CALL TO ORDER
General Meeting of Connecticut Citizens Defense League was held on October 8, 2019 at Elks Lodge 44 Maynard Street, Middletown CT. The meeting began at 7:00 PM and was presided over by Scott Wilson, with Cheryl Lemos as secretary. The meeting opened with the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDEES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: John Beidler, Kris Witherill, Robert Chambers, Michelle McBrien, Walt Kupson, Frank Russello, Ray Bevis, Chris Lemos, Cheryl Lemos, Bob Starr, Scott Wilson, Dominick Basile, Holly Sullivan,
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Kevin Holian-Borgnis, Keith Cagle, Jonathan Hardy,
GUESTS: Hartford Mayoral Candidate Aaron Lewis
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
AGENDA
- Executive and committee reports
- Legislative Update
- Update and Volunteers for Outreach plan
- Amicus Brief Update
- 2Nd Amendment DC Rally
- Open forum
- Guest Speaker – Hartford Mayoral Candidate Aaron Lewis
OFFICER REPORTS
President’s Report – Scott Wilson
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
-Communicated with legislators
-Media and press statements
-Responded to numerous emails and communications
-Numerous other tasks
Vice-President’s Report – Chris Lemos
-Worked on the website, blog, social media post, and membership emails.
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
Treasurer’s Report – Robert Starr
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
-Available Funds:
- People’s Bank Balance (Litigation) = $ 100,025
- People’s Bank Balance (Operations) = $ 68,317
- Paypal Balance = $ 2,054
Secretary’s Report – Cheryl Lemos
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
-Created minutes for the previous monthly meeting and provided to the Technology Coordinator to post to the website.
COORDINATOR REPORTS
Membership Coordinator – Kris Witherill
-Membership report
-Member Total – 34603
-New Members – 260
Events Coordinator – Holly Sullivan
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
-Reminder that the 11th Anniversary Dinner is booked for Saturday February 22 at La Bella Vista
– Tickets for sale for 2nd Amendment Organization Bus to D.C. for rally November 2nd – 55 people round-trip, depart Danbury 5 Am. Rally from 1 – 4. Bus depart DC at 7 PM for $3000.
Legislative Coordinator – Ray Bevis
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
- • Attended Outreach Committee Meetings on September 30th and October 7th
- • Interview with Yale Journalist
- • Spoke at the Southington Constitutional Rally and help with the CCDL booth and merchandise sales
- • Spoke at the Quiet Corner Freedom Festival and helped with CCDL booth and merchandise sales
- • Griswold update: I’m trying to confirm but one source has told me that the ordinance banning firearms on town owned property, will not be going to a vote. CCDL sent out an alert and I was told it was well attended. We will be monitoring
- • Kent Planning and Zoning Public Hearing on proposal to limit Gun Stores in town to only a small industrial zoned area and to ban gun stores from 1000ft of places of worship, schools, liquor stores, and establishments that sell liquor will be on Thursday October 10th at 7:00pm at the Kent Town Hall at 41 Kent Green BLVD
- • DESPP-419-C forms are now available on the DESPP website. This is the “Unique Serial Application and Gun Manufactured Completion Notification” form. This form is to be filled out when transferring an unfinished receiver or frame without a serial number or if you want to complete an unfished frame or receiver. Connecticut is now the only State in the Union to issue firearm serial numbers
- • Legislative Shoot Wrap-up: The 2019 CCDL Legislative Shoot and Luncheon was held this past Sunday at Blue Trail Range. 26 Legislators, Staff and their families RSVP’d. Eight people were in attendance. This was the lowest attended legislative shoot. This year we focused on the pistol permit process and the need for uniformed criteria legislation. On the range we focused on all platforms of .22’s (single shot, lever, pump, bolt, semi, and modern). We had mostly reactive targets and legislators asked some great questions. I would like to thank Blue Trail Range for hosting us, the NSSF for donating ammo, Elvex Corp. out of Shelton for donating the hearing and eye protection, Lukasz Jura for his pistol permit process video production, Dom Basile for organizing the range part and for the many other volunteers that assisted with making this event possible.
- • Please reach out to local campaigns, research how candidates are on our issue and offer your time or money to get the Pro2A candidates elected. Pro 2A Candidates cannot get elected without the help of the Pro2A community. They need your time or money!
Merchandise Coordinator – Michelle McBrien
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
Permit Issues Coordinator – Jonathan Hardy
-Attended the Executive Board meeting on 10/1/19
NOT AT THE MEETING – NO REPORT
Outreach committee report – Frank Russello
– met last night, our very first Meet & Greet for the Regional Managers is the 20th, from there, they will continue to build their teams of Area Managers and Town Captains. Maybe solicit more TCs? Goal is to have this entire plan operational before the next legislative session
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- October Food Drive – for nearly eight years, CCDL has collected and distributed food for those in need at our monthly meetings. Thank you to all of our members who generously donated canned goods and other non-perishable items to our January meeting.
- Letter Writing Campaign – all CCDL members are encouraged to write pro-gun letters to the editors of news organizations.
MEETING AGENDA DETAILS
- Executive and committee reports
- Legislative Update
- Update and Volunteers for Outreach plan
- Amicus Brief Update
- 2Nd Amendment DC Rally
- Open forum
- Guest Speaker – Hartford Mayoral Candidate Aaron Lewis
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
The next General Meeting of Connecticut Citizens Defense League will held on December 10, 2019 at Elks Lodge 44 Maynard Street, Middletown CT. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
Scott Wilson called the meeting be adjourned at 8:30 pm
MINUTES PREPARED BY
Cheryl Lemos – Secretary CCDL
October 8, 2019
