Community Partnership & Engagement 2025 Community Outreach in Springfield was a big success!
Making new community connections and partnerships is our mission!
Following are summary highlights of our goals and accomplishments in 2022. 2022 MOA GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS MOA Goal #1: To be the premier community support organization for the FBI Springfield Division and law enforcement generally. Our mission is to support the Community Outreach mission of the FBI Springfield and facilitate a greater understanding of and working relationship with law enforcement in the community served by the FBI Springfield. To rebuild awareness and communication with our membership through using Wild Apricot, setting up a monthly newsletter for added communication with members, conducting in person meetings with members at various locations of interest and having FBI staff and guests speak on relevant topics. February-April FBI Springfield’s Citizens Academy FBISCAAA Board of Directors and members provided dinner for all Citizens Academy participants at each of its 2022 classes. Our Board of Directors assisted with logistics. June 21-23 FAIT Academy, Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, IL One way to bring awareness about the FBI is through a FAIT Academy where high school juniors and seniors are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cyber-crime, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases. The FBISCAAA supports and assists with logistics, program needs and volunteers.
August 2 National Night Out FBISCAAA Board Members volunteered at three separate National Night Out events educating community members on Safe Online Surfing, Elder Fraud, and the Child ID ap. Two events were held in Springfield, IL at Iles Park and Enos Park. The third event was held in Jacksonville, IL.
August 6 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s Back to School Bash FBISCAAA Board Members volunteered at the Back to School Bash educating community members on Safe Online Surfing, Elder Fraud, and the Child ID ap.
August 27 Bridging the Gap Barbeque, The Outlet The FBISCAAA donated desserts for this event. Our Board of Directors volunteered at the event educating community members on Safe Online Surfing, Elder Fraud, and the Child ID ap.
October 31 Trunk or Treat, The Outlet FBISCAAA Board Members volunteered at this event distributing Halloween candy and educating community members on Safe Online Surfing, Elder Fraud, and the Child ID ap. November 22 Coffee with an Agent FBISCAAA members and the Board of Directors sat around the table and had coffee and conversation with Special Agent Will Henry. December 1 FBISCAAA Annual Meeting FBISCAAA members and Board of Directors joined together at our annual meeting. Our speaker was the Security Supervisor for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chris Palmer. Special Agent in Charge, David Nanz also said a few words. We raised $500 through sponsorships at this event. This was our first year getting community donations for this event. December 17 Annual Strategic Planning Meeting for FBISCAAA 2023 Our FBISCAAA Board of Directors met to strategize. MOA Goal #2: Work with the FBI Springfield Division under the leadership of SAC Nanz in assisting with Community Outreach and other programs outlined below. January, April, July, and October FBI/FBISCAAA Blood Drives In assessing community needs, the FBISCAAA noted that blood drives were needed to ensure that local hospitals in the Division had adequate supplies to serve the area. Three years ago, the FBISCAAA joined forces with the FBI Springfield Division and ImpactLife that serves most of the 84 counties in the Division to conduct frequent blood drives to help serve patients in local hospitals. That humanitarian effort was continued in 2022 with additional blood drives added. February 14 The FBISCAAA’s very own Charlyn Ware made her special recipe chocolate chip cookies, and we sold them by the dozen to FBISCAAA members as a fundraiser. We made $508 to benefit our Chapter’s community outreach. September 15 Leadership Springfield, Chamber of Commerce The Springfield FBI hosted Leadership Springfield, an event for business leaders in the Springfield area. The FBISCAAA sponsored breakfast for all attendees. Our Board of Directors also assisted with logistics. December The FBISCAAA’s very own Charlyn Ware was at it again. She made her special recipe chocolate chip cookies for Pro Form in Springfield, IL and they donated $1000 to benefit our Chapter’s community outreach. December 1 Food and Coat Drive The FBISCAAA collected food and coat donations to benefit The Outlet. The mission of The Outlet is to help young fatherless youth develop the ability to make responsible life decisions, hold spiritual values, explore their gifts, and realize their dreams. https://www.theoutletillinois.org OTHER CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Board of Directors The Board of Directors is responsible for governance oversight and operations of the Chapter and meets (monthly) to plan, organize, and report on progress toward our goals. The Board works closely with the Field Office COS and other FBI personnel to ensure our actions are in alignment with Field Office priorities and continue to build a strong, strategic partnership. The Board of Directors in 2022 included: Tara Matheson, President Pam Frazier, Vice President Suzanne Hogge, Treasurer Angie Muhs, Secretary Cris Lust, Membership Coordinator Jean Winn Patrick Lam Dr. Ronda Sauget Kevin Corbin Charlyn Ware, Past President Lee Milner, non-voting Board Advisor FBI Community Outreach Specialist (COS) Liaison: W Bradley Ware Membership Development In 2022, our Chapter had 83 paid members, an increase of 8 from the previous year. A couple of factors contributed to membership growth in 2022:
Volunteer Hours In 2022, Chapter members volunteered 690 hours to plan, organize, implement, and staff outreach programs. Chapter Recognitions The Chapter received the Excellence in Chapter Operations and Excellence in FBI Advocacy Awards at the 2022 National Leadership Conference in Norfolk, VA. Three members of our Board and our COS were in attendance to accept the awards. Chapter Operations Improvements In 2022, we designed and launched our FBISCAAA website through Wild Apricot. Fundraising As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we rely on donated money to support our ongoing mission. In 2022, we raised 1,508 in cookie sales and $2,360 at our Annual Meeting which includes community donations. Total raised in 2022 is $3,868. SUMMARY Our achievements in 2022 can be attributed to a solid strategic plan developed in partnership with the FBI Field Office, forward thinking Board leadership, engaged members committed to the mission, community partners who support our goals, and the ability of our team to create and adapt to new ways of continuing our work post pandemic. We believe our plan provided a thoughtful roadmap to set direction, define priorities, and focus limited resources on programs to make that happen. Our Board of Directors met with Special Agent in Charge Nanz, and he supports the initiatives outlined by the FBISCAAA. The FBISCAAA is a nonprofit organization separate and apart from the FBI. SUBMITTED BY Name: Tara Matheson Board Position: President Chapter: Springfield, IL Contact Email: tmatheson@impactlife.org |
FBI Springfield Citizens Academy Alumni Association
2021 Annual Highlights
This year again had its difficulties with Covid-19 running like a roller-coaster with many ups and downs during 2021. The FBISCAAA was able to adapt to these challenges with virtual gatherings and in-person events when safety could be assured.
Continuing to Save Lives with The FBI Springfield Division
In assessing community needs, the FBISCAAA noted that blood drives were needed to assure that local hospitals in the Division had adequate supplies to serve the area. Two years ago, the FBISCAAA joined forces with the FBI Springfield Division and the Community Blood Center that serves most of the 84 counties in the Division to conduct frequent blood drives to help serve patients in local hospitals. That humanitarian effort was continued in 2021 with additional blood drives added. These blood drives were especially helpful since many businesses that normally held blood drives had reduced activity and many employees were working at home.
Since each blood donation can save up to three lives, these blood drives provided the life-giving resources to help a large number of area residents. Very importantly, these blood drives helped keep ready-to-use blood on the shelves to instantly aid patient needs. Blood has to be tested before it can be transfused to patients, so the only blood that can help in times of great need is that which is on the shelf, tested and ready to use. This was dramatically demonstrated in December when a devastating tornado caused immense destruction, injured and killed several in the southern part of the Springfield Division. Due to the efforts of these blood drives and others in the area, community blood center Impact Life was able to dispatch blood supplies to aid the injured. The FBISCAAA is very grateful to blood donors and to our partners, the FBI Springfield Division and Impact Life, for helping to save lives within the Division. The FBISCAAA is committed to continuing this life-saving partnership and is encouraging all Chapters to emulate this life-saving activity.