The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., January 11, 2001 at the POAG office, 133 Tattnall Street, Reidsville, Georgia. Committee members attending included President Bill Hitchens, Board Members Harry Colbert and Homer Bryson, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, Legislative Chairman Bob Brown and Executive Director Marion Conley. Vice President Wayne Avery, Public Relations Director Jimmy Jones, Attorney Frank Childs and Chaplain Jimmy Waters were unable to attend. Visitors included: Ken Suddeth, Jim Redmon, Gary Hill, Ronny Lynn, and Tattnall County Sheriff Quinton Rush.

President Hitchens called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.

Tattnall County Sheriff Quinton Rush gave the invocation.

A motion was made by John Conley and seconded by Harry Colbert to approve the financial report and minutes from December, 2000. The motion passed.

Since no one had heard from Sammy Murphy regarding the Miller Brewing ad campaign on prevention of underage drinking, Harry Colbert volunteered to attempt to see if he could gain some insight into the project. He will report back to the Committee at the February meeting.

President Hitchens had been in continual communication with webmaster Mark Revenew regarding the POAG website. Mark has expressed an interest in adding more programs that would be advantageous to POAG’s image. A charge card feature could be added whereby a member could charge their POAG dues etc., eliminating the costly charge card feature of a bank. It may develop that POAG would owe perhaps 2% of the charges incurred but even that would be less than a bank charge card. John Conley made a motion which was seconded by Bob Brown to pay Mark Revenew $50.00 a month as a token payment for the services he renders the Association with its web site. Mark is consistently updating and changing the site per our needs and desires.

Marion Conley reported a member had asked for possible e-mail addresses of each Committee person. Our member felt this would make our committee more easily accessible to the membership. Because of the change in the make-up of the committee every year or every two years, President Hitchens said he would ask Mark Revenew if it would be possible to click on the picture of whatever officer you desire to communicate with and thereby get your e-mail to the officer via that route.

Attorney Frank Childs had advised the office that admission of private probation officers into the Association would take a Constitutional change at the next convention. Bob Brown volunteered to look into the requirements etc. of being a private probation officer before this topic is further pursued. Attorney Childs had further advised that we may very possibly be able to have POAG dues of our state employee members withheld by the state and submitted to the office in this manner.

The office is continuing to await a date from Senator Jack Hill and/or Representative Anne Purcell on the honoring of our "Officers of the Year" for 2000 by the State Legislature.

A valuable idea had been submitted to the office on possibly acquiring new members. It was suggested the possibility of perhaps giving a one year free membership to POST certified academy graduates. Harry Colbert and Bob Brown volunteered to go to Forsyth and talk with the appropriate department heads there. Also the POST Executive Director, Mr. Mike Barton would need to be consulted. The idea was very well received but some logistics would have to be worked out to satisfactorily implement it.

A discussion on the present $.20 per mile reimbursement for attending POAG business was held. Since this rate is below the State or Federal reimbursement rate, a motion was made by Bob Brown to establish the POAG rate at whatever the statewide travel regulation rate is. Presently that rate is $.28 per mile. This motion was seconded by Homer Bryson and passed.

Marion Conley reported an offer received by the office from L. D. Park. For a one time fee of $45.00 the office could purchase a 10-digit number that would make shopping from 140 catalogs and 500 partner stores available to our membership. The Association would receive a rebate of from 3-12% on purchases made by our membership on this shopping network. The shopping network is available from www.yourcommunity.net but you would have to have the 10 digit number to actually go shopping. A motion was made by Harry Colbert, seconded by Bob Brown and passed to avail our membership of this opportunity.

Harry Colbert reported the spring golf tournament will be held April 9, 2001 at the Oakview Golf and Country Club, Hartley Bridge Road, Macon, Georgia. The Executive Committee meeting will be the following day at the Ramada Inn.

Chaplain Jimmy Waters is continuing to convalescence from a stroke. The office will attempt to get an address in "The Georgia Peace Officer" for Brother Jimmy so that our membership can correspond with him.

The February meeting was scheduled for February 22, 2001 at the Bibb County Law Enforcement complex, 668 Oglethorpe Street, Macon, Georgia. The meeting will convene at 10 A. M.

Upon a motion from Bob Brown the meeting was adjourned to lunch at Dales Delites. This motion was seconded by Harry Colbert and passed.