FBI National Academy Associates

North Carolina Chapter

March 23, 2005

Board Meeting Minutes, Lenoir, NC

Prepared by: Myron Guthrie

Present:

Bob Schurmeier, Chapter President
Steven Gillikin, First Vice President
Greg Harrington, Second Vice President
Mike Carver, Second Vice President
Cindy Isenhour, Secretary/Treasurer
Myron Guthrie, Historian
Joey Reynolds, Immediate Past President
Matt Lojko, District 7 Representative
Jerry Senatore, FBI Training Coordinator
Tom Deighton, Lenoir PD
Marshall Williamson, Wilmington PD

President Schurmeier called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.

President Schurmeier began the meeting by thanking Chief Joey Reynolds and Lt. Tom Deighton for hosting the spring meeting. President Schurmeier also thanks Captain Matt Lojko for hosting the fall meeting in October 2005.

Chief Reynolds advised the board that registration for the spring meeting was scheduled to run from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with the general business meeting beginning at 11:00 am. He advised that lunch would be served at 12:00 noon with the guest speaker, Jamie Parsons, to begin after lunch. 

President Schurmeier and Chief Reynolds discussed tomorrow’s agenda for the business meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

President Schurmeier discussed the web site and discussed putting pictures of the executive board on the site. First Vice President Gillikin suggest that a biography be added with the pictures, and suggest each board member send Historian Guthrie a one- paragraph biography. 

The board discussed enhancements to the web site to include adding membership information, session attendees, a password protected membership roaster, and a mass email listing. Representative Lojko suggested the roaster be broken down by region for the district representatives.

Second Vice President Carver advised the board that he thought we needed to ask the members if they wanted their email address published, and suggested that a space be added to the annual dues questionnaire for members to list their email address. He also suggested that Historian Guthrie give the members an overview of the roster concept during the business meeting and get member’s input on the matter.

The board discussed sending chapter correspondences to members via email as opposed to standard mail. Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour advised the board that most members had expressed a desire to have information sent via standard mail. The board took no action on this matter for now.

First Vice President Gillikin expressed his desire to have information pertaining to the 2006 Summer Conference published on the web page early. The board agreed with his suggestion and directed Historian Guthrie to add the information as soon as it became available.

Second Vice President Carver brought up the need to set up dates for the spring 2006 business meeting. First Vice President Gillikin advised the board that Greenville PD had expressed a desire to host the meeting. President Schurmeier also advised the board that Chief Antonie Ensley of the Fletcher Police Department had expressed a desire to host a meeting, and Second Vice President Harrington also offered to host. President Schurmeier advised the board that he would also take suggestions from the floor during tomorrow’s business meeting.

First Vice President Gillikin and Lt. Marshall Williamson discussed the Summer 2006 Conference and Lt. Williamson advised the board that he had identified the 2^nd or 3^rd week in June as available dates. Lt. Williamson reported he had gotten preliminary prices of $119 - $139 for rooms at the hosting hotel, Courtyard by Marriott, in Carolina Beach.

President Schurmeier asked Lt. Williamson to give the board an update of his activities regarding the conference. Lt. Williamson reported the chapter has received several pledges for financial support for the conference from area businesses and the New Havover County Sheriff’s Department. He reported the Courtyard by Marriott in Carolina Beach provides the following:

• A great children’s program   
• Small but accommodating conference rooms
• All ocean front rooms
• Beach access

Lt. Williamson advised the board that he was in the process of planning a dinner cruise for conference attendees. The board also discussed with Lt. Williamson the possibility of hiring a DJ to provide music after the conference dinner as opposed to a live band.

Second Vice President Carver talked to the board about donations and sponsorships for the conference. Lt. Williamson suggested the board asked the members to solicit donations for the conference. He reported if each member was able to solicit $100.00 from a business or other source, conference expenses could be covered by donations. This would allow the chapter to pay for the conference without having to use monies from its operating fund or raising conference fees.

Lt. Williamson advised the board that vender’s space at the hotel is tight, but he has already had several venders express an interest in the conference. He also reported he is currently working on a T-shirt design, and would have a proof that he would submit to the board for approval sometime in October. The board thanked Lt. Williamson for all his hard work in preparing for the conference.

President Schurmeier asked Historian Guthrie and Lt. Williamson to give the members an update on the Chapter’s Web Site and the 2006 Summer Conference during the business meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

President Schurmeier discussed the need to try and have the October 2006 meeting in a location that is in the middle of the state to give everyone an opportunity to attend. The board discussed changing the meeting format to include more training at meetings like the training presented at North Carolina Police Executives Meetings.

The board members discussed issues relating to training at meetings to include time requirements, expense, etc. District Representative Lojko suggested running the training through a community college to offset the expense. Second Vice President Carver suggested having a meeting in this new format to test the concept and get member input.

President Schurmeier asked Second Vice President Harrington if he would be willing to implement the new procedure during the fall 2006 meeting, and Chief Harrington agreed to do so. The board discussed a tentative schedule as follows:

• 8-9 am Registration
• 9 am – 3 pm Training
• 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm Lunch
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Business Meeting

Chief Harrington will work with Training Coordinator Jerry Senatore to finalize a schedule before the meeting is scheduled.

Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour discussed her concerns that the new format may cause low attendance at the meetings. President Schurmeier advised the board that we needed to consider retired members also. District Representative Lojko asked the board if non-members who are guests would be able to attend the training. Second Vice President Carver suggested a higher registration fee for guests who want to attend the training, but suggested the first meeting be limited to members only. President Schurmeier advised the board that he would present this issue to the members during the meeting to get input from the membership. Agent Senatore suggested the chapter have a “needs assessment” of the membership to access training need and interests.

Immediate Past President Reynolds suggested that President Schurmeier give the membership an update on the FBI’s proposed session change. The board discussed the overwhelming response the FBI got from our chapter and other chapters throughout the country. President Schurmeier advised the board that he would put this item on the meeting agenda.

President Schurmeier mentioned Tom Colombell’s continued support for the North Carolina Chapter to the board.

Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour gave the board an update of the chapter’s finances. She discussed quarterly dues payments, and the fact that our chapter is currently breaking even or going into slight deficit to cover the chapter’s expenses. First Vice President Gillikin discussed the possibility of raising conference registration fees to cover increasingly higher conference expenses or having the membership solicit enough donations to at least break even on conferences. The board agreed to have Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour prepare financial reports showing the expenses.

Second Vice President Carver advised the board that he had contacted chapters in other states to determine what they are charging for chapter dues. He reported average chapter dues are $100.00 for active members and $50.00 for retired members in most states. Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour reported the chapter is financially sound at this time, but new and rising expenses are causing a concern.

Representative Lojko asked the board if the large balance in the Chapter’s Conference Account was causing a problem with our non-profit status and Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour advised that she had not been informed of any problem. Second Vice President Carver suggested to the board that a plan be put together outlining the use of this money. Immediate Past President Reynolds advised the board the desire of the committee who oversaw the procurement of this money was to let the fund build until it generated interest that could be used for projects without using the principal.

Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour and Past President Reynolds suggested the board put together a financial committee to study the used of the conference account and the possibility of raising dues. President Schurmeier advised the board that he would appoint the incoming Second Vice President, who will be elected during the fall meeting to chair this committee and present a long range plan. President Schurmeier advised Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour that the chapter could raise dues now if it was necessary, but she did not find it necessary at this time.

Second Vice President Carver suggested the board consider using the money to fund a scholarship. Immediate Past President Reynolds advised he would speak to the original committee members who set up the account to see if they were willing to serve on a committee to study the use of this money. He reported he would speak to any original members who are present at the business meeting tomorrow.

Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour discussed increasing bank fees and charges, and advised she had contacted several banks to compare fees to discover the fees are about the same at all the banks she contacted.

First Vice President Gillikin suggested to President Schurmeier a need for the board to advise the members of a possible raise in chapter dues during the business meeting. Secretary/Treasurer Isenhour advised the board if dues were raised to $100.00 for active members, the chapter would net an additional $5,500.00 for chapter expenses. Immediate Past President Reynolds also suggested raising meeting fees by $5.00. President Schurmeier advised he would put this item on tomorrow’s agenda for discussion.

Motion Made:

Second Vice President Harrington made a motion that the board brings the issue of raising dues to $100.00 for active members to the membership for a vote during the fall 2006 Meeting in Greensboro, and Second Vice President Mike Carver seconded the motion. The board voted and the motion was carried.

President Schurmeier asked if the constitution requires a membership vote to increase dues. None of the board members were sure so the constitution will be examined.

President Schurmeier advised the board that due to the Chapter’s Summer Conference being combined with the National Conference in Florida, the membership would need to vote to have chapter elections postponed until the fall 2005 meeting. The board agreed to add this item to the meeting agenda. 

First Vice President Gillikin and Immediate Past President Reynolds suggested the board design a “memorandum of understanding” for future meetings.

President Schurmeier reiterated to the board that if operating funds run low the board could make arrangements to transfer money from other chapter accounts to cover the shortage. Second Vice President Carver suggested putting funds into a reserve capacity as a safeguard.

President Schurmeier gave the board an update on the youth leadership candidates and reported the chapter has 5 applicants. He reported he has asked Ms. Jennifer Davis of Gastonia to serve on the applicant interview board as a community member. President Schurmeier advised all applicants would be interviewed on April 11, 1005.

President Schurmeier gave the board an update on the most recent LEAP Meeting, and advised the board the next meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2005 at 10:00 am. He explained the importance of the LEAP Organization and their role in the drafting of bills presented to the General Assembly. First Vice President Gillikin asked the board to let the LEAP Members know the chapter’s desire to have them support the 25-year retirement bill.

President Schurmeier advised the board that retired ASAC Vick O’Korn has been invited to attend all future chapter conference and meetings.

President Schurmeier advised the board that the candidates for the 221^st session were set to go as scheduled. He reported he flew to Quantico and took the members of the 220^th Session to dinner a couple of week ago. He reported his company paid all expenses associated with this trip, and he would like to continue this activity for all sessions while he is Chapter President.

President Schurmeier discussed the Carolina Command College and Training Coordinator Senatore gave the board a description of the program and expressed his desire to expand attendance of future sessions. First Vice President Gillikin suggested that the FBI better advertise the program, and Agent Senatore expressed his desire to mail every police chief in the state information about the program.

President Schurmeier asked if training opportunities and job openings could be posted on the web page. Historian Guthrie advised that this would be no problem.

Agent Senatore discussed future sessions and the selection process.

First Vice President Gillikin discussed Sheriff Department participation in the organization and this concluded all new business.

President Schurmeier made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Second Vice President Carver seconded his motion. The board members voted and the motion was carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm.