Memorial Funds
Dean N. Ray Memorial Scholarship Fund
The fund is established in honor of Dean N. Ray, former Treasurer of SWAFDE. Dean, a retired FBI agent who became a document examiner and university professor, was committed to education and training, which was evident in his many valued years of service to SWAFDE.
The purpose of the Dean N. Ray Memorial Scholarship Fund is to encourage the efforts of Trainee Affiliate and Associate Members by providing monetary assistance for training beyond that available through their trainer or at regularly scheduled national or regional association meetings.
The frequency and amount of scholarship awards, not to exceed $500.00, will be at the discretion of the current Board of Directors.
Application for scholarships should be made in writing to the Board of Directors by the Trainee Affiliate or Associate Member, accompanied by a recommendation from his/her primary trainer.
Funding for the scholarships will primarily come from donations to the Dean N. Ray Memorial Scholarship Fund, but may come from the SWAFDE general account at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Following the completion of the funded training, recipients of scholarship shall report to the SWAFDE membership about the value of the training received. This report shall be made within the next two (2) regularly scheduled meetings of SWAFDE immediately following the training.
The Internal Revenue Service has determined that this Association is tax exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)3, Internal Revenue Service Code. As such, all contributions to the Scholarship Fund are tax deductible.
Melvin H. Cavanaugh, Jr. Memorial Meeting Fund
This fund is established in memory of Melvin H. Cavanaugh, Jr., a long-time document examiner at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and past president of SWAFDE. For many years Mel Cavanaugh arranged and paid for items distributed to meeting attendees that helped foster a sense of inclusion, pride, and community in SWAFDE. These items included pens, cups, pads, notebooks, Adobe Photoshop manuals, and break items. Mel also arranged for plaques and badges, and managed the annual printing of the SWAFDE Membership Directory and Handbook. Without being asked, he generously assumed responsibility for these important meeting details, assisting ever-rotating Meeting Chairs or Presidents. Mel was the first to offer help and the last to accept thanks.
The purpose of this fund is to provide SWAFDE meeting planners with discretionary money for meeting items. These items could include SWAFDE promotional items, items representative of the city in which the meeting is held, events associated with the meeting, or any other item that would promote camaraderie or enhance SWAFDE meetings.
Requests for discretionary funds should be made in writing to the Board of Directors by the Meeting Chair and should include a description of the items to be purchased and the amount of the request. The amount of the award will be at the discretion of the current Board of Directors.
Funding for these awards will primarily come from donations to the Melvin Henry Cavanaugh, Jr. Memorial Meeting Fund, but may come from the SWAFDE general account at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
The Internal Revenue Service has determined that this Association is tax exempt under the provisions of Section 501©3, Internal Revenue Service Code. As such, all contributions to the Meeting Fund are tax deductible.