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Posted by: Kate on 02/08/2008 07:00 AM
Updated by: Kate on 05/19/2008 09:27 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
Minutes Oconee County Veterans Memorial Foundation Committee for Thursday, January 24, 2008
Chairman Larry Davison called the meeting to order at 8:10 pm in the BOC Chambers in the County Courthouse with the Pledge and a Prayer. Rev McConnell spoke the prayer.
A quorum was determined to be present. Chairman Davison welcomed the members and then requested the roll call and reports from each Sub-committee Chair.
Minutes from October 25, November 5 and November 22 were approved.
Photo:(left to right) David Kilpatrick, Melvis Davis & Larry Davison
Members Present:
Larry Davison * Ed Kennedy * Jim Alexander * David Kilpatrick
John Gentry * Kate McDaniel * John Roberts * Don Walter
Bill Gilmer * Beth Gilmer * Jeff Benko * Ed McConnell
Members Absent:
David Williams * Rep Bob Smith * Mike Ginn * Miss Vinnie Williams
*John Gentry came in later.
REPORTS FROM VARIOUS COMMITTEES
1. Memorial Committee
Chairman Walter said that he had talked with the head of a Granite company who is looking over what we want and he would get back to us at the next meeting. Chairman Walter wanted to hold off until the Committee had the actual architectural drawings. Jeff Benko said that we go from a design drawing to an architectural rendering before we can approach a builder so he suggested that we get the architectural layout from Ken Beall if, in fact, he had drawn them up and then we would be ready to talk to someone about prices and could issue an RFP to get the work done.
Bill Gilmer said that he ad talked to Mike Maxey who said that he would help with furnishing the materials and part of the labor and could probably get the main memorial slab erected by Memorial Day ( May 26).
Chairman Davison said he had talked with a person several months ago who volunteered to oversee the whole project and might donate some of the materials.
Kate requested that we do not wait until next month to say “We have the plans. Now what action do we take?”
Jeff Benko requested that when we get ready to be on site with any activity that we extend a courtesy call to the BOC and the Contractor who is working on other buildings at the Community Complex to let them know we are there. It’s a coordination effort for all who are working in the area.
ACTION: Chairman Davison agreed to try to get the plans and talk with a builder as early as next week. He suggested that we might have a called meeting before the next scheduled meeting to look over the architectural plans as a committee and make a decision.
2. Finance Committee
David Kilpatrick became Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee since previous Treasurer Matt Alexander resigned in October 2007. David gave the following report.
All the proceeds from the Community b-b-q for the Veterans Memorial and the Reeves Family had come in (including those credit card donations) with a total of $21, 285.92. Fifty (50%) percent of the total was transferred to the Reeves Family (Leslie – Mrs Josh Reeves). The total now in the fund is $79,266.68.
Several donations had come since the last report:
On 11-30-07: $3,789.80
On 12-20-07: $1,200.00
On 1-17-08: $1,000.00
In the group above, the Oconee Democrats donated $100.00, Ted Evans donated $1,000 and The Oconee Leader donated $3,100.00. We paid out $545 to The Oconee Leader for the half page “Thank You” ad and $ _____to the Oconee Enterprise for a quarter similar ad. Also paid out was the amount of $39.61 – the fee for a bank card to handle the credit card donations from b-b-q.
Jim Alexander had taken care of the ads in both Weeklies and was complimented by Chairman Davison. The words of appreciation to the donations community for both ads were thoughtful and touching.
David Kilpatrick asked about the PayPal account that apparently was set up in April 2007 but was never used. Jim Alexander will look into that and set up the Web page to received donations online through PayPal.
Two banks, Oconee State Bank and North Georgia hold our funds. At present, the Savings (Oconee) is $10,057, a CD (North GA) is $21,139, a CD (Oconee) is $21,348 and Checking (Oconee) is $24,671 are on record.
John Roberts, Chairman of the Fund Raising Sub-Committee made a motion to purchase a 6-month or less CD or MM for $25,000 (taken from the Oconee Bank Checking Account). It was seconded by Jeff Benko.
Discussion: Jeff was concerned that we might need our funds before a 6- month CD would mature and thought we should shop around for a shorter time at the best interest rate available.
John amended his original motion to include “…..give the Treasurer the authority to shop around and get the best deal for the shortest length of time.” It was seconded by Bill Gilmer and passed unanimously.
ACTION: Treasurer David Kilpatrick will invest $25,000 of the checking account for the best return on money.
Refer to the Financial Statement handed out tonight and recorded in Book #1 for further details.
3. Fundraising Committee
Chairman Beth Gilmer deferred the report to John Roberts, Chairman of the Fundraising Sub-Committee.
John inquired if anybody has sent a “Thank You” to the sponsors of the b-b-q. Chairman Davison replied that Kate had sent a professional letter to both. John said that he gave a book (“D-Day”) to each of the sponsors, Tom Little and Terry Foley and Jacob Reuter (a close friend of Josh Reeves).
John reported that he had contacted by letter the CEO of Bank of America and gotten no response so far. He also contacted the CEO of Publix and will follow up on him. Chuck Williams, President of North Georgia Bank in Oconee County had given John a check for $1,000. John will contact the other banks that have branches in the county for donations.
The Telephone Solicitation fundraiser being coordinated by Bob Smith is ongoing. Bob and several community citizens had met to plan the project before Christmas, but their progress was interrupted by the Holidays. It is still on tract per an e-mail from Bob to Kate.
Beth Gilmer asks about the engraved Brick project. He said that he had a waiting list of people who wanted to buy a brick.
Major John Gentry came in at that time.
Chairman Davison expressed opinion that he wanted to concentrate on Phase I of the project – getting the main marker built and then commence with the brick project. In discussion, others wanted to know if we could start taking orders. Others said that we needed to have a sample brink made to have something to show before we could sell them.
John Gentry said he would contact a company, Master Grade, in Bogart, owner Warren Chandler who could manufacture bricks for us and maybe bring a sample to the next meeting.
Jeff Benko expressed his objection to having bricks on the ground for the public to walk on. A few other expressed the same feeling. Suggestion was made by Don Walter that perhaps a wall could be built with names inscribed and commented that they would last forever – no traffic wear and tear. David Kilpatrick said a will about 18 to 24 inches tall all around the perimeter of the 1-acre plat would make an impression. No action was taken.
John Roberts called a meeting of the Fund Raising Sub-committee (Ed Kennedy and Kate McDaniel) at 11:30 am on Tuesday, January 29 at the Big Easy Restaurant in Watkinsville. All members are invited to attend.
4. Publicity Committee
Jeff Benko wanted an article written on the status of the Foundation at this time to inform the public that we are reaching stability and we are about to start the actual building of the memorial. Jim Alexander said he would coordinate with The Oconee Leader and have something written.
Kate said that she had written an article about the Veterans and their part in the Christmas Parade and posted it on our Web site at www.oconeeveteransmemorial.com for the public to see and had posted about 208 photos of the Christmas Parade and the Veterans float in the Photo Album of her Website www.apvoc.com .
5. Program Committee
John Gentry, Chairman of the Program Committee did not have a report. This sub-committee was set up to plan and produce a hard copy Program for the GALA that was planned in November 2007. Since the b-b-q fundraiser was done instead, the GALA was cancelled.
6. Old Business
The last 3 Foundation Committee Meeting Minutes needed to be approved to file as final. Don Walter made the motion to approve as sent out via e-mail which all had read; seconded by Ed McConnell. Passed unanimously.
7. New Business
ACTION: John Gentry said that he would make contact to get the CAD computer drawings of the memorial design and have the actual site in the Park laid out for all to see by the next meeting – the entrance, walkway, landscaping indicated, etc.
Watch for a possible Called Meeting before February 28.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm
Respectively submitted,
Kate McDaniel
Secretary, OCVMFC
January 24, 2008
____________________________________________________________
The address for mailing donations:
Oconee Veterans Memorial Foundation
PO Box 1836
Watkinsville, GA
30677
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