By Major General Joseph C. Carter; Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard; Chair; IACP Foundation; and Immediate Past President, IACP

s you begin planning for the 115th Annual IACP Conference in November, make sure your conference schedule includes attendance at the IACP Foundation’s Second Annual Fundraising Gala on Saturday, November 8, at the spectacular Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

This elegant evening reception and dinner has already emerged as one of the premier events during the conference where leaders of national, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies join with dedicated corporate supporters and conference attendees to raise funds as well as awareness of foundation programs and initiatives.

The gala evening will begin with a hosted reception, including a silent auction of exceptional sports and pop culture memorabilia, followed by remarks from the featured guest speaker and concluding with a wonderful plated dinner.

This year, the foundation is thrilled to welcome international best-selling author and “master of the modern police novel” Joseph Wambaugh as the guest speaker for the evening. Mr. Wambaugh has written extensively, in both fiction and nonfiction, about the law enforcement profession in such enduring works as The Choirboys, The Onion Field, and most recently in his new series Hollywood Station and Hollywood Crows. His presence at the foundation gala should be of particular interest to California law enforcement officers, as many of his works are set in Los Angeles and San Diego.

Mr. Wambaugh is the second nationally renowned speaker to take part in foundation activities. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani graciously donated his personal time at last year’s conference in New Orleans to make the foundation’s first large-scale event a tremendous success, raising over $100,000.

Although the entertainment and social aspect of the gala cannot be denied, the real meaning of the event lies in its ability to raise the profile of the IACP Foundation, to highlight its projects and services, and to create an atmosphere where fun and fundraising can truly go hand in hand for a great cause.

Please plan on making the gala part of your San Diego conference experience! Ticket information is available at www.theiacp.org by clicking on the Annual Conference logo—or contact foundation director Patricia Casstevens via e-mail at casstevens@theiacp.org.