The 453rd meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was called to order and was hosted by the Fitchburg Fire Department on Wednesday, February, 27 2002, with 23 present.
BUSINESS MEETING:
Deputy Chris Kelley introduced Jon Jones of Jon Jones & Associates
on the “Mandatory Firefighter Training Study”, currently being conducted
by his firm for DFS. Minimum requirements for firefighters are at issue,
and Jon is gathering information and input from organizations such as MIFDI
to determine the best avenue of approach. He has also looked at fire departments
in other states to see what their specific training or standards encompass.
It was a very interesting presentation and an insightful discussion followed
with MIFDI members offering input and suggestions {Click here to see a copy of the handouts from the presentation}.
The Secretary’s report: Since Ed Morgan was voted into this position at the last meeting, Michael McLeieer, 1st Vice President reported the minutes are as posted on the website & in the Bulletin. There was nothing else to report at this time.
The Treasurer’s report was read and the figures are as of 03/01/2002:
127 members
87 = active
28 = retired
12 = associate / advertiser
4 - paid for 2002
2 - paid for 2001 past due
6 - No response
Final Notices Sent
Six letters sent to Assoc/ad members
per vote taken at last meeting
50/50 Raffle
Collected $115.00
Prize $ 55.00
Deposited $ 60.00
Feb Newsletter 104 sent = $ 272.28
Balance = $ 2,091.39
The goal of MIFDI is to have this organization over 200 members strong
by the end of this year. Please spread the word about our organization
to members of the fire service and tell a friend.
OLD BUSINESS:
· Dave Jardin passed a new MIFDI logo design around for everyone to see {click on the link to see the new logo}. It was voted to accept the new design as the MIFDI logo. The logo
is too big for a hat, therefore, hats will be with lettering only. It was
also decided that tee-shirts will be gray in color and also that the new
logo will be made into window stickers as well.
· Michael McLeieer announced the Second Vice Presidents’ position
is still open and President Norm Aubert asked for volunteers, (there were
none). The website advertisement for this position will remain on the website
as well as in the bulletin and it will be discussed again at next months
meeting.
ANY MEMBER WHO IS INTERESTED
IN THE VACANT POSITION OF 2nd VICE PRESIDENT,
Should send their letter of
interest & background to MIFDI President Norman
J. Aubert, Jr.
(e-mail: a220892@aol.com) or
US Mail: 14 Hidden Way, Chelmsford,
MA 01824.
NEW BUSINESS:
· The video of the World Trade Center is now in the possession
of the Lynnfield Fire Department. CBS will air this video on March 10th,
probably in an edited form.
· Norm announced next months meeting will feature Kevin Garvey
as the guest speaker.
COMMITTEES:
The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman,
and Richard Gomes. Steve announced he has received the photos taken by
Dick Hay over the years and he will turn them over to Michael to be put
on the website. He also said the committee will be meeting next month.
The Bi-Law Committee - consists of Norm Aubert, C. Randall Sherman, Mort Shurtluff, Chris Kelly, Brian Ash, and John Cummings. Norm had nothing to report.
Public Relations Committee - consists of Mr. Ira Hoffman and Michael McLeieer. Michael asked about getting more members signed up to receive the bulletin via e-mail. Ira’s membership status was discussed. According to Dave Jardin, Ira is a Regular member & his renewal will be at that rate. It was decided Michael would get in contact with Ira. Michael also questioned what the membership wished to do about Paul Antonellis’ membership and dues, as Paul was under the impression his dues were paid by MIFDI for being the liaison between MFA & MIFDI. It was discussed and decided that regrettably, Paul will have to pay his own dues. The submission of pictures and links for the website were also discussed.
MFA UPDATE: Norm Aubert, Jr.
· Everett Pierce has been named the acting Director of the Fire
Academy as of March, due to Bill Hollick’s retirement.
· It was stated once again that there has been a restoration
of most of the 2002 budget, but there is still a hiring freeze state-wide.
The 2003 budget does not look good at this time, but there will still be
a 4% raise for instructors.
Also, visit the DFS website for the procedures for class cancellations due to severe weather. MIFDI will also post this information on the MIFDI website – www.mifdi.org.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Ed Morgan – Secretary.
MARCH MIFDI MEETING:
Wednesday, March 27th, 2002 at Yeradi’s Restaurant in Newton. Kevin
Garvey will be the guest speaker from the Lexington Fire Department regarding
Terrorism.
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT:
The February meeting of MIFDI was very beneficial to me, in that I
looked deep within myself, of where we are now in 2002 in regards to the
different types of training that we provide to our fire department members.
In listening to Mr. Jones, I wondered how we could deal with the financial
decline of our fire department budgets and ways to deal with and overcome
the Massachusetts political machine. As fire department training
officers, DFS/MFA instructors, and state examiners, we are faced with the
reality that this is not Kansas, and if we click our heels together, our
training problems will not go away. How many departments in Massachusetts
are faced with putting NEW hires on apparatus well before they are proficient
in providing services for the community that we protect? Are these members
of a firefighting crew placing themselves and other firefighters at risk?
So how long is long enough, to take someone off the street, put a uniform
on them, give them a badge and PPE and call them a training professional?
It all comes down to money. It’s amazing on how many communities
are thinking about reducing firefighter forces, closing apparatus and stations
especially after 11 September 2002. We are told that our customer service
base is now to provide additional services for our communities that were
historically of a military nature, but now we will provide these services
with possible reduced resources.
We as an organization have to express our views, educate our citizens, community government officials, and leaders. We need to collectively look at this proposal for mandatory training that will be a governing standard for ALL firefighters in Massachusetts. I believe that we need ONE standard regardless if a department is a call, volunteer, or a full time. Are you as an instructor providing quality training in accordance with the current standards of NFPA 1001, 1002, 1500, and 1403? Can you ensure your members are proficient in all tasks no matter how basic they may be? In working for the (DFS/MFA) which in my mind is a great institution, I find myself sometimes frustrated in that we are limited in capacity due to reductions of monies available for programs and the hiring freeze for academy instructors. What can be done to ensure that firefighters that don’t attend the recruit-training program given at the fire academy are meeting the standards? Through experience as a state examiner I have found that there is a need for a quality assurance mechanism during the F/F I/II tier programs that are being offered by departments to prepare candidates for state certification. If we are going to talk about MANDATORY training for firefighters, I believe that we MUST NOT DE-CENTRALIZE the authority for regional training areas to local jurisdiction without comprehensive monitoring by the DFS/MFA and the MFTC. We need qualified “CERTIFIED” instructors operating on the same page and establish a protocol statewide. I have to commend the recruit training staff for a job well done in molding 352 firefighters a during the 440-hour training curriculum each year.
MAKE PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT OF THE DFS/MFA EXPANSION AND EQUIPMENT PROJECT UPGRADE. AGAIN, THE BILL NUMBER IS #4603, AND THE LINE ITEM NUMBER IS 8000-9012. DON’T LET THIS CAPITOL BUDGET FAIL.
SIDE NOTE: Congratulations to Bill Hollick on his retirement as Director of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Bill will be missed, as he has been a firefighter icon for years. I have respected and enjoyed working under him for 10 years at the academy. He is a true professional that was and always will be dedicated to the fire service
WERE ARE THEY NOW? If you have any old pictures of MIFDI members and wish to share them, we will post them on the website for nostalgia. M. McLeieer will post some OLD photos in the very near future. . Last month I complied a list of ALL elected offices since 1959, check it out on the website.
Make sure to visit, and tell a friend, about the MIFDI dominion website at MIFDI.ORG, or log on to the DFS/MFA or FSP link. We added a new website link entitled “Massachusetts Fire Department websites” check it out. As usual, if there is anything that the officers and board of directors can do to make “OUR” organization better, please let us know!!! Please be safe and may Saint Florian always be there to guide you safely.
Norm...
DRILL SCHEDULE
MAR:
Newton, Yeradi’s Restaurant
APR:
Stoughton Fire Department
MAY:
TBA
