The 450th meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Fire department Instructors was called to order at 10:07 at the Malden Emergency Center on Route 60.  Captain Glynn Montgomery from the Malden Fire Department hosted the meeting on Wednesday, November 28, 2001.  16 members present.

The business meeting was held first followed by the program.  Captain Montgomery presented a very moving power point show on the USAR #1, Massachusetts, response day #2 - #8 at ground zero at the World Trade Center.

BUSINESS MEETING:

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

The Treasurer's report was not read due to the excused absence of the treasurer.

Current membership:   156   Active members:  110

Associate / Advertisers members:   14           Retired members:   32
 

Dues Paid to date for 2002:   13  Dues Paid to date for 2001:  99
Dues Paid to date for 2000:   40  Dues Paid to date for Advertisers:  4  (more to follow)

1 NEW MEMBER – Lt. Ed Williams, Brockton Fire Department

MIFDI mailing cost for November:            $   308.50
Checking balance as of 12/01/2001:          $2,151.46

I have not had any bad comments from any of the Associate / Advertiser members.  I will be sending invoices out to them at 12/10/2001 for the start of 01/01/2002.  Hopefully, they will take advantage of this offer.  The invoice will request an ad with their payment.  I have already received one from Lyons Fire Equipment.

Treasurers report respectfully submitted by,
Dave Jardin, Treasurer

OLD BUSINESS:

· Norm mentioned DFS has the MIFDI link on their website.  MIFDI is the only private entity that has a link on the DFS website.
· Reminder, the MIFDI website is up and running – http://www.mifdi.org.  Contact Michael @ Michael.McLeieer@merrimacfire.com with any questions regarding the website.
· The monthly bulletin is available to view online.  Please make sure we have your correct e-mail address to receive notifications about important events and to be notified when the newest bulletin is ready to view.  By receiving the bulletin via e-mail, MIFDI will spend less money in postage by not mailing out a hard copy.
· Norm is still attempting to have the old angelfire website for MIFDI deleted.
 

NEW BUSINESS:

· Norm suggested we increase the font size and make the e-mail and website addresses bold print.
· An auto notification message will be sent to members who have provided their e-mail address regarding severe weather cancellations of meetings.  A message will also appear on the first page of the website near the “This site was last updated {date}” message near the top of the home page – www.mifdi.org.
· Firefighter of the Year awards are December 4th at 11:00 am.
· Norm asked for anyone who wishes to write the article for next month’s bulletin, to contact him.
· There was a request for an updated e-mail and membership list.  Dave and Michael are working on this and it should be available soon.
· Michael received a request from member Capt. Ed Hartmann, Walpole Fire regarding adding his department link to the MIFDI website.  Michael asked for us to establish some guidelines regarding what links should be added to the MIFDI website.  C. Kelly suggested we add member and associate member links first.  Motion by N. Aubert and seconded by M. McLeieer to add member and associate member links to the MIFDI website when requested to do so.  All in favor.  None opposed.  Motion carried.

COMMITTEES:

The Historical Committee - consists of Steve Perrson, Ira Hoffman, and Richard Gomes.  Steve stated Rick is attempting to schedule a meeting.
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 had nothing to report at this time.

MFTC UPDATE:   Steve Persson –
· MFTC met last month at the Cape.  It was a short meeting.
· There is a hiring freeze at the academy.
· S.E.E.P. training has been completed throughout the Commonwealth.  Suspicious calls have dropped off quite a bit.
· The Recruit class #147 will graduate on Nov. 30th.  There is one more Recruit class going on right now.  When that class is completed, there will be a two (2) week winter break at MFA.
· Security has been increased at Stow.  All visitors must now sign-in and sign-out and will be escorted throughout the facilities.  Students and staff will also have picture ID’s.
· The next MFTC meeting will be December 5th at 10:00 am at MFA – Stow.

MFA UPDATE:  Everett Pierce –
· Phase 3 and the capital improvements are dead in the water at this time.
· The MFA budget was cut by approximately $300,000.
· There is a new course being developed called S.P.R.T. – Suspicious Power Recovery Training from MFA.  This will be a 24-hour course and will be made available to all Fire Departments in Massachusetts.  Each department will be allowed to send up to three (3) people.  The course should be coordinated through your District Training Coordinator.
· Some people have mentioned they don’t know who their District Training Coordinator is, contact Everett Pierce at (978) 567-3210 if you are unsure or e-mail him at Everett.Pierce@state.ma.us.  Each department receives a Course Directory from MFA and that has a listing of the District Training Coordinators and is published every six months.  Everett asked Michael to also post that information on the MIFDI website for future reference.  Meetings are held in October and May of each year to decide what classes will be offered so contact your District Training Coordinator and express your wishes for course offerings in your area.

· S.E.E.P. training statistics:  Out of the total 366 departments, 344 departments have been trained as of 11/27/2001, 6 departments declined training, 2 departments are scheduled, and 14 departments are still waiting.  90% of all departments had training completed within 2 weeks.  Everett thanked all of the instructors for their dedication of delivering the S.E.E.P. program in such a short period of time.

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,
Michael McLeieer
2nd Vice President

INSTRUCTORS CORNER:
 
WELCOME NEW MIFDI MEMBERS:  Lieutenant Ed Williams, Brockton Fire Department
 
DECEMBER MIFDI MEETING #451: (Concord Fire Department)

The presenter will be David Torucy.  Dave is the Concord Highway Superintendent, a
Naval reserve office and liaison to FEMA.  He was activated for the 9-11
events and will be able to give us an interesting presentation.
 
 Directions:  Concord FD, Station 1, 209 Walden Street
 
Route 2 West from metro Boston Area. Continue into Concord
from Crosby's Corner (Base of a hill at the Lincoln/Concord line, Mobil gas
Station). At the next set of lights make a right turn, this is Walden
Street, Station is about a mile down on the right.
 
Route 2 East from outside metro. Pass Concord Prison on your
right at the Concord Rotary. At the seventh set of lights, make a left at
Walden Street, Route 126 would be a right turn. Travel down about 1 mile to
the station on your right.
 
Reminder: DO NOT take Route 16, Route 16 will not help you in this
situation.  For your own safety and the safety of any passengers who may be
traveling with you, do not use Route 16.

 
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT:

During this holiday season, please remember the brothers and sisters that made the supreme sacrifice so that others could live.  I hope that the families will always remember the fond memories of their loved ones.  May the children of these fallen heroes walk with pride and be proud of what their family member did to save another life.  On 4 December 2001, I attended the 2001 Massachusetts Firefighter of the year awards ceremony at Fanual Hall in Boston.  As I looked around the hall, I could not stop thinking that firefighting really is a common bonding career that draws ALL firefighters together from near and far.  When I listened to the acts of group and individual unselfish heroism, it made me reflect on some of the true heroes that I have met and known in the past.

One of these heroes that comes to mind, is a friend of mine, who is a firefighter and who has won the first round of his battle with cancer.  A few weeks ago, he told me, that his doctor informed him that he can not miss taking his medicine or he could possibly die.  He currently has the upper hand on the cancer, “but you never know” he told me,  “everyday that he wakes up is a bonus.”  Some people would complain and say “why me!!” not my friend,  he went to the doctor and got cleared to go back to work riding the apparatus again.  He told me, that he “wants to finish and enjoy the ride instead of going off the job.”   This dedicated career firefighter told me “I can't believe that I get paid to do what I do, and I love it!!!”  I now understand that this is the difference in saying that this is my career or calling and not just a job.

In our down time at the fire station, it is very easy to arm chair quarterback, or question the actions or decisions of our peers or supervisors, but we need to take any of this energy from ourselves or others and stimulate so that it meets the goals and expectations of the department.  It's amazing on how many times we hear, he said, she said, or, how come I can't get that.  How many times do we look at the professionalism that is among us in our organization, and pool the resources and work together, so that we may  fulfill the expectations of ourselves and the department.  In dealing with knowledge, it is truly a powerful tool that others may be afraid of due to many factors from insecurity or competition in career progression.  We need to break down these walls of the old way and work towards a “common goal”, which is, to learn from each other so that others may succeed.

DFS/MFA UPDATE: The Fire Marshal informed me that the Capitol Budget is not dead in the water, but only stalled.  They are accepted to vote on the state capitol budget in January 2002.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL YOUR SENATOR(s) IN SUPPORT 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.
 
Make sure and visit the MIFDI dominion website address at MIFDI.ORG, or through the DFS/MFA link

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

Norm.

DRILL SCHEDULE:

DEC:  Concord Fire Department
JAN:  TBA
FEB:  TBA