32August 2020Oklahoma Firefighter
n
OSFA Executive Board Highlights
May 14, 2020
Roll Call: Mike Kelley, present; Eric Harlow, video call; Cliff Davidson, present; Jim Ed Nimmo, present; Dereck Cassady, present; Tippy Pierce (ORFA), video call. Others: Steve Lumry, Gene Brown, Trisha Chain, Caroline Reed by video, Don Armes, Julia Jernigan-Smith, Eric Hamilton, Chase Rankin, Jim Minx, Mike Bower.
the award amount in the near future. Museum Report: Brown Staff completed multiple maintenance projects, including removing dead trees around the grounds and rewaxing floors. Lumry commended the Museum staff for their hard work in maintaining and enhancing the Museum, both inside and out.
Museum Expansion Committee: Lumry Committee met and reviewed the proposal for storage building that included multiple bids, along with potential fundraising efforts and recommended to the Board to pay 2⁄3 of the proposal with the least expensive bid up front and finance 1⁄3. Bower and Minx expressed their support of the plan and the forward progress in the expansion project.
Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Report: Lumry FST has resumed some classes with social distancing in place; Poteau, Ponca City, and Dewey have started the book work with their Firefighter 1 classes and will complete the skills later. More gear will be delivered soon and recipients are very grateful and proud of the gear funded through the grant.
Legislative Report: Armes, Jernigan-Smith The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto of the budget bill that includes the loan involving the pension. Armes and Jernigan-Smith are encouraged that the COLA will be supported in the Senate. There have been a lot of displeased comments from members about the association’s support of the budget bill. Rankin discussed the Pension System’s perspective on the budget and concurred that while there were concerns over the interest rate of the loan, they are appreciative the legislature will be paying the two-year loan back over the following five years. Rankin estimated the impact of COLA on the funding ratio would be less than 1%, which should be the same impact as the loan. FST Report: Reed The office is semi-closed and they are processing grants and bracing for another budget hit. Firefighter 1 blended classes are being accomplished by completing the online portions of the class first and will complete the skills portions once available. Reed thanked the Board for their support letters on an AFG grant. Committee Reports: The Stavros Scholarship committee met and approved five scholarships for $1,000 each and anticipate being able to increase
n
NVFC Report: Lumry, Davidson NVFC has given out over $35,000 to Oklahoma volunteer firefighters in emergency stipend funding; if a volunteer member of the OSFA has lost their job due to COVID-19, they can get a stipend from NVFC. Davidson suggested making a donation to NVFC for their support. The spring board meeting will be held virtually, and there will be a subcommittee formed to help identify goals that the NVFC would like addressed in NFPA 1001, which is a direct result of OSFA representation and participation at the NVFC. There will be a committee helping to identify goals for the wildland committee to work towards, and also offer training for the central part of US. OFCA Report: Lumry The OFCA held a virtual board meeting to accept Sean Douglas’ resignation and appoint new officers; the new 3rd Vice President is Richard Kelley from Oklahoma City. The Conference is scheduled for August 12-14. ORFA Report: Pierce All efforts have been focused on preparing for the ORFA Convention. Executive Director’s Report: Lumry OSFA membership: 508 departments (85%), 1 new (Hogeye)
OSFA Executive Board Highlights
Roll Call: Eric Harlow, present; Cliff Davidson, present; Jim Ed Nimmo, present; Tony Lopez, present; Mike Kelley, present; George Fina (ORFA), present. Others: Tippy Pierce, Gene Brown, Sheri Nickel, Trisha Chain, Caroline Reed, Bert Norton, Don Armes, Julia Jernigan-Smith, Eric Hamilton (video call). Correspondence: Thank you card from Ione Brown; informational letter from American Income Life regarding $4,000 accidental death and dismemberment policy. FST Report: Reed FST is pursuing several grants, including one in partnership with Tesla to address extrication and hazards with alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles. Reed requested a letter of support from the OSFA in regards to the new training; Board reached consensus to provide support letter. Museum Report: Brown The centennial clock is ready and is now pending completion until originator updates clockworks. Updates around the grounds include painting pieces at the memorial and some building doors. Brown will work on gathering quotes for the lights in the memorial and will present to Board for approval. Davidson suggested gathering quotes to fill empty spaces around memorial landscape with more of the current boxwoods. Museum Expansion Committee: Pierce Pierce passed along information received about water retention plans, permits needed, and placement of sewer lines in anticipation of the full expansion. Board reached a consensus that Brown will be the main point of contact for the expansion on behalf of the OSFA, with assistance by Pierce. Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Report: Nickel There is a large balance remaining that is allotted for this grant year; Nickel requested a budget addendum to transfer funds from travel expenses to contractual/equipment expenses in order to utilize funds. There are 75 sets of bunker gear allotted for each year; 72 sets were used the first year, 57 sets were used the third year. Firefighter I classes finished include Durant and Poteau classes, ongoing include Ponca City and Dewey classes, starting include a class in Shawnee, and arranging include one set in El
DATES TO REMEMBER Sept.12, 2020 Ride to Remember OKC 2020 Sept.16, 2020 24th David Bain Memorial Golf Tournament at Lincoln Park West Golf Course with 11,466 members. ORFA membership 4,404; Brent Hatcher membership 219; digital Oklahoma Firefighter 960 subscriptions. The final billing will be sent after convention; a request to participate in the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Campus Safety and Security Task Force Summit was received. Staff has been arranging award presentations for OKCFD engine company 15B and Reese Hall. Anita Howell has been hired as the new receptionist. Board consensus reached to keep offices and Museum closed to public until next regular board meeting, June 18. The Ride to Remember has been rescheduled to September; Lumry updated Board on federal bill cosponsors for HR141, S. 521, HR4540, and HR4527; the FST certification committee has not met. New Business Meritorious Service Award Nomination: Mike Mallory, Kelly Mull, and Heath Tye of Tulsa Fire Department for the efforts in designing and supporting a mobile disinfection system around the state at no cost. Selection of Credential Committee: Chris DePriest, Mooreland; Katie Fitzpatrick, Perry; Heath Pennington, Tahlequah Tentative: Billy Sizemore, Elk City; Randal Sullivan, Eufaula; Rick Chisum, Okmulgee, Chair; Toby Shores, Midwest City; Justin Beard, Oklahoma City Next meeting: June 8, 2020 at Convention.
June 19, 2020
Reno. Nickel has received a contract for approval with SSM Clinic to help with firefighter physicals and requested Nimmo’s help to locate a clinic in Tulsa to assist. The first year of the second grant ends July 1. There are two Firefighter II blended learning classes scheduled; one in Ardmore and one in Enid. Motion to approve SSM Clinic contract by Davidson, seconded by Kelley. Motion carried. NVFC Report: Nickel, Davidson NVFC gave $24,850 of their emergency funds to 71 Oklahoma applicants; Board discussed a donation, plaque, or certificate in recognition, no action taken. Nickel has been reading AFG-S and SAFER grants and was approved for appointment to the NFPA 1000 committee, which will have virtual meetings for the remainder of the year. Davidson and Nickel both participated in a wildland committee meeting. Nickel’s proposal was accepted to present at the Recruitment and Retention Experience in Cleveland, OH September 24-27. The fall board meeting will be in Wilmington, NC October 14-16. NVFC will be disbanding 1800-FIRELINE on December 31. OFCA Report: Norton Norton thanked Kelley for hosting a great OSFA Convention. Due to scheduling complications, the OFCA Board has cancelled the OFCA Conference that was postponed to August. The Board will be meeting in July and will be discussing the 2021 Conference, scheduled for April in Midwest City and the Winter Workshop, scheduled January 20-22, 2021 in Stillwater. ORFA Report: Fina The ORFA Board is working on expanding chapters and focusing on the organization’s political future. Fina thanked the OSFA Board for presenting him with the David Bain Award. Pierce thanked the OSFA Board for attending the ORFA Convention and supporting the organization. The ORFA Board has named him their Executive Director this year and has voted to continue to the golf tournament in October. Financial Report: Hamilton Motion to approve May 2020 financial report by Kelley, seconded by Nimmo. Motion carried. Executive Director’s Report: Pierce OSFA membership: 527 departments (88%), 2 new (Berlin and Paradise Point) with 11,742 members. ORFA membership 4,410; Brent Hatcher membership 219; digital Oklahoma Firefighter 962
subscriptions. Board reached consensus to keep the museum and offices closed to public and will revisit the topic next month. Harlow reported there has been no correspondence on the FST certification committee. Event registrations: ORFA convention includes 58 delegates and 40 guests for 98 total registered, OSFA Convention includes 207 voting members and 315 total registration. Convention registration showed 44 golf teams, 22 poker run attendees, and 42 white water rafting attendees. Pierce, Brown, and Nickel are working on disbursement of the 100 year plaques that were not picked up at the 2019 and 2020 Conventions. Nimmo offered to attend the presentation of the Webbers Falls department citation. Legislative Report: Armes, Jernigan-Smith Lobbyists discussed the passage of the C.O.L.A., and would like to address state funding for firefighter training in future legislation. Recommendation to be vigilant about legislation regarding law enforcement. New Business Board discussed adding rules for 3rd VP candidates to follow during Convention, due to concerns that were brought to staff. No action was taken. MASA enrollment was for OSFA staff was discussed; no action taken. Selection of Educational Advisory Committee: Chairman Trent Bryan, El Reno; Justin Beard, Oklahoma City; Donnie Bennett, OKC; Brian Brush, Midwest City; Dereck Cassady, Ponca City; Corey Conrady, Drummond; Barrett Cramer, Tulsa; Jamie DuBose, Deer Creek FPD; Mike Duncan, Dewey Ret.; Rodney Foster, Shawnee; Larry Hansen, OKC Ret.; Julie Lynn, Tulsa; David Macy, OKC; Cary Provence, Yukon; Randal Sullivan, Eufaula; Dylan Terhune, Norman; Terrell Thompson, El Reno; Kendall Williams, Tulsa. Honorary Committee Members: Chris Barton, PennWell; David Conner, Fire Marshals; Craig Hannan, IFSTA/ FPP, Perkins; Bert Norton, OFCA Board, Midwest City; Caroline Reed, OSU-FST; Brian Stanaland, EOC Tech; Rick Umstead, Red Cross. Next meeting: July 16, 2020
