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| From the Editor's Desk... |
We're happy you are enjoying the newsletter. We send out reminders for articles on the AList, but you are welcome to send one at any time during the month. Please put NEWSLETTER ARTICLE in the subject line to avoid deletion. If you would like to send and article or have a suggestion, contact:
Puddin Race,
St. Lucie County
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| Member Section |
Members... join our Members only section. Click Here
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| Greetings from Jon |
Summer brings many opportunities to us in Florida. As I travel the State, I can't get away from all of the services that we provide that most people take for granted. Everything from signage in stairwells requiring no storage by order of the fire marshal, to complex fire alarm and suppression systems. All in all I see consistency wherever I go and that is a testimonial to a uniform delivery of product. Our product is fire code delivery and our customers come from all over the world. Speaking of fire codes, many have asked about the delivery date of the new Florida Fire Prevention Code. All indications are pointing to August 1 for availability with an implementation date of October 1, 2008.
The month of May brought back a seasonal reminder that wildfire is an ever present danger in the State of Florida. Many of you may have been involved in the responses to the Space Coast and a great job was done by all as evidenced by the limited number of injuries and no fatalities. It is unfortunate that the number of homes damaged and destroyed mounted as high as it did and we hope for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law for those responsible for this senseless act. When you are looking at development plans, please be sure to try to incorporate Firewise planning into new developments in the wildland urban interface areas. I have been preaching the Firewise message for about ten years and it does work. It is amazing what 30 feet of defensible space can do in a fire fight.
We are continuing to monitor Legislative activity and are eagerly awaiting anticipated bill signings on the fire-safe cigarette legislation as well as the light weight truss signage amongst others of fire service importance. We will keep you posted if the need arises to initiate letter campaigns and will advise through the chat group when bills have been signed as we receive the information. Please also remember that no legislation was passed on fireworks during the recent legislative session. Review Florida Statute 791 to see how this may affect your area for fireworks sales during the coming month.
Finally, I know many of you are struggling through the grueling heartache and the realities of tax reform. As I stated in the opening paragraph, we are responsible for product delivery and our product is fire code enforcement. Stay focused on your mission and seek help where you can find it. There have been many inquiries floating around the chat group looking for a "better way". Stay tuned and if you have an idea, please post it for all to see. The FFMIA Board of Directors continues to push for assuring your needs are met and remember to use the justification of free training for your $55. membership fee when justifying your budget.
Until next month, stay safe.
Sincerely yours in a fire safe State of Florida,
Jon W. Pasqualone, President | |
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| Salutations from Vicky |
It has been my pleasure and privilege to work for and with all of you for the past four years as your Chair. My time here has been among the most personally and professionally rewarding experiences of my life. The friends and colleagues that I have had the great privilege to work alongside are unsurpassed. Watching the FAFLSE grow from a fledgling organization into a nationally recognized association has been exciting beyond words. And it is an honor for us to have set a standard for fire and life safety education that is recognized by the USFA, NFPA, the Home Safety Council, the State Fire Marshal's Office, and our own FFMIA.
I thank Cheryl Edwards for her vision for FAFLSE, Bob Smallacombe for his mentorship and example, Chuck and Juanita Akers for their hard work and support, Puddin Race for her faithfulness, Elaine Lewis for her tenacity, Leslie Adent for her sweet spirit, and Carmela King for stepping up when we had a need. Most of all, I thank them for their friendship. They have become my good friends, and it has been a pleasure serving with every one of them.
It is because of each of these officers and their integrity and experience as fire and life safety educators that we were able to go through challenges and to celebrate victories. And oh, do we know how to celebrate!
But credit for the success of our Association also belongs to the FFMIA Board and their striving to become so much closer to FAFLSE over the last few years. I thank Steve Peavey for his encouragement, Charlie Raiken for his passion, Jon Pasqualone for his leadership, Jeff Collins for his critical thinking, Wes Hayes for his kindness, Rick Butcher for his fiduciary guardianship, Bart Wright for his loyalty, Tony Apfelbeck for his attention to detail, Ed Riley for his dedication, Foster Gover for his wisdom, Tambre Lee for her commitment, Walt Reed for his can-do attitude, and John Lake for his perspective. Each of them has made such a positive impact on me.
"Thank you" goes out also to my department, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, who allowed and encouraged me to be a part of FAFLSE since the beginning. Without their support, I never would have been able to make such a commitment.
I have had such a fantastic opportunity in working with these men and women and to see problems worked out with such caring and compassion for each other's opinions and perspectives. I started my career in the fire service in 1978, and I have never seen or experienced such professionalism and kindness as I have the last eight years as an officer of FAFLSE. If you have considered serving or have never served on a task force or in an officer's position, I wholly encourage you to do it. You will be amazed to see close up the inner workings of a truly wonderful group of people!
Finally, in retrospect, it has always been my motto that if you aren't having fun, then you're not doing it right! You can find a way to make even the most mundane job fun. Okay, there are a few exceptions to that, but for the most part, it is true. I have so much affection for FAFLSE, and it has been a lot of hard work. A lot! But you all were the ingredient that made it so much fun! It has been such a blast, and I REALLY look forward to passing on all this fun to our next Chair! Thank you all for giving me this opportunity!
Victoria Yeakley, Chair
FAFLSE
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue
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| Florida Arson Seminar Scheduled - Save the Dates |
Mark your calendars for October 8th - October 10th, 2008 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. The Florida Arson Group along with the Florida Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association join forces to conduct this years Florida Arson Seminar. The three groups have teamed up to put on a fantastic seminar filled with a variety of topics for Investigators and Inspectors. MARK THOSE CALENDARS!
Article Provided by:
Chuck Akers |
| NFPA Public Educator Network Meets in Las Vegas |
| More than fifty representatives of states and provinces (one from each state) have been chosen to participate in the Public Educator Network which will meet in Las Vegas on Sunday June 1, 2008.
Florida selected Puddin Race, St. Luice County Fire District and FAFLSE Vice Chair, to represent us at this event. The service of her appointment will be for one year and will be based on participation and state and NFPA approval. The meeting will be held just prior to the NFPA World Safety Conference and has a packed agenda.
Article Provided by:
Catherine Whitaker, PIO
St. Lucie County Fire District
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| Lake County Fire Marshals Group Announces Award Winners |
 The Lake County Fire Marshals Group in conjunction with State Farm Insurance- Lake County Independent Agents and IMS: Incident Management Solutions of Clermont announced the recipients for the Lake County of the Year Awards for 2007 on March 26, 2008 at The Carrabba's Italian Grill on State Hwy 50, Clermont. Wm "Buddy" Martin of the Lake County District Schools received recognition for Fire Inspector of the Year. Mr. Martin's effort to provide fire safe environments for the youth and visitors of all Lake County Schools surpasses excellence. He was recognized for this award due to his knowledge of the codes pertaining to educational facilities and the Florida Fire Preventions Code. April Hoover, Assistant Chief of Administration for the City of Clermont Fire Department received the Chief Fire Officer of the Year Award for her years of dedication and hard work she provides to the fire service on a daily basis. Her continued efforts to coordinate the implementation of new policies and procedures for department improvement have been a valuable contribution to the Clermont Fire Department. Kathy Edwards, FF/EMT, Public Education Coordinator received the Life Safety Educator of the Year Award for her dedication to public safety education. Kathy manages, schedules, and trains individuals on the Fire Safety House, schedules all events for her agency and leads the Juvenile FireSetters Network for all of Lake County. Charles Blinco, Lieutenant with Lake County Fire Rescue received Firefighter of the Year Award for his level of professionalism and leadership in the area of Special Operations Response Team. He recently received high compliments from Polk County Fire Rescue for his technical capabilities during fire suppression operations at a 70 vehicle crash on I-4. This year's successful event hosted 43 public safety members from 9 different agencies in the Lake County area. The Lake County Fire Marshals Group and the event sponsors plan on providing these prestigious recognitions each year to the individual fire service personnel that continue to go above and beyond their everyday duties.
Article Provided by:
Kevin M. Rausch, SR.
Coordinator, Lake County Fire Marshals Group |
| Chaplain's Corner |
Remember, we are building a statewide chaplain corps. I have been watching the fire news in past months just to see if such a group could be used, and I feel one should be put in service for our state. Often, it's out of sight, out of mind. If you are interested in belonging to this group, or know of someone who might be, please call and/or email me with a name contact contact number.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the FAFLSE conference this month. I know how the cut-backs are hurting the whole state with fire educators, along with other fire and law enforcement positions, but this conference might just be the place to get motivated with positive directions in not allowing it to get worse.
I read an article last month of a 4 year old boy, in Wisconsin, that accidentally started a fire in his home. When it was over, his 7 year old brother was dead, and his 2 year old sibling was flown to a Milwaukee hospital. Nothing was mentioned of a juvenile fire setting program, or of help for this very, young boy. This could have been a Florida boy, and would we have a program available for him? I would like to think that there is some kind of help up there for him, that he is not in the dark and alone.
Yes, fuel is rising in price like a flooded riverbank. Carmela and I wonder everyday of if we can attend the conference, and she sits on the FAFLSE board in Public Relations. She needs to be there and she will. I wait for the day for her to tell me I can't go to Panama City to my fire houses because of the gas situation, but she doesn't and I know she never will. I'll have to make that call. When PCFD brought me on, it was, and still is a volunteer position. The price of gas, though it may not make me very happy, it will not stop me from doing my service for the Lord. My trust is in HIM for the calling He has placed in me.
Do not allow the gas, the budgets, the cuts, or anything else keep you from your calling. Keep your FAITH. As the WORD says, "this to shall pass".
Always in my prayers,
Chaplain Woody Bollinger
FFMIA
BECC, PCFD
pcfdchaplain@firehousemail.com
Mobile 850-541-2415
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| Delray Beach Receives 2008 Heart Ready City and Community Award |
The American Heart Association announces the 2008 Heart Ready City Award for Delray Beach and Delray Beach Fire Rescue. This award is being presented to us for their efforts regarding our lifesaving Automatic External Defibrillator and CPR Programs.
We currently have 211 registered AED's within the City of Delray Beach Fire-Rescue. 111 of those units are owned and maintained by the City. Most of the AED's were obtained through grants or donations over the last 10 years.
For every minute that goes by with out lifesaving CPR/AED use, the chance of survivability goes down by 10%. Last year 5 instances of AED use were reported, prior to the paramedic's arrival on scene, with 3 of those incidents resulting in a lifesaving outcome.
Delray's pro-active efforts to educate residents and visitors on the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) and CPR are making an impact in the community and surrounding areas. The City of Delray Beach has become a "Model" for others to follow and we are proud to be able to invite you to this presentation in honor of our combined citywide efforts.
Article Provided by:
Lt. Trisha Dunkelmann, Community Education Specialist
(561)243-7456 office (561)441-7885 cell
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| Another "Safe Haven" Baby Given a Chance at Life |
 A baby girl is left in safety at a Safe Haven: Hospital. She said she wanted this child to have a better life than she had. The baby's name is Ana Maria.
This is the 30th baby left under the Safe Haven for Newborns program in South Florida and the 99th in the State of Florida.
Please visit www.asafehavenfornewborns.com to learn more.
REMEMBER: A newborn left under the "Safe Haven" program , either by the Letter of the Law or Spirit of the Law was not abandoned.
Article Provided by:
Nick E. Silverio, Founder
Phone:(305) 882 1304 ext:103
Cell: (786) 246-1304
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