To all the Brothers and Sisters of Houston Metro F.O.P. Lodge #98,

Having been officially sworn in as the Vice President of this lodge on September 20, 2008, I thought this was a good opportunity to acknowledge the continued hard work of the current Executive Members of our Lodge #98. First and foremost, I wish to echo some of the recent sentiments I have heard and personally felt for the diligent work of our lodge President Robert Lozano. Since the inception of this Lodge #98, Robert has continued to push forward, even when the interest wasn't there to back him up. Most recently he was instrumental in getting a number of shipments delivered for Hurricane IKE relief for any Lodge #98 member wishing to come by Lodge #39.

There have been a number of other (in the scope of current issues) big events that Robert has been instrumental in bringing about some form of resolution. Like the return of the use of the METRO Police bulletin boards for union business, and soon to come the return of automatic draft from your paychecks for union dues.

Other E - Members include the efforts and work of James Cordell in handling the treasury issues related to this Lodge. At each meeting James supplies a detailed run down of all the expenditures related to the lodge.

Enola Hopkins has recently spear headed the weight lost challenge for our Lodge members, with some great prizes in store for the "biggest losers" to borrow a phrase from a TV show.

Roscoe Scott for traveling alone with President Lozano to Corpus Christi to attend the recent State FOP lodge meeting. Roscoe and Robert both brought back some great insight of the inner workings of this greater brotherhood of lodges.

Greg Scheoner, for his continued work on the graphics and up keep of the Houston Metro FOP Lodge #98 web site.

There many more stories and people to thank and I will in future letters. These are just a few of the behind the scene events that most members do not see or even concern themselves with as lodge members.

Please remember this is a fully voluntary operational lodge. The officers acknowledged in this letter work for this lodge only as a personal concern and interest for the betterment of this department and lodge. Try and remember we too have personal lives and everyday issues that need to be attended to just like you, however, these members have stepped forward and at the very least made themselves available if so called upon to do some extra work for this lodge.

They can not do all the work themselves. I ask that you take at least a few hours out of your day once a month, and attend a union meeting. I'm sure you will have a new appreciation for your department and more importantly your lodge after having attend.

Thank you again to all that have contributed currently and recently in the past, for putting forth the effort that has made this a very exciting and up and coming lodge.

Fraternally,

Eliot Swainson