Welcome to the Florida Association of Private Investigators

 

A Letter from Harvey Morse:

 

Dear FAPI Members:

Now is THE time to heal the industry, unite, and be proud of our efforts.  It is how we accept the victory that will judge us in the eyes and opinions of many with whom we will need to work in the future.

We worked hard, mustered our forces, and most of all, we were simply lucky! Anything could have happened up to the very last second, but lady luck was on our side this time. This battle will live on to be fought again. Next session, FAPI members shall be the ones who put forth legislation to enhance our industry, not divide it. Compromise will be necessary, but that is the political way of life. We need to be mindful that we fought a very tough battle with some awesome and hard-hitting opponents who were well funded and politically savvy.

I really don’t know where to begin, but upon reflection, let me start by saying there are lessons for us to learn:

• FALI should have polled its members and listened for member input before it became involved with the filing of this Bill for the 4th time.
• FALI should never have proffered self-serving legislation that was unfair to the industry and those new people wishing to become part of this industry.
• FALI should have asked its members for approval prior to committing $20,000 (or more) to pursue paid lobbyists.
• FALI should have allowed opposing views to have been published.
• FALI’s Board should have not suppressed its Board members comments through a spokesperson, especially one who was undiplomatic and inflammatory.
• FALI’s Board should have been far more respectful and professional in its communications with our members.
• FALI’s lobbyists should have, at a minimum, communicated with our members as promised, and not ignored us.
• FALI should not have espoused endorsements and support that were not yet in-hand, nor spoken on behalf of the Division.
• FALI should never have changed its “members only” discussion egroup forum, to a password protected program for a select few and then denied access to some, based upon imaginary technical issues.

However, had FALI not done these things and more, then what is soon to become  the largest and most respected private investigative agency in this state (FAPI) would never have been formed. For that, they have their leadership to fault and we have our fast growing membership to thank!

We were a simple grass roots effort on an intensive mission. Do any of us need to pay $125 a year for dues to be a member of a statewide organization? Do any of us need to pay for an FCI designation to a controlled group that doesn’t support its Chairman? Do we need the fancy newsletter? Do we need expensive conventions that are minimally attended and not cost-effective? Or, do we simply want to be part of a statewide organization that will benefit each of us professionally, educationally and financially. FAPI extends an invitation to Florida licensees to unite and join us! (Details at: www.myfapi.org ).

Let me share that I have been in this industry since licensing began in this state, and prior to that, in Massachusetts. I have been the President of many investigative organizations and Chairman of ASIS in Orlando, and on national committees. I served on Florida’s Private Security Advisory Council for 10 years (elected Chairman 8 years), under some great Directors that most of you have never heard of: Don Hazelton, Dave Register, Shelly Bradshaw, and John Russi to name a few.

We are truly fortunate to have Buddy Bevis as our current Director. Buddy could not be any nicer, any more down to earth, any more caring or a greater advocate if he wanted to be. To that end, I applaud the Past Directors and thank Commissioner Bronson for his selection, and to John Russi for his mentoring, friendship and support of Buddy.

Lastly, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to each and every one of you who took part in this process, who took the blows, who traveled to Tallahassee, who wrote letters and made phone calls, who sent emails, and who spoke out in opposition to HB 363.

If I were to name each one of you, I would have to mention about 400 people. You know who you are, and so do I. However, in closing, I would be remiss if I did not single out my nephew Ari Morse. Ari designed our website, designed our logo, fielded calls and emails, went to Tallahassee, attended meetings, spoke before the Senate Committee, met legislators face to face in their offices and did so much for this endeavor. He worked daily and tirelessly until late hours and was back in the office at 7:00AM to do it all over again. 

Although he and I work together every day, I cannot express my appreciation for his efforts to help establish the FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, INC. (FAPI). (I am just a little ticked off at his boss for giving him so much time to have done this!)

THANK YOU, one and all!  I look forward to meeting you on June 16th at our formal organizational meeting, and shaking your hands.

Florida Association of Private Investigators, Inc.

Harvey E. Morse
President
(Soon to be Past-President!)

 

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Florida Association of Private Investigators, Inc.
"The voice of the Professional Investigator"