Carroll
County
Carroll
County
F.O.P. Lodge #20
P. O. Box 302
Westminster, MD 21158
410-876-0115
Fax 410-783-4771
A Message From FOP 20
President John Shippee
President’s Message
July 6, 2009
Brothers and Sisters of Lodge 20,
During the past two years, our lodge has seen many changes and dealt with numerous issues. We’ve made accomplishments that have been recognized on the state level and our organization has become a strong opponent to the elected officials who refuse to favor the rights of our brothers and sisters.
In the past year, the fundraising event sponsored by the Sykesville Rotary raised $4,000.00 for the DARE program and Camp COPS. Our Scholarship program donated $6,000.00 to the children of our membership for their continued education. The annual Christmas party and Bull roast were two other successes. Our law firm has represented numerous officers in official business and civil matters, which has saved our members thousands of dollars in legal fees if they had to obtain their own lawyer. We now have a PAC fund and over the last several months the executive board has met with the command staff of some of the law enforcement agencies and ensured the rights and concerns of its members were maintained.
In my President’s Message dated September 2008, I mentioned a few of our other accomplishments and reminded everyone to remain supportive and active in the lodge business. The executive board has always stressed the importance of attending meetings to bring other matters of concern to our attention and to become more active in the lodge. We constantly answer the question, “What does the lodge do for me”? The simplest answer I can provide is this: Whatever “YOU” put in to it. If you chose not to be involved, you have chosen not to be represented. Beginning in January of 2009, our Vice President, Stu Kozak met several times with members from the Westminster City Police to emphasize the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and bringing any concerns to our attention at the monthly meetings. Brother Kozak attempted to involve the lodge in the recent elections in Westminster City, but the membership who it affected remained silent. The lodge cannot be involved, supportive and effective if its members don’t ask.
During 2009 and into 2010 the lack of membership and involvement will bring changes. The membership has voted not to continue with Team J as our fundraiser. Our membership has not come forward to volunteer their involvement to help maintain our expenses of the lodge in order to remain solvent. We will soon be closing the doors on our existing lodge located on Johahn Drive and placing the contents in storage. We will establish a monthly meeting place with local organizations, such as the Moose, Elks or American Legion. The future of our Christmas party, summer crab feed and bull roast may be halted. We are a non-profit organization so I don’t believe the donations will stop but the amounts will be reduced. The primary objective of the executive board will be to ensure our lodge remains in existence, to help those members who take an active role, and continue with the process of our new location in Manchester. In my final comment I will stress one key factor: There is no division or favoritism in the actions of the lodge. We can only help those who ask we become involved. If you choose to remain silent and ask “What can you do for me?”, you will only receive what you have put forward into the lodge.
Fraternally,
John H. Shippee
602 Johahn Drive
Westminster, MD 21158
410-857-4798
Fax 410-783-4771
Page last updated: 01/06/2010
Copyright 2005. Carroll County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #20. All rights reserved. FOP Name, FOP Star Logo is property of Grand Lodge. Any use of said name and/or logo is strictly prohibited without the expressed written consent of the GRAND LODGE.