CIN FORUM

Ladies and gentlemen,

I hope you will excuse my absence for the past couple of months. I have been intentionally lazy in Spain, to avoid the Ottawa winter while simultaneously teaching an online course and organizing Canada's largest intelligence conference (CANIC 2023, see https://www.cmia-acrm.ca/page/canadian-intelligence-conference-canic-2023). I'm back and eager to pick up the pace again.

You will recall my 2022 end-year report to you that included a number of thoughts on the way ahead. We used 2022 to get 'the feel' for the intelligence landscape in which we hope to play. There are some positive opportunities coming up, but I need your participation to provide momentum.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

First, we have avoided collecting membership fees from anyone in 2022, to encourage membership. We now have a membership list and separately, I'll asking the Board of Directors to approve recent applications. However, it is now time to bite the bullet, and we now need to insist on paying for CIN/RCR membership as of May 2023, including current members - like us.

Membership can be applied and paid for online. It is also available now, if you wish to sign up before May.

Those not signed up by the end of May will have their membership terminated and their access to the CIN/RCR website removed.

AGM

We need to have an AGM in April or May. I suggest one in late April, but will send you preliminary information on that separately.

AFFILIATE ASSOCIATIONS

One of our initial ideas was to establish supportive affiliations with other intelligence-interested associations and entities, like CASIS, CMIA and AFCEA. We've done nothing in that regard, but I intend to pursue the idea in the weeks ahead.

With the help of Rob Mendoza, I have also made contact with Hugh Henry, who is now the Privy Council Office (PCO) Outreach & Communication Lead for the Intelligence Analyst Community of Practice. He proposed the idea of having a government representative (like him) on our Board of Directors. This would give us another helpful link to professional intelligence practitioners. Hugh and I will meet again in the next week or two to discuss what might be beneficial to both of our organizations.

TAX RETURN

I am currently completing our corporate tax return and have the details reviewed by Todd Mitton. Like last year, our income does not rise to the level of having to pay any taxes, or that rates any government concern.

CIN/RCR WEBSITE

Now that I'm back home and ready to work, I'll be updating and augmenting information on our website. I encourage all members to add content they think would be of interest, particularly in fields of law enforcement, competitive intelligence, courses, publications, or events. It would be greatly appreciated if those of you who teach courses could send your course syllabus along, for posting on this website.

VIRTUAL INTELLIGENCE COFFEE SHOP (VICS)

I hope to hold another VICS in the next few weeks. I ask for your suggestions about a topic on which to focus discussion. My own suggestions are to review intelligence aspects of the Public Order Emergency Commission Report, or any one of the latest NSIRA or NSICOP reports.

OTTAWA INTELLIGENCE DINNER CLUB (OIDC)

For those living in Ottawa, or visiting at the time, I also intend to convene another OIDC event in late March or early April. Let me know if any of you (beyond John and me) will be in Ottawa around then and we can arrange our timing to catch you.

As always, please let me know your thoughts on any or all of this.

Best regards,

Jim

James S. Cox PhDBrigadier-General (Retired) Chair, Board of Directors / Président, Conseil d'administration Canadian Intelligence Network / Réseau canadien de renseignement www.canintnet.ca info.canintnet@gmail.com