Tulsa Hotel name changed

Tulsa's Holiday Inn Select has been purchased and is now Tulsa Select

OKC AT&T Yellow Pages inundated with hundreds of phony locksmith ads

If those of you in the OKC area haven't noticed by now, the new AT&T YPs are full of phony locksmith ads.

Our only recourse at this point is to download and submit complaint forms (available for download at our main menu) to the State Health Department.  If enough complaints are submitted, the AG will be forced to act.  We're trying to notify as many phone book companies as possible so some of this can be stopped.  It will take all of us to bring this to some sort of halt.  Please do your part and file a complaint with the State.  All we can do is try!!!

2008 OSAE Annual Vendor's Show in OKC

Charles, Buddy D. and I ( the Pres) manned the booth July 14th & 15th at the Reed Center in Midwest City in an attempt to market those of you who are part of our Association (Lowell Roberts was able to join us the 14th).  Many asked why we were actually participating in the show as members (this isn't usually done by the members, just the vendors who provide services for the various associations).  Our response, to insure the various Associations involved in the OSAE (Oklahoma Society of Association Executives) begin to focus on using our members for their security needs where ever possible.  All responses were positive and we feel the show was a great success for our Association.  We had many opportunities to visit with other members and explain our goals.  Everyone thought it was a great idea.  We will continue to market OMLA to help increase your market share through these various shows and meetings.  As a new member, I wanted to gain maximum exposure for our Association and it really seemed to work out.  Most hadn't been aware our Association existed what our goals are until now.

2008 ALOA Convention in Dallas

Three of us (Charles Hudecek, Clarence Weber, and I) plus two of the spouses, manned the OMLA booth at the annual show.  We were able to do a lot of networking for the Association, and hopefully, we'll have some great educational opportunities in the years to come.  Also made some headway on expanding our annual distributor's show for 2009 and 2010.  Our next location  for the Association will be the OSAE Vendor's Show at the Reed Center in OKC July 14th and 15th. Networking for the Association trying to drive business your way.  Will let you know how that went the end of the month.

The turn-out for our annual Distributor's show in February was one of the best ever.

We could have used more members for the May meeting in Tulsa, but we accomplished a lot for the next year.  See Jim Loomis for your booths for the OMLA annual swap meet this August in OKC.

Licensing Info

Our "Legislative & Licensing Info" section provides data for Licensing information

General News

We, as an Industry, need to begin promoting ourselves by displaying our company license numbers on our vehicles, our ads, our business cards, pens, whatever we advertise on.  We need to help the public to know and understand our license number assures them of getting quality, properly licensed locksmiths for their needs every time, because they'll know they can trust us.  In time, they'll learn to depend on us for all their work needs.  We are Security Professionals, not "rip-off artists".

If you find people doing locksmith work who shouldn't be, please take the time to fill out the complaint form and submit it to the State.  If the State doesn't receive the form, they can't act on the problem.  The form is essential for follow-up and action by enforcement.

There is a tab on the home page menu to access the complaint form.

Bi-annual Officer elections were held at the November 2007 meeting and the results are as follows:  President - Mike McGrew, CRL, Vise-President - Clarence Weber, Secretary - Mary Osborne, Treasurer - Loretta Loomis, Sargeant-at-arms - Matt Kelm, Editor - Dave Wofford, and John Ruperd agreed to continue serving as our Educational Chairperson.  Jerry Casey continues as Past President.

We will be electing Directors in November 2008.  Jim Loomis, Gary Frame, and Frank Bellizzi have all agreed to serve again if elected.  Submit any additional nominations to our secretary, Mary Osborne.

Association Announcements

Our condolences go out to our Secretary, Mary Osborne and her family.  Mary lost her Mother, Mary Fleming, this week.  Mary's Mother had been struggling with an extended illness.  Please keep Mary and the family in your thoughts and prayers as they adjust to their loss.

Have you noticed the website has undergone some changes!  What do you think????

We now have representation in the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives.  This will provide great networking opportunities for getting the association's name and membership out to most of the major corporations within and around the State of Oklahoma.

Six new members were sworn in during the February meeting:  Margaret Brill with Choctaw Locksmith, Scott Minick with Ambassador Lock & Key, Bill Bybee (TX) with Bybee Lock & Key, Trey Crowder III with Tulsa Lock & Key, Mitchell McNulty with Holder's Security, and Sam Smith III with Collar Marketing, LLC.

Our 2 newest members were sworn in  during the August meeting:  Malcom Foster and Harry Alan Bryan from Foster's Lock Service in Gainsville, TX.

Dues for 2008 and beyond have increased to $50 per year as of January 1st, 2008.  They should be mailed to Mary Osborne.  The 2008 dues have to be in by April 1st, each year for you to maintain active member status. (see officers list in the members section for mailing information)  We are trying to get the membership list up to date, so help as you can with correct addresses, e-mails, etc. and if you have not paid your dues yet, please do so so we can update our roster, etc.

Our Editor has again had major problems with his computer and some rebuilding will be required.  With that in mind, those of you who have requested and paid for hard copies of the newsletter will have your time period adjusted.  Can't have you paying for something you haven't received.  Please make sure our Editor has your correct e-mail address.  Send it to omla-editor@cox.net and Dave will update the mailing list.  We made every effort to get correct information from those who came to the show.  If you were not able to make the show, please check with our editor to make sure your info is correct.

Note:  Due to the high costs associated with printing and mailing out the newsletter, the association has implemented a $25 per year surcharge on those who wish to continue receiving the hard copies.  If you are able to receive the newsletter by e-mail or can access it via the web site, you will see no additional fees.  Make sure we have your correct e-mail address to insure you get the letter electronically.

Our 2007 Kenny Lee Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Charles Hudecek for all the dedicated service and sacrifice he's provided to the locksmith industry these past 4 years.  He continues to be our Educational Liaison for licensing education.

The Pres.

"Dependable Locksmith" national chain exposed as Fraud

On January 1st, 2008 at 7:35 AM CST, Good Morning America on ABC affiliates ran an investigative report on the Gipsy (crooked) locksmiths, primarily "Dependable Locksmith".  Please use the link below to view the video.  http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4072007

These folks will be their own worst enemy because of the way they conduct their business.  We can defeat them by doing quality work at reasonable prices.  The best defense will be the educating of the general public about companies like this and conducting our Industry in a professional manner so the public knows they can trust qualified, licensed, local Locksmiths from their area.  We are starting many things within the Association to help insure these things take place.

The State Department of Health and the AG's office have made it clear, they have placed top priority on, and intend a full assault on, the illegal locksmiths in the State, and intend to stop them from working in Oklahoma as quickly as possible.  There are more than one company, and they sometimes change their name in an attempt to throw off law enforcement.  Please provide whatever assistance you can in helping them accomplish their goals.

OPLA Meetings & Classes

The next meeting of the OPLA will be held on September 13rd, 2008, in Eureka Springs.  Please go to their OPLA website via this link, http://www.ozarklocksmiths.org  for association details.

(the Pres)

Legal Notes

Clint is hard after it, so if you need legal advice or an advocate, give him a call.  As he is the foremost expert on our state licensing law, he can be a great help to the other states now looking to proceed with licensing.  Give him a call, or let us know and we'll get him in touch with you.