PBA Convention in Arizona
promises full itinerary to educate
Locals and members
September 13-20
NJ State PBA 2016 Annual Convention
Arizona Grand Resort
8000 Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix
Info: Convention Coordinator Debbie Perestuk
732-636-8860
■ BY JOSHUA SIGMUND
What happened in Vegas certainly didn’t stay there.
It was at the 2015 NJ State PBA Main Convention that news of the
new PBA trailer that debuted in June broke; it was there that members
revved up for the monumental second PBA Day in Trenton; and it was
there that such special guest speakers as the retired NYPD Detective
and One Tough Cop author Bo Dietl, the injured and inspiring Portland
officer Paul Meyer spoke and the Las Vegas Police Protective
Association general counsel duo engaged and enlightened NJ State
PBA members, expanding New Jersey law enforcement officers’ view
of the greater Thin Blue Line.
This year, ahead of the fast-approaching 2016 Main Convention taking place at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix Sept. 13-20, NJ State
PBA President Pat Colligan offered a few more reasons to get excited.
“We have Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Maricopa County, Arizona, scheduled to speak. Google him,” Colligan encouraged. Well, as a teaser, the
“toughest sheriff in America” is known for making his inmates wear
pink underwear and replying to a court order that mandates him to
allow them to watch TV by giving them the thrilling C-SPAN to enjoy.
Portland, Oregon officer Paul Meyer highlighted the 2015 NJ State PBA
Convention with his story that truly inspired members.
Colligan even reached out to Saturday Night Live’s Bobby Moynihan to come to Phoenix and do his Chris Christie impression to lighten up the agenda and make it even more memorable. This
exemplifies the effort the PBA has become noted for during the past
two years in planning conventions that provide scintillating and
action-packed agendas for the week.
“We put a lot of work into these conventions. They have been full
of information and full of utility you can take back to help run your
Local,” Colligan attested. “One of the things I tout is that you have the
opportunity to sit and talk to other Locals about how they do
fundraising or see how they handle grievances or see how they develop relationships with the city council.”
Convention 2016 will provide an opportunity to discuss stretching
your Local’s budget during the seventh-inning stretch of the Arizona
Diamondbacks-L.A. Dodgers game on Sept. 16, which is one of the
events planned. That will be part of an unprecedented weekend that
also includes a trip to the Arizona Cardinals-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
game on Sept. 18, complete with tailgate party.
“We got lucky with both major league teams being out there, so
you have the chance to be on a bus with people or tailgate with people you wouldn’t normally hang around with,” Colligan added.
“Some of the best friends I have made in this business I made sitting
around a breakfast table at a convention.”
And if you’re a part of the new wave of State Delegates, grab some
bacon and eggs and make some new friends while picking up some
tips to bring back to your Local.
“The turnover of State Delegates has been massive,” Colligan
noted. “I hate to say ‘elder statesmen,’ but we need to pass that information on. So the convention can kind of be like that family reunion
where you get a chance to talk to the grandparents.”
The convention, as always, serves as an environment to learn and
review what has been going on in the state and what the State PBA
has been focusing on the past several months.
“Issues like pension battles to COLA to information regarding the
potential for PFRS to be run by the public safety unions and not the
state, as well as our legislative strategy,” lists Convention Committee
Chair Peter Andreyev. “Our priorities are for our members’ benefits;
to have our members taken care of.”
Registration has been extended beyond the July 8 deadline, so it’s
not too late to call the State PBA office for more information and to
book your trip. All convention attendees should book through the NJ