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September 2008 |
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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 an 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 |
As we soar through 2008, and it seems like time is flying, we have some noted changes in the guard. First I would like to welcome Puddin Race, who is the new Chair for the Florida Association of Fire and Life Safety Educators. Puddin took the helm from Vicky Yeakley in June at the Public Educators Conference and has been well groomed for this mission. Welcome aboard.
Next I would like to welcome Chief Nat Ippolito from San Carlos Park as he takes the reigns from Chief Barry Baker as President of the Florida Fire Chief's Association. It has been a pleasure to work with Chief Baker and with Vicky and we look forward to continued years of productivity with the leadership of all of our fire service partners.
As you may have heard, we are partnering with the Florida Arson Seminar to host their annual conference in Orlando in October and it is time to make plans now to attend the 60th Annual Fire Prevention Conference in Ft. Myers in November. Registration information is on the website and we are sure to have a great turnout for both conferences.
It is also time to submit those nominations for our "Of the Year Awards". There are many fine people in this State who contribute to the safety and well being of our residents, workers and visitors and this is a time to make their contributions known to all. The nomination form may be found on the website. Take a few minutes to recognize the good things that people do to make it better for all of us.
It is also time to nominate candidates for our Board of Directors. This year the Regional Directors are up for election and we have two incumbents who are stepping down. John Lake in the Northeast Region and Bart Wright in the East Central Region will step down at the Annual meeting in Ft. Myers. On behalf of the Board and the membership, please join me in thanking these two gentlemen for their service over the years.
We have a by-laws change that will come before the membership that involves our Lifetime Membership designation. I asked Mr. Olin Greene to chair a committee made up of our current Lifetime members to establish the criteria for inclusion into this elite club. They have made their recommendation and that will necessitate a change to the current by-laws. Copies of this proposal will be available at the annual meeting.
In closing, if you have the opportunity, please attend the IRC meetings in Minneapolis in September. The vote on residential sprinklers is long overdue and we need all of the fire service representation we can get there.
Until next month, stay safe and remember 9-11.
Sincerely yours in the fire safe State of Florida,
Jon Pasqualone, President
Florida Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association
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Salutations from Puddin |
 An exerpt from a news release from the United States Senate states:
"While they may be harmless toys, novelty lighters can be dangerous to young children. Responding to calls from fire prevention and child safety groups across the country, U. S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), have introduced the "Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act". This legislation is for the purpose of banning lighters constructed to look like toys or household items. Commonly referred to as "novelty lighters," the toy-like devices, which naturally apeal to small children, have been the cause of deadly fires across the country."
A few states have already passed this common sense legislation. I want to encourage you to support similar legislation in Florida. We are in hopes of having this introduced this next session. We'll keep you informed.
Children should not confuse lighters as toys. A free Public Service Announcement about novelty lighters is available on The Idea Bank's website: www.theideabank.com.
Puddin Race, Chair
FAFLSE
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| Florida Arson Seminar Scheduled - Save the Dates |
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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 |
| The Life You Save Could Be Your Own |
 In the past 30 years, more than 100,000 people, including many firefighters have been killed by fires in unsprinklered homes. IT'S TIME to end this needless loss of life.
In September 2008, a national hearing will take place in Minneapolis, MN to decide whether building codes should require ALL new homes to have fire sprinklers. For the code to change, we need your help.
Here's what you can do:
2. Become one of your department's designated International Code Council voting representatives.
3. Attend the hearing in Minnesota to cast your vote for residential sprinklers.
The hearing will be held on September 20-22 in Minneapolis. Get this meeting on your schedule and into your budget NOW! Travel assistance funding will be available to those who would otherwise not be able to attend.
Want to know more?
Contact the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition at (202)470-6447
Email: admin@IRCFireSprinkler.org
This is the most important building code vote to impact firefighter and community safety in decades. Be a part of it!
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| St. Lucie County Fire District Stands Out For Kids |
 Last year, there were several juvenile injuries near bus stops in St. Lucie County. The Fire District has responded to this issue. Three four-inch reflector strips for backpacks have been provided for 10,000 students. Each reflective strip says, "Be safe, be seen". Two are placed on the shoulder straps and one on the back flap of each backpack.
Also, St. Lucie County Firefighters stood at major intersections around the county on the first morning of school. They held signs stating, "School's Open, Watch Out For Me" which reminded drivers to be aware of the students. The same signs were placed throughout the county, reminding drivers there are students in the area.
Article Provided by:
Catherine Whitaker, PIO
St. Lucie County Fire District |
| Non-binding Interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code (FCIC) |
The Florida Fire Marshal and Inspector's Association has entered into contract with the State Fire Marshal's Office. The agreement in a nut shell is for the FFMIA to maintain a committee offering a means for informal interpretations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code. There are 7 members on the committee, with eventually all seven having alternates. The 7 members are from different areas of the state, each having their own areas, covering specific counties. All of the people on the committee must be certified as a fire inspector. The members of the committee can be found on the FFMIA Web Site.
69A-60.011, Florida Administrative Code is the vehicle that describes the intent and set up of the committee in detail. The cost associated for the committee to give an informal interpretation is $110.00 for each question. Each question asked must be written in a form that can be answered with either a yes or no.
A time line is set up within 69A-60.011. After the request has been received, each member of the committee shall respond back to the chair within 5 days. After the Chair receives the determination from the committee, that committee has 4 days to get it back to the requester. "In no event shall the FCIC response be sent later than (30) thirty days from the date the Organization receives the request for informal interpretation." Also, after a determination has been reached, it will be posted on the FFMIA web site.
This committee has been set up as tool to aide not only the state, but you in the finding the answers the quickest way possible. We wish any and all to utilize this valuable opportunity. All the details can be found, including the ability to down load forms on the FFMIA web site. Open the site and just scroll down.
Wes Hayes, 1st V.P.
FFMIA, FCIC Chair
weshayes@polkfl.com
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NOTICE - NEWSLETTER - NOTICE |
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At least one person had difficulty getting email to me last month resulting in not getting an article published. For the next couple of months I will REPLY to your email that your article was received. If you do not get such a reply, I probably didn't receive the article. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions, 772-621-3450.
We have installed new spam blockers and fire walls here and we suspect that is the issue. Thanks for your help.
Remember to put "newsletter" or "article" in your subject line to avoid deletion. I do not open anything with "fwd" in the subject line.
Puddin Race
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| Florida Arson Seminar Hotel Deadline |
If you are planning on attending the Florida Arson Seminar in October the hotel deadline is September 8th. The hotel will only take your credit card to guarantee the room but will not charge your credit card. We know that your department probably will not release any funds until after October 1st but it is important that at least you get your room reserved.
See our website, www.ffmia.org and check the Arson Seminar flyer for complete information.
Article Provided by:
Chuck Akers, Executive Director
FFMIA
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| Important Notice Regarding Student ID's |
As of January 1st, 2009 the association will no longer accept social security numbers when signing the sign in sheets at our seminars or conferences. You will need to go to the Florida State Fire College Website, get signed in and get your Student ID. This is the only number that will be accepted as of January 1st, 2009.
Article Provided by:
Chuck Akers Executive Director, FFMIA |
| 60th Annual Fire Prevention Conference |
It's that time again! Our annual fire prevention conference is being held in Fort Myers this year. The conference committee has an excellent program put together and will cover the updates to the new Florida Fire Prevention Code which go into effect December 31st, 2008.
Make your reservations now! You don't want to miss it! Go to our webside for full and complete information, www.ffmia.org.
Article Provided by:
Chuck Akers
Executive Director, FFMIA
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