Board Meeting Minutes

Montague Hall called the meeting to order and opened with prayer.

Document Language Update: Bruce requested that all SSSF documents replace the term "FLETC" with "federal" where applicable to avoid potential institutional association issues. Montague agreed and committed to updating all existing documents accordingly.

Personal Announcement: Bruce shared that he has been promoted to Division Chief following Montague's departure from that position. The board acknowledged this achievement.

The minutes from the first board meeting were presented for approval.

EIN Application: The EIN application remains pending. Wendell committed to providing the required information before the end of the meeting. Montague will file articles of incorporation for Florida upon receipt of the EIN.

501(c)(3) Application: The board discussed whether to file via Form 1023-EZ or the standard Form 1023. Kevin advocated for the 1023-EZ for its simplicity. Montague expressed concern that fundraising goals may create IRS complications with the streamlined form. The board agreed to wait for Florida state approval before pulling both application forms for comparison.

Florida Registrations: Montague outlined three Florida-specific requirements to be completed: (1) File articles of incorporation, (2) File for Florida state tax exemption on the DR-5 form, and (3) Register as a Florida charitable organization. Kevin will set up a bank account once Florida paperwork is received.

Illinois: Montague confirmed no immediate action is required in Illinois as the organization is not currently accepting donations there.

Montague presented the organizational bylaws for adoption. Board members confirmed no changes were needed from the draft previously circulated.

Montague presented donor language for accepting donations prior to receiving 501(c)(3) federal approval. The language states that all donations will be fully tax-deductible once federal approval is received.

Montague presented a policy tracker containing several key organizational documents including a confidentiality policy and a code of ethics. The board reviewed current policy development priorities and assigned responsibilities by tier.

Client Engagement & Service Agreement Policy: Assigned to Bruce, due by June. Jacqueline noted that a draft already exists under Policy No. 4. The board agreed to work from the existing draft rather than starting from scratch.

Required Policies Before Assessments or Donations: Montague identified the following policies as mandatory prerequisites: Non-Disclosure Agreement, Donation Acceptance Policy, Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Document Retention Policy.

Montague presented the Shepherd's Shield House of Worship Security Assessment tool, developed in part based on documentation provided by Bruce from previous CP3 grant work. Key features include:

• Multi-category assessment with pass/fail scoring and recommendations
• Separate detailed assessment and summary report outputs
• Automated report generation system (in development)
• Accompanying Assessor Training Guide and Assessment Report templates

Pre-Assessment Questionnaire: The board discussed creating an online pre-assessment form for churches to complete prior to a full assessment. Bruce offered to share an existing pre-assessment template from previous CP3 grant work. Kevin volunteered to review and add camera/physical security questions to the questionnaire.

Proprietary Protection: Montague emphasized that the assessment tool should remain proprietary initially and be deployed only through controlled pilot programs rather than distributed broadly.

Montague presented the SSSF Accreditation Strategy document outlining the organization's vision for certifying church security courses and establishing industry standards. The board discussed the potential for SSSF to become an accrediting body given the combined law enforcement and military credentials of the board.

Montague expressed confidence in the organization's ability to establish market leadership in church security training accreditation. Long-term revenue streams from certifying third-party training programs were discussed, with Montague noting this is a 1–2 year horizon goal.

Montague proposed two complimentary pilot programs to launch the assessment program:

Bruce offered to assist Montague with property assessments for both programs. Both parties agreed pilots must remain complimentary with future donations remaining optional.

Montague presented the SSSF Training Standard document covering certification requirements for church security officers. Key curriculum points discussed:

• Unarmed Certification (CUCSO): 8 contact hours — scenario-based components require in-person delivery
• Armed Certification (CACSO): 16 additional hours (24 total) — includes live-fire range qualification
• Instructor Certification (CCSI): Three pathways based on existing credentials

Terminology Discussion: The board discussed potentially removing the word "church" from certification titles to make them more inclusive across different faith-based organizations. No formal vote was taken; Montague will consider this in the next revision.

Materials Status: Montague confirmed that complete curriculum documents for both the 8-hour and 16-hour courses have been developed and will be shared with the board for review and feedback prior to the next meeting.

Website Development: Montague announced plans to begin development of the SSSF website. All board members are requested to submit professional bios — with optional photos (AI enhancement of photos is acceptable) — to Montague for inclusion on the site.

TSA Flight Deck Training: Montague announced a new role conducting TSA flight deck officer training, beginning with the Jacksonville office the following Tuesday.

Bruce's Motorcycle Trip: Bruce noted an upcoming cross-country motorcycle trip through the western United States, June 1–21, affecting his availability during that window.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Time of Adjournment: __________