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‘Cruise of a lifetime’ with IPA
by Danette Dooley
The International Police Association Atlantic Region is inviting law enforcement personnel from around the world on a cruise to Bermuda next year.
Touted by organizers as “a cruise of a lifetime aboard the Celebrity Summit,” the ship sets sail from New Jersey May 21, 2017.
“Bermuda Bound” celebrates the IPA Atlantic Region’s 10th Anniversary and will be preceded by time touring the Big Apple with the assistance of the NYPD and local members.
The national executive committee voted to hold the 2017 IPA Canada AGM on board the ship. The decision will be confirmed in May at the National AGM.
The cruise will be included on the list of International IPA friendship weeks and is expected to draw more than 200 members. It will be an opportunity to spend time with comrades, make new friends and relax onboard the luxury cruise liner.
British police officer Arthur Troop founded IPA in 1950.
“His dream was to create bonds of friendship between police organizations across the world,” IPA National President Denis Nadeau said during a recent phone interview.
Rev. Charles Wright, who passed away peacefully January 20 at age 90, founded the Canadian section of the organization in 1961. Wright retired from the national executive for health reasons in 2015, Nadeau said.
“He will be missed as he was not only the founder of our section… but stayed active since and was a good friend, a wise man with a good sense of humour. A good friend of Arthur Troop, Charles was also responsible for bringing IPA to the USA,” Nadeau noted.
There are 15 IPA regions in Canada and more than 420,000 members in 66 countries around the world (sections).
“IPA has four official languages: English, French, Spanish and German. We abide by the Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948),” Nadeau said.
IPA Atlantic has more than 250 members and is inviting other active and retired law enforcement personnel to join.
“Members belong to the largest, organized, friendship-based police organization in the world,” Nadeau said.
The IPA goals are the same in all countries – to promote cultural, social and recreational activities among members.
The association offers scholarships to serving members, local and foreign social events, cultural exchanges, youth activities and travel opportunities. Non-profit, it is a great resource for not only members but also their families, said Nadeau.
“We want to link police who travel… and we have a program for kids similar to that of the Rotary Club. And we have an international youth gathering for kids from 15-17. They can be kids of members or grandkids of members.”
The 2016 international event for youth will be held in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to connecting members with contacts around the world, the association also offers travel assistance to other countries and IPA houses in various countries.
“These houses or flats are owned by the IPA for the benefit of travelling members. These are very cheap places to stay. We also have police friendly hotels and in different places there is a reduction (in hotel rates) for IPA members.”
IPA members looking to stay in an association house or seeking any other type of help from a member can submit a travel claim to their respective region, which in turn is routed through the national travel officer.
Available services range from simple things like meeting police officers and being picked up at the airport to help with finding appropriate accommodations.
“It could be as simple as wanting them to know that your daughter is going to university in Brisbane, Australia and you’d like to have a name of an officer there in case something happens to her,” Nadeau said.
Nadeau summed up in a nutshell what IPA means to its members.
“It’s an international network of friendship,” he said.
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Visit www.ipacanada.ca for more on IPA Canada or www.ipaatlantic.ca for more information on the cruise.
dooley@blueline.ca
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