POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - May 2000: 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., May 18, 2000 at the Rivertown Inn, Columbus, Georgia.  Committee members attending included President Bill Hitchens, Vice-President Carson Knight, Board Members Wayne Avery and Harry Colbert III, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, and Executive Director Marion Conley.  Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, Attorney Frank Childs, Public Relations Director Jimmy Jones and Chaplain Jimmy Waters were unable to attend.  Visitors included: Reverend Gerald R. Frazier, Jim Redmon, Ken Suddeth, Wesley Mott, George Prince, David Hopkins, Amanda Horne, Kevin Thompson and Maylinda McRae.

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 Harry Colbert.

A motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by Harry Colbert to approve the minutes and financial report from April 2000.  The motion passed.

The magazine contract was discussed with all options being weighed.  The entire Committee felt much better about the Callan contract since meeting personally with Mike Callan in Attorney Frank Childs’ office on May 3, 2000.  A motion was made by John Conley and seconded by Carson Knight to accept the three-year contract with Callan Publishing, Inc.  The motion passed.

The Committee agreed to accept the funeral assistance to be offered our membership by Scott Walston from Macon.

A motion was made by Harry Colbert and seconded by John Conley to accept the Internet Service Provider contract with Southnet Telecom Services provided Attorney Frank Childs approves with the terms of the contract.  The motion passed.

District Director Ken Suddeth reported to the Committee that he would be happy to see that POST recognized training is provided at the convention.  POST certified instructors would conduct all of the training.

Harry Colbert volunteered to assist Jimmy Jones in contacting the band and D. J. used at last year’s convention to perform again this year.  The band will play on Monday night and the D. J. on Tuesday night.

Publicity for the appearance of Ms. Margaret Anne Barnes, world-renowned author, was discussed.  Amanda Horne of the Columbus Convention Bureau, Asst. Chief Wesley Mott with the Columbus Police Department and Marshal Ken Suddeth volunteered to handle local publicity for Ms. Barnes’ appearance.  The local public will be invited to attend opening ceremonies at 2 P. M., Monday, September 25, 2000.  That is when Ms. Barnes will address our delegates.

Harry Colbert made a motion that was seconded by Wayne Avery to again have a drawing for $100 at the conclusion of each hour of training at the convention.  The motion passed.

A discussion on the amount of fee to charge vendors at the convention took place.  A motion was made by John Conley and seconded by Harry Colbert to decrease the fee to $150 in hopes of attracting more vendors.  The motion passed.

Rivertown Inn’s Maylinda McRae informed the Committee she could feed the old timers at the Old Timers breakfast for $5.00 per person.  John Conley made a motion to accept this offer.  The motion was seconded by Wayne Avery and passed.

John Conley reported he and Marion would represent POAG at the retirement of Chief Willie Mitchell, Calhoun Police Department the following day in Calhoun.  A motion was then made by Carson Knight and seconded by Harry Colbert to award Chief Mitchell an active life membership in the Association.  This motion passed.

President Hitchens brought before the Committee’s attention that it was time to notify Governor Barnes of the Committee’s recommendation for appointment to the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund Board.  The term for state representation is expiring this year.  The Committee decided to recommend Department of Natural Resources Lt. Col. Bob Brown, retired G. B. I. Agent Billy Stone and retired Department of Natural Resources Chief Butch Hutcheson for this appointment.

The need to make committee appointments for the convention was discussed.  The Committee decided to let any person willing to pay the difference between the $59 rate at Rivertown Inn and Howard Johnson and the $86 rate at the Hilton, stay at the Hilton.

The Committee decided they would forfeit any pay for attending the called meeting in Macon May 3^rd.  The purpose of the meeting was to meet with Mike Callan to discuss issues relevant to the magazine contract.

Harry Colbert presented the Committee with a very informative talk on the Georgia Police Corps scholarship program.  He is POAG’s representative to this program.  Board Member Colber plans an article that he hopes will be published in a future issue of  “The Georgia Peace Officer.”

Wayne Avery made a motion, which was seconded by Harry Colbert to award Honorary Life Memberships to Attorney David Aughtry and Joe Odom with the law firm of Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Martin.  These two individuals are credited with winning the IRS case against POAG.

A motion was made by Carson Knight and seconded by Wayne Avery to adjourn.  The motion carried.