The 456th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was called to order and was hosted by the Stoughton Fire Department on Tuesday May 28th, 2002, with 27 members present.

Deputy David Jardin of Stoughton Fire opened the meeting and announced the Stoughton Fire Chief was unable to attend the meeting due to the death of a police officer last Friday.

David turned the meeting over to President Norm Aubert who introduced member Ed Lyons to members who may not know him.

Norm announced the clam boil will be held on the third Wednesday of June, (June19th), at the Barnstable County Fire Academy. The price will be $30 to $35 per person and reservations should be made via E-Mail to rrdscrs@yahoo.com or via phone to C. Randall Sherman at 508-394-8864. (see “JUNE MEETING” later in this bulletin for further details)

Captain Don Jasmin of the Stoughton Fire Department presented a program on the “Rose Manor Rooming House” fire of 1995. Firefighter Victor C. Melendy, a Stoughton firefighter, was killed in the line of duty during this fire. The fire involved a 22 room, balloon frame structure with 19 occupants at the time of the incident. The fire apparently started in a light fixture on the second floor and burned for 4 to 5 hours before the buildings’ alarm was activated. Initially, there was only light smoke showing, but heavy fire broke out only 4 to 5 minutes after arrival of the first apparatus on the scene. Captain Jasmin continued to detail the chain of events leading to this tragedy, emphasizing the fact that even when we do our jobs following all S.O.G.’s, things can and will still go wrong. It was a truly captivating presentation that we were all able to learn something from.

The Secretary’s report:  The secretary was not present.  Nothing to report.

The Treasurer’s report was read as follows:     Checking Balance: (as of 05/31/2002) $1,771.32

May Meeting 50/50 Raffle:
Collected: $120.00
Treasury:  $  60.00

MIFDI Clothing Status:
Initial Cost: $91.50 – Samples
Collected: $100.00 – Sales
Currently: $    8.50 – Profit

MIFDI Window Stickers:
Initial Cost $?
Proposing a Fund Raiser – June Meeting

MIFDI Membership Dues Paid:
2003: 3 Members (retired members)
2002: 74 Members
2001: 49 Members (in arrears = $937.50)

MIFDI Mailings:
E-Mail: 30 Members
Regular Mail: 96 Members
Average Cost: $2.38 per mailed bulletin

Respectfully Submitted
David M. Jardin

OLD BUSINESS:

· The casket detail was briefly discussed.

NEW BUSINESS:

· Dave Jardin reports the MIFDI clothing is going well and he brought 3 samples to show the membership. There was a discrepancy with the window decal order however, and too many were inadvertently ordered. Currently, we owe $2,014.00 for the amount in question, but the vendor states we can have them for $1,000.00. Dave asked members how much they want to spend on this. It is unclear who was in error, but consensus of the membership lay fault with the vendor. It was voted to offer the vendor $500.00 for ALL the decals and free advertising in the MIFDI Bulletin for 10 years. A letter will be written to the vendor to confirm this arrangement.
· Norm discussed the vacant 2nd Vice President’s position. He has received two e-mails expressing interest in the position. Nominations were asked for with none forthcoming. He then nominated Scott Maker of Merrimac Fire for the position, which was seconded and ultimately passed by majority vote.
· The costs associated with the publication of the MIFDI newsletter was discussed. Even though the number of newsletters being mailed has decreased, (due to many members receiving it via e-mail),  the cost has been rising each month. Dave Jardin provided the example that in March we mailed 100 newsletters at a cost of $2.38 each. In May we mailed only 93 newsletters, but the cost was $2.62 each. A year ago, (May 2001), the cost was $2.14 per newsletter. Bob MacKendrick suggested that perhaps the solution may be to produce a “2 sheet” bulletin, much like the Mass Fire Prevention newsletter. Mike McLeieer affirmed that this could be easily accomplished by printing the bulletin that is posted on the web site each month and mailing that as a 2 sheet newsletter, thus keeping costs to a minimum. A motion was made to form a 3-member committee to look into solutions to the problem. After a brief discussion, the motion was withdrawn and it was decided to discuss it again at the June meeting, as it will be the last issue of the season. If no conclusion can be made in June, the 3-member committee will be appointed.
 

COMMITTEES:
The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman, and Richard Gomes. Nothing to report, no members present.

The Bi-Law Committee - consists of Norm Aubert, C. Randall Sherman, Mort Shurtluff, Chris Kelly, Brian Ash, and John Cummings.  Nothing to Report.

Public Relations Committee  - consists of Mr. Ira Hoffman and Michael McLeieer.  Michael informed the membership of new links recently posted on the website. He has added an on line order form for the MIFDI clothing, a “MIFDI History” page showing past officers of the organization, a “Last Alarm” page dedicated to recently deceased members of MIFDI and the addition of the “Guest Book”, which Michael will monitor for appropriate content. He also requested assistance from anyone who might be able to help fill in a few missing names on the “History” page. These names, as well as the scanning of a few photographs are all that is left before the site will be complete. Norm inquired as to the feasibility of a “suggestion box” on the web site and Michael stated that the guest book should take care of that aspect as well.
 

MFTC UPDATE:   Steve Persson - Not present, nothing to report.

MFA UPDATE:  Norm Aubert, Jr.  Norm had nothing to report.

JUNE MEETING: Annual lobster/clam boil to be held at Barnstable County Fire Academy on Wednesday June 19th, the THIRD WEDNESDAY of the month. The annual report from FDIC will be provided by Deputy Chief Rick Gomes using the latest presentation techniques.  It is tentative but we should have an additional presentation on compressed air foam from Pierce apparatus with a recent CAF Pumper on display.
The price of the clam/lobster boil will be $35 per person and will INCLUDE a raffle ticket, coffee on arrival etc. Coffee will be ready from 0915 on, and the presentation will begin at 10 A.M.  Reservations via E-Mail to rrdscrs@yahoo.com or via phone to C. Randall Sherman at 508-394-8864.

Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Scott D. Maker - 2nd Vice President

I am looking forward in Deputy Chief Gomes’s presentation on the 2002 FDIC conference at this months meeting down the Cape at the Barnstable Fire Academy.  I know that the information that he will share will be educational, and entertaining.  I hope to see a large turnout of members at this meeting. It will be a pleasure in seeing some of the brothers that have been away for a while.

Even though the summer is here, and we will not meet until September, with the power of the Internet, we may continue to share ideas and comments.  There will be NO MIFDI BULLETIN for July, and August, but we will update the website with new information and current events as they happen.

HOT TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AT BARNSTABLE:

1. MIFDI stickers, vender refused MIFDI offer, wants counter offer.
(See New Business)
2. Discuss the status of the MIFDI Bulletin. (See New Business)
3. MIFDI casket details for MIFDI members past and present.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Congratulations to Lt. Scott Maker of the Merrimac Fire Dept, to the appointment to 2nd VP

ON CAPITAL HILL:

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 NOTES:

** Stay ACTIVE, stay INVOLVED with YOUR organization.
** Bring a friend to this June’s meeting.

 
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?   If you have any old pictures of MIFDI members from years past and wish to share them, we will post them on the website for nostalgia sake.

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.  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. See you in Barnstable on the 19th.

Norm…

This forum is an extension of the Guest Book on the MIFDI Web-site, and provides our members a way to ask questions and get answers about problems encountered in the Fire and EMS service. If you would like to reply to a question or pose your own question but have no internet capabilities, you may do so in writing to: Michael McLeieer, 1st V.P.- MIFDI, PO Box 507, Merrimac, MA 01860-0510.  Fax # (978) 346-8430.

Name: Brian Ashe
Email: bashe@ci.lowell.ma.us
HomePage: http://
Comments: I would like to ask the MIFDI members for your input on how you are dealing with extremely large people, getting them out of their houses, etc. Please e-mail me or post your reply in the guestbook.
What Fire Department are you from:  Lowell Fire
Your rank:  Lieutenant
 June 2, 2002 20:25:30 (GMT Time)