linked to being financially sustainable at a National and Regional level. With a low member base, the only way to plow back to our members is to INCREASE membership fees. In a challenging economic environment, this by itself will have a huge negative impact on our membership – with an end result of becoming that “exclusive club”, which I for one distance myself from.

The financial sustainability of the IPA is directly linked to growth in membership numbers – this is the only win – win situation. Not only for the IPA but for the individual members themselves.

The challenge has been put to us all at a Committee level – grow IPA (SA) or we will very soon face the brunt of steady stagnation. Project 7000 was thus as a short to medium term launched as an initiative to grow our membership to a level which will be the minimum that we require to really sustain IPA (SA).

This is really achievable. We do however need each member to support this. If each member can just recruit one more by year end, we will easily achieve this target. And remember, the first year of membership for new members is FREE – entice them to join up!!!!

Feel free to comment. Your inputs will be appreciated.

IPA Greetings to each.

H (Vossie) Vos
President
IPA South Africa