POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - January 2008: 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., January 11, 2008 at Cindy’s Cotton Corner Café, 603 Cotton Avenue, Millen, Georgia. Committee members attending included President Jimmy Jones, Board Members Mike Jones and Thomas Alley, Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley and Executive Director Marion Conley. Vice President Keith Glass, Attorney Frank Childs and Chaplain Rick Lanford were unable to attend. Visitors included Charles Byrd, Mike Fordham, Julian R. Eskew, Mickey Pearce, Charles Sikes, Debbie Shaw and John Edwards.

President Jimmy Jones called the meeting to order.

Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson gave the invocation.

Thomas Alley led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Sheriff Tim Fields of Jenkins County was thanked for setting up the meeting place and hosting the meeting.

A motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by Mike Jones and passed to approve the minutes from December, 2007. The bank statement from First National Bank of the Lakes, Minneapolis, Minnesota had not been received; therefore, no financial statement was available for December. However, a motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by Mike Jones and passed to approve the financial report from November, 2007.

The Committee discussed the convention. President Jones had communicated with Michael Helms (Elvis) from South Carolina and had obtained a price of roughly $750 for two l hour Elvis shows and two l hour D. J. shows. He is still looking at bands. Mike Jones reported he had talked with the band, Loose Screws. They would perform for $1,500.00 plus three rooms of lodging and waiving vendor fees. No decision was made on entertainment for the convention. John Conley will talk with Deputy Tommy Smoak about doing another Low Country boil for Sunday night at the convention. We will need Monday night, Tuesday lunch and Tuesday night meals. Julian Eskew will submit a proposal for these three meals and what he would serve.

President Jones reported that State Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham will be the speaker at the opening ceremony.

President Jones also reported a teleconference call he had attended at the POAG office relating to long term care at a discounted rate for POAG members. Hopefully, by the next meeting the company will have the figures completed on this insurance.

Secretary Conley reported that he and Board Member Thomas Alley had been to Jefferson EMC the day before in an attempt to secure funding for one school’s Alcohol Free Prom Night. That has been promised.

A lengthy discussion ensued on the possibility of raising registration fees. It was discussed the pros and cons of raising the fees just for those attending training. There was no decision made on this and was tabled until the next meeting.

It was pointed out that the present guidelines for the district directors had the potential of being financially disastrous for the Association. Therefore, the following guidelines were adopted upon a motion by John Conley and a second by Homer Bryson. The motion passed. GUIDELINES OF DISTRICT DIRECTORS: District Directors will attend at least one Executive Committee meeting per quarter. District Directors will be paid mileage for all official travel, in their own personal vehicle, including attending Committee meetings at the rate of one meeting per quarter. District Directors will present a quarterly report to the President on their activity during the quarter to include contacts, visits, etc. regarding membership goals in their districts at the Committee meetings they attend.

A fax had been received by the office from DaVita asking POAG’s support in opposing Blue Cross/Blue Shields decision not to pay as much for kidney dialysis for Georgia patients as they do for patients in other states. A motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by Mike Jones and passed that this Association not become involved in this.

Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson asked again that all contact their respective State Representative about SB254. This bill would take our President as well as many others off the State Indemnification Commission and allow the State Agency to say whether the death was line of duty or not and the Commission would only act on appeals.

It was brought before the Committee of the death of one of our longstanding members. His membership had expired November 1, 2007. He died December 15, 2007 having never received a notice to renew according to the family. The second notice, according to the family came the day after he died. A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Thomas Alley and passed to pay this benefit.

Marion Conley passed out pamphlets from iStudySmart. This company is asking each Committee person to read this material and be prepared to act on it at the next meeting.

A motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by Mike Jones and passed to grant a 7% pay raise to Kristal Odum, Marion Conley and John Conley.

A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to pay for lunch for all in attendance.

It was decided to wait on a date for the February meeting until the Senate and House can let the office know when they will honor our Officers of the Year.