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March 2026 Newsletter
President's Report
Despite the glitches everyone experienced this year with renewals, we have done very well. In our tier of 11 medium-sized chapters, we had the second-highest renewal rate (93%) among our 2025 members! After this discussion, chapter officers in attendance took up a phone-a-thon project that added several more members to our renewal rate. We are now at 95% or better in renewals. Kudos to Matt Kellogg, 275th, for his good work as the chapter’s Membership Coordinator!
At the annual chapter officers’ meeting at Quantico, one night is set aside for a session dinner, where the officers take to dinner the members of their chapter who are in the current session. Our group in the 297th are Anthony Escalante, Kalven Thorne, Steve LaRow, and Matt Young. They graduate March 18th, and they raved about their experience in the National Academy. No question they will be enthusiastic participants in the chapter when they get home!
Please note that in the email of this newsletter are proposed changes to the chapter By-laws. The by-laws require distribution and discussion, before a vote is called to accept or reject the changes at the fall business meeting.
Welcome New Members
As you may know, NA coordinator Rob Gunderson has left KC for a six-month temporary assignment at Quantico. When it is finished, he will return home and retire from the Bureau. Rob was scheduled to attend the NA as a counselor, but Covid cancelled his session. He has expressed a strong desire to remain involved with the group, so the chapter board nominated him for a special FBI membership in the National Academy Associates. The NAA Executive Board recently approved that nomination, so Rob is now a member of the national organization and our chapter. Welcome, Rob!!
The chapter board recently hosted the traditional orientation lunch for candidates attending the next NA session. The 298th session begins April 10; our group includes Don Shepard, Peculiar, MO PD; Matt Seichepine, Shawnee, KS PD; Edward Ochs, Garden City, KS PD; Mike Papasifakis, U of Central Missouri PD; and a military bonus in Blake Talley, USAF Security Forces, McConnell AFB. Congratulations on your acceptance, and we know you’ll have a really great experience at Quantico!!
Calendar of Events
Planning for the spring conference is progressing well, and registration is now open. About 45 have now signed up.
We will once again be at the Bluemont Hotel in Manhattan. The format will be largely unchanged, but Tuesday evening’s welcome dinner will be at the hotel rather than offsite, and we will include a training session on Friday morning.
To register, use the chapter website https://fbinaakswmo.org
General Newsletter
If you missed the recent KC relaxer, you also missed the opportunity to meet our new NA coordinator. SA Laura Ferguson has assumed the role, and once again, we have a great person! She is a 20-year Bureau veteran and an Illinois native. Her most recent assignment was a ten-year investigation into human trafficking. Laura also serves as a Team Leader on the Evidence Response Team.
We’re sure you’re aware that our most recent training tech (TLCS) Brittany Briggs is in New Agent training. Brittany will graduate this week – March 20th – and return to KC to work in the Violent Crime Squad. Congratulations, Britt; we look forward to having you back, helping to keep our community safe!
