The #449 meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was called to order at 10:10 at Ann’s Place Restaurant and hosted by Deputy Chief Richard Gomes and the Norton Fire Department on Wednesday, October 24, 2001.  21 members present.

Randy Sherman, Yarmouth Fire Department, presented a basic overview to the MFA Bio-Terror Response course S.E.E.P. (Suspicious Envelope Evaluation Procedure).  Everett Pierce from MFA stated the The HAZMAT Emergency Response Line @ DFS is currently staffed 24 hours per day 7 days per week and will remain staffed 24/7 for another 30 days.  The number is (978) 567-3150.

Police Departments are encouraged to attend S.E.E.P. training put on by MFA at Fire Departments throughout Massachusetts.

A person is 7 times more likely to become infected with HIV than Anthrax.
A person is 231 times more likely to become infected with HBV than Anthrax.

BUSINESS MEETING:

The Secretary’s report was not read due to the absence of the secretary.

Treasurers Report as of 11/10/2001
151 members
109 Active - 10 Associate - 32 Retired
Paid 2002 - 11    Paid 2001 - 99    Paid 2000 - 41
members paid thru 2000 - actually owe 2 years
(deleted 25 members that owed 1999)
 
4 members that dues are No Charge:
President, Treasurer, State Fire Marshal, & Web Master/Secretary (Mike)
 
New Address labels have date printed on them this date indicates when dues is paid thru.
Mailings include:
Home 116 - Work 20 - E-Mail 15
If you would like to receive your newsletter via E-mail
let me know - dmj1044@massed.net
 
I have sent letters to our Associate members & those that advertise in our newsletter offering them a \$100.00 membership that includes:
1. membership from Jan - Dec
2. newsletter from Jan - June & Sept - Dec.
3. 1/4 page ad in newsletter
4. ad on our web site
If accepted this will start Jan. 2002
 
Balance as of Oct 25, 2001 = 2497.60
Income from Oct meeting:
50/50 raffle 90.00 collected = 45.00
                    Lunch overage = 30.00
                             1 hat sold = 15.00
                                 Income = 90.00
Start up cost for web site June thru Oct. = 102.70 (this includes a one time fee of \$70.00)

Again our goal 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:

Treasurer D. Jardin suggested raising the Associate Membership from \$25.00 to $100.00.  The new fee would include associate membership dues as well as a ¼ page advertisement in the newsletter and on the website.  Membership is from September thru June.  This is a better value for the Associate Membership to include advertising in their dues.  No other increases are proposed for Retired or Regular members at this time.  Motion by B. MacKendrick and seconded by R. Gomes to increase Associate Membership dues from \$25.00 to $100.00 and include a ¼ page advertisement in the MIFDI Bulletin and on the website as part of the dues.  All in favor.  None opposed.  Motion carried.

Reminder, the MIFDI website is operational.  The website address is mifdi.8m.com.  The domain name www.mifdi.org has been registered and will be the way to access the new MIFDI website.  If you are interested in receiving your MIFDI Bulletin via e-mail, please send an e-mail note to 2nd Vice President Michael McLeieer, webmaster @ Michael.McLeieer@merrimacfire.com and place the word REQUEST MIFDI BULLETIN via E-MAIL in the subject line.  Also, if you desire your name, rank, e-mail address, station address and phone number included in the online membership directory being developed, please send that information to Michael as well.  The more people who receive the MIFDI BULLETIN via e-mail, the organization will spend less money in postage.

D. Jardin made a motion to waive M. McLeieer’s dues in lieu of being the MIFDI webmaster.  Michael will submit bills to the Treasurer for reimbursement for the MIFDI domain name (www.mifdi.org) and the monthly fee for the website.  Motion seconded by C. Randall Sherman.  All in favor.  M. McLeieer abstained.  None opposed.  Motion carried.

D. Jardin has deleted the 1999 unpaid membership from the database.

NEW BUSINESS:

N. Aubert discussed having the old angelfire website for MIFDI deleted.  Motion by R. Gomes and seconded by D. Jardin to have the old angelfire website for MIFDI deleted from the internet.  All in favor.  None opposed.  Motion carried.

It was suggested to give honorary membership to the top 5 senior members of MIFDI.  D. Jardin will review the membership list to determine who besides Mort Shurtleff is eligible.  This item was tabled until next month’s meeting.

If you are interested in hosting a MIFDI meeting place, please contact Norm.  We still need hosts for November, December and January.

R. Gomes mentioned MIFDI might need to find another location to hold the meeting next year.  Due to new owners, Ann’s now requires a minimum of 30 people.  Deputy Gomes will explore alternate locations and report back to the organization.
 

COMMITTEES:

The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman, and Richard Gomes.  No report, however, they expect to be meeting soon per Deputy Gomes.
The Bi-Law Committee - consists of Norm Aubert, C. Randall Sherman, Mort Shurtluff, Chris Kelly, Brian Ash, and John Cummings.  Randy requested a copy of the current Bi-laws and a copy of the e-mail addresses.
Public Relations Committee  - consists of Mr. Ira Hoffman and Michael McLeieer.  Nothing to report at this time.

MFTC UPDATE:   Steve Persson – No update.

MFA UPDATE:  Everett Pierce – There has been a new program developed by MFA regarding how to handle suspicious unopened envelopes S.E.E.P. (Suspicious Envelope Evaluation Procedure).

Over 400 training CD’s are going to be created.  The training should be completed by November to every Fire Department in Massachusetts.

MFA is reviewing Emergency Response to Terrorism programs offered (Basic concepts, Tactical consideration EMS, Tactical consideration Hazmat, Tactical consideration Company Officer).

The Fire Academy will NOT be shutting down to conduct the training of Bio-Terror Response.  There will be NO interruption in academy classes.

All Fire Chief’s should be contacted by the end of this week (by October 26th).  If your department has not heard from MFA, feel free to contact Everett Pierce @ MFA (978) 567-3210.

The HAZMAT Emergency Response Line @ DFS is currently staffed 24 hours per day 7 days per week and will remain staffed 24/7 for another 30 days.  The number is (978) 567-3150.

MFA is at the Fire Departments disposal for information and assistance.

Massachusetts has been a model throughout the country on how we deal with Hazmat incidents.

MOTION MADE BY D. JARDIN, SECONDED by M. McLEIEER, to ADJOURN MEETING.  ALL IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.  MOTION CARRIED.  MEETING ADJOURED 12:10.

MFA TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:  The Flashover Recognition Simulator will be on the road this fall.  The class will be THREE hours classroom and THREE hours practical.  The class will be limited to TWENTY-FOUR students, and the selection process for location selection will be divided throughout the counties in Massachusetts.  This fall there will be R.I.C. Standard hand off program offered by the DFS/MFA.  November 17th and 18th 2001, there will be the 3rd FDNY “Back to Basics” Seminar in Amherst Massachusetts.
 

INSTRUCTORS CORNER:

WELCOME NEW MIFDI MEMBERS:
 

NOVEMBER MIFDI MEETING:  The 450th meeting of MIFDI will be held at the Malden Emergency Center in Malden, Mass. on Wednesday, November 28th, 2001.  Coffee & refreshments will be served at 9:00 a.m. and the program will begin at 10:00 a.m.  DIRECTIONS:  Route 16 Malden Center.  Park across the street in the Stop and Shop parking lot.
 

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT:

Last month I attended the 2nd Annual “Worcester Firefighters Memorial Safety and Survival Seminar” at the Worcester Centrum.  The members of the IAFF Firefighters Local 1009 seminar committee put together a three-day training program that was second to none.  The hands on training was the best experience that I have ever seen or experienced in my twenty years in the fire service.  Several hundred members took part in the training that consisted of firefighter window bailout, breaching wall, search and rescue, low profile search, drags and carries, rescue of firefighter through the floor, the Denver ramp, and rescuing firefighters over ladders.  The eight hours of training was a great workout and I will not soon forget.

Some of the speakers were Deputy Chief Michael Smith from the DC Fire Department who spoke on “Never Routine – Firefighter Fatalities – What went wrong”, Tom Creamer from Worcester Fire talked on “Terrorism – The Emerging Threat”.  Jim Crawford from Pittsburgh Fire talked about “Rapid Intervention Teams – Basic Training”,  Safety Officer Mark Hellan from the Phoenix Fire talked about “Safety on the Fireground” and Chief Gerard Dio from the Worcester Fire talked about  “Worcester Cold Storage – Then and Now”.  Other speakers were Battalion Chief Michael Bryant and B/C John Tripp from LA County Fire, Hayden Duggan from the Gardner Group, Battalion Chief Mark McLees from the Syracuse Fire Department and B/C Robert “BUTCH” Cobb,  from the Jersey City Fire Department who was a guest MC at times.  All proceeds went to the families of our fallen brothers of FDNY.

I have been in contact with the DFS/MFA webmaster on having our link placed on the DFS/MFA website.  I received the green light to proceed with this idea by Fire Marshal Steven Coan and MFA director William Hollick.  We are now checking on the logistics with the webmaster to make sure that this can be possible.  Once we get linked with the DFS/MFA, we will be the only private organization that is on their website.

REMEMBER TO CALL YOUR SENATOR(s) IN SUUPORT OF THE DFS/MFA EXPANSION AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE FOR THE UPCOMING STATE BUDGET.   The Bill number is #4603, and the Line item is 8000-9012.  Again this is for 25 million dollars for the DFS/MFA expansion and 7.5 million for equipment upgrade and (Section 15 of  land transfer) that is so dreadfully needed.  I informed the Fire Marshal that he has the full support of the MIFDI organization on this important matter and we will do everything in our power to assist the fire service in attaining what should have been years ago.

IT IS INPERATIVE FOR WHAT EVER IT TAKES, THE DFS/MFA EXPANSION AND UPGRADE BILL, MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH NO CHANGES.  WE NEED TO HAVE THIS BILL PASSED AND IT MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH NO CHANGES.  THIS BILL MUST BE SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE CAPITOL BILL.  INSIST THAT THESE ITEMS ARE A PRIORITY AND NEED TO PASSED FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMONWEALTH.  With ALL the political publicity in regards to the “GO – NO GO” budget, job and program cuts that Governor Swift is currently proposing, it is in the fire service’s best interest that we have this bill passed.

Make sure and visit the MIFDI dominion website address at MIFDI.ORG, thanks to the hard work and dedication of 2nd Vice President Mike O McLeieer.   I hope that everyone will enjoy the NEW MIFDI Bulletin format that Kim Potts has developed, please send us your comments.

As usual, if there is anything that the officers of MIFDI can do to make our organization better please let us know.  Please be safe, and may Saint Florian be with you always.

Norm.
 

DRILL SCHEDULE:

NOV:  Malden Emergency Center, Malden, Mass
DEC:  TBA
JAN:  TBA
FEB:  TBA