Presidents Year End Letter
January 1st, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Deana Carter, and I am your FOP Maricopa Lodge 5 President, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an exceptional year of 2024 for Maricopa Lodge 5. As your president, I am deeply grateful for the support and dedication of all our members. Together, we have accomplished many important initiatives and laid the groundwork for continued success in the future.
During 2024, the lodge needed several key updates, and we’ve made tremendous strides. We drafted new by-laws for the Lodge, increasing membership engagement, initiating committees, recruiting new members, and continuing our efforts to serve both the community and our fellow members.
Accomplishments of the Board:
President Deana Carter (2024 – Present):
President Deana Carter has been instrumental in leading our lodge this year. She has communicated consistently with our lodge’s marketing firm to increase donation efforts, which brought in over $400,000 (excluding service fees) directly benefiting underprivileged children through events such as Back to School, Shop with a Cop, the Star Angel Tree at Luke Air Force Base, and donations for children with mobility disability under 5 requiring electric wheelchairs. She has also ensured there is always order during our monthly membership meetings, giving members a platform to be heard. Additionally, she advocated for members when assistance was requested through the lodge and organized meetings with multiple command staff, including Sheriff Skinner, to improve communication between the lodge and law enforcement agencies. These meetings brought much-needed attention to the dedication and challenges faced by deputies
Vice President Steven Van Meter (2024 – Present):
Vice President Steven Van Meter has been an invaluable support to the board, making sure he is fully aware of the board’s processes and stepping in when necessary, in the absence of the president. He has played a key role in establishing new relationships with various organizations, strengthening the lodge’s network. Steven has also volunteered his services whenever a task was announced, contributing his time and efforts selflessly. He worked alongside President Deana Carter at key donation events during the holidays, such as Shop with a Cop, further demonstrating his commitment to our cause.
Second Vice President Russell Clark (2024 – Present):
Second Vice President Russell Clark has shown a strong drive to learn the duties and protocols of the board. With 28 years as a member of Maricopa Lodge 5, he provides valuable insight into the lodge’s history and continuously offers fresh strategies and out-of-the-box thinking to guide the board forward. Russell is always the first to volunteer at our hosted events, ensuring that the children we serve receive an experience that leaves them smiling. His dedication and leadership have been crucial to our ongoing success.
Secretary Kevin Carr (2021 – Present):
Secretary Kevin Carr has done an exceptional job managing membership records and ensuring all inquiries, whether via our main office line, website, or directly from members, are addressed quickly and professionally. He has been crucial in purging inactive or delinquent members and ensuring that all dues to the Grand Lodge (National) and State Lodge are paid on time. Kevin also ensures that the minutes from every meeting are documented thoroughly and filed for future distribution. His dedication ensures that all members have the resources they need to be informed and engaged.
Treasurer David Grossman (2019 – Present):
Treasurer David Grossman has been instrumental since his appointment in 2019. He worked diligently to bring the lodge’s taxes up to date and in compliance with the IRS and the Grand Lodge, and since then, he has steadily improved the lodge’s financial health. Under his leadership, our dwelling investment account, originally in the negative profit margin, has grown to exceed $50,000 in profits for 2024 alone. David has continued to improve the lodge’s financial structure, cutting unnecessary spending and reorienting resources toward necessary growth. In 2024, he worked tirelessly on drafting new by-laws to replace the current outdated one. His efforts in bringing the lodge into the digital age through the implementation of a new website, an office-like system, and an upcoming member phone app (Spring 2025) have been invaluable. The new by-laws, once modified and approved by the board, will be presented to all members for a vote in spring 2025.
Community Engagement and Partnerships:
Our relationship with Maricopa County Sheriff Skinner has been a strong and positive one. Throughout 2024, he has supported our lodge and worked with the board to address Deputy concerns who are members. As we bid him a happy retirement, we look forward to engaging with the incoming Sheriff to continue advocating for our members.
One of our new initiatives is seeking any active law enforcement member of the lodge who is interested in volunteering to become a liaison for their agency. These liaisons will report directly to the lodge president monthly regarding any concerns members from their agency may have, updates on serious injuries or death of an officer (both on and off duty), and assistance with promoting and providing membership applications to newly hired officers. These monthly reports can be submitted via telephone, email, or in person at a lodge meeting. This initiative will help us stay connected with the needs of our members across different agencies that belong to Maricopa Lodge 5, ensuring that the lodge can respond swiftly and effectively to any concerns.
If you're interested in volunteering as a liaison, please reach out by emailing your interest to president@MaricopaLodge5.com. We need your support to make this effort successful.
Our lodge has also been active in serving the community:
• Hosting multiple Cops and Kids events, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and our youth.
• Donating comfort quilts to agencies who provide them to young children who are removed from their homes or lost.
• Contributing to Wreaths for Fallen Officers and Firefighters to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
• Donation of 12 electric wheelchairs to children from families without insurance or with limited coverage, ensuring they receive the mobility access they need for their children. Additionally, we provided 5 manual wheelchairs for younger teenagers, allowing them to continue using them as they transition into young adulthood.
• In 2024, we made a total of 17 donations which totaled an excess of $155,000, the majority of which were dedicated to supporting children in need and events for fallen officers.
If you have suggestions for future projects or partnerships, we’d love to hear from you. Please email your ideas to info@MaricopaLodge5.com.
Closing Remarks:
As we continue to move forward in 2025, I encourage all members to stay engaged and participate in the activities of the lodge. We need your involvement to continue making a positive impact on both our community and our fellow law enforcement officers. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I look forward to the many more successes we will accomplish in the coming year. Please utilize the attached Member Meeting Calendar in anticipation of attending a meeting or two in 2025.
Fraternally.
President
Fraternal Order of Police
Maricopa Lodge 5
16772 W. Bell Rd
Ste 110-108
Surprise, AZ. 85374
Main: 480.369.7729