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Puddin Race, St. Lucie County
puddin@slcfd.org
Tel.: 772-621-0354
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Greetings from Jon
Greetings:
2007 is off to a fast start. There are many things
going on with technical committees seeking input,
regional fire code development committees and the
coming Legislative session. Participating in these
opportunities is the best way to achieve member
involvement and it goes to the core of what we do in
our daily affairs. The State of Florida is well
represented by a number of you on various councils,
boards and committees. Keep up the good work.
For those in attendance at our annual meeting in
Hawk’s Cay I gave you an update on relations with
the Florida Fire Chief’s Association. The core issue is
the fact that we employ a lobbyist and there is
concern we may foster an environment that could
allow for conflict. There is a push to have us share a
lobbyist with the FFCA as the lead and FFMIA as a
stakeholder providing input. The membership made it
clear to the Board of Directors in Hawk’s Cay that it
is the desire of FFMIA to maintain our paid lobbyist
representation. We are working with the FFCA Board
of Directors to develop a plan to assure we are all on
the same page in a unified command approach
utilizing this legislative session as a dry run. The
bottom line is we are still talking.
Please join me in sending our congratulations to
our friend in Michigan. Ron Farr has been appointed
by the NFPA Board of Directors to sit on the
Standards Council. This is quite an honor and Ron is
very deserving of this designation.
Please continue to stay informed with the
business of your association. If there is anything we
can do for you please contact your regional
directoror any member of the Board.
Sincerely yours in a firesafe State of Florida,
Jon W. Pasqualone
President, FFMIA
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Salutations from Vicky
I just returned from the All-Ways Fire Safe at
Home – Best Practices in Fire and Life Safety
Education Conference in Washington, D.C. Meri-K
Appy, President of the Home Safety Council, was the
Mistress of Ceremonies and coordinated 250 fire and
life safety educators for this jam-packed 2˝ days.
I will be sharing that fantastic information with you
over the next several months, including one speaker
that reviews the FIRE Act Grant applications that
gave helpful tips on what to avoid and things that
will make your application a stand-out from the
rest.
Lowe’s Home Improvement Center presented a
check for $3 million to the Home Safety Council, and
the HSC speculated that they will try to make this
conference an annual event. One hundred of the
educators present were sponsored by HSC to attend
as a representative of their State, and they are
wanting to continue in that vein. Also, Michael Love,
from Montgomery County, MD, has formed a National
Fire and Life Safety Educator Association and to join
it you just need to send him an email. His email
address is:
Michael.Love@montgomerycountymd.gov
While I was there, my husband and I were
invited to dinner at the home of an old friend of our
Association’s, Vicki Wade, who is now with the
Department of Homeland Security Grants, and her
fiancé, Ken Lauziere, Chief Fire Marshal of the
Architect of the Capitol. Besides catching each
other up on all the news (and gossip!) around Florida
and Washington, Ken was so interesting to talk to
about his job on Capitol Hill. Some of you remember
Ken from the FFMIA conference in the Keys last
November as the speaker at the awards dinner. We
had a wonderful evening with them, and we were
given the grand tour of their beautiful historic home
that was built in 1890!
Looking ahead to our summer conference, you
may meet people in your everyday travels that would
be interested in becoming a vendor for the
conference or a Corporate Sponsor for our
Association. Be sure to invite them to join us (Have
them contact Chuck Akers)! I saw some incredible
vendors at this conference in D.C. with new safety
products that we need to know about. Here’s a
teaser – a burner cover that PREVENTS COOKING
FIRES! Who knew?!! Here’s another one – a
FLAMELESS wax vanilla scented candle that runs off
a battery (with all the appearance and ambience of a
real pillar candle)! More to come on these and more
later!
Article provided by:
Victorial Yeakley, Chair
yeakleyv@hillsboroughcounty.org
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Chaplain's Corner
Greetings & Blessings to All,
At our last conference in Duck Key this past
November, I had the opportunity to meet many of
you, but for those of you that were not able to
attend, as your newly appointed association's
chaplain, may I extend a sincere hello and my
services to you officially now. You might be
asking, "why do we need a chaplain?" It is my firm
belief that the Holy Word Of God sums up that
answer by stating, "because ALL things are possible
with God."
Not knowing what exactly FFMIA was All about,
I was left in awe after our business meeting and
banquet. The many programs that are underway
throughout the state, the on going fires that
continue to separate families and their homes that
you need to investigate, the funds needed to be
raised to finance projects year in and year out,
legislative issues in Tallahassee, and the mental and
physical health problems of the membership and their
individual departments, ALL must have the Power of
Prayer, and God's Presence by our invitations in
these "THINGS".
When I first became chaplain with my
department in Panama City, I had some basic
thoughts, as a minister, of where I could be needed
and used. But neither my chiefs nor I realized then
how much of an unaware void in the city would be
filled. Not long after, seeing the same needs in the
county, and reaching out to our local ministerial
association for help, we formed BECC, Bay
Emergency Chaplain Corps. Currently, there are
seven pastors within the county ready to answer any
call. I vision this new FFMIA position to be parallel
with the same spiritual challenges on a state
level.
As a member of the Christian clergy, and more
so as a chaplain, for nearly twenty-seven years, my
service to the Lord has taught me to LISTEN, not
judge or preach, and show Christ-like Compassion.
I've never been one to sit around and wait for
someone to do something. After prayer and the "go
forth" answer from that prayer, with HIS help, I go to
work.
To name a few areas that I wish to serve you
are, 1) to see that every fire district of our state has
some type of emergency support group to aid both
the workers and the victims, 2) to be available to
meet and help those in these districts to bring about
such groups, 3) accompany our executive
board/leaders to our capital during legislative times if
for nothing else but morale support, 4) to create a
benevolent fund for our members, and 5) just be here
for you if needed spiritually. I am not your pastor,
but wish to serve you as your chaplain in a
profession we both work and believe in.
A program I mentioned also back at the
conference has been growing well. The West Florida
Wilderness Institute, for troubled young males, added
as one of their classes a Basic Fire Training Course
for those wishing to learn this. A local volunteer
department has given WFWI an old, still working,
Ford Pumper to train with. A four story fire training
tower also sits on the property. These boys are gun-
ho, they are like human sponges. It was the
institute's desire to place these boys upon
graduation in fire departments back where they came
from, to mentor them, keep them from going back to
the troubled streets. That's where I was asked to
come in. We have four young men graduating in
spring, one I think we have placed once all parties
are satisfied. The Fire Chief and I are excited in what
we have seen happen to these young men, and look
forward in seeing their success in the future. I have
been promoted to Assistant. Fire Chief and thank God
for
the chance to be a part in these boys lives. Within
the next few weeks, WFWI will be raising funds to
have the truck painted so it can be used in parades
and other community events. There is talk about
responding to fires and accidents in the future, not
to "work" them but to offer help in traffic control,
etc. Add these fellows to your prayers please.
If you feel lead to contribute your efforts in any
of these matters, please contact me at
pcfdchaplain@firehousemail.com or call me, my cell
number is 850-541-2415 and is on 24/7. My open
door policy is not me, but HE. May God Be the Glory.
Finally, I hope and pray your holidays were
good, and the new year ahead is a happy one. God
Bless you and yours!
In His Service, and yours,
Chaplain Woody Bollinger
Panama City Fire Department
600 East Business Hwy 98
Panama City, Florida 32401
Office 850-872-3053
For our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29
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Bring Them On!!
Let's get crackin'. It's time to nominate your
Educator of the Year. Has this been a year of
special accomplishments for the Educator in your
department? Those folks out there who make your
department look good day after day are worth
remembering for their hard work.
Remember to get some others on your band-
wagon. Gather a few letters of support, photos,
articles or anything else that will make your nominee
stand out from the group.
For more information, call Puddin Race, 772-621-
3450.
Send your nomination package to me by mail or
email at:
Puddin Race
St. Lucie County Fire District
5160 NW Milner Drive
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34983
Or, you can email the nomination form to me at:
puddin@slcfd.org
Deadline is April 20, 2007, 4PM
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Conference Scholarships Available
There are scholarships available for the annual
Fire and Life Safety Education Conference held in
June each year. The scholarship provides
accomodations and conference fees. Transportaion
and meals are "on your own." This year the
conference will be at the beautiful Marco Island
Beach Resort, Naples, June 11th - 14th. You may
see the website for more details.
Send your application to me by email or snail
mail at:
Puddin Race
St. Lucie County Fire District
3160 NW Milner Road
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34983
Email: puddin@slcfd.org
Deadline is April 20, 2007, 4PM
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News from Pinellas Park Fire
So Long, Farewell,
We had grown tired of the smoking and belching;
tired of the maintenance and upkeep. So, after 23
years, it ended. We said “so long” to our road-weary
1983 Sutphen Aerial. In its place is a brand new,
2006 E-One Bronto Mid-Mount Aerial complete with a
114-foot articulating mechanical arm capable of
holding up to 2,000 pounds. This truck is bigger,
heavier, and shall I say, much better looking. And,
talk about versatility. The arm can be raised and
lowered into various positions that will put firefighters
and equipment closer to an incident, and there’s a
built-in extrication system on the front bumper that
makes work at accident scenes a lot easier. Even at
the ripe old age of 23, the Sutphen has some life left
and may soon be on its way to a new home. The City
of Pinellas Park is working on donating it to a
community in need of a “pre-owned” ladder
truck.
And the Award Goes To-
Pinellas Park Fire Department is pleased to
announce the 2006 Employee of the Year, Firefighter
of the Year, and Paramedic of the Year.
Employee of the Year: Fire Inspector/Investigator
Jim Dudley is a 24 year veteran of the fire service
and is known for his active participation in numerous
department events and projects. Jim has unselfishly
given his time to many worthy causes over the
years. Working with the Firefighters Benevolent
Association, Jim has helped to orchestrate food and
toy drives to help hundreds of needy families during
the holidays.
Paramedic of the Year: Fire
Lieutenant
Marc Humiston has been a paramedic with the
department for over 20 years and was recently
promoted to Lieutenant. Marc possesses a
positive “can-do” attitude and is quick to take the
extra steps to provide exceptional customer service
on the job.
Firefighter of the Year:
Firefighter/EMT Nick DelGrosso is well known within
the community for his work with charitable
organizations, specifically the Muscular Dystrophy
Association. Nick’s dedication to helping others has
resulted in the creation and success of charitable
events such as the Chili Blaze, Firefighter BikeFest,
and MDA Boot Drive.
ArticleProvided by:
Suzanne Boisvert, Public Education
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Calendar of Events
- June 11th – June 14th, 2007: 19th Annual Fire
and Life Safety Educators Conference - Hilton Marco
Island Beach Resort, Naples, Registration Fee:
$245.00/Room Rate: $109.00
- November 5th – November 8th, 2007: 59th
Annual Fire Prevention Conference - Hilton Cocoa
Beach Oceanfront, Cocoa Beach, Registration Fee:
$245.00/Room Rate: $109.00
- June 9th – June 12th, 2008: 20th Annual Fire and
Life Safety Educators Conference - Broward County
Hotel to be Determined, Registration Fee:
$245.00/Room Rate: To be Determined
- November 3rd – November 6th, 2008: 60th Annual
Fire Prevention Conference - Crown Plaza Hotels and
Resort, Ft. Myers, Registration Fee: $245.00/Room
Rate: $109.00
- November 2nd – November 5th, 2009: 61st
Annual Fire Prevention Conference - Sheraton
Orlando North, Maitland, Registration Fee:
$245.00/Room Rate: $111.00
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