Dear Fellow Professionals

At this time, we believe we have a great combination of personalities and investigators who have joined together as one team to direct and manage PICA. Other PICA members have provided their support by way of ideas, money, and countless hours of donated time. Although they are not members of the board, their participation and contributions will be remembered and are greatly appreciated.

The current PICA Board Members are as follows:

All of the Board Members are actively involved in operating and managing their own private investigative business. Their backgrounds are varied. Some have been in the private investigative business over 35 years. Some have law enforcement backgrounds and others have private sector backgrounds.

Their investigative specialties are diverse. They span the spectrum of the investigative field and include insurance defense, criminal defense, trial preparation, surveillance, workers compensation, workplace investigations, and personal injury investigations.

The Founding of PICA:

PICA was founded based on the premise that Private Investigators are professionals and an integral part of the legal profession. The recognition of this fact by society and elected officials is paramount to our interests as Private Investigators. While other associations have made attempts to enhance our image, we feel more can be done to bring to the public, as well as our legislatures’ attention, the numerous benefits we, as a professionals, provide. It is imperative for PICA to work enthusiastically to promote the Private Investigator and his profession. PICA is currently undergoing an aggressive recruitment drive. Our goal is to make Pica’s existence known to all licensed Private Investigators in the State of California. Heretofore, the choices have been limited. PICA is not yet the largest California Private Investigator Association but the dedication to our members and the profession to which we belong, we believe, will soon swell the ranks and provide licensed Private Investigators the voice and dignity our profession deserves. As noted above, we have recently mailed thousands of letters to licensed Private Investigators in this State romoting PICA along with one of our application forms. We know that all PICA Members are aware that Pica’s budget is limited and that every cent that comes in through member dues and/or donations are fully accounted.

PICA Bylaws:

We believe that the PICA Bylaws provide a new perspective on how an association, created by and for the Professional Investigator, will be operated democratically.

At this time, we believe that the following key points make us different, stronger and more effective than any other California Private Investigative Association:

1. Membership input and consideration prior to any major endeavor or political undertaking.

We will continue to strive to be more democratic in obtaining consensus from the membership before undertaking any major endeavor or supporting any political legislative initiative. The membership will be consulted and asked to comment on any state or federal legislation prior to Pica’s support of that legislation.

2. Annual Business Meeting.

Another example of membership consultation concerns the location and content of the Annual Business Meeting. We believe the membership should be afforded the opportunity to suggest and comment upon where the meeting will be held and the seminar topics that are of interest.

3. Term Limits.

No member of the PICA Board of Directors may serve more than two consecutive terms. After serving two consecutive terms on the board, the member would not be eligible for reelection until following a one year period of absence from the board. Why? PICA believes in constantly bringing in “new blood” to the board as opposed to creating gerontocracy that becomes bogged down with favoritism and inertia.
There are no "lifetime" positions in PICA.

4. PICA Listserv.

The PICA Listserv was established and created so that every member will have the opportunity to contribute ideas, websites and sources as well as solicit and advertise for business. The PICA Listserv is available for all members that may have a question or concern concerning the association. It is a forum in which the members can express their opinion, professionally, without the fear of reprisals or suspension from the listserv. It should be noted, however, that profanity, vulgarity and “flaming” is not welcome.

5. Annual Dues.

Our annual dues are only $129.00 for all classes of membership.

Summary.

It is our desire that the information referenced above has provided you insight into the thoughts and desires of the PICA Board and the direction we plan on taking as an association. We expect and encourage PICA Members to express their opinions and share their ideas in an effort to help PICA grow and to move forward. Together, as Professional Private Investigators, we are becoming a loud and powerful voice that will be heard and respected Statewide.