POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - July 2006:                 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., July 22, 2006, at Vidalia City Hall, Vidalia, Georgia. Committee members attending included President Gary Hill, Vice President Jimmy Jones, Board Member Thomas Alley, Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, and Executive Director Marion Conley. Board Member Mike Fordham, Attorney Frank Childs and Chaplain Rick Lanford were unable to attend. Visitors included Bob Carter, Charlie Byrd, Ralph Sheppard. Roger Calloway. Frank Waits and Jimmy Sims.

President Gary Hill called the meeting to order.

Vice President Jimmy Jones gave the invocation and Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Hill thanked District Director Jimmy Sims for inviting us to Vidalia and arranging to have the meeting in the City Hall there in Vidalia.

A motion was made by Jimmy Jones, seconded by Thomas Alley and passed to approve the minutes of the June, 2006 meeting. The financial statement from June was approved upon a motion from Homer Bryson and a second from Jimmy Jones.

For many years, the office has been experiencing a problem of an officer retiring, staying out of the Association many years and then rejoining. The office is faced with the problem of having to issue the person an active voting card. A lengthy discussion ensued on how we could remedy the problem in fairness to all members. The possibility of a resolution being introduced at the convention in September was considered. The wording of this resolution could possibly be: Anyone choosing to not be a member for five (5) continuous years cannot rejoin as an active voting member unless they are currently employed in law enforcement. This idea was tabled for further consideration. The above idea was again discussed and it was decided to put on the web site and in renewal notices the following notice: All retirees not presently a member of the Association will have until July 31, 2007 to join the Association at the regular rate of $20.00, after that the member wishing to join will have to “buy back” all prior years. This motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed.

Legislative Chairman Homer Bryson reported he would have some help in putting together a power point presentation.

POAG member Ricky Tumlin had e-mailed the office about having written a book on the collection of judgments in Georgia. He is offering POAG to profit from the sale of the book. His profit would be $12 on the sale of the book; he is willing for POAG to have ½ of the $12 less the cost of shipping. John made a motion to accept this offer, Homer Bryson made a second to accept the offer and the motion passed.

The Chief of Police of Lumpkin has notified the office of the felony conviction of one of his officers. A motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by Thomas Alley and passed to permanently remove this individual from the membership records of POAG.

There were three scholarships and three applicants. A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Homer Bryson to add $500.00 to the Frank Edwards scholarship. This motion passed, making all the scholarships $1,000 each. A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Jimmy Jones and passed to award to Erica Sisk the Captain Johnnie “Bull” Robertson Scholarship. A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to award the Frank Edwards scholarship to Garrett Davis Mack. A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Thomas Alley and passed to award the Jimmy Waters scholarship to Amber Renee Kelly.

A synopsis of the “Officers of the Year” had previously been mailed all Committee members. A motion was made by Homer Bryson, seconded by John Conley and passed to award Director Howard A. Tyler with Georgia Department of Revenue – Alcohol and Tobacco Division with the Peace Officer of the Year for Meritorious Service. A much discussion, a motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to jointly award the Peace Officer of the Year for Valor to Marietta Patrolman Matthew Buehler and Department of Natural Resources Ranger First Class Mitchell Oliver.

A discussion of the life members ensued. Jimmy Jones made a motion, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to award Active Life Memberships to Past President Wayne Avery, Retired Georgia State Patrol Captain John C. Lacienski, Retired Georgia Bureau of Investiation Sergeant Carlson H. Brown and Retired Georgia State Patrol Colonel George A. Ellis. A motion for Honorary Life Membership awards was made by John Conley, seconded by Gary Hill and passed to go to Clyde’s Markets, Bill Thomas of Big Bad Wolf Barbeque, and Vice President and General Manager William Cathcart of WTOC Television as well as Dal Canady of WTOC television.

In accordance with Code of Georgia Section 47-17-20 (f), and Bill Cline’s term expiring this year, the Committee unanimously agreed that they wanted Bill Cline back on the POA&B Board. Therefore, the letter to Governor Perdue will read for Bill Cline, Homer Bryson and Gary Hill since the letter has to contain three names.

The July meeting date was not set but will be held at Tybee Island.