The West Virginia Troopers Association had its monthly meeting on October 8, 2007. It is budget time again, and with all that fun and exciting information to go through it appears as though the Association will run in the black again this year. If anyone would like to see the proposed budget let me know and I will get you a copy.

 The Plan B to Plan A lawsuit has gone to the Supreme Court. If the court refuses to hear the case then it goes back to the Circuit Court Judge who will rule in the Retirement Boards favor. So we are hoping the Supreme Court will take a look at the case.

  We have filed and received a response to our law suit against the American Association of State Troopers. If you dont know, this association has been calling people in this state and soliciting funds. The problem is that they are telling people that the funds go to help West Virginia Troopers. We checked and they have solicited about Two Million dollars from this state and returned zero. They also use very forceful tactics to get people to give money. People then call the WVTA and complain about how we conduct our fund raising.

 In union news, the West Virginia AFL-CIO had their Twenty-Six Constitutional Convention in Wheeling on October 1, 2007. During that meeting the committee made resolutions to back the WVTA on a number of issues during the upcoming Legislative session. They are as follows, Improvements to Plan B, Dedicated Funding for the State Police, Pay Improvement for Troopers and a Leave Donation Program for the WVTA President during Legislative sessions. Once again I cant tell you how much the union does for us, Elaine Harris in particular. She is there at every legislative meeting that affects us. The guys on the board can not be there every time, hell most of the time. That is one reason we are pushing the leave donation so that the president can take the time needed to work with the legislators during the legislative session.

 We now have a vacancy in Troop 4 with Trace Marion leaving the department, so if you guys know anyone that would be interested tell them to get on the ballot. We still have a vacancy in Troop 2.  John Droppleman has stayed on, but someone needs to fill that spot. Troop 2 where are you.

 We are going to be sending out information pamphlets to legislators this session, stating the issues of Plan B as well as a few other items on our agenda. We have had a problem in the past of rumors taking over and the true information not getting out. While we cant make them read it, at least they will have the correct information, and cant say we did not get it to them.