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2010-04-30T14:33:00.001-07:00

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Spring 2010 Quarterly Meeting ...

2010-03-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars ... the Spring 2010 Quarterly Meeting of the SF FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association is Wednesday / May 26th ... hosted by the FAME Charter School in Fremont, CA

MORE INFO ...

FBI-SOS

2010-03-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

At the request of the SF FBI the San Francisco FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association will be working to provide outreach and program support for the FBI-SOS initiative.

The FBI-SOS Internet Challenge is an internet safety program designed to help students recognize potential dangers associated with the internet, email, chat rooms and social networking sites. The program addresses and defines topics serious in nature such as seduction, child pornography, solicitation, exploitation, obscenity and online predators. Students take web-based quizzes and review specific web sites aimed at promoting online safety.

Developed in cooperation with the FBI Crimes Against Children Unit at the Miami FBI Office, the program is administered by the Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation. More info about FBI-SOS ...

CONGRATULATIONS to the Ascencion Solorsano Middle School in Gilroy, CA for winning the FBI-SOS monthly competition ...

Winter 2010 Quarterly Meeting

2010-01-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

When: Wednesday / February 24th / Starts at 6PM, adjourns at 8PM

Where: Hosted by Yahho! in Sunnyvale, CA

What: Recent events and the FBI Counter Terrorism Program.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO...

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FBI Code Breaking Contest...

2009-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

The FBI has posted its annual code-breaking challenge on its Web site; this is the longest code-breaking challenge to date; the FBI says that the code-breaking task is similar to work being done in its labs

The agency explains that unraveling the code and reveal its secret message is similar to the work of "cryptanalysts" being done in the FBI Laboratory. In the latest quiz, the agency switched gears a bit, using pictogram symbols based on Native American motifs. With more than fifty words to decipher, it is the FBI's longest code-breaking challenge so far. MORE INFO

Spring 2010 SF FBI Citizens' Academy Class

2009-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

The Spring 2010 SF FBI Citizens' Academy class will begin on April 1, 2010 and end on May 15, 2010. Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline for all submission is Friday, February 5, 2010.

For more info and to apply, contact:

Shirley Deacon
Community Outreach Specialist, SF FBI
shirley.deacon@ic.fbi.gov

Old Skool Café Receives 2009 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

2009-12-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Douglas, the Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation presented the 2009 Director’s Community Leadership Award to Old Skool Café, a non profit organization dedicated to helping neighborhood youth avoid gangs, drugs, and crime through mentoring and apprenticeship. The annual award recognizes individuals and organizations that take extraordinary steps in the area of drug and violence education and prevention. READ MORE

Charter school starts Junior Agent Program

2009-11-04T09:07:00.001-08:00

The San Francisco FBI is working with the Fremont based FAME charter school on a "junior agent" program. This effort is a perfect example of the value of the FBI's Citizens' Academy program. Maram Alaiwat the school's founder and director is also a graduate of the SF FBI Citizens' Academy and a member of the SF FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association. Maram approached the SF FBI to organize the "junior agent" program. The FAME program with the SF FBI is the first "Junior Agent Program" in the bay area in over a decade.

As part of the program fifth graders from FAME’s Fremont campus will participate in a four month long educational program consisting of classroom instruction by FBI staff and a field trip to the FBI office in San Francisco. The Junior Special Agent program, a part of the FBI’s larger Adopt-a-School initiative, will follow a specialized curriculum developed by the FBI to help students cultivate the tools to successfully deal with the increasingly complex challenges they face every day.

FAME Press Release ...
San Jose Mercury News article...

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Quarterly Meeting ...

2009-10-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Our Fall 2009 Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening / Nov 18th at the SF FBI office in San Francisco ... the SF FBI will be updating the SF FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association on the FBI's Crimes Against Children program.

MORE INFO...

Thanks to CHEVRON for hosting the Summer 2009 Quarterly Meeting of the San Francisco FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association ...

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FBI Director speaks in San Francisco at the Common Wealth Club

2009-10-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

FBI Director Robert Mueller recently addressed an afternoon crowd at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco to discuss the threat of cyber terrorism and the ways in which his department is combating the rapidly growing cyber-epidemic.

Director Mueller's remarks

FBI & the dead ducks ...

2009-09-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

During the Summer of 2008 ducks at the reflecting pond by the U.S. capital began dying. On a really hot day after some people also had to be treated and more ducks were observed dying the U.S. Park Service became concerned that there might be a bio-terror attack underway. The FBI Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Sciences Unit, or CBRNSU for short, was called in to investigate.

It was determined that the ducks were dying from avian botulism a "naturally recurring event" during the hot summer months and the people sufferred from heat and humidity ...

The FBI web site has a good article on the CBRNSU, MORE INFO ...

For more info on the ducks, CLICK ...

FBI Processes 600 Billion Fingerprints Per Day

2009-07-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

The FBI’s multi-billion dollar, two football-field-sized Criminal Justice Information Services building in Clarksburg , WV stores roughly 60 million sets of fingerprints and helps law enforcement track everyone from Al Qaeda terrorists to the alleged Craigslist killer. READ MORE

FBI CJIS

Open for Business!

2009-07-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

On July 3, 2009 the San Francisco FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) corporation!

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Membership I would like to acknowledge the pro-bono support provided by Cooley, Godward, Kronish.

With this completed the chapter can now join the FBI National Citizens' Academy Alumni Association and once again working with Cooley, Godward, Kronish begin preparation of the IRS Application for Recognition of Exemption.

Copies of our corporate Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation are posted on the chapters members only Google Group site.

Tour the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation "Museum"

2009-05-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to SF FBI SA Randy Cook the SF FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association chapter has an opportunity to tour the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation "Museum" in Portola Valley. Randy will also host the tour group for a post tour BBQ at his house which is located nearby. The museum requests a $20 donation and we will ask those attending the BBQ at Randy's house to support the activity.

Wednesday / June 10, 2009
10AM - Noon ...
Portola Valley, CA

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!
Limited to first 45 to sign-up ...
Guests welcome, each person attending much register separately ...
For more info and to register, click here ...

FBI planning a bigger role in international terrorism investigations

2009-05-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

At the Chapter's May 27th Spring 2009 Quarterly meeting FBI SA Steven Merrill gave a great and timely presentation on his recent assignment as the Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) in New Delhi, India. SA Merrill was the first U.S. representative on the scene at the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

Recent reports say the FBI and Justice Department plan to significantly expand their role in global counter-terrorism operations, part of a U.S. policy shift that will replace a CIA-dominated system of clandestine detentions and interrogations with one built around transparent investigations and prosecutions.

Under the "global justice" initiative, which has been in the works for several months, FBI agents will have a central role in overseas counter-terrorism cases. They will expand their questioning of suspects and evidence-gathering to try to ensure that criminal prosecutions are an option, officials familiar with the effort said. READ MORE

Spring 2009 Quarterly Chapter Meeting ...

2009-05-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Spring 2009 Quarterly Meeting of the SF FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association is Wednesday / May 27, 2009.

Where: Tarragon restaurant, 140 South Murphy downtown Sunnyvale, CA . Plenty of free parking and only a short walk from the Sunnyvale Caltrain station.

When: Registration, networking and catered buffet dinner starts at 6PM, the meeting starts at 6:30PM and adjourns at 8PM.

What: We have an outstanding and timely guest speaker from the FBI, Special Agent Steven Merrill. SA Merrill was assigned as the Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) in New Delhi, India at the time of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

RSVPs are requested. For more info and to RSVP, Click here...

Congratulations SF FBI Citizens' Academy Class #6

2009-05-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

The 6th Class of the San Francisco FBI Citizens' Academy graduated on May 16th ... we are looking forward to this class joining the SF FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association and joining us at out Spring 2009 Quarterly meeting ... the next class will be starting up in the Fall'2009 ...

The next SF FBI Citizens' Academy class is currently scheduled to start on October 1, 2009. If you are interested in attending talk to a past graduate or the SF FBI Citizens' Academy coordinator.

Guide To Preparing for Pandemic Flu

2009-04-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

"Your Guide To Preparing for Pandemic Flu", prepared by the Santa Clara County Health Department... DOWNLOAD (.pdf)

The evolving H1/N1Swine Flu situation is serious and it is important for everybody to be prepared, however it is also important to keep things in perspective ..."Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes." Source - Center for Disease Control (CDC)

WANTED For Domestic Terrorism - Daniel Andreas San Diego

2009-04-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

The FBI has placed Daniel Andreas San Diego, an animal rights extremist wanted for allegedly bombing two San Francisco-area office buildings in 2003 to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list--the first domestic terrorist to be included with international terrorists such as Usama Bin Laden.

More Info on the August 2003 bombing at Chiron, Corp in Emmeryville, CA. Click here...

More info on the October 2003 bombing at the offices of Shaklee Inc. in Pleasanton, CA. Click here...

FBI Press release...

Stephanie Douglas Named Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Francisco Division

2009-04-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Douglas has been named Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s San Francisco Division. Director Robert S. Mueller, III appointed her to this position to replace SAC Charlene B. Thornton, who was recently named SAC of the FBI’s Honolulu Division. Most recently, Ms. Douglas served as a Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters. FBI Press Release

SAC Stephanie Douglas has been with the FBI since 1989 and was acting special agent in charge of the San Francisco division for two months in late 2006. During that time, she oversaw investigations, including a crackdown on drug traffickers in north Richmond that resulted in seven arrests and an investigation that led to the conviction of a Walnut Creek chief executive officer for defrauding investors out of $1.5 million. READ MORE on SFGATE

San Francisco FBI Citizens Academy Class Starts Today...

2009-04-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

The 6th Class of the San Francisco FBI Citizens Academy starts today - April 2, 2009.

The curriculum includes ...

* Structure and operation of FBI field offices and satellite agencies.
* FBI jurisdiction and congressional oversight.
* Practical problems involving evidence collection and preservation.
* Fingerprint, forensic, technology, training, and other services
* Policies and issues: ethics, discipline, communications, drug enforcement, civil rights, and future criminal trends.

UPDATE: FBI priorities, changes, and challenges

2009-03-26T19:11:00.001-07:00

In recent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, FBI Director Mueller discussed FBI mission priorities, changes and challenges. Director Mueller's Testimony

Richmond BUILD Receives FBI 2008 Director’s Community Leadership Award

2009-03-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

The City of Richmond BUILD Pre-apprenticeship Construction Skills & Solar Installation Training program has received a FBI 2008 Director’s Community Leadership Award. The award first announced in December 2008, was presented to BUILD by FBI Director Mueller on March 20, 2008. The annual FBI award recognizes individuals and organizations that take extraordinary steps in the area of drug and violence education and prevention.

Great Meeting!

2009-02-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association had a great kick-off meeting on Tuesday / Feb 24th.

We would like to thank all who took the time and made the effort to attend.

A special THANK YOU to SRI International for hosting the meeting at their Menlo Park corporate HQ. Another THANK YOU to FBI SA-Ret. Sylvia Marusarz for a great presentation on Economic Espionage issues.

Our members who could not attend can find copies of the presentations from the meeting and a few photos on the chapter's GOOGLE Group site.

The Changing Landscape of Terrorism

2009-02-24T16:19:00.000-08:00

FBI Director Mueller discussed the changing landscape of terrorism at the February 23, 2009 meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations. MORE INFO

To watch Director Mueller's presentation, click here...