General Business Meeting of Oklahoma Master Locksmith Association

                                                                                                      February 2, 2008

 Crowne Plaza Hotel  -  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

 

The general business meeting was opened with an invocation by Frank Bellizzi.

Roll call of officers  with all present except John Ruperd and Gary Frame.  For clarification Gary was in an auto accident on January 15th, he was not injured seriously but is still stiff and sore.

Unfinished business:

     The show was a huge success again this year with 111 meal tickets given out plus distributors and other guests attending.

     Thank you to all the distributors and members for making this such a success!

     Mary presented the minutes from the previous meeting and asked for approval.  Motion made and seconded to approve minutes.       Motion carried.

                      

      Loretta presented the financial report and asked that it be approved.   Motion made and seconded.  Motion carried.

.    No old business from any other officer.

New Business:

     Mike - We will be meeting in a new place when we are in Oklahoma City for the years of 2008, 2009 and through August of 2010!

     The hotel that we will be in, is the Biltmore at 401 Meridian (Just off of I-40 at Meridian).  It has several advantages for us including larger ballrooms (one - 5000 sq.ft. the other is 7200 sq. ft.) which will allow us more vendor space for our trade shows, the rooms are less expensive on our special rate and they have 3 swdimming pools d(including one indoors). 

      2010 is our 40th anniversary of OMLA and we would like to have something special to clelbrate this milestone.  Jackie R. and Debbie H. agreed to chair this event, so if you would like to help or have ideas please let them know as soon as possible because it is imperative that we have all the details set up in as little time as we can..

      Nominating committee will need to be selected at the May meeting for election of directors for the next 2 years in at the November meeting.

      Clarence - All our current vendors have given verbal commitment for next years show and have taken contracts back with them to complete and return, with one already signed.   Please support these vendors as they have spent a lot of time and effort to help us.

      Loretta - Presented Bills for the weekend.  Motion ade and seconded  and passed by membership.

     Matt - All the video tapes we had for sale were sold at the show.

     Dave - We need more input from the membership for things for the newsletter and website.  We will be putting birthdays and possibly anniversaries in the newsletter (promise to omit the year!)  Anything that the membership sends to him if possible he will try to get into the newletter - the more the better.

The email address is omla-editor@cox.net.

     Mary - We have Several new applications for membership and one for reinstatement.   For reinstatement - Tim Peaks, for new membership - Scott minick, Margaret Brill, William Bybee, Sam Smith, Mitchell McNulty and Nile (Trey) Craddy iii for apprentice. Discussion on their membership, motion made on each one in turn, seconded and all motions carried to accept them.  All were sworn in as members, when you see them please make them welcome.

     After he was sworn in Scott Minick asked that if anyone has pictures of his father (Tommy) he would like to have them or copies of them.

     Frank - None

    Jerry - Opla will meet on March 8, 2008, details will be on their wesite - go to omla.com and follow the link.

    Lowell - Their are no issues dealing with Locksmiths in this legislative session at this time, but it is in our best interests if all locksmiths keep a close eye out for any bill that deals with title 59  as this is the one that pertains to us.  We all need to make the public aware of our licensing and how it helps protect all of us inclulding the public.  If you are aware of a violation of licensing there is a complaint for on the health departments website or you can go to our website where there is a link to it

    Charles - In the next 5 months there are several meetings and trade shows that we as an organization have been asked to take part in.   We will be having a booth at many of these manned by several members to promote us in a professional way.  To this end the board of directors considered and voted to purchase a professionally made display  unit that can be used for many years to come. 

    We have been asked to have a representative of our executives as a member of The Association of Professional Executives.  This is a very prestigious organization and would afford us many opportunities to advance our             organization.  It was decided to table this decision till a later time.

    The State Health Department has declared that phoney locksmiths are the #l threat to the security industry and the public.  They will place the names of these firms in fromt of the legislature.  The Attorney General is backing them up in this effort.   There is also undercover operations going on with the help of law enforcement.

    Since we are trying to promote our organization, etc. many ideas have been kicked around about how to do this and the one that came to the forefront was a mascot.  The police have dMcGruff, firefighters have Spot and Smokey the Bear,

so the idea came about for a wold named Buddy D. Lock who owns Woofing Locksmithing as our mascot.   There are no other state or national locksmithing organizations that have a mascot.  He is a clever young pup who will grow in

sophistication as his years advance.  For right now he will be busy going to the various trade shows and meetings promoting our interests

    Buddy D. Lock was presented for allied membership in OMLA by his sponsor - Mike McGrew, motion made and seconded to accept his application with an overwhelming approval from the membership. Yes his paw prints are on file!

 

Good of the order:

      

    C.D. Lipscomb - tickets for a drawing to a week long clas at the ALOA convention in  June were given away at the ALOA booth here this weekend.  And the winner is to be drawn here at the meeting.  (Frank Bellizzi was the lucky person.)

   Matt - Thank you to all our vendors that contributed prizes for tonights drawings.  Several very nice items were given away to lucky drawing winners.   When you talk to them please thank them for supporting us.

Motion to adjourn, seconded and carried.

 

 

Next meeting will be May 3, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Sect - Tulsa Oklahoma.

 

 

Respectfully submitted



Mary Osborne

Secretary