RECALL OF MEETING #459

The 459th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors was held at the PG&E National Energy Group - Salem Harbor Station on October 23, 2002, with 19 members present.  In spite of the early autumn snow storm, the meeting provided a fascinating look at the process of creating electric power and the hazards associated with its production. After an overview of the facility and a  Q & A period, MIFDI members were given a tour of the power plant. Those who attended agreed that this meeting offered a rare look at some of the many potential hazards associated with these types of occupancies.
 


BUSINESS MEETING:

After our tour, Secretary Edward Morgan conducted an abbreviated business meeting held at the nearby office of the Salem Fire Department - Division of Fire Prevention where members enjoyed coffee and pastry. After hearing the Secretary's report and the Treasurer's report, member Steve Persson provided a very informative report on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.  Again a special note of thanks to Malia Griffin and the staff of PG&E National Energy Group for hosting our group. Thank you also to Chief Robert Turner and  Deputy Chief Thomas Brophy of the Salem Fire Department, and to the Salem Fire Prevention Division for allowing us use of their facility.

The facility is located on a 65-acre waterfront site in historic Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Harbor Station produces more than 700 megawatts of electricity, using coal and oil as its primary fuels. The station's four units are fueled by coal, oil, or a combination of the two.  Originally built in 1951 as a coal fueled plant, it was converted in 1969 to operate using oil as its main source of fuel. Three of the four units were converted back to coal in the mid-1980's, in keeping with nationwide efforts to reduce reliance on imported oil.  Salem Harbor operates in strict compliance with federal and state environmental standards. Installation of new systems, including selective non-catalytic reduction technology has reduced nitrogen oxide emissions rates by 70 percent for coal units and 50 percent for the oil unit.
Some of the hazards we as fire service professionals may deal with in these occupancies;

The Secretary’s report:  Nothing additional to report.

The Treasurer’s Report:
Checking Balance as of 10/23/2002: $1363.26
Meeting 50/50 Raffle: 
MIFDI Stickers Cost: $750.00
                  Collected: $  39.00
                                  -$711.00
MIFDI Clothing Collected:       $350.00
                          Purchased:       $286.00
                                                   $ 64.00
Owed to Treasurer for mailing: $ 15.00
                          Current Profit: $  49.00

MEMBERSHIP:
Total Members = 134
Dues Paid Thru 2003 = 12
Dues Paid Thru 2002 = 78
Dues Paid Thru 2001 = 44

Active 40 X 25.00 = 1000.00
Retired  4 X 12.50 =     50.00
Total in Arrears     =  1050.00

This total in arrears would bring all members current to 12/31/2002.
The new total is ACTUAL and not estimated.

Treasury balance as of 11/04/2002 = $1284.38
 

Respectfully submitted 11/04/2002
David M. Jardin
Deputy Fire Chief—Stoughton
MIFDI Treasurer

Thank you to the membership for your support.


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:
 

NEW BUSINESS:
 

COMMITTEES:
The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman, and Richard Gomes. Nothing to report.

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.  Nothing to report.

MFTC UPDATE:   Steve Persson

MFA UPDATE:  Norm Aubert, Jr.

NOVEMBER MEETING:
The November meeting is a “ DON'T MISS OPPORTUNITY" which will be held at the Massachusetts State House on 27 November 2002. The presenter will be Senator Susan Fargo of the 3rd Middlesex District. Senator Fargo will answer any questions in regards to our state government. The Senator will give her world famous state house tour to our members after the presentation. Senator Fargo will also provide the refreshments prior to the meeting. Senator Fargo is a friend and longtime supporter of the Massachusetts Fire Service. Senator Fargo is a person that I respect and consider a personal friend. Come out and meet the senator and lets discuss fire service issues for today and tomorrow. Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Steven D. Coan and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Senior Manager, and MIFDI member, Everett G. Pierce will be there to open up the meeting. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND PLAN TO ATTEND. WEAR YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT UNIFORM TO SHOW YOUR DEPARTMENT'S REPRESENTATION AND SHOW OUR MIFDI    SUPPORT. REMEMBER STRENGTH IN NUMBERS WHICH MEANS A VOICE WITH STRENGTH. PLEASE BRING YOUR CHIEF OR CHIEF OFFICER TO THIS MEETING.

Norm.

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT:

As I am getting near the end of my second term as your president, I feel a sense of accomplishment along with a sense of emptiness knowing that the ride is almost over.  We as an organization have grown through the knowledge, dedication, and commitment of our membership to remain a  valuable professional fire service resource.  I have watched this organization take on a new life through changes that have been made in the last two years. I know that with the leadership of this organization MIFDI will continue to move forward.  I hope that my vision of hands on training at the DFS/MFA will be a reality for us in the next few months. I’ll continue my thoughts in the December Bulletin.

HOT TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN NOVEMBER:

1.  Jon Jones update for suggested Statewide Mandatory Training.
2.  What to do with members that are past due in their membership dues.
3.  DFS/MFA update.
4.  MFTC update.
5.  Committee updates and suggestions.
6.  Location of December Holiday meeting and luncheon.
7.  Think about NOMINATIONS for the January 2003 elections.
8.  Volunteers to write articles for the bulletin.
9.  Future meetings.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:  If you know of any note worthy training courses, please let us know and we will post them on the web and the MIFDI BULLETIN.

REMEMBER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR MASSACHUSETTS FIREFIGHTING ACADEMY AND NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY FOR PERSONAL ENRICHMENT.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
 13th Annual Firefighter of the Year Award Ceremony
 Tuesday 3 December 2002 at 1100 hours
 Historic Faneuil Hall, Boston

HONORABLE MENTION:
To ALL the Firefighter of the year award recipients from:

    Amherst
    Boston
    Chelsea
    Fitchburg
    Hull
    Watertown
    West Springfield
    Worcester
SIDE NOTES: The MIFDI organization thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Littleton Firefighter Timothy Wargo who died tragically in his residence on 01 November 2002.

** Stay ACTIVE; stay INVOLVED with YOUR organization.
** Bring a friend to the November meeting.

REMEMBER FALL AND WINTER FIRE GROUND REHAB FOR YOUR MEMBERS.

 
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.

Norm…


LAST ALARM:
The members of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Call Firefighter/EMT Timothy Wargo of the Littleton Fire Department. Firefighter Wargo, age 42, died November 1, 2002 from injuries suffered from a fire in his own home in Littleton.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and his friends and colleagues of the Littleton Fire Department. May he rest in peace.
 

The members of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire Department Instructors offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of District Chief Gerald W. Nadeau of the Fall River Fire Department. Chief Nadeau, age 51, died of respiratory failure on October 24, 2002 as a result of  25 years of unknown exposures as a member of the Fall River Fire Department. May he rest in peace.


INSTRUCTORS CORNER:

As fire fighters in communities across the U.S. contend with actual and suspected cases of anthrax exposure, I found it interesting that the NFPA has created a page on its Web site (www.nfpa.org) to provide free and simplified access to its state-of-the-art hazardous materials response standards and other relevant information. In addition to anthrax threats, first responders also face daily encounters with common chemicals that can be even deadlier. Regardless of the type of chemical or bio-hazard, all first responders must be adequately informed for their own safety and well-being.  Widely adopted and used internationally by fire and emergency service workers, the three model consensus documents have been posted as free pdf downloads. They are NFPA 471, Recommended Practice for        Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents; NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents; and NFPA 473, Professional Competence of Emergency Medical Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents. In addition, NFPA is    offering pdf files of supplemental materials taken from the acclaimed Hazardous Materials Response Handbook.
 
Scott D. Maker


WELCOME NEW MIFDI MEMBERS:

Lieutenant Kevin Breen -  Swampscott Fire Department

Congratulations to Robert J. Leary of Weymouth who was appointed to Chief of the Weymouth Fire Department on 10-4-02.

FIRE SERVICE FEEDBACK:

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.


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DRILL SCHEDULE:

NOVEMBER:   REQUIRED RSVP to Norm @ (617) 561-3419 NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 25th, 2002.

FOR PARKING: Contact Captain Persson at the Cambridge Fire Department to park at the East Cambridge Fire Station - Engine #3, Ladder #2, 175 Cambridge Street. (617)349-4941. (IF YOU PARK HERE, YOU WILL TAKE THE MBTA TO THE STATE HOUSE. PARKING IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE  BOSTON COMMON GARAGE FOR A CHARGE.)  If you plan to meet in Cambridge make a point to be there no later than 0830.

AT THE STATEHOUSE,  ENTER VIA THE BOWDOIN STREET ENTRANCE, ROOM 222.

DECEMBER: HOLIDAY GATHERING

JANUARY: TBA