POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - November 2001: 

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 10 A. M., November 13, 2001 at the Bibb County Range, Macon, Georgia.  Committee members attending included Vice President Harry Colbert, III, Board Member Keith Moran, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley, Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, Public Relations Director Ken Suddeth and Executive Director Marion Conley.  President Wayne Avery, Board Member Homer Bryson, Attorney Frank Childs and Chaplain Jimmy Waters were unable to attend. Visitors included: Morgan and Joyce Key and Jimmy Allen.

In the absence of President Avery the meeting was called to order by Vice President Harry Colbert.   

Keith Moran gave the invocation.

 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice President Harry Colbert.

A motion was made by Bob Brown and seconded by Keith Moran to approve the minutes and financial report from October, 2001.  The motion passed.  All attendees were reminded no bill had yet been received from Jekyll Inn so that bill was still pending payment.

          Vice President Colbert then turned the meeting over to Mike Callan of Community Safety, LLC, a fund-raising company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Mike Callan had been contacted by President Avery to present to the Committee a possible fund-raising program since the POAG was in desperate need of additional sources of revenue.

 Mike Callan gave a very informative presentation on how Community Safety successfully accomplishes fund-raising on behalf of a large number of state-wide public safety associations across the country.  He explained that these type of programs are directed solely to the residential community and all contacts are handled by telephone with follow up by mail.  Community Safety and related companies are currently providing fund-raising services to state-wide law enforcement associations in 25 states.

 Mr. Callan then outlined for the Committee how such a sponsor program would work for the POAG.  Initially, the Association and the Company would identify a theme upon which the telephone presentation would be based.  In addition to the POAG death benefit, Mr. Callan suggested a state-wide essay contest that would be available to either 7^th or 8^th graders focusing on drug/alcohol, violence in schools or a related topic.  A rules brochure and information regarding the contest would be developed by the Company consistent with specifications provided by the POAG and such material would be mailed by theAssociation to all public middle schools in the state inviting their participation.  Winners would be chosen in the spring of each year with total cash prices of $1,000 to $1,500 awarded.  Individual winners and their respective schools would be acknowledged in the GEORGIA PEACE OFFICER magazine.

            Mr. Callan informed the Committee how the telemarketing aspect of the project would operate.  He noted that the Company fully recognized that it was essential that all contacts to prospective supporters be courteous and forthright at all times and handled in a manner that will reflect well on both the Association and the membership.  He also outlined the many procedures that had been implemented to assure that the solicitation process would be handled in the most professional manner possible.  He explained that telephone contacts to prospective sponsors would be made from an office location either in Georgia or another state from the southeast region.  All callers would be employees trained and monitored to assure strict adherence to a telephone script approved in advance by the Association.

            Each sponsor who agrees to make a pledge would receive by mail a packet including the following:  A confirmation form noting the date and amount of the contribution including an 800 number to call for any questions, a decal with the POAG emblem, a “thank you” letter describing the Association’s activities and objectives and a reply envelope for sending back payment.  The format of all of the foregoing materials would be approved in advance by the Association and display the POAG logo.  This packet would only be sent after the initial commitment of a donation was verified by a second caller.  If a promised response was not forthcoming within 25 to 30 days thereafter, a follow up confirmation reminder would be sent by mail.  If a response still was not received, a final reminder would be sent after another 25 to 30 days.

            Any inquiries or complaints received in the Association office relating to this program would be passed along to the Company for follow up.  Mr. Callan provided assurance that all such inquiries would be thoroughly and promptly addressed.  Such follow up would include a contact from the Company to the sponsor and a report back to the Association concerning the disposition of the inquiry.

            Because of the nature of the program, both the fund-raising company and the Association would be required to register with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Georgia Charitable Solicitations Law.  Mr. Callan indicated that the Company would assist the POAG with the registration process.  He also suggested that if the Committee did ultimately elect to pursue such a program, that a letter be sent by the Association to every police chief and every sheriff in the state so that each local law enforcement agency was fully aware of the details of the program and the fact that the Association was undertaking such a project.

            Mr. Callan explained that sponsorships would be offered to the public in varying amounts ranging from $12 up to $50.  He advised that experience on projects in other states suggested that the average contribution would be in the neighborhood of $18 to $20.  He further noted that if the project were to be undertaken for the POAG, the contracting entity would likely be Emergency Services, Inc., a related company which was already registered with the Georgia Secretary of State.  Since the program would be a new one for the Association, he suggested that the level of calling start out on a slower pace and be built gradually over time.  Based on such a plan, the Company would offer a contract whereby the Association would realize 20% or $80,000 during the first year and 20% or $100,000 in the second and any succeeding year.  Such income would be tax free to the Association. 

Mike was thanked by the Committee for his very informative talk.    

            A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Bob Brown and passed to award Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York City an honorary life membership in the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia.

             Marion Conley told the Committee how appreciative she and Carla both were of the raise given them in the October meeting.  However, because of the present financial situation, they were both suggesting the raise, at this time, not be implemented.  Even though the Committee was not pleased to hear this statement Bob Brown made a motion, seconded by John Conley and passed to temporarily abide by the wishes of these two persons.  Marion also relayed a conversation she had with Mr. Paul DeLoach, Miller Brewing.  Mr. DeLoach expects $10,000 to be forthcoming from Miller Brewing to be used as matching funds from 3-5 schools in Georgia to promote an alcohol free prom night and an alcohol free graduation night.  The school would match whatever funds received from POAG and Miller.  The school would organize and carry out the events.

             The December meeting was scheduled for 10 A. M., December 4, 2001 at the office in Reidsville.

             Bob Brown made a motion to adjourn to lunch prepared by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.  This motion was seconded by John Conley.  Accordingly, the meeting was adjourned.