POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - August 2000: 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A.M., August 10, 2000 at the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. office, Reidsville, Georgia.  Committee members attending included President Bill Hitchens, Vice-President Carson Knight, Board Member Wayne Avery, Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, Public Relations Director Jimmy Jones and Executive Director Marion Conley.  Board Member Harry Colbert, Attorney Frank Childs and Chaplain Jimmy Waters were unable to attend.  Visitors included: Bennie DeLoach, Quinton Rush, Bobby Carter, Kenny Webb Kirk McGlamery, Steven Newsome, Gary Hill and Mrs. Mary Poole.

The meeting was delayed while Mark Revenew with the Pooler Police Department took pictures to be included on the POAG Web Page.  After the picture taking session was completed, the meeting was called to order by President Hitchens with a welcome being given to all.

Laurens County Sheriff Kenny Webb gave the invocation.  POA&B Fund Secretary Bobby Carter gave a report on many of our Department of Corrections members who had received a notice from POA&B that their dues were two months delinquent.  Apparently because of a computer problem, the Department of Corrections had withheld the monies from the paychecks of these members, but the funds had not been forwarded to POA&B.  Since the member is ultimately responsible for the payment of their dues, POA&B had to notify each member of their account being in arrears.  However, the situation was corrected with the monies being sent to POA&B and the members’ accounts becoming current again.

A discussion ensued on the financial report for July.  The monies received on the Royalty contract have continued a downward turn for several months.  Fifteen deaths to POAG members occurred in July 2000.  The Committee expressed some concerns about the deficit and hope that in the near future the royalty payments will begin to increase.  A motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by Bob Brown to accept the financial report and minutes from July 2000.  The motion passed.

President Hitchens presented a rough draft of the POAG Web Page he has been working on.  It was obvious he has devoted many hours to the task.  He reported that Callan Publishing, Inc. would prepare a page, POA&B Fund would have a link, and Marion Conley and Jerry Willis were working on compiling a history.  The Committee agreed that the work done by President Hitchens was most impressive and all look forward to finally having a much needed and desired Web page.  The marketing on an Internet service to our members was discussed at length.  Since law enforcement officers are “as the name implies” and not sales people, no conclusion was reached on how to market this service.

A motion was made by Bob Brown and seconded by Wayne Avery to pay convention expenses for Mark Revenew.  This young gentleman from the Pooler Police Department has volunteered to be the Webmaster for the Web page and has already devoted many hours of free labor to the Association during the initial development stage.  This will be a small token of appreciation.  The motion carried.

Active voting memberships in the Association were discussed.  The names of Retired Georgia State Patrol Sergeant Morgan Key, Laurens County Deputy A. Yates Ware, Bibb County Chief Deputy J. Michael Simmons, and Retired Georgia State Patrol Captain Roy C. Womack were suggested as recipients of this award.  John Conley made a motion to this effect.  Wayne Avery seconded the motion and it was passed.  Based on the report last meeting from District Directors Morgan and Joyce Key on the motorists who stopped to help an Atlanta Police officer who was fatally wounded, a motion was made by Bob Brown to give Honorary Life Membership awards to the two motorists.  Atlanta Police Department Officer Baugh had relayed to Joyce Key that Leonard Cannarozzo and Robert Goodwin had demonstrated exemplary support of law enforcement by coming to the aid of Officer Brad Rogers when he was struck and killed by a vehicle.  The motion was made by Bob Brown, seconded by Wayne Avery and passed.

After a study of the prices, etc. submitted for bids for the 2001 convention, a motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by Bob Brown to hold the 2001 convention at the Jekyll Inn on Jekyll Island on September 23-27, 2001.  The motion passed.

Marion Conley reported that the Police Officers’ Association and their telemarketing campaign was apparently back in full swing.  Complaint calls were beginning to come into the office from members and citizens at large.  One of our members relayed that he would be more than happy to testify that the caller identified himself as representing the Peace Officers’ Association; the member gave the caller many opportunities to recant this identification but he never would.  Since the Association has not been successful in stopping this activity, it was decided to give each caller the phone numbers for the Secretary of State’s Office and the Governor’s Consumer Affairs Council.  Everyone who calls will be asked to call both agencies and voice their complaint(s).

The Committee decided to prepare a fish fry on Monday night of the convention for 400 people.  The menu will consist of the least expensive of fish filets or bone-in catfish, french fries, cole slaw and hush puppies.

All Committee members had been mailed a synopsis of each “Officer of the Year” nomination.  A motion was made by Wayne Avery and seconded by Carson Knight to award Lieutenant Bill L. Mull, Cobb County Police Department, the “Officer of the Year for Meritorious Service” award.  The motion passed.  Carson Knight made a motion which was seconded by Wayne Avery to award the “Peace Officer of the Year” award for valor to Trooper First Class Lisa Stocks of the Georgia State Patrol.  This motion also passed.  Everyone who was nominated for either award will receive a plaque at the presentation ceremony.

President Hitchens reminded everyone of the 50^th wedding anniversary celebration of Ladies Auxiliary President Mary Poole and her husband, Bill.  This festive occasion will be held in Hawkinsville’s American Legion Hall on August 26, 2000.

The Committee decided the Cooking committee would be given rooming accommodations at the convention for Monday and Tuesday nights.

A motion was made by Wayne Avery and seconded by Carson Knight to adjourn.  According the meeting was adjourned to lunch at the expense of the Association.