Executive Board Meeting Highlights

OSFA Executive Board Highlights

August 20, 2020

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, Sheri Nickel, Trisha Chain, Bert Norton, Bob Allen, Caroline Reed, Don Armes, Julia Jernigan-Smith, Eric Hamilton.

Guests: Tom Bradley, Jim Minx.

Correspondence: Thank you cards from Stavros Scholarship winners McKenna Wright and Caleb Laverty. Greater OKC Chamber thank you letter.

Legislative: Armes

Armes discussed meeting with the other pension systems and discussing interim studies; reported Rankin discussed a CPI-U catchup to the group. Armes will also be pursuing finding a funding source for OSU FST.

OEM Report: Allen

The Governor signed an executive order to merge Homeland Security and OEM, with OEM being the head agency. PPE for schools has been disbursed to the counties. If PPE is needed for departments, please contact the county emergency manager. Allen would like to plan a meeting with Director Gower, Pierce, and any board members who would like to attend to discuss new processes for requesting resources. Daniel Plitz is contact for any grants.

Fire Service Training: Reed

Upcoming events were listed and more classes are being moved online or partially with blended learning, including Hazmat Awareness and working toward Hazmat Ops and Driver Ops and Aerial. Paul Hinchey has retired from the NW regional position.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

n Educational Advisory: Nimmo Nimmo reported on the options discussed in the committee meeting and presented the information from a proposal from Cox Convention Center that includes facility use at no cost for the week after our scheduled date for Fire School.

n Museum Expansion: Pierce Committee discussed actions taken by this board to approve the building layout on the grounds; progress is waiting on approval from city permits. Pierce discussed putting together a groundbreaking ceremony; board was provided draft guest list, agenda, and invitations. Board agreed that a ceremony was a good idea; Harlow requested Pierce look at dates approximately one month away.

Museum Report: Pierce

The Museum will work to receive the donation of the 1928 Seagrave from Hollis when Brown gets back from knee surgery. Maintenance is ongoing and trucks are still being polished.

Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Report: Nickel

FFI classes in Dewey and Shawnee are ongoing, El Reno, Tahlequah, and Woodward are starting in September. FFII class, courtesy of the new grant, in Ardmore is finishing up and the next is planned for Jenks; the rest are being set up. There was a contract signed with an Oklahoma City clinic that will be used for pension physicals. Nickel provided Board members a benefit sheet of the highlights of the grant. Pierce reported the discussed contract between OSFA and FST will include monthly meetings between Pierce, Nickel, and Reed. Nickel feels like some members deserve extra mentioning and discussed highlighting them in the monthly Oklahoma Firefighter newspaper.

NVFC Report: Nickel

The fall meeting will be virtual. The majority of the water campaign went to Oklahoma departments.

ORFA Report: Fina

Fina discussed getting local union chapters involved with local retiree chapters and getting paid firefighters more interactive with volunteer firefighters.

OFCA Report: Norton

Plans are still ongoing for the Winter Workshop in January. Norton stated they are waiting for a Pension rules committee meeting to be set so they can discuss CPAT testing. Harlow reported the Pension board is working on a rule change that would alleviate the problem. Norton requested to be informed and involved in the process.

Executive Director’s Report: Pierce

OSFA membership: 534 departments, 1 new (Strother) with 11,826 members. ORFA membership: 4,437; ORFA Museum expansion fundraiser has raised $1,725; Brent Hatcher 251; electronic paper subscription 966; OSFA Associate Members 15; OFCA Associate Members 19. The Memorial Tournament has 15 sponsors and 8 teams. Hudiburg has money from the car program to give to us but Pierce wanted to know which account to place the funds in; Board consensus reached to send to Memorial account. Board reached consensus to keep the Museum and offices closed to public and will revisit the topic next month. Board consensus reached to stream the Statewide memorial service instead of hosting families.

New Business

Board discussed attendance for the Memorial Golf Tournament. Chain discussed a website redesign; including info about current site, issues we are currently facing, and discussed multiple quotes. A cost-share for each organization could be a possible option. Armes and Board were concerned about pricing and requested additional quotes, including agencies that can manage the app as well. Nimmo discussed concerns brought to him about tactics from American Income Life agents. Board recommended advice be given to write ‘do not contact’ on beneficiary cards that are returned to the company. Pierce reported the Board discussed restructure of organization and reinstated Sheri Nickel as Administrative Director. Selection of Committees as discussed in Executive Session and reported by Pierce:

Benevolent Committee: Phil Ostrander (Chair), Ret. Tulsa; Justin Beard, Oklahoma City; Donnie Bennett, Oklahoma City; T. Dick Cagle, Ret. Tulsa; Tim Casey, Perry; Yogi Cole, Ret. Tulsa/Keys; Melanie Colvin, Lexington; Rob Crews, Elk City; Mike Duncan, Ret. Dewey; Les Foughty, Ret. Oklahoma City; Clifford

OSFA & Museum Staff

Executive Director (Interim) Tippy Pierce tippy@osfa.info

Administrative Director Sheri Nickel sherin@osfa.info

Events & Promotions Trisha Chain trishac@osfa.info

Administrative Assistant Diane Bain dianeb@osfa.info

Receptionist

Kendall Pettay kendallp@osfa.info

Museum Director

Gene Brown geneb@osfa.info

Museum Assistant Quintin James quintinj@osfa.info

Museum Assistant Bob Noll bobn@osfa.info

Publications Penelope Soldan penelopes@osfa.info

Lewis, Ret. Oklahoma City; Tom Marcum, Mooreland; Philip Mead, Ret. Atoka; Tim Moxley, Perry; Michael Pettey, Fort Supply; Juan Rodriguez, Ret. Lawton; Joshua Smith, Wynnewood; Andy Willrath, Mustang.

EMS Committee: Anthony Stewart (Chair), Kingfisher; Blake Braden, Guthrie; Russell Brand, Perry; Chad Campbell, Woodward; Dereck Cassady, Ponca City; Jacob Cox, Dewey; Brian Davis, Edmond; Jamie DuBose, Deer Creek FPD; Mike Duncan, Ret. Dewey; Mike Harkey, Caney; Eric Harlow, Guthrie; Kreg Hunt, Canadian; Scott Kirby, Mill Creek; David Macy, Oklahoma City; Phil Ott, Waukomis; Joseph Sherrell, Tulsa; Grant Wadley, Guymon; Dale Adkerson, OK Dept of Health; Greg Reid, OKAMA; Jim Winham, EMSA.

Membership Committee: Kenny Barone (Chair), McAlester; Jeff Choate, Geary; Stephen Duke, Perry; Brian Foughty, Ret. Moore; Justin Hackworth, Tahlequah; Eric Harlow, Guthrie; Travis Harris, Kildare; Jerimy Meek, Midwest City; JoeVan Russell, Frederick; Noe Santillan, Guymon; Randal Sullivan, Eufaula; Bobby Tallchief, Ret. Bartlesville; David Thompson, Slaughterville; Scott Van Horn, Ret. Oklahoma City; Jimmy White, Ret. Yukon; Kevin Wofford, Ret. Vinita.

Public Education Committee: Jacob Stangl (Chair), Edmond; Joel Bain, Ret. Midwest City; Cody Banks, Tulsa; Gene Brown, OSFM; Tony Carbajal, Oklahoma City; Dereck Cassady, Ponca City; Rick Chisum, Okmulgee; Jamie DuBose, Deer Creek FPD; Jon Haight, Fairview; Jordan Hughes, El Reno; Scott Kirby, Mill Creek; Tim Lee, Ardmore; Louis Marschik, Oklahoma City; Amy Miller, Post Mountain; Bryan Miller, Alva; Stephen Mixon, Tulsa; Bob Noll, OSFM; Billy Sizemore, Elk City; Carl Hickman, State Fire Marshal; Kelly Ransdell, NFPA.

Stavros Scholarship Committee: Mike Duncan (Chair), Ret. Dewey; Bruce Anthony, Tuttle; Dr. James Caster; Marc Edwards; Steve Lumry, Ret. OKC; Phil Ostrander, Ret. Tulsa; Jim Minx, Ret. OKC; OSFA Executive Board.

Oklahoma Fallen & Living Firefighters Memorial lit up at night

Letter sent to OSFA from Kenneth Ray Foust, Ret. Keyes FD

Editor: I have enclosed a photo that I hope you will post in the newspaper. This is a photo of three generations of firemen: • Kenneth Ray Foust, Ret. Keyes Fire Chief • Son Toby Ray Foust, Ret. Keyes Assistant Fire Chief • Grandson Derek Ray Foust, Keyes FD Secretary