Safeguarding your right to vote! By CEO Richard A. "Rich" Woldt

While I can't guarantee your safety or success, I can help reduce your losses no mater what your political stance or future holds in store. While we may not agree politically, I assure you we're on the same side when it come to defending our mutual right to fight for our respective cause no matter how diverse our opinions might be.

As the RMLC approaches the end of our first decade developing RM tools for the private sector, I find it ironic that if we're to effectively manage risk created when we step into the political arena we'd better have at least a basic understanding of how to manage our homeland security, natural disaster, pandemic, environmental health, and liability risks not to mention our basic property and casualty risks.  Why? Because many of your political decisions will ultimately impact the safety and security of your community. 

Following are highlights and recommendations developed during the protests in Wisconsin between November 2010 and my birthday April 21, 2011. As a registered Republican who campaigned hard for Governor Walker, I found myself frequently in the cross hairs of my fellow union members and it turned out hired thugs bused in from out of state to intimidate anyone who even remotely disagreed with their ideology. Much of the hostility and violence during the protests and Tea Party rally can be found in the "deep throat" section of our RM library along with links to death threats and acts of fraud and dishonesty.

Midterm Election Risks: If you came here to learn for whom to vote on April 5, you're at the wrong site. If your here to learn how to make it safely from your couch to the polls and back, I can help. (1) Make up your mind before you leave home based on your facts not on your fears. (2) Grab a handful of aspirins in case your heart gives out and head for the polls. (3) When you arrive at the polls give a high-sign to all in the parking lot and smile at everyone standing in line to vote. That'll convince them you're on their side. (4) As you pull the curtain, snort a little, gasp once or twice, and laugh. That'll confuse anyone within ear-shot. (5) Vote for the candidates you feel will act in your best interest. (6) Exit the booth with a smile, the building with a grin, and the parking lot with a blast of your horn. Go home and celebrate, you just experienced the freedom to choose your own destiny.

My goal is not to tell you for whom to vote. My mission is to give you the confidence to think for yourself and the courage to exercise your constitutional right to vote without intimidation. At the end of the day, remember, we're a "Home Rule" nation which means it is your right and duty to rule your home as you see fit. That means carrying concealed if you want, putting Christ into Christmas if you choose, and sending your kids to schools more focused on teaching your family values than how to place condoms on cucumbers.  It's your call, it's your duty, and it's your right! Our country is heading for an economic crisis. Thank God for those who are trying to slow it down.

Unions in Wisconsin have sent letters to businesses threatening them if they don't post signs in their windows supporting protestors. Their threats have become increasing more violent. (learn more)! A Wisconsin women has been arrested and charged for making death threats to state senator. (learn more)!

As we approach the midterm elections, union leaders are organizing pickets and protests at select polling locations on April 5. Their stated goal is to discourage anyone from voting to re-elect Judge Prosser! Their stated candidate of choice has vowed to do what she can to stop the budget bill (specifically school choice), vote against concealed carry, and challenge voter ID legislation. She's also refused to pull a false add even though it was brought to her attention during a recent debate (learn more). Add to these threats the 22  caliber shells found on the Capitol Square during the Isthmus protests, the damage done to State property, and the increasingly hostile recall campaigns, and it's clear; voters need to take additional RM precautions when going to the polls April 5.

I offer following RM recommendations: Whatever your political ideology, VOTE on April 5 for the candidate of your choice.

• Cast an absentee ballot to avoid going to the polls on Tuesday.
• Go to the polls with someone who can offer assistance if you find yourself in harms way. While a body guard may not be needed, if you have a medical condition such as being diabetic, travel with someone who knows how to come to your aid if needed.
• Don't hang around the polls longer then necessary. The second Risk Management control tool is to "reduce" your risks. Shortening the time you spend in harms way by taking the most direct routes to and from the polling booth. Make sure your vehicle, walker, wheel chair, and cane are in good working order. Make sure you can identify the vehicle you came in and where you parked. Park facing out of the lot and have an exit strategy to include how to enter the vehicle, secure the doors, and enter traffic from the lot. All reduce your exposure to personal injury as well as the time it will take to remove yourself and entourage from harms way. 
• Don't huddle in groups while at the polls. Remember the #1 terrorist target characteristic is to achieve a high body kill/injury ratio. The second is to have vulnerable secondary targets. The third is to benefit from mass media coverage. The fourth has to do with eliminating or blocking vulnerable communication links. And, the fifth has to do with being able to predict mass evacuation routes.  
• Make sure your cell phone is on, the battery is charged, and you have your ICE number up to date. Now is a good time to review you "single" ICS protocols to include the first thing out of your mouth being "I take command!" to monitoring the "Safety" considerations at the polling station, making sure you know how to operate your cell phone to include taking and sending pictures to your home base and law enforcement, as well as how to establish a "Liaison" should there be a need to launch a "Unified" Command. Remember our concerns over "discovery" should your phone become part of the public record after the incident. Make sure you've deleted all personal pictures before leaving for the polls.

• Wear loose fitting clothing and running shoes. Your goal is to be able to run and run fast. Don't wear high heels or ski boots to the polling station. The purpose of loose clothing is so you can cram books or barriers under your shirt to stop a bullet or knife if attacked.
• Maintain "pushback" space and "bailout" routes.  Remember Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and creating a defendable zone protocols.
• Know for whom you're going to vote before entering the booth to shorten your time in harms way. Polling stations should have adequate signage as well as pre-printed forms and instructions in English and Spanish to speed the voting process. If in doubt, ask for assistance sooner than later. Your goal is to get-in and get-out as fast as possible.
• Carry medications you might need if the stress of the moment triggers a medical condition. The goal is to quickly be able to respond to a medical emergency whether you're the one suffering a heart attack or the guy in the booth next to you. Carry a handful of aspirins and a candy bar for starters. If you know how to operate a defibrillator be first to the patient if possible. Don't wait for someone else to act.
• Let a trusted adult know when you're going to the polls and when you'll return. Have an action plan if you fail to report home. The goal is to specify the time between which you'll be in harms way and have a trigger that's time certain you can pull to summon assistance or support. Review protocols to reduce the terrorists' window of opportunity. 
• If you feel threatened or observe either a suspicious object or person, notify polling officials immediately. Review your VIPER protocols.
• Note: If you disagree with the protesters keep it to yourself while at the polls. Challenging them will only put a target on your back. If you signed a recall petition know that your support of the recall could become a public record. That may make you, your business, and your family the oppositions target. Poll watchers and election officials should conduct periodic systematic sweeps of the building interior and surrounding property following recommended VIPER protocols. Remember the protocols for conducting a bomb sweep. Before leaving your office, do three 360 degree rotations. First look for anything suspicious on the floor and three feet up on all four walls. Second, look on all four walls from three feet up to the ceiling for disturbed light switches, and third look for loose ceiling tiles and light fixtures. Finding nothing suspicious, place something at the entrance to your office to let the bomb squad know you've searched the office and proceed out of the building watching for any suspicious object or person.
• Below: I've posted additional RM steps to include a white paper on steps you can take to safeguard yourself, your family, your business, and your right to vote for the candidates of your choice.

Unions in Wisconsin have sent out letters threatening business who fail to place signs in their windows supporting protestors. Threats in Wisconsin against supporters Gov. Walker are escalating. A letter from union leaders to local businesses threatens business owners and their families if they don't post signs in their window supporting protesters (learn more).   Note the links to report abuse (learn more) I'm leaving the door to our R&D on executive protection and active shooter protocols open until we launch our RM Grad school. Click on the (RMLC R&D files) for a log of thugs, threats, and intimidations. Any business owner who feels threatened should report their concern to local law enforcement and the FBI. If in doubt go through our partners at www.infragard.net.