Saturday, November 17, 2001 Meeting Minutes

The November 17, 2001 membership meeting of the Oklahoma Master Locksmith Association was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by our Vice President, Mike McGrew. There were 35 present at this meeting. Invocation was given by Kenneth Lee. The Pledge to the flag was given by all members present. The roll call of officers and directors was given by Secretary Nelda Minick. All were present except our President, Jerry Casey, who had an illness in his family. Nelda Minick stated that the last membership meeting minutes of August 18, 2001 were printed in our newsletter, and asked that they be approved as printed. Frank Bellizzi 2nd’d the motion, and the motion carried.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Vice President Mike McGrew stated that the exhibitor show for February was going well. Twenty of the exhibitor booths have been reserved by our locksmith distributors with 15 more booths still available. More brochures will be mailed out to notify others of our upcoming show. Mike also told the membership that our next meeting in February will be the 1st weekend of the month, so as not to conflict with the Texas Locksmith Association later in the month.

Treasurer Loretta Loomis gave our financial report, and also gave our bank balance. Mike asked for a motion to approve the financial report. Motion was made to accept the report by Harry Sher, and 2nd’d by Odie Tresner. Motion was approved unanimously.

Educational Chairman Charles Hudecek said that the weekend classes were going well. Attendance for the Forensic Locksmithing class, and the cylinder servicing class was down some. The safe class taught by Tommy Minick went well.

NEW BUSINESS

Mike stated that he didn’t have anything for new business. Member, Gloria Holtzschue, spoke and reminded everyone about the information for a previous fire code class that we needed to follow up on. A.B. Parker also said that we all needed to be sure we were in accordance with these codes and regulations when we install certain locks and security devices for our business customers. Mike mentioned the feasibility of a future seminar to help us all understand these regulations better.

Nelda Minick asked the membership to please fill out the new name and address forms they were given so the records could be updated for the new upcoming membership directory. Nelda also said that all membership dues for 2002 were due by January and the deadline was April. Members not paying dues by the deadline would not be listed in the new directory to be published and sent out to all the paid members in May. We had 5 new applications for membership, and Nelda read all the information on the application forms of each applicant. Those applicants were as follows: (1) Zac Ferris, A Better Locksmith, Edmond, OK; (2) Jason Lunsford, A Better Locksmith, Edmond, OK; (3) Sam Ebersole, Sam’s Lock & Key, Perry, OK; (4) James Williams, William’s Lock & Key, Oklahoma City, OK; (5) David Chamberlain, Chamberlain’s Locksmith, Yukon, OK. As stated in our constitutional by-laws, those in business less than 2 years will be considered apprentice locksmith members of OMLA. Those are; Mr. Ferris, Mr. Lunsford, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Chamberlain. Mike asked for a discussion and any questions from the membership regarding the 5 applicants. There were none. Frank Bellizzi asked for a motion that these applicants be approved to our association. Motion was 2nd’d to approve them by Mark Winnesburg. All members voted and all applicants were given membership into our association. Applicants were sworn in for membership by Mike McGrew.

Treasurer Loretta Loomis asked for an approval to pay expenses for this weekend. Frank Bellizzi made the motion to approve the expenses, and the motion was 2nd’d by Lowell Roberts. Motion carried.

Johnny Stewart reminded the membership that he still had plenty of locksmith educational videos available for rental and checkout.

Lowell and Jackie Roberts said that nominations were now being accepted for next year’s Kenny Lee Award. Deadline for these nominations are January 1, 2002.

Charles Hudecek said that we had a tentative schedule for our next year’s educational classes. Upcoming classes were automotive, a safe class by Tommy Minick, lock impressioning, picking and by-pass techniques, and fire safety codes. Charles also sid that class attendance was very low, and that we didn’t have enough attendance in each to break even on some of the expenses. The association has to pay out $1500.00 in total expenses for some of these classes. Charles asked that the members present tell him what they wanted for future educational classes. Many members gave several suggestions for these classes. It was discussed that we try to hold some less expensive, in-house classes, and have local instructors, or some of our own members teach them. Some members said that the “high cost vs lack of participation” seemed to be the biggest problem. Mike called for a motion that we change the direction we are going for our educational process and go to basic, in-house classes, keep costs down and postpone the PRP classes to a future date. Motion was made by Larry Sands to do this, and was 2nd’d by Gloria Holtzschue. An amendment to this motion was made by Jim Loomis, that we have some of the upcoming classes at some of our distributor locations and have the distributors teach the classes. Larry Sands and Gloria Holtzschue agreed to the amendment and 2nd’d the motion. Motion was carried the membership vote. Charles Hudecek is to rebuild the educational program to meet the consensus of the membership.

Lowell Roberts acted as spokesperson for the nominating committee for the elections of new officers. The new slate of officers would consist of President; Mike McGrew, Vice President; (position was still open at the time), Secretary; Nelda Minick, Treasurer; Loretta Loomis, Sgt. At Arms; Johnny Stewart, Editor; Paula Sands. The motion was made that this slate of officers be elected with the exception of the Vice President position.

Nominations from the floor were taken for the Vice President position.

Motion was made to accept this slate of officers by Harry Sher. The motion was 2nd’d. Motion also carried by the membership. Nominations from the floor were taken for the Vice President position. Jim Loomis was nominated by Kenny Lee. Jim stated that it would be difficult for him to serve due to the long distance he would have to travel. Nelda Minick also nominated Harry Sher for the Vice President position.

Jim Loomis declined position and withdrew his name from the nomination. Lowell asked for a motion to elect Harry Sher for the Vice President position. The motion was made and 2nd’d to elect Harry Sher as our Vice President. Motion carried by the membership.

The new slate of officers of the Oklahoma Master Locksmith Association for the year 2002-2003 are as follows: President; Mike McGrew, Vice Pres.; Harry Sher, Secretary; Nelda Minick, Treasurer; Loretta Loomis, Sgt.-At-Arms; Johnny Stewart, Editor; Paula Sands.

This slate of officers were sworn in to their elected position by Mr. Lowell Roberts. Lowell stated that these officers would not take the position of their offices until January, 2002, with the exception of those continuing their current positions.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

Nelda Minick notified the membership that Marvin Golden’s son-in-law had passed away. Nelda asked everyone present to please sign the sympathy card that she would be mailing to Mr. Golden. Loretta Loomis told us that the ladies’ craft class went well, with 3 ladies attending. Craft ideas for our February meeting were discussed. One of our new members, David Chamberlain, will help with entertainment for our meeting in February. Frank Bellizzi thanked Tommy Minick , Don Shiles, and John Hancock for instructing this weekend’s classes. Nelda asked that everyone make our new members feel welcome. Odie Tresner said that Jerry Casey’s mother was ill and we should keep them in our prayers.

Door Prizes were won by David Chamberlain, Debra Chamberlain, Nelda Minick, Johnny and Regena Stewart, Larry Sands, Zac Ferris, Tommy Minick, Frank and Joy Bellizzi, Jerry Rice, A.B. Parker, Odie Tresner, Harry Sher, James Williams, Jim Loomis, and Gloria Holtzschue.

The next membership meeting will be February 2-3, 2002 at the Saddleback Inn in Oklahoma City.

Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

OMLA SECRETARY , Nelda Minick