Houston Police Retired Officers Association
Board Meeting Minutes
July 10, 2008
Call To Order:
President Jack Miller called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.
Prayer: Bill Elkin Pledge of Allegiance: Nelson Foehner
Recognition of Visitors - Jack Miller:
· Judge Pat Lykos, Candidate for Harris County District Attorney, addressed the general membership.
Secretary's Report and Treasurer's Report:
· Motion by Bill Elkin, 2nd by Louis Elliott to accept the reports as printed. No discussion. Voice Vote. Motion Carried.
Board Meeting Report - Jack Miller:
· The Board voted to provide lunch free to HPROA Members and their spouses at the next three reunions beginning with the Fredericksburg Reunion. The cost of the meals will be absorbed by the Association. The member will have to show their HPROA Membership Card or be on the current membership list to receive the meals at no cost. Membership Applications will be available for eligible non-members.
· Max Lankford will Chair the new HPROA Insurance Committee. This Committee will carefully research the various City Insurance Plans in order to help retirees become better informed as to the advantages of each plan.
· Thanked Steve and Vicki Rayne for a very successful Crockett Reunion.
· Thanked those members busily stuffing election ballot envelopes for the August election mail out.
Executive Director - Bill Elkin:
· The Pension is @ 3.31 Billion which is a slight decrease due to the volatile market. The annual June ending was down only three hundreds of 1% for the year. HPOPS is doing an excellent job.
· 54 have retired to date, 7 retired in June and 3 are scheduled in July.
· There was some confusion regarding the Eligibility Affidavit for Honorably Retired Police Officer for the Federal Permit Only on Page 15 in this issue of the Retired Badge. The form does not indicate where to send the application after it is completed and notarized. This information will be included in the next issue.
· There are actually two laws that cover the right to carry:
Ø The State Law is for 2 years and does not address concealed weapons.
Ø The Federal Law is for 1 year and states the weapon must be concealed.
· The new HPROA Insurance Committee will research ways to provide additional benefits for our members.
· Representatives from HPOPS will address the membership at future meetings in the areas of Wills, Estate Planning and Investments. HPOPS provides assistance in these areas free of charge.
· Thank you letters were received from the families of Robert Bartosh, Bob Frances and George Powers.
· Thank you letters were also received from District 129 State Representative John Davis, District 29 State Representative Candidate Randy Weber, and former Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler.
Treasurer Report - Jim St.John:
· All the financial information is in the Treasurer Report in your copy of the minutes.
Legislative Committee - Bill Elkin:
· Attended a re-election reception for District 138 State Representative Dwayne Bohac who is very supportative of law enforcement.
· The State Legislative session starts the 2nd Tuesday in January.
PAC Committee - Steve Rayne:
· PAC met and contributed a total of $4,500 to the candidates listed in the printed report. The maximum amount contributed to any one candidate was $500.
Membership Committee - Ed Mitchell:
· We have 8 new members.
· Thanked everyone for attending the meeting considering the cost of gasoline.
Website Committee - Jim Ashby:
· If you are having e-mail problems contact Ashby at info@hproa.com or at 281-498-3834.
· The website Username and Password is available to all members by contacting the Webmaster by e-mail at info@hproa.com.
The Retired Badge - Nelson Zoch:
· The Retired Badge has been mailed. There are additional copies on the back table.
· Articles may be e-mailed directly to Zoch at lt2212d599@hotmail.com.
· Any member with an address change should contact HPROA Secretary Cathy Buckles at (713) 802-2967, or cathy@hpdretired.com.
Family Assistance Committee - Nelson Foehner:
· The silent auction at the Crockett Reunion raised $1,190 for the Family Assistance Fund.
· Bob Frances and George Powers passed away last month.
· The sick and shut-in report is on the back table. Please pick one up. The oral report will cover only those added after the list was printed. Family Assistance Reports are updated on the HPROA website.
· There are sick and shut in Members we do not know about. Please contact a member of the Family Assistance Committee with information regarding any officer we need to contact. Delvin Kendrick, Nelson Foehner and Forrest Turbeville are on the Family Assistance Committee. Turbeville can be reached by cell phone at (713) 319-5466.
Good/Welfare of the Association:
· Elkin has several sample retired badges for interested members to view after the meeting.
· Johnnie Knott stated it pays for retired officers to keep their identification up to date.
· When HPOPS comes to discuss Wills, Estates and Investments, they will show us how to protect our assets.
· Ellis Freitag suggested we remember to say a little prayer for those members in the family assistance report and those who have passed away.
· Jerry Jones stated there is an expiration date on the firearms permit.
· Eli Rivera contacted Human Resources and was advised to continue using the identification after the expiration date; that the date did not matter.
· Miller stated a representative from the HPD would again be invited to clarify the policy and expiration dates on retired identification.
· Louis Elliott thanked everyone for their concern. Although he has cancer he is still exercising and taking care of himself.
· Name tags are on the back sign-in table.
Door Prize Winners:
$50 - John Kitto $50 - Margery Doetterl
$50 - Gene Yanchak $50 - Jimmy Hairell
92 Members in attendance.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Sue Gaines
Board Secretary
