NEXT MEETING:

Monday, November 17th, 7:30pm at Mr. Gatti’s.

Presidents Message

Sisters and Brothers,

A new year has just begun for the Hill Country Lodge #23 and we have a lot in front of us. As you all know, we are now on the National Legal Defense Plan, a plan that will represent you in any unforeseen predicament. You have a voice on what attorney that represents you.

The entire executive board is looking forward to working with everyone. Our membership is growing leaps and bounds, and we just voted on Associate Membership. I am sure, in time this will also prosper. I just want to re-emphasize that if you do not attend the meetings, your ideas and input will not benefit the Fraternal Order of Police.

Fraternally yours,

President Tom Ormsby.

Vice President’s Message

Well it’s a brand new year with a brand new executive board. First off, I would like to thank all of those who were in support of me becoming Vice President. I couldn’t have done it without your support. I just recently left our first executive board meeting and fell that we are becoming an organization that is being reborn. We have a strong E-Board and the plans are to move our lodge in a forward motion. I know that it his seemed a little stagnant in the past but I have high hopes for a bright future for our lodge. We are moving in the right direction.

As you may know, we are conducting a 2^nd raffle with lottery scratch off tickets for a lodge fund raiser. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, get some and sell them to support our lodge. If you don’t have time to sell, at least buy some. Please come to the next meeting. It will be very important. We have alot of topics to cover. One of them being the all important Christmas Party. It is going to be a great one!

Well, I’ve probably rambled on enough for now. Support your FOP Lodge. Come to the meetings and be part of this proud organization that you joined. See you there, PROUD TO BE FOP!

Mark Jarman

National Legal Plan

The Hill Country Lodge has enrolled in the National F.O.P. Legal Defense Plan. We need to make sure all members have paid up on their dues and make sure you are signed up if you want the coverage.

The GREAT deal about this coverage is that the Plan is owned by the F.O.P. Your appeal process is to COPS, not an attorney or insurance board.

YOU get to choose YOUR attorney for the plan. If you want your attorney signed up, let Larry Sowards know and contact will be made with the attorney to get him or her on the list.

D. Phillip Adkins (Austin) 512-477-1870 Greg Zaney (Austin) 512-477-1870 Porter,Rogers, Dahlman and Gordon (Austin-Contact Pat Rogers) 512-472-9616 Attorney list is available for the following cities: Amarillo, Corpus Christi (6), Lufkin, Tyler(2) and Houston.

Burton and Minton (Austin) 512-476-4873 Jaimie Balagia/ Terry Keel (Austin) 477-1870

Make no mistake, this plan is great coverage and beats all other coverage’s. If you have any questions about the plan, call Becky Swisher at 800-341-6038

Life Insurance

The Texas State Lodge provides life insurance for all of its membership. Our lodge has supplemental coverage.

Sights and Sounds- We are planning another booth this year and will be giving you details as the event gets closer. We will be selling Pizza and Manskie Rolls.

Raffle fund-raiser

We will start our second raffle at this meeting. The winning ticket will drawn at the FOP Christmas party, Saturday, December 20, 1997. That is the same day as Brown Santa Delivery.

We will be giving each member at least 10 tickets to sell. We will need the tickets and money back to Victor on or Before December 15^th.

Officer’s Rights Seminar- The State Lodge will conduct a seminar November 15, 1997 in Houston, Texas. It is free to FOP members. This training will be discussed at the meeting. It will also be TCLEOSE credit.

Long John Silver Boycott - The National President Gil Gallegos has called for a boycott against Long John Silvers for airing commercials that portrays a police officer as a thief.

We have been informed by the National Office in Washington D.C. that the commercial will stop. Great Work by the FOP.

The main item of discussion was over the SMPOA referendum (Proposition #1). I would like to thank Rodney Van Oudekerke and Jeff Caldwell who attended representing the POA. Even though the discussion was sometimes heated, it was very fruitful. It was agreed by the POA and FOP to start a new relationship. The leaders have agreed not to smear each other to benefit one’s self.

The lodge did vote to "Not interfere with the SMPOA referendum but encourage our members to participate on their own." The motion passed with two abstaining.

Of course, some of you may know that Proposition #1 was defeated with 40% for and 60% against.

Other items discussed:

Donation to Playscape, and Monica Figueroa’s daughter for a track meet in N.C.

Announced that Brother Victor Rojo’s Grandmother recently passed away.

Also announced was that Brother Terry Carter was having surgury on his toe. Hope he gets better soon.

1st - Stephen Velasquez

2nd - Dennis Gutierrez

9th - Kathy Anderson

12th - Lawrence Formolo

23rd - Garland Harwell

4th - Marty Manzi

13th - Tom Ormsby

19th - Terry Carter

22nd - Cynthia Winn

25th - Jesus

26th - David Burns

23^rd - Jesse Efird

27^th- Dave Waugh

It is the changing of the guard (Local Officers) and renewed enthusiasm. We are growing and welcoming old members back. If you left the FOP on good terms...you are always welcome.

If you have any comments you want to add:

Contact Brother Larry Sowards if you want anything added to the Newsletter. Mailing Address is PO Box 1093, San Marcos, Texas 78667-1093