POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - June 2000: 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., June 14, 2000 at the Laurens County Law Enforcement Complex, Dublin, Georgia.  Committee members attending included President Bill Hitchens, Vice-President Carson Knight, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, Attorney Frank Childs, Public Relations Director Jimmy Jones and Executive Director Marion Conley.  Board members Wayne Avery and Harry Colbert as well as Chaplain Jimmy Waters were unable to attend. 

The meeting was called to order by President Hitchens with a welcome being given to all.

Chaplain Gerald Frazier of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Department gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was led by Bob Brown.

A motion was made by Bob Brown and seconded by Carson Knight to approve the minutes and financial report from May 2000.  The motion passed.

President Hitchens informed all that the royalty contract with Callan Publishing, Inc. had been signed.  The contract was virtually the same one signed three years earlier.  This new contract would extend the life of the current contract three more years.

President Hitchens was happy to report the contract with South Net Telecom Service has also been signed.  South Net will become the new Internet service provider and POAG will in-turn offer this service to the public.  Mr. Bryant Walton with South Net Telecom was present to ask for input on marketing the two services that will be provided by South Net; namely an Internet access and flat rate long distance.  A committee will be formed to brainstorm this idea.  Mr. Walton hopes to have a computer at the convention showing POAG’s portal site.

Secretary-Treasurer Conley very happily reported the check from IRS has been received in the amount of $93,864.94.  This check represented the $65,000 we paid IRS approximately 6 years ago, plus 28,864.94 in interest.  These funds have been placed on deposit with C. D.’s.

Marion Conley reported in excess of seventy-five hundred letters on the Travelers Insurance Plan had been mailed by the office.  Since we are now beginning to offer a vast array of services to the general public, a discussion ensued on the rate to charge associate members.  These associate members could participate in the insurance savings, the Internet service provider plan, the flat rate long distance savings, the prepaid legal service, etc.  A motion was made by Bob Brown, seconded by Carson Knight and passed that effective January 1, 2001 associate membership dues in POAG will be $25 per year.  Active voting membership dues will remain at $15 a year.

Marion Conley made the Committee aware of the need for a computer programmer to revise the Dbase membership file records. The current one is obsolete and causing many problems.  It was suggested that perhaps a couple of the local trade schools would have a computer analyst available.  She will contact these schools to see if help could be obtained.

Secretary-Treasurer Bobby Carter of the POA&B Fund relayed to the Committee the Fund’s decision to offer Visa and MasterCard renewal capability to its membership.  This program will commence September 1, 2000.  Members will be able to renew for six months or a year utilizing the credit cards.

A motion was made by John Conley and seconded by Bob Brown to change the requirements for the membership contest.  Any member wishing to recruit new members for the Association will be given one chance on a pistol for each ten new members recruited.  At the convention a name would be drawn for the pistol.  The more new members recruited by someone, the more chances that person would have of winning the pistol.  The first drawing for the pistol will not occur until the 2001 convention with the contest beginning July 1, 2000.  The motion passed

Member Jerry Willis presented an assortment of caps, shirts and other items for a possible future resale by the Association.  His son has designed the new beautiful eagle emblem.  This emblem will not replace the old emblem but will compliment it; both emblems will be used in the future.  A motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by Bob Brown to pay Tal Willis $700 for the disk containing this new emblem already formatted for use on the POAG’s web site.  The motion passed.

The next meeting was set for July 25, 2000 at 10 A. M. at the Bibb County Range in Macon, Georgia.

A motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by John Conley to adjourn.  The motion carried.  Reverend Frazier gave the invocation for the delicious steak lunch served by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Department.  Thanks were expressed to Sheriff Kenny Webb and Chief Deputy Carson Knight for their wonderful hospitality and the meal.