Just a reminder...Next MEETING will be September 15th, Monday 5:30 p.m. at the "San Marcos Public Library". You don’t have a voice unless you attend.
Agenda items:
1) Sights and Sounds report.
2) Raffle fund-raiser report
3) SMPOA referendum report
4) Youth Sports Report
5) Christmas Party
6) Associate Membership
7) UPD and SMPD Expansion
8) New Member Induction
9) ByLaw Revisions
10) Nominations of Officers
I want to thank all of you who attended the last meeting. It was very productive. I know that our numbers will continue to grow very rapidly. Our Lodge truly provides the best coverage for it’s officers without trying to "Look Good!" at the expense of the other organizations. I see others trying to be something that we are already.
We are committed to improving membership services. We are still conducting audits on our membership files. I want to thank all of those members who returned your file to me for the updates. It is vital that we have all correct information so we can have your information for Legal, Life Insurance and Mailing Address.
Return all payments, updates or comments to President Ormsby, or Brothers Rojo or Sowards.
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.
Nat. Legal Plan Attorney 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.
Non-Plan Attorneys
Burton and Minton (Austin) 512-476-4873 Jaimie Balagia/ Terry Keel (Austin) 477-1870
This list will grow each month!
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
We have lawyers working for us...not us working for lawyers!
The Texas State Lodge provides life insurance for all of its membership. Our lodge has supplemental coverage. In the next newsletter, I list out the coverage in the next newsletter.
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.
F.O.P. Youth Sports- Brother Calabrese will explain the name change for the sports at this next meeting.
Volleyball- Opening Day 09-06 Hernandez Intermediate School
Football- Opening Day 09-13 Fields next to Jim’s Gym
Kickball- Opening Day 09-20 Lucia Park.
Raffle Winner
Marva Filla is the winner and the winning ticket was sold by Victor Rojo.
Lodge Donation Our lodge received a donation from Mrs. Kendrick. She donated funds to our memorial fund in memory of the Chief Larry Kendrick. FOP was asked by San Marcos Police Department to arrange the grave services for Chief Kendrick. We want to thank the Houston Police Department Honor Guard, Hays County Sheriff’s Department Shotgun Team and members of the San Marcos Police Department for a professional and memorable service. The donation is set up for the memorial fund. We have also received additional donations for the fund.
I am proud to be assisting the local lodge as your secretary. I feel that the best way to help members learn about FOP is by example. I am very candid about my remarks and will continue when I believe the outside Dark Forces attempt to interfere, twist, be little or flat out lie about officers in our organization.
I will say that WE RUN our own lodge the way WE SEE FIT, not by others political agendas. The last newsletter did bring back some Negative comment through NON-FOP members. I really hate to comment any further about this because any comments should come to me first hand. I guess those NON-FOP members do not want to make enemies when they need the FOP’s support for the referendum. What will happen when the referendum is over?
Here is some background information about our local POA.
They are affiliated with CLEAT. The same group is under federal investigation in San Antonio, were Three (3) were indicted. One attorney has already pled guilty for stealing money from the Legal Funds. That investigation is still on going.
Another law suit has been filed by an SAPD officer who was unfairly treated by the SAPOA (San Antonio Police Officer’s Association) CONTRACT (the same kind that POA wants for SMPD). She was not allowed to get sick leave from the sick leave bank for complications due to her pregnancy. This law suit is supported by Carl King-President of SAPOA.
Let’s not forget the Great Legal representation that Chris Jett received by a CLEAT Staff attorney, telling this officer to file his own appeal. It cost Chris his appeal opportunity. That same attorney has now been moved to El Paso. Seems to me that the track record here is 0-1. The SMPOA president even wrote in a letter that "CLEAT screwed up". You make up your own mind.
Oh yes, I talked to Randy Malone. CLEAT is boasting that Randy Picked their legal plan and are trying to make a political statement. Randy used to be CLEAT’s top recruiter and has now come to FOP. Randy is an Austin PD Officer. He is the one that CLEAT is thanking for using its legal plan. Randy said that he would have used the FOP plan but he had not gotten signed up yet. Plus the incident occurred when he was a CLEAT member.
Oh yes ... CLEAT is affiliated with CWA (Communications Workers of America). These at the telephone operators and phone solicitors union.
CLEAT lawsuits, corruption and conspiracy with Police Moneys.
FOP dedicated to only COPS for COPS!
This is my opinion...now what is your opinion?
Contact Brother Larry Sowards if you want anything added to the Newsletter. Mailing Address is PO Box 1093, San Marcos, Texas 78667-1093
See you at the Meeting! LS
PROUD TO BE FOP!