HOUSTON POLICE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION HPROA BOARD MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 13, 2020

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance: Sue Gaines

Present: Aldridge, Ashby, Barnard, Beale, Gaines, Kivela, McDonald, Potell, Rayne, Scheibe, St.John, Toth, Walschburger, Zoch

Parliamentarian – Bill Elkin

Sergeant at Arms: Robert Crane

Determination of Quorum: A quorum was present.

Treasurer’s Report and Minutes of Previous Meeting: Motion by Potell, 2nd by Walschburger to approve the Minutes and the Treasurer’s Report as printed. Voice Vote. Motion Carried.

President – Bob Barnard  August Business Meeting cancelled due to COVID19.  The annual Board of Directors election ballots were mailed in July. Election Chairman E. J. Smith and his committee are counting the returned ballots and will notify us of the newly elected board members when the count is complete.  Thanked outgoing board members Jim Ashby and Roy McDonald for their dedication and work for this association.  Henry Chavez will serve as FAC Co-Chair effective August 1, 2020.  The HPROA is a Social and Service Organization. Over the past year we have kept our members informed on pension issues, maintained good relationships with the Mayor, City Council and the Legislature. The FAC has continued to provide support and equipment to our members. Our Executive Director serves as the retiree representative on the City’s insurance committee.  Over the past year we have had some high-profile speakers, moved HPROA funds to get more interest, new on-line membership applications plus adding debit card capabilities, purchased a new sound system, created an Honor Table, purchased a HPROA banner, approved a HPROA Mission Statement, added all HPD deaths to the Last Roll Call and mail over 2,500 face masks to members who requested a mask.  20 New Regular Member Applications were received: o Jeffery Allard o Stephen Augustine o Kraig Buchanan o Ronnie Buchert o Darryl Cherry o Gregory Countie o Chris D’Agostino o Peter B. Dahlman

Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2020

o Abel Devora o Allen DeWoody o John Glos o Margaret Jewell o Brian Kessler o Henry Lewis o Sigifreado Lopez o Manuel Melchor o Jose Mora o Michael Murnane o Mark S. Rayne o Sheena Washington  One New Associate Member: o Brook Crawford – Sponsor Bob Barnard  Motion by Potell, 2nd by Beale to approve the new Regular and Associate Members. Voice Vote. Motion Carried.

HPOPS Chairman – Terry Bratton  HPOPS is in good shape although times are uncertain. The changes made in 2017 have served us well and kept us in the corridor. Pensions and accounts are secure.  HPOPS waiting on final reports from the money managers.  31% of HPD officers are eligible for retirement. HPD is understaffed by approximately 1,600 officers.  Reviewing the insurance stipance.  HPOPS has maintained a good relationship with the Mayor, City Council and State Legislature. Keeping watch on what happens in Austin.  The HPOU contract with the City is up.  HPOPS recommends HPROA to new retirees.  Due to the Coronavirus, the best way to contact HPOPS is by email at [email protected].

Executive Director – Anthony Kivela  Pension Update: o Balance as of 8-10-20: $5.751 billion up from $5.564 billion o Retirements: . Fiscal Year to date 2020: 37 . Fiscal Year to date 2019: 31 . Cumulative Year to date 2020: 129 . Cumulative Year to date 2019: 114 o Pensions continue to be HPROA’s Number One Priority. o HPOPS donated promo items include mugs, travel mugs, knives, gym bags, bags with pass-out items, books and folding note pads have been picked up and will be given to attendees at monthly meetings and reunions. Nelson Zoch’s book Fallen Heroes of the Bayou City will be signed by the author and resold.

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Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2020

 Motion by Beale, 2nd by Aldridge to resell the Fallen Heroes of the Bayou City books with Nelson Zoch’s signature with the proceeds going to the HPROA. Called Vote. Motion Carried. Yes: Aldridge, Ashby, Beale, Gaines, McDonald, Potell, Rayne, Scheibe, St.John, Toth, Zoch. No: Walschburger  The HPD Identification Cards issue with the Chief has been resolved successfully.  The Police Officers’ Legal Defense Fund offered by TMPA is available only to honorably retired officers with as their primary residence. The insurance does cover members when traveling outside the State of Texas.  Researching “Privacy Insurance” which would scrub personal Internet history at a nominal rate as another HPROA benefit for members. Tabled.  Due to the COVID19 the HPROA has had fewer expenditures (reunions, surviving spouse luncheon, election luncheon, legislative expense, prize money, etc.) It is recommended we purchase what would be 2021 standard supplies in 2020 following guidelines and budgeted cap for approved 2019/2020 expenditures.  Motion by Beale, 2nd by McDonald to purchase 2021 standard supplies in 2020 following guidelines and budgeted cap for approved 2019/2020 expenditures. Voice Vote. Motion Carried.  Mike Gee, the new Web Manager, will research audio/video projectors and present recommendations to the board at a later meeting.  The process is now in place for Burial Fund credit card donations that are inadvertently received on our website. There will be a 3% credit card processing fee.  Donations were received from: o Frank Adamac in memory of Curtis Brown. o Ms. Cheryle Gaines in memory of Salvador Gambino Sr. o Shirley Tezano in memory of Thomas Klawiter. o Polina Kyriakides in memory of Mark Glentzer o Ronald Reneau Sr. to be used for the good of the HPROA. o Nelda Klawiter in memory of her husband Thomas E. Klawiter. o James A. Duncan to be used for the good of the HPROA. o Sandy Lee in memory of her husband Lt. Richard Lee. o Thomas and Tina Faircloth in memory of Sgt. Henry Pressley.  Thank You letters were received from: o Belinda Leatherwood Brown for the Peace-Lily plant sent to her husband, Andy Brown’s memorial service. o Ronny and Sheri Cortez o Many thank you notes for Jim St.John, Shelly Scheibe, John Harlan and Barbara Cotton for masks distribution.  Member expressed concern about people knowing he is a retired officer in the current political climate. He would like Houston Police Retired Officer Association to be abbreviated to HPROA on our envelopes. The Houston Police Officers Union will be abbreviating HPOU on their envelopes.

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 Motion by Aldridge, 2nd by Rayne to abbreviate Houston Police Retired Officer Association to HPROA when new envelopes are purchased. Called Vote. Yes: Aldridge, McDonald, Potell, Rayne, Scheibe, St.John, Toth, Zoch No: Ashby Abstain: Beale, Gaines, Walschburger

Old Business:  Update on the distribution of the PPE masks by St.John and Scheibe. Request for new masks down to a trickle. Sent out over 2,500 masks to our members.  Web Manager to bring recommendations to the board on providing complementary name tags to our members before year’s end.  Discussion on pride wear vendor.

New Business:  Election Committee Chairman – E. J. Smith o Thanked the Committee Members for preparing over 1,800 ballot envelops for mailing and then counting votes in the 1,000 returned ballots. This is the largest number of returned ballots we have ever had. Last year 615 ballots were returned. o Election results were accepted and certified. o Bill Elkin swore in the newly elected HPROA Board Members: President Bob Barnard 906 Votes 2nd Vice President M. D. Beale 923 Votes Secretary Sue Gaines 930 Votes Position #1 832 Votes Position #3 Bruce Evans 546 Votes Jim Hudson 361 Votes John Harlan 92 Votes Position #5 Shelly Scheibe 897 Votes Position #7 Henry Chavez 911 Votes

Committee Reports: o Treasurer Report – Ed Aldridge . $257,660.78 in the bank. o Website Report – Jim Ashby . HPROA currently has three domain names that must be transferred from Ashby to a person. This has been accomplished. . Ashby resigned as Webmaster effective August 13, 2020 after 20 years of dedicated service.  Motion by Potell, 2nd by Zoch to appoint Mike Gee as the new Website Committee Chairman. Voice Vote. Motion Carried. o Web Manager – Mike Gee . Thanked Board for opportunity to serve as HPROA Web Manager and thanked Jim Ashby for his tutelage and his passion for past and current members. Will try to carry on Jim’s legacy. . Must change format as the provider Netsential states the format is out of date and can no longer be supported. . Mike may be contacted at [email protected] or cell 832-287-7375 4 of 6 Board Meeting Minutes August 13, 2020

o PAC Report– Bob Barnard . Total PAC Fund Assets $104,811.53. Contributions Received $3,330. Administration Expense $200. o Entertainment Committee – Matt Potell . Discussion on how to best use the HPROA logo items purchased from Pasadena Printing. . There will not be a 2020 Surviving Spouse Luncheon due to COVID19. 2021 budget will be amended. . Fredericksburg Reunion is still planned at this time for Saturday, October 17, 2020. Will stay in contact with the Pavilion at Lady Bird Park for updates. o Membership Committee – Roy McDonald . 1,871 members as of August 11th. 20 new regular members and 1 associate member approved today. 24 members reinstated and 12 dropped. o Retired Badge – Nelson Zoch . Received the returned questionnaires regarding members wanting to receive the Retired Badge in the mail or on-line. Will be working with Cathy to remove those members wanting the Retired Badge on-line from the mailing list. o Family Assistance Committee - Henry Chavez and Forrest Turbeville . Henry feels he has some big shoes to try to fill. Looking for new committee members to help provide support and equipment to our members in need. . Working with member Barbara Cotton to provide more information in the monthly written report. . Trying to let more members know of the FAC support available. . Ray Smith presented an HPROA Memorial Plaque to Kevin O’Brien’s daughter and Ron Headley presented a Memorial Plaque to Thomas Klawiter wife. . Committee Members delivered two hospital beds and one lift recliner as requested to two of our members. . Friends we lost in July were Kevin O’Brien, Mark C. Glentzer and Paul A. McRae. . We also lost June Marie White, widow of deceased member Howard White, Freda Jones, wife of member Wayne Jones, and Silvano R. Aranza, brother of member John M, Aranza and father of retired supervisor Sylvia Aranza. o Legislative Committee – Bill Elkin  The Democratic Presidential Candidates are Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Harris has referred to police officers as being KKK.  Congress: MJ Hegar (D) defeated Sen. Royce West 52% to 48%. She will face Sen. John Cornyn (R). Troy Nehls (R) defeated Kathaleen Wall 70% to 30%. Wall spent 8 million to Nehls’ $500,000.  State Senate: District 19 Roland Gutierrez (D) will face Pete Flores (R). District 27 Eddie Lucio (D) was endorsed by TMPA. District 14 open seat will have a run off between Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D) who we endorsed and Sarah Eckhardt (D).  State House: (R) who we endorsed lost to who was backed by Empower Texans. Rep. J. D. Sheffield (R) endorsed by TMPA lost to Shelby Slawson. Districts 60 open seat Glenn Rogers (R) endorsed by TMPA defeated John Francis backed by Empower Texans. District 26 (R)

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endorsed by TMPA won. District 47 Justin Berry (R), endorsed by the HPROA and the TMPA, won and will try to take back a seat the Democrats flipped last cycle. Berry was an Austin Police Officer and APA member and will be a great representative for us.

Good and Welfare:  Toth asked status of Class 245 cancellation of graduation due to over 50% of cadets’ failure to pass the TCOLE exam. In the end, only four cadets failed the final test when they retook it. These four were given the opportunity to enter Class 246, which was set to begin.  Rayne – Burial Fund has been forced to reduce the benefit to $2,500 per member due to lack of new members and more officers passing away.  Hand sanitizer and facemasks will be provided at the next open meeting.

Adjournment: Motion by Rayne, 2nd by Beale to adjourn the meeting at 12:10pm. Voice Vote. Motion Carried.

Sue Gaines Board Secretary