All posts by OKIAAI

Date: January 26, 2023
Time: 11:13 a.m.
Location: Freddie Paul’s Steakhouse – Stillwater, OK

Call to Order

Made by President, Ashley Stephens

Roll Call

Absent: Gina Coleman (2nd yr.), Jesse Benne (3rd yr.), Heather Cropper (3rd yr.)

Present: Ashley Stephens (Pres.) appeared by phone, David VanBuskirk (1st VP), Steve Rhodes (2nd VP), Chad Oubre (1st yr.), Johnnie Sawyer (1st yr.), Marc Sutphin (2nd yr.), Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer), Renee Southerland (Secretary), Chris Woodall (Past Pres.)

Reading and Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Chris Woodall to forego the reading of the December minutes, seconded by Steve Rhodes, motion carried and approved.

Membership

No new members have applied since the last meeting.  Current membership stands at 123.

Treasurer’s Report

The current balance is $11,340.58.  Renee Southerland provided two checks to Jonathan Wilk in the amount of $600.00 from the OSBI for conference attendance and $20.00 for membership dues.  $18.81 will be transferred from PayPal to give a new balance of $11,979.39.  A motion was made by Ashley Stephens to approve the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Chad Oubre, motion carried and approved.

CFI

Jesse Benne tests in February, and Jeremy Barr received his CFI.

Website

Dan VanBuskirk added the revised Bylaws to the website.  Marc Sutphin needs to send him conference pictures to be added to the website.  A discussion was had for Dan VanBuskirk to add a space on the registration form for a CLEET number so we will have that list of numbers when submitting that information to CLEET after the conference.

Annual Conference

• It was discussed that Lee Aston and Judah Sheppard were shorted when receiving their photograph award money.  $25 is due to each of these individuals and Jonathan Wilk will send them each a check.  
• A discussion was had concerning the review of conference facilities at the casino in Durant that Gina Coleman and Renee Southerland visited.  After discussing the pros and cons, it was decided this would not be a good location for the next conference.  
• Riverwind was also contacted by Renee Southerland and the fees would be exorbitant compared to what we have paid in the past, and it was decided that would not be a good location either. 
• David VanBuskirk will check on the cost at River Spirit Casino as well as the Cherokee Casino in Tahlequah as they have a new Hilton with a big conference room.  
• David VanBuskirk also requested a Hard Rock proposal from Markie as he was our contact person when the conference was had at that location in 2019.  
• A discussion was had concerning live burns or vehicle fires at the next conference.
• Ashley Stephens advised that ATF was presenting at National (Dino Bolestreus on interviewing techniques) and Matthew Reddington and Brian Grove from the ATF will also be presenting on the 1995 Bricelyn Street fire (forgive any misspellings).
• Chad Oubre advised he would check with Jamie Lord about speaking at our conference.
• Jonathan Wilk suggested maybe getting a block of rooms at the Grand Casino in Shawnee and then having the conference at the Gordon Cooper facilities and possibly have food trucks or catering in lunch each day.  He will check with Gordon Cooper for their availability on the 18th-20th or the 25^th–27^th of October 2023, again, with set-up being on the Tuesday before the Conference starts.  
• Ashley Stephens will be attending at CFI recertification in North Carolina and will check with them regarding ideas of speakers.
• Steve Rhodes advised that Steve Kunzweiler, the current Tulsa District Attorney, could possibly speak on case preparation/arson.  
• Chris Woodall advised that we should have someone to speak on failure analysis in appliances and bring in an engineer or private EEs to do this.
• Chad Oubre advised that Cameron Novak with ATF could possibly come and speak and also bring his portable x-ray machine.  Chad will also call Chad Campanell about speaking on hypothesis and data testing and that we could incorporate live burns with hypothesis and appliance information. 
• A discussion was had regarding food cost at the casinos (if it was decided to do the Conference at a casino again), but that it might be best to do the Conference at Gordon Cooper, then book the rooms at the casino where the members could still have the casino nightlife, and then have food trucks or cater in food for lunches at Gordon Cooper.

501(c)3

No update yet.

Old Business

• National Conference – a discussion was had regarding the cost and to set a dollar limit going forward to those that attend.  
• Jonathan Wilk will bring a bank statement of where we were last year at this time compared to this time so we will table the discussion of the conference cost until the next meeting. 
• Jonathan Wilk suggested we could build up a reserve, however, if someone is giving sponsor or vendor money for the conference then that has to be spent on the conference, but we could take 10% of the proceeds of conference fees and put that in savings.  

New Business

None.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Mariachi Mexican Restaurant, located at 1717 E. White Barn Drive, Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Jonathan Wilk made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ashley Stephens.  Motion carried and approved.

Date: December 8, 2022
Time: 12:47 p.m.
Location: Smokin Joe’s restaurant – Stillwater, OK

Call to Order

Made by President, Ashley Stephens

Roll Call

Absent: Chris Woodall (Past Pres.)

Present: Ashley Stephens (Pres.), Todd DeSmet (1st VP), Steve Rhodes (2nd VP), Chad Oubre (1st yr.), Johnnie Sawyer (1st yr.), Gina Coleman (2nd yr.), Marc Sutphin (2nd yr.), Jesse Benne (3rd yr.), David VanBuskirk (3rd yr.), Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer), Renee Southerland (Secretary),

Reading and Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Jonathan Wilk and seconded by Todd DeSmet to forego the reading of the October Conference minutes.  Motion carried and approved.

Membership

Megan McGarvey of Sift Fire (who works with Chris Woodall) applied to be a member, as well as Jason Romero, Assistant Fire Marshal of Lawton Fire Department. Both were approved by the Board.

Treasurer’s Report

Jonathan Wilk advised that we had a balance of $9,975.58 and Renee Southerland provided checks she had received since the conference in the amount of $2,185.00 which would make a subtotal of $12,160.58 in the account.  She submitted an invoice from our IT rep, Dan VanBuskirk, for $649.00, which would then leave a subtotal of $11,511.58.  Renee Southerland advised there was a pending check from the OSBI in the amount of $600.00, and once that is received, the balance will be $12,111.58 post-conference.

As a side note, Renee Southerland also advised that the Post Office Box automatic renewal will be charged at the end of December in the amount of $166.00. 

Jonathan Wilk requested to buy a binder for all of the Treasurer documents, and a motion was made by Jesse Benne for Jonathan Wilk to spend up to $100.00 to get the binder supplies he needed, seconded by Todd DeSmet.  Motion carried and approved.  

At this time, Todd DeSmet suggested that our Board needed to inquire with other states’ IAAI organizations to see what they have in the bank, how they charge for their conference, how they grow their funds, and if they have a savings account goal.  He suggested we needed to grow our funds for future use.  Ashley Stephens advised he could get a list of all organizations’ contact info.   Ashley Stephens also advised he has spoken at the Georgia Conference before and advised they have about $75,000.00 in the bank but all of their raffle proceeds go directly to their organization and not to any non-profit entity like we do for the Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp.  David VanBuskirk made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Gina Coleman.  Motion carried and approved.

CFI

Jesse Benne advised he would be testing in February.

Website

Dan VanBuskirk will add all of the By-laws that were revised and voted on at the conference to the website.  It was suggested that Dan VanBuskirk add a box for a CLEET number to be identified when someone registers for the conference.

Annual Conference

• Jesse Benne requested that we look into purchasing a new laptop for conference use only as everyone brings their own personal laptops to the conference.  He believed we could possibly get a 256GB laptop for around $700.00.  Jesse Benne then made the motion for us to spend up to $1,000.00 for laptop and equipment, seconded by Johnnie Sawyer.  Motion carried and approved. 
• Marc Sutphin advised he has the photo card and disk of photos and will get that to Dan VanBuskirk to add the photos to the website.  
• Jesse Benne advised that he put all of the documents from the thumb drive onto “Office365” which can now be accessed online.  This way any Board member can access any information that might be needed going forward instead of us using the thumb drive to secure all of the documents. 
• The surveys were reviewed and good remarks were made.
• It was suggested for us to have a better way of organizing raffle items for each day such as maybe a different color ticket for each day as an option.
• A discussion was had concerning using an Excel file for CLEET so that when someone registers for the conference (and Dan VanBuskirk has already added in the CLEET box to the registration section on the website), then we will have the CLEET numbers going forward.  
• A discussion was had concerning our organization being an “enhanced chapter” which involves the International invoicing our members for us and then we pay a small fee for them to do so.  Jesse Benne advised he would check into that. 
• Todd DeSmet also suggested that we need to check out the cost of other conferences and possibly raise our rates again as the last time the rates were raised was 2019.  
• David VanBuskirk advised that he would like to do the Conference in Durant and possibly doing some live burns.
• Chad Oubre discussed what the conference needs to provide going forward.
• Gina Coleman advised that she would schedule a tour with the Durant Casino and get the cost, and Renee Southerland would attend that meeting with her when it got scheduled. 
• David VanBuskirk advised that we really needed to pick a casino location as that kind of venue option seems to be the most popular for conference attendees.  He requested everyone check with a local casino to see if they have conference facilities and hotel facilities and bring that information back to the next meeting to discuss.

501(c)3

No update.

Old Business

No topics to discuss.

New Business

• A discussion was had concerning the National Conference in North Carolina in April of 2023 and what Board members wanted to attend.  
• A discussion was also had concerning the Board setting a certain fee/amount to give to the Board member attending (for instance, $1000) and the board member would then have to pay the remaining cost over that amount.  The National Conference is important for our Board members to get vendor info and speaker info.

• Steve Rhodes advised he would like to go again as well as possibly Johnnie Sawyer.
• At the next Board meeting we will discuss who goes and the cost and if early-bird registration could be purchased. 
• Todd DeSmet advised he would be resigning as 2^nd Vice President for the remainder of the year, and Ashley Stephens appointed David VanBuskirk as 2^nd Vice President in his place to now take the lead for the upcoming conference in October 2023.  
• Ashley Stephens advised he would need to appoint a 3^rd year board member since David VanBuskirk was now moved to 2^nd Vice President.  He will contact Heather Cropper with the OSBI and ask that she take the 3^rd year Board member’s spot as she had the next highest voting ballots when nominated for a Board position.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma – restaurant to be determined by David VanBuskirk.  Jonathan Wilk made a to adjourn, seconded by David Buskirk.  Motion carried and approved.

Date: October 21, 2022
Time: 9:45 a.m.
Location:  Grand Casino, Shawnee, OK 

Call to Order

Made by President, Ashley Stephens

Roll Call

Absent at Meeting:

Present at Meeting: Ashley Stephens (Pres.), Todd DeSmet (1st VP), Steve Rhodes (2nd VP), Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer), Renee Southerland (Secretary), Chad Oubre (1st yr.), Johnnie Sawyer (1st yr.), Gina Coleman (2nd yr.), Marc Sutphin (2nd yr.), Jesse Benne (3rd yr.), David Van Buskirk (3rd yr.), Chris Woodall (Past Pres.)

Reading and Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Chris Woodall to forego the reading of the September minutes, seconded by Todd DeSmet, motion carried and approved.

Membership

Renee Southerland advised that our organization had a total of 117 members as of the last day of the conference and 14 of those were new members.  108 members attended the conference.

Treasurer’s Report

Jonathan Wilk advised we currently had a balance of $22,407.80 with $3,445.00 in outstanding invoices and payments to be received.  As of the date and time of this annual meeting, the conference invoice had not been received.

CFI

No CFIs to report.

Website

Photographs of the conference will be added to the website and the minutes will be updated.

Annual Conference

• Ashley Stephens advised if you attended all three days of the conference you received 22 hours of credit for CLEET, 20.5 for MCLE, and 18 in general for the Department of Insurance and that most of the required training needed could be met at this conference.  
• A discussion was had concerning the elections, and it was advised that Tim Reeves and Nick Nadeau will be off of the Board and Past-President Bill Hollander will be off of the Board as well.  The new board members now are Johnnie Sawyer (1^st yr.), Chad Oubre (1^st yr.), and David Van Buskirk (3^rd yr.).  Jonathan Wilk made a motion to destroy the ballots, seconded by Johnnie Sawyer, the motion carried and approved.  
• The raffle items raised $2,529.00 for the Burn Camp, and the OKIAAI organization matched up to $1,000.00.  Two checks will be written the burn camp in those two amounts.  A motion was made by Hugh Graham to accept these amounts, seconded by Josh Davis, motion carried and approved.

501(c)3

Chris Woodall advised the membership that our 501(c)3 had lapsed and a discussion was had concerning the past tax returns that had to be re-submitted to apply for reinstatement.  At this time, the organization is waiting on the IRS to confirm the 501(c)3 for our organization to be tax exempt, and hopefully we will know something in the next few months.  The membership will be advised.

Old Business

Bill Cathcart, legal counsel to the Board, advised that changes had been made to the Chapter By-Laws concerning membership which he had reviewed, and he had also updated other topics in reference to monthly meeting or annual meeting changes.  It was discussed that because of COVID and the possibility for that to happen again, language was added so that the organization could continue to operate and have meetings with flexibility, such as virtual meetings, if certain standards were set in place and that easy access could be obtained to vote.  It was also discussed that there was no indemnification section and that was explained to the members.  Also, under Article VI regarding notices, those could be made electronically and to make available a listing of voting members.

Hugh Graham requested reasoning for the removal of student membership language.  Jesse Benne advised that four or five revisions had taken place and the International language was used and inserted into our By-Laws.  As it was reviewed, it was determined that student membership fell under associate membership with the same qualifications and standards. So to simplify the area of that qualification, student membership was removed.

Hugh Graham also requested that the order of the meeting under Article VIII, Section 1, be changed and reverse b) Prayer and c) Pledge of Allegiance, to have the Pledge of Allegiance first and then the prayer to be consistent with what we do at the conference.  Bill Cathcart requested that a motion be made to accept the language as proposed which was made by Mark Milstead and seconded by Johnnie Peterson. It was also requested that a motion be made to change c) to b), which was made by Hugh Graham and seconded by Chris Woodall.  All motions carried and approved.

New Business

No other new business discussed.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be discussed.  A motion was made by Bill Hollander to conclude the meeting, seconded by Tim Reeves, the motion carried and approved. 

Date: September 22, 2022
Time: 10:06 a.m.
Location: Grand Casino, Shawnee, OK

Call to Order

Made by President Chris Woodall

Roll Call

Absent at Meeting: Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer)

Present at Meeting: Chris Woodall (Pres.), Ashley Stephens (1st VP) Todd DeSmet (2nd VP), Tim Reeves (3rd yr.), Steve Rhodes (2nd yr.), Nick Nadeau (3rd yr.), Gina Coleman (1st yr.), Marc Sutphin (1st yr.), Bill Hollander (Past Pres.) Jesse Benne (2nd yr.), Renee Southerland (Secretary)

Reading and Approval of Minutes

Tim Reeves made the motion to forego the reading of the August minutes, seconded by Todd DeSmet, motion carried and approved.

Membership

Four members requested membership: Sara O’Connor, American Farmers and Ranchers; Roger Joines, Choctaw Nation; Michael Ellis, ONG; and Corey Morris, OSBI. All members were approved but requested that Sara O’Connor submit a membership application since she only submitted payment for the conference.

Treasurer’s Report

Since Jonathan Wilk was absent, he provided a verbal account balance of approximately $10,000.00 to Chris Woodall, and that amount was questioned at the meeting since the bank statement that was provided by email the day before did not have a total balance and almost $7,000.00 had been received from vendors and sponsors and several thousand from membership conference payments.

A Motion was made by Marc Sutphin to approve the verbal Treasurer’s Report through Chris Woodall, seconded by Tim Reeves, motion carried and approved.

CFI

No CFIs to report.

WEBSITE

It was requested that the agenda online be revised just to say “lunch break” and not “lunch buffet provided” since that is up in the air, and Renee Southerland will have the agenda revised and sent to Dan VanBuskirk to add to the website. 

Annual Conference

• At this point, Krystle Ross came in to discuss possible food options for the conference. She also advised that at this point we have one free room for three nights and that is obtained for every 35 rooms that are booked. She advised that the buffet lunches would remain the same price as what was on the menu as the year before. Last year she was able to do the buffet for half price since the food court was not open and the casino buffet had closed. Since the food court is now open, she can provide vouchers that we can use or do a buffet through catering. A discussion was had concerning food costs, review of the menu, and the coffee cost. Tim Reeves made a motion to only provide coffee each day of the conference up until noon as coffee can be obtained for free out on the casino floor. Marc Sutphin seconded the motion, motion carried and approved.
• Ashley Stephens advised the credits for CLEET would be 22 hours and OBA would be 20.5 hours. Todd DeSmet advised 18 continuing education credits have been approved by the Department of Insurance.
• Marc Sutphin advised that he confirmed the Honor Guard would attend the conference.
• Gina Coleman is working on getting someone with pipe and drums to appear.
•  Steve Rhodes advised Tulsa Police Department and not Tulsa Fire Department has
  the Pipe and Drum Corp.
• Marc Sutphin advised that rooms have been booked for the Honor Guard, and four
  individuals are coming from that team.
• It was discussed to spend $1,500.00 towards food and alcohol for hospitality night
  and to provide each person with a $15.00 voucher for both days of the lunches and not do a buffet. Tim Reeves made a motion to accept both of these options, as well as coffee on consumption of the mornings, seconded by Todd DeSmet, motion carried and approved. At this time, it was requested that Gina Coleman get with Krystle Ross for the food options for hospitality night.
• Renee Southerland advised she would pick up two baskets for all of the alcohol that the members are providing for the two raffle giveaways.
• It was discussed who would be the spokesperson for the raffle items, and Ashley Stephens advised he would handle that.
• Set up for the conference would be on Tuesday, October 18th, beginning at noon and to have lunch in the food court before setup begins.
• A discussion was also had concerning who would be leaving the Board and what positions would be open. At this point Tim Reeves, Bill Hollander, and Nick Nadeau will not be on the Board next year so those board positions will be open.

501(c)3

Chris Woodall advised we will have to completely start over to obtain a 501(c)3 and will have to resubmit our request to the IRS. Chris Woodall requested that Renee Southerland search the thumb drive for any information whatsoever about 501(c)3 and to provide that to him, which she will do.

Old Business

None.

New Business

None.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at the annual conference. A motion to adjourn was made by Bill Hollander, seconded by Ashley Stephens, motion carried and approved.

Date: August 18, 2022
Time: 10:01
Location: Grand Casino, Shawnee, OK

Call to order

Made by President Chris Woodall

Roll Call

Present: Chris Woodall (Pres.), Todd DeSmet (2nd VP) via telephone, Tim Reeves (3^rd yr.), Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer), Nick Nadeau (3^rd yr.), Gina Coleman (1^st yr.), Marc Sutphin (1^st yr.), Bill Hollander (Past Pres.), Jesse Benne (2^nd yr.)

Absent: Renee Southerland (Secretary), Ashley Stephens (1st VP), Steve Rhodes (2nd yr.)

Reading and Approval of Minutes

Johnathan made a motion to forego the reading of the June minutes, seconded by Tim Reves, motion carried and approved.

Membership

Several requests for membership were considered: Corey Morris (OSBI), Anderson B Watson (Bartlesville Fire Marshall), Cory Leon Hanebrink (Blackwell Fire Chief), Aaron Mayhugh (Muskogee Fire Marshall), Mike Hayley (Muskogee Assistant Fire Marshall).

Motion to approve all requests by Nick Nadeau, seconded by Bill Hollander, motion carried and approved.

Treasurer’s Report

The current total is $9650.26, not including a PayPal amount of $139.58. Checks written last month totaled around $800.00. All bills are paid and current. Copy of vendor checks received was viewed, still awaiting deposit.

CFI

No new CFI’s

Website

Tim Reeves suggested removing lunch provided verbiage on conference information for members receiving a per diem.

Annual Conference

• Marc Sutphin is still working on getting the pipe/drums because of scheduling conflicts. The color guard is still good to go.
• Correspondence from Ashley Stevens stated the Powerpoint presentation totals 18 credit hours. A room needs to be booked for Jeff Polly.
• 32 rooms are booked, and 4 rooms still need to be reserved for speakers. 
• There has been some trouble with staff while booking rooms; members need to be more precise in communicating that the code is OKIAAI22. It sounds like members are calling and saying IAAI conference or similar things. 
• Krystle from the Casino met about lunches:
  • The food court is scheduled to be open on September 6
  • A final decision must be made on food 3 weeks before the conference.
  • Vouchers are possible for the food court
    • Estimated 10-15 per person
    • Can hand out tickets
  • Can still do a buffet and only pay for the food consumed
    • It will cost a little more
    • We May have to eat in the conference room
• Jesse Benne suggested we could also do both options for different days and take a survey on what members prefer. 
• Tim Reeves acquired another Television for the raffle.
• Door prizes were discussed, and old merchandise and other items like knee pads were mentioned. 
• A Foam board was brought up for sponsors to be advertised.

501©3

Paperwork issues still

Old Business

By-Laws: We are still awaiting approval from Bill Cathcart. Copies to the board were provided, and the board discussed getting the information to members. Once legal counsel agrees on changes, we will email all members to allow for 30 days before the conference. A copy will be printed and handed out at sign-in at the conference.

Membership positions: 2^nd VP position will be available when Ashley’s term is over.

Ashley invited Chad Oubre, ATF CFI candidate, to get involved with the organization. The Secretary position and Treasurer positions are close to term as well.

Photography contest: Renee has some submittals and will present them at the next meeting.

New Business

None

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Casino in Shawnee in the Bears Room.

Gina Coleman made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Bill Hollander, motion carried and approved.

Date: July 20, 2022
Time: 10:03 a.m.
Location: Cathcart & Dooley Law Office, Oklahoma City, OK

Call to Order

Made by President Chris Woodall

Roll Call

Absent at Meeting: Jesse Benne (2nd yr.), Nick Nadeau (3rd yr.), Tim Reeves (3rd yr.), Gina Coleman (1st yr.) Bill Hollander (Past Pres.)

Present at Meeting: Chris Woodall (Pres.), Ashley Stephens (1st VP) Todd DeSmet (2nd VP), Steve Rhodes (2nd yr.), Renee Southerland (Secretary), Jonathan Wilk (Treasurer), Marc Sutphin (1st yr.)

Reading and Approval of Minutes

Motion was made by Todd DeSmet to forego the reading of the June minutes, seconded by Ashley Stephens, motion carried and approved.

Membership: Motion was made by Chris Woodall to accept the membership of Loren Salzer, seconded by Steve Rhodes, motion carried and approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Jonathan Wilk provided the Treasurer’s Report stating that our current balance is $6,990.59. The transactions since the last meeting include the following:

• On 6/23/2022 there was a transfer from PayPal of $211.00 to the account.
• $942.00 was paid to the Department of Corrections.
• $5.00 fee for June was taken out of the account.
• $12.00 and $83.77 were paid to Vista Print.
• $8.30 was credited to our account from Vista Print.
• On 7/15/22, $596.40 was transferred from PayPal to our account.
• Grill was purchased for the raffle in the amount of $272.34 (part of the $300 that was voted on for Renee Southerland to buy items for the raffle).
• Pending in the account is $110.55 for Imprint.
• Pending in the account is the $2,000.00 check to the Billy Magalassi Fund.
• Renee Southerland provided Jonathan Wilk with a check from Integrity for $500.00 in sponsor money to either go toward food or raffle items, and a $300.00 check from Yergey Insurance Private Fire Investigation firm to be a vendor. These checks will be deposited.

A Motion was made by Todd DeSmet to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Steve Rhodes, motion carried and approved.

CFI

No CFIs to report.

WEBSITE

No website update.

Annual Conference

• An agenda discussion was had that it was almost complete and that we could send that out by email blast in August. Renee Southerland will add Rachelle Goddard from the Oklahoma Firefighter’s Burn Camp as the keynote speaker, unless Ashley Stephens comes up with another keynote speaker. If so, then Rachelle would give her PowerPoint sometime during the first morning of the conference for about 10 minutes and she would be inserted into the agenda.
• Buffet lunches were discussed using sponsor money to pay for the lunches, unless some business specifically wanted to sponsor a lunch.
• Awards discussion was had, but at this time we only have one lifetime award and the Past President award. A few photograph submissions have been entered but are not due to be voted on until the end of September. Renee Southerland will get trophies for the Photograph awards after they have been voted on.
• As for Investigator of the Year, there have been no nominations yet.
• Todd DeSmet advised he would like to give Travis Rider his scholarship for the
  conference since Travis was helping to secure the gun raffle item.
• A discussion was had concerning the gun options and that Travis Rider can get these at cost with no shipping. There is a diamondback 16-inch barrel for $530.00 and
  for $490.00. Travis will check into these.
• A discussion was had concerning the coffee consumption and what would be paid
  at this conference.
• Renee Southerland will check with Krystle Ross at the casino to find out if the
  breakfast restaurant is now back open and, if not, what options we have for
  breakfast.
• Todd DeSmet advised he has all of the documentation to submit to the ODA with
  the exception of Dr. Albano’s presentation. Chris Woodall advised he would get
  that information ASAP.
• There was also a social networking discussion and hospitality discussion which will
  take place on Thursday evening during the conference.
• Marc Sutphin will double-check with the drum and pipe people to see if they will
  come for the opening ceremonies.
• Chris Woodall wanted a notation added to the agenda blast that an executive
  position would be open as well as two board positions.
• It was requested for Dan VanBuskirk, our IT guy, to change the August 1st deadline
  for the photo awards to September 1st. 2

501(c)3

No update from the IRS concerning our tax returns that were filed and accepted.

Old Business

At this time Bill Cathcart joined the meeting to discuss the changes and revisions being made to the Oklahoma Chapter Bylaws. Bill Cathcart discussed all of the revisions and changes that need to be made concerning when we have our monthly meetings and annual meetings and notes were taken to reflect those corrections. Renee Southerland will meet with Jesse Benne within one to two weeks to have those changes redlined and any other changes added so that the new revision can be sent out to the membership no later than 30 days prior to the conference to then be voted on at the Annual Conference.

Bill Cathcart also advised that on our Minutes form, Old Business and New Business needs to be switched listing New Business first and then Old Business. The form will be revised for the August meeting.

Bill Cathcart also stated the organization needs to have liability insurance. Chris Woodall advised he would talk with Yergey Insurance or someone with the International to find out who they use for their insurance purposes. He will also call other chapters, if needed, to find out who they use as well.

The Oklahoma Claims Association was discussed, and it was agreed that we would not attend the golf tournament on September 15th but some of us would try to attend the OCA conference itself and be a vendor on Friday, September 16th. This will take place at the Sheridan Reed Center in Midwest City at 8:00 a.m. Renee Southerland, Todd DeSmet, and Jonathan Wilk advised they could attend, but more are needed. It was discussed to bring two tool bags and one free membership for a business card drawing.

New Business

A discussion was had concerning board member positions available for next year and that Tim Reeves will roll off as well as Bill Hollander and Nick Nadeau. Ashley Stephens indicated he would nominate Chad Oubre as a first-year board member, and Chris Woodall suggested Tim Reeves run again for Second Vice.

Next Meeting

The next two meetings were discussed and will be held as follows:

*Thursday, August 18, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Casino, in Shawnee, Oklahoma;
*Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Casino, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Ashley Stephens made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Todd DeSmet, motion carried and approved.