FAMA - Answering the Call
Fall 2010 Issue
“Prepared to Succeed”
A Publication of Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association, Inc.
FAMA FLYER
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Welcome New Members . . . . . . . . . . . 2 “Innovations in Fire Apparatus – Now and in the Future” . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2010 Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 San Antonio – Fall Membership Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FAMA Tech Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2010 Scholarship Awarded . . . . . . . . . . 6 GAC Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Home Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 CFSI 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Vulnerability Assessment Update . . 10 Trade Shows Advisory Report . . . . . 11 States Follow Lead of the Federal Government by Adding New Hire Incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Interschutz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Member News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Calendar of Events/Preview of Future Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
FAMA Fall Membership Meeting San Antonio, TX October 7-8, 2010
|| President’s Message
– by Peter Darley
If we succeed, the Country is ours. It is immense in extent, and fertile in its soil, and will amply reward all our toils. If we fail, death in the cause of Liberty and humanity is not cause for shuddering. Our rifles are by our sides, and choice guns they are. We know what awaits us and are prepared to meet it.
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he above is from a letter written by Daniel Cloud, hero of the Texas Battle for Independence at the Alamo. He wrote this famous letter just before heading to San Antonio to fight at the Alamo. Daniel probably was not much different than the young men and women in the military who put their lives on hold today, and fight for the sake of freedom. This was a time when many Americans were struggling for survival. The recent articles in the supplement to Fire Engineering, September 2010, on Terrorism and the Fire Service do a good job covering the increasing critical roles of first responders in today’s world. Disaster preparedness and response capabilities are critical, and our first responders play an equally important role in the protection of our homelands from many potential disasters. As many FAMA members get ready to head to San Antonio, I can’t help but think of the correlations due to the current state of our market. While we are fortunate to be in the business of serving heroes, most of us don’t need to review the statistics to know that our customers are struggling with budgets. Eventually our market will turn around and our member companies will reap the fertile soil of a market that is very important to America. None of us know exactly when, but we all need to realize that by working together, we have a better chance to gain ground sooner than later. FAMA needs to and will continue to do its best to help arm its members and their customers with what is needed to succeed. A big thanks from your board to the individuals and FAMA companies that worked with and for our association in 2010. Also, special thanks to: • Our friends at Fire Engineering for a recent donation in the amount of $20,000 to support further GAC and public relations efforts • Our alliance and other constituent partners Thank you, and see you at the Fall Meeting in San Antonio.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 5 Alarm Fire Apparatus, Inc.
Ken Pitre, Office Manager 1060 Bayou Blue Road Houma, LA 70364 (985) 851-1412 kpitre@5alarmfireapparatus.com www.5alarmfireapparatus.com Manufacturer of fire apparatus and rescue vehicles
ICL Performance Products LP Edward Goldberg, Business Director/ Fire Safety 428 Buttonwood Road Landenberg, PA 19350 (215) 280-3836 edward.goldberg@icl-pplp.com www.phos-chek.com Manufacturer of foam proportioners
NEWMAR
Kevin Karamanos, Sales Manager 2911 W. Garry Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 751-0488 kevink@newmarpower.com www.newmarEVpower.com Manufacturer of battery chargers – on-board DC power for emergency and specialty vehicles
Trident Emergency Products, LLC
“Answering the Call” 2
Fall 2010
James Maher, Jr., President 2940 Turnpike Drive, Unit #9 Hatboro, PA 19040 (215) 293-0700 jmaher@tridentdirect.com www.tridentdirect.com Manufacturer of brass plumbing components, chrome-plated brass fittings, panel hardware
www.fama.org
|| “Innovations in Fire Apparatus – Now and in the Future” – by Paul Darley
Changes in Fire Apparatus Now and in the future
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n May 18, 2010, I had the opportunity to represent Metro Chiefs Conference May 18, 2010 FAMA and address the Metropolitan Fire Associations on “Innovations in Fire Apparatus – Now and in the Future.” The presentation was received very well by the more than 150 Chiefs in attendance, perhaps because it represents the “fun part of their job.” A copy of the 100 slide PowerPoint can be found at www.fama.org. Thanks to the 30 Only Fire Calls Going Down! companies that sent me photographs for inclusion in the presentation. I hope you will download and share it with your sales team and others. Feel free to remove my name and customize it for your own use. It’s a great supplement to the FAMA White Paper and other initiatives to help fire department personnel in the justification of new fire apparatus. For those attending the annual FDSOA Apparatus Maintenance Symposium * NFPA Fire Analysis and Research in Orlando, January 24-26 2011, I will give a 30-minute version of this presentation at 10:30 am on Monday, Jan 24th. Presented by Paul C. Darley President & CEO of W.S. Darley & Co. Past President of FAMA – Year 2000
2010 FAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bruce Whitehouse AMDOR, Inc. Tel: (905) 333-6745 Email: bruce@amdor.com Board Liaison to: Membership
Peter Darley W.S. Darley & Company Tel: (708) 345-8050 Email: peterdarley@darley.com Board Liaison to: Technical, Trade Show Advisory
Jr. Director-at-Large
Jan Polka Realwheels Corporation Inc. Tel: (847) 662-7722 Email: jpolka@realwheels.com Board Liaison to: Education
Vice President
Treasurer
FAMA Professional Resources:
Greg Kozey Kochek Company, Inc. Tel: (860) 963-3377 Email: gkozey@kochek.com Board Liaison to: GAC, Statistics
Administrator
Secretary
David Gatton Tel: (202) 957-6530 Email: dgatton@dinitiatives.com
Karen Burnham Tel: (781) 334-2911 Email: info@fama.org
Governmental Affairs Consultant
Harold Boer Rosenbauer America, LLC Tel: (605) 543-5591 Email: haboer@rosenbaueramerica.com Board Liaison to: Internet, Marketing
Legal Counsel
Jim Juneau Tel: (972) 523-1011 Email: jjuneau@juneauboll.com
Past President
John E. Sztykiel Spartan Motors, Inc. Tel: (517) 543-6400 Email: jesztyki@spartanmotors.com Board Liaison to: Long Range Planning, Nominating
www.fama.org
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Sr. Director-at-Large
President
Grady North Crash Rescue Equipment Service, Inc. Tel: (469) 484-4321 Email: gnorth@crashrescue.com Board Liaison to: Bylaws, Meeting Planning
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Travel Planner
Bob Grimaldi Tel: (904) 495-5055 Email: bobg@rometravel.com
Fall 2010
Website Services
Simon & Gabe Steinbach Tel: (314) 504-0945 Email: simon@windmillhill consulting.com and gabe@ windmillhillconsulting.com
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|| Fall Membership Meeting
San Antonio
Fall Membership Meeting … What to Expect
– by John Swanson
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Mark Light, IAFC Executive Director … Economy Insight Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation … Vulnerability Assessment Project Fire Drill Breakouts – Popular with all members, allowing them to learn from the experts on many different topics, such as Social Media Marketing, Blogging, Trade Show Effectiveness, Smart Phone Apps for Business, Insurance, Mutual Aid Purchasing, Legal Issues, Fire Chiefs and Salespeople: improving the connection, Conducting Online Surveys, Coordinating a “Home Day” and “Hands Only” CPR Demo. ➢ Chief Butch Cobb, National Director, Community Hazard Mitigation … Innovative Ideas Concerning ISO
he FAMA Board and the Meeting Planning Committee look forward to welcoming you to the FAMA fall membership meeting in San Antonio, Texas -October 7 and 8. In conjunction with FEMSA’s annual meeting, several interesting and informative speakers are slated: ➢ Dr. Denis Onieal, Superintendent of the US Fire Training Academy … Future Direction of the Fire Service in North America ➢ Ross Ashley, Assistant Administrator, FEMA Grants … Fire Grant Program ➢ Bill Webb, Executive Director, Congressional Fire Services Institute … Capitol Hill Review and Political Landscape ➢ The Fire Chiefs’ Roundtable, comprised of knowledgeable fire/ emergency officials from across the country, will answer your questions on what they see as the Future of the Fire Service. It is an honor to host: Chief Dennis Compton (ret.) – Moderator and panelists: Chief Mack Borchardt (Frisco FD) Chief Charles Hood (San Antonio FD) Denis Onieal (Superintendent, US Fire Training Academy) Chief Shane Ray (Pleasant View Vol. FD) Chief Jay Reardon (President, MABAS-II)
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➢ ➢ ➢
The FAMA/FEMSA welcome reception will be held Thursday evening with a Western theme -- “Western duds” are encouraged. The annual dinner on Friday will feature entertainer Donna Ingham, Humorist and Folklorist with a “Texas Twist”. Special thanks to our meeting sponsors: AMDOR and Real Wheels - Friday Dinner Open Bar Spartan Motors - FAMA Member Breakfast on Friday Fire Chief Magazine - Business Speaker Fire Engineering/FDIC – Hospitality Suite Firehouse Companies - Coffee Breaks FireRescue1.com - Friday Reception The generosity and support of these fine companies provide added value to all members and enhance meeting events. For that, we are truly appreciative. Please be sure to thank them in San Antonio.
Fall 2010
www.fama.org
River Walk
The Alamo
Marriott Plaza San Antonio 555 South Alamo Street San Antonio, Texas 78205
Marriott Plaza
Garcia Art Glass Factory
©2010 Google - Map data ©2010 Google -
www.fama.org
Fall 2010
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|| FAMA TECH UPDATE – by David Durstine
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embers of the FAMA Technical committee were up and running in the early morning hours of August 28th as the fall meeting was held prior to the Fire-Rescue International trade show in Chicago, IL. Over 100 participants were on-hand representing 50 FAMA member companies. President Peter Darley took to the podium early on as he welcomed everyone in attendance and thanked Waterous Company for its sponsorship of the meeting. President Darley also acknowledged the contributions and services of former Co-Chair Sean Duffy in his past years of service to the committee. Distinguished guests and keynote presenters, John Hawk, P.E. (AFRLTYNDALL AFB, FL) and Mr. Kris Cozart (APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES) presented their findings on research and testing performed with Ultra High Pressure (UHP) Firefighting in Class B Applications. Their results showed the positive effects of UHP Technology in fighting Class B Pool and Three Dimensional Running Fuel Fires. They emphasized the testing thus far has only been performed in Class B applications and that they are not performing any Class A fire applications at this time. The UHP findings presentation is available for viewing on the FAMA website at www.fama.org. Roger Lackore, chair of the chassis subcommittee, updated the members on a special initiative for standardized controls and gauges using graphical symbols instead of text to communicate function and purpose. Mr. Lackore stated that the
Technical Committee Chair David Durstine with Tom Mettler, Gregg Geske and Mark Haider of the Waterous Company, sponsor of the August 2010 Technical Committee Meeting. cross-functional task group working on this project had met twice in the past three months, making a good deal of progress with the many symbol samples to present. This initiative intends to propose graphical symbols for fire apparatus controls for pumpers and aerials. This task group met following the Tech meeting for their third session of the summer in an attempt to finish a first draft of symbols. The next meeting of this task group is slated for January 15th in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the FDSOA Apparatus Symposium. Subcommittees broke out into their respective groups, and then regrouped as a full committee for reports and actions. The meeting minutes will be e-mailed in the coming weeks to all members. The next meeting of the FAMA Technical Committee will be held in Indianapolis in conjunction with the 2011 FDIC.
|| 2010 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
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he Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association has awarded its 2010 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship to University of Maryland student Jonathan Worden. Worden, a senior from Franklin, NY majoring in fire protection engineering, received a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement and commitment to the fire service. The award is given annually by FAMA and is sponsored this year by FAMA member Akron Brass Co., a manufacturer of high-performance fire fighting and rescue equipment. A presentation was made on August 28th at the FAMA Technical Committee meeting held in conjunction with the Fire-Rescue International show in Chicago, IL. “Along with Jonathan’s impressive academic record, it is his support to and active involvement in the student chapters of fire rescue associations and his future ambitions that made him the best candidate for this scholarship,” said Tammy Laridaen, member of the FAMA Education Committee. “Jonathan’s dream to one day start his own business in fire equipment design and manufacturing will be made possible only with the determination he has shown thus far in the fire protection area, and we are pleased to award him this year’s FAMA scholarship.” Tom Hudak, president of Akron Brass, shared: “Akron Brass and FAMA are committed to support education of our youth. Jonathan epitomizes the potential of young people with the potential to positively impact our industry.” Worden came from a family that was very closely linked to fire protection. His grandfather has been a member of the fire service for 60 years, and
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l-r: Tim Van Fleet (Akron Brass), Tammy Laridaen (FAMA Scholarship Chair), Jonathan Worden (Recipient), David Durstine (Akron Brass), and Peter Darley (FAMA President) his father has followed his footsteps as he has been serving for over 35 years, the last 15 as department chief. Jonathan started with the department back in September of 2001 as an explorer, becoming a department member at the age of 16 in 2003. Although Jonathan successfully completed his firefighter training classes before his high school graduation, his aspirations were to advance to the level of science and technology at the University of Maryland in order to provide life safety to the public. His ambition to focus on understanding societal responses to emergency events such as fire incidents, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, as well as new types of evacuation systems and methods, will serve the fire industry well.
Fall 2010
www.fama.org
|| GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CORNER
Congress Reconvenes as the Fight to Restore Funding for AFG Continues – by Dave Gatton
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s Congress returns from its August recess, it does so with one thing in mind, the fall elections. With 9.6 percent unemployment, the Obama Administration will propose initiatives to help jump start job creation within the private sector, mainly through infrastructure proposals and research and development tax credits. A final push in September will be made to pass a $30 billion initiative to community banks to increase lending to small businesses, which is endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. But even with this support, these efforts are likely to fall victim to political grid lock that often occurs in the months prior to close elections. All of this means that no one knows for sure whether Congress will pass by October 1 a final Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2011 which determines funding for next year’s Assistance to Fire Grants (AFG) program. If Congress fails to pass a final bill by the close of the fiscal year, it will resort to a Continuing Resolution that allows federal agencies to continue operating (spending) at the same rate as the previous year (FY 2010). Then, when Congress reconvenes either after the elections or in early January, it will pass a final appropriations bill. The good news that goes with this uncertainty is that both the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Senate Appropriations Committee have passed their FY 2011 Appropriations bills for the Department of Homeland Security. The House subcommittee funded the AFG equipment program at $420 million, a $30 million increase over this year. Unfortunately, the Senate Appropriations Committee gave the program level funding at $390 million. Still, these are good numbers in a year when the Obama Administration has proposed a freeze in domestic discretionary funding. The next step is for both the House and Senate to pass their respective DHS appropriations bills and move to a Conference Committee to iron out any differences. The FAMA and FEMSA memberships through their Government Affairs Committee will be working hard to encourage adoption of the $420 million funding level. Thanks to all the members of FAMA and FEMSA who participated in this year’s Hill Day in conjunction with the Congressional Fire Services’ annual fire dinner. Over 30 participants held over 60 meetings with Congressional offices to push for higher funding levels. I am convinced that without this push, we would not have received the funding levels seen in the House and the Senate bills. Remember, the Administration had proposed only $300 million for the AFG program, and in this tough budgetary environment, FAMA and FEMSA should be proud that we achieved these initial funding numbers. To that end, the fight to preserve and restore funding for the AFG program will be ongoing. Please look for action alerts from the FAMA/FEMSA
www.fama.org
GAC to help us reach this goal. And mark your calendar for next year’s Hill Day, April 6-7, 2011 in Washington, D.C. again in conjunction with the CFSI dinner. In the meantime, the GAC thanks everyone in advance for their participation and hard work to fund and equip the nation’s first responders.
FAMA / FEMSA Canadian Governmental Committee (CGC) – by Bruce Whitehouse
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ur June report talked about the issues facing fire services in Canada and how those challenges essentially mirror the challenges facing their US counterparts. It is still too early to tell whether the “grass roots” campaign introduced earlier this year has been effective. That campaign has used print advertising in a magazine sent specifically to municipal administrators to draw attention to the need for increased funding for the fire service. The overall objective was (and still is) to encourage municipal managers to ask the questions “why does my fire department need more money?”, or “why do fire trucks cost so much?”, or better yet, asking proactive questions like “is my fire department getting the funding it needs?” And when they do start asking the questions, we have given them a place to go to start getting answers – our new website: www.famafemsacgc.org. Thanks to assistance from Gabe Steinbach, the website is now up and running. There is still much opportunity to add meaningful content and that will be a priority over the coming months. Another topic of discussion has been “how can the CGC help the fire service in general, and municipal fire chiefs in particular, raise awareness of their needs?” A key requirement is that the fire services in Canada and the US be ready to call for help. Too often it seems that the leaders in our fire services are so committed to answering the call and to helping their fellow humans, that they don’t have the time, the tools, or the energy to stand and say “We will do what is necessary and right, but we need help to do so”. When we have established the relationships and the tools that help fire chiefs and leaders to clearly express and justify their needs, then we will have helped to unify the message and helped empower a powerful voice – that of the fire service. Members of the CGC will be meeting in San Antonio to discuss and develop a Strategic Plan to help guide the next months and years – and to help build and reinforce the relationships and messaging necessary to advance the needs of the fire service. As always, thanks to those whose efforts have helped us get to where we are, and stay tuned for the next steps.
Fall 2010
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|| GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CORNER
New Video Advocating For Support Of The Assistance To Firefighters And Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response Grant Programs:
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Fire Service & Industry Encouraged To Share Video With Their Members Of Congress and Other Officials
he Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has produced an educational video designed to increase awareness about the importance of the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Programs. Featuring prominent fire service leaders and a cadre of firefighters from various fire service fields, the video highlights the many benefits of the two grant programs - from enhancing the response capabilities for all types of emergencies to stimulating local economies through the manufacturing of equipment and apparatus. The video can be watched on the CFSI website - www.cfsi.org. Fire service officials and industry are encouraged to share the video with their members of Congress - and for that matter, their state and local officials. Our elected leaders need to understand the many roles of today’s firefighters and the training, equipment and personnel they need to protect our homelands. While firefighters continue to perform their mission of fire suppression, EMS, rescue and prevention, so much has changed within the service that our elected officials need to understand. The fire service will remain a local responsibility but because of the added homeland security responsibilities the fire service has assumed in a post 9-11 world, our elected leaders need to understand the obligations all levels of government must assume to train, equip and staff our nation’s fire and emergency services. By design, the video is succinct. Lasting approximately six minutes, it highlights some of the key benefits of both AFG and SAFER as communicated by actual firefighters. It can be played during meetings with elected officials and their staff or mailed to congressional offices. If the latter, a letter should accompany the video explaining from a local perspective why support for AFG and SAFER is so important to the fire service. Congress is in the process of approving funding for both AFG and SAFER for Fiscal Year 2011. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved $420 million for both programs. The Senate Appropriations Committee, however, approved $420 million for SAFER and $390 for AFG. The two programs are equally important as they both address critical needs for departments in rural and urban communities. Hence, in your communications with your members, urge them to support $420 million for both programs for Fiscal Year 2011. In your communications, include the key points enumerated in the video. Remind them that the American fire and emergency services responds to 22 million emergency calls, annually. Also express in your own words how AFG and SAFER are having a positive impact at the local level. As the late former Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill once said, “Politics is local.” To receive a copy of the video, send an email request to CFSI at update@cfsi.org. Include your name and mailing address.
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Fall 2010
www.fama.org
|| Home Days –
“Relationship Building with Congressional Leaders”
Paratech Home Day and Frankfort Fire District Meet and Greet
Michigan – Spartan Motors
– by Krystal Higgins
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eptember 2nd, 2010 marked the 2nd Annual Legislative Meet and Greet hosted by Paratech, Inc. and Frankfort (IL) Fire District. In attendance was U.S. Representative Deborah Halvorson (D-IL), MABAS 27 President, Chief Chuck Exner of University Park (IL) Fire Department, along with several village trustees, fire chiefs and Paratech employees. The event began with introductions followed by a tour of the Frankfort Fire Station #3 Training Academy. This training facility is one of the many facilities utilized by the Illinois Fire Service Institute to help train firefighting personnel from all over the state of Illinois. The training academy includes tankers and training props that were made possible in large part by government funding. The event continued with a tour of Paratech and a speech by Congresswoman Halvorson. “Saving lives is important which is why I continuously vote for funding for our nation’s fire departments,” said Congresswoman Halvorson. She also thanked the many fire departments for their continued service and effort in saving lives and reiterated the importance of government funding to make their jobs a little easier. After the Legislative Meet and Greet’s closing question and answer session, awards were presented to Congresswoman Halvorson, Fire Chief Jim Grady III and the Frankfort Fire District for their continued support and dedication to the community. This year’s Legislative Meet and Greet was another successful opportunity to allow legislators to see how their decisions directly impact and influence people and fire departments. It is important to engage our elected officials and allow them to see firsthand how their vote counts.
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n August 23rd, Spartan Motors, located in Charlotte, Michigan, hosted 17 people from the state of Michigan that included Congressman Mark Schauer; Fred Hoffman, Governor Granholm’s business development lead; representatives from Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office, and other dignitaries. The primary purpose of the meeting was to illustrate the importance of continued support relative to enabling Spartan to compete in markets that offer growth and serve a national interest – such as the FIRE Act Grant. While this was a one-day event, we now meet or do something locally at least four times per year, usually on a much smaller scale. An interesting data point we shared during the meeting is that since Spartan’s inception in 1975 (16 employees) to 2010 (1,580 employees) we have experienced a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of employment of just over 14 percent. We will be hosting a similar meeting at Utilimaster in Indiana on September 9th.
IN MEMORIAM FAMA is deeply saddened to report the recent passing of:
John P. Colletti June 5th – Father of Dominic Colletti (Hale Products)
Elizabeth Steinbach June 28th – Sister of Gabe and Simon Steinbach (Windmill Hill Consulting)
John Austin Leask August 24th – Father of Ellen (Bruce) Whitehouse (AMDOR)
Sylvain Thibault August 27th – Brother of Stephan Thibault (CET Fire Pumps)
In order from left to right: Hans Frank Normolle (Chief Sales Officer, Paratech, Inc.), Matt Resler (National Accounts / Government Sales Manager, Paratech, Inc.), Imelda Macías (Sales Coordinator, Paratech, Inc.), Congresswoman Deborah Halvorson (D-IL), Chief Jim Grady III (Frankfort Fire District).
www.fama.org
Fall 2010
Please keep these families and their company colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.
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|| CFSI 2011 – by Bill Webb, Executive Director
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n April 6-7, 2011, the Congressional Fire Services Institute will host the 23rd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars in Washington, DC. It is an extraordinary opportunity for fire service leaders to engage Congressional leaders and Administration officials in discussions about federal programs and legislation addressing the needs of local first responders. The National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner is an annual fundraising event for the Congressional Fire Services Institute. The Dinner is in its twenty-third successful year and continues to attract over 2,000 state and national fire service leaders. The CFSI Dinner is not just a dinner; it is the culmination of a two-day program featuring an impressive schedule of seminars conducted by leading fire service and federal officials. Providing ample opportunities for dialogues, the seminars are a unique learning experience helping fire services leaders – from both industry and the firehouses – understand how federal legislation and policies are developed and implemented. During their time in Washington, guests are encouraged to meet with their members of Congress to discuss federal issues and how they are having an
impact at the local level. To facilitate these meetings, CFSI will offer a shuttle service between Capitol Hill and the Hilton Washington. The National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars is a unique opportunity for fire service officials to meet with Congressional leaders. A large presence of fire officials working their way around Capitol Hill sends a strong message to the Congress to maintain focus on our agenda. The event also creates many networking opportunities. Industry leaders can interact with the representatives of the preeminent state and national fire service organizations, sharing ideas and exchanging information on how to address each other’s goals and missions. If you are interested in attending the dinner please contact Mike Alderfer at malderfer@cfsi.org or 202-371-1277. … and Hill Day 2011 ties right into the CFSI events. In 2010, the FAMA and FEMSA Board approved that “Hill Day” be moved to the spring each year to be in sync with budget discussions on the Hill. It’s also when many fire department officials are in DC for the CFSI seminars and dinner, and to visit with their congressional leaders. Plan now to be part of this effort April 6-7, 2011. More information will follow on the GAC’s coordination with your legislative leaders as well as the CFSI for group dinner tickets.
|| VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT UPDATE – by Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki
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n the Summer 2010 edition of this newsletter, we provided you with an introduction to the Vulnerability Assessment Project. I’m honored to give an introduction and update on this important project at the 2010 FEMSA & FAMA Annual/Fall Meeting and Conference in San Antonio on October 8, 2010. The high rate of line of duty firefighter injuries and deaths continue to be an issue of interest to all firefighters. All of the national fire service organizations have taken steps to reduce preventable firefighter injuries and deaths. We may be starting to see the fruit of these efforts. Each year, the number of on-duty firefighter injuries has hovered around 80,000. Most of these injuries are relatively minor in nature -- strains and sprains. There are, however, a number of injuries each year that can end a firefighter’s career and have a significant impact on their lives. Historically, there have been over 100 firefighter deaths each year from on-duty incidents. In 2009, the number of on-duty firefighter deaths was one of the lowest in the last decade at 80 deaths. While this number is still unacceptably high, we are hopeful that this lower level of deaths continues. The Vulnerability Assessment Project is intended to develop an on-line tool that can be used by local fire chiefs and firefighters to assess the level of firefighter safety in their fire departments. When a fire chief or a firefighter completes the assessment, they will be provided with information on areas of risk within their departments as well as tools and sample programs that can be used to address these risks. The Vulnerability Assessment Project was developed and exists in its current form due to the hard work of Chief Kelvin Cochran. Chief Cochran
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served as the United States Fire Administrator until this May when he accepted an appointment as the Fire Chief of the Atlanta Fire Department. While he served as Fire Administrator, Chief Cochran was able to secure funding for the Vulnerability Assessment Project and partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for its development. Acting United States Fire Administrator Glen Gaines is fully supportive of the project and has pledged USFA assistance going forward. Chief Cochran will continue to be a driving force behind this important work. The project is currently in the research phase. A contractor has been hired to perform research on risk assessment modeling as well as summarizing the information that is currently available related to risk reduction in the fire service. A diverse steering committee guides this work and a summit held in late April brought in representatives from all of the major fire service membership organizations for a briefing on the project. An update for the steering committee is planned for November. A major corporate partner has signed on to the project and has agreed to provide funding for the continued development and fielding of the Vulnerability Assessment Project. Honeywell hosted the April meeting at their offices in Washington, DC and has agreed to be a major corporate sponsor of this work. We are very grateful for Honeywell’s support and involvement. The project plan includes a three-year timeline for this effort. As work continues, I promise to keep the members of FEMSA and FAMA up to date. If we can provide you with any other information on this project, please let me know. Chief Ron Siarnicki is the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation based in Emmitsburg (MD) on the campus of the National Fire Academy/ USFA.
Fall 2010
www.fama.org
|| TRADE SHOWS ADVISORY REPORT Trade Show Report Card Update
|| States Follow Lead of the
Federal Government by Adding New Hire Incentives
– by Mark Lauber and Brian Cameron
– by Krystal Higgins (on behalf of the Trade Show Advisory Committee)
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he trade year is well on its way and several Trade Show Report Cards have been released. FEMSA and FAMA members continue to do a good job ensuring that their evaluations are completed. Our associations are the only organizations grading the major fire and emergency services trade shows. The Trade Show Report Card is a valuable tool used to inform trade show organizers about the strengths and areas of improvement of each show. The annual historical reports provide five-year comparison results to determine how and if improvements have been made to trade shows each year. For members, the report cards provide a solid means to measure where and how businesses will utilize their marketing budgets for the coming year. Therefore, it is important to fill out the evaluation surveys to ensure that each exhibitor’s voice is heard.
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he federal government passed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act on March 18, 2010 to incentivize companies to hire new employees and reduce unemployment. Recently, states have begun to introduce similar legislation to encourage companies to hire and more importantly to hire the unemployed of their state. Some of the states that have already passed employment bills include Texas, Maryland, Indiana and Florida.
The incentives vary significantly from state to state with respect to: • Which type of entity can claim the credit • Timeframe when the hiring must take place • Length of employment • Can the credit be carried forward or carried back • Can businesses relocating to the state claim the credit • Some have taxpayer caps and overall incentive caps • Length the incentive is available
The credit also differs from state to state. Here’s a table of incentives from four different states. State
Credit
Texas
$2,000 per employee
Indiana
10% of wages paid over 24 months
Florida
$1,000 per employee
Maryland
Up to $5,000 per employee ($416.67 for each month of employment during a taxable year)
Try to take advantage of these great tax incentives while they last or if you’re a CPA, let your clients know if they plan on hiring, the sooner the better. Contact your CPA or tax consulting firm to determine if there are hiring incentives in your particular state and if so, with implementation. Chicago saw its first Fire-Rescue International trade show this year for the first time since 1969. The event was held at historic McCormick Place on August 27 – 28, 2010. There was much concern about the venue prior to the event. Your Trade Show Advisory Committee and FRI show managers worked hard to address and resolve all questions received in advance of the show. The FEMSA and FAMA Boards acknowledge and thank the IAFC for its courtesies and generosity in assisting with association meetings and accommodations, and in the distribution of association materials. Their assistance was greatly appreciated. Please be sure to complete the on-line survey evaluation now so that we can close out the 2010 report cards timely. We hope to have the results of Firehouse Expo and FRI available in the next issue of the newsletter.
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About the Authors: The authors are Brian Cameron, SVP of Business Development, and Mark Lauber, VP of Marketing, both of Paradigm Partners. Paradigm Partners is a national tax consulting firm specializing in niche tax services such as the R&D Tax Credit, the IC-DISC (U.S. Exporters’ Tax Incentive), WOTC (Federal and State Hiring Tax Incentives), Section 179 and Cost Segregation. Mark’s email is MLauber@ ParadigmLP.com and his phone number is (281) 558-7100 X-105. Our website is www.ParadigmLP.com.
Fall 2010
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|| INTERSCHUTZ 2010—A Big One! – by Bill Kehoe
T
A big Welcome sign hangs in the Glashouse which became the Hothouse when temperatures inside reached 47 degrees C. or 110 degrees F. This was the main registration area for visitors. Most all signage was in English.
hey say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that can be applied to the INTERSCHUTZ show, which just concluded in June of this year (held in Leipzig, Germany). Here to show what that means are some photos, although they don’t do justice to the magnitude of this exhibition. For those who were there, you know the size and numbers of visitors were staggering. The basic statistics about the show are: More than 1,350 exhibitors from 46 nations showcased their products and services at INTERSCHUTZ. Occupying some 90,000 square meters (that’s more than 968,750 square feet) of display space, INTERSCHUTZ filled the entire Leipzig exhibition center. There were 125,000 in attendance from 53 nations over the six day event. Many USA independent stands (booths) at the show included a second story landing which housed a reception area —pretty much a standard of all the bigger exhibitors. The USA Pavilion showcased many US companies and provided a turnkey operation — hardwall booth, lights, furniture, Internet connection, lounge and refreshments--all under the US flag. INTERSCHUTZ 2015, takes place in Hannover, Germany, June 8-13, 2015.
Poland’s impressive display
France had a big exhibit area.
A crowd scene taken from the second story of an exhibit.
Outdoor exhibit area showing all of the “sticks” in the air. The tallest was 112 meters, or over 360 feet high.
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Some of our Canadian members who visited Leipzig for the Interschutz show included (l-r:) Stephan Thibault (CET Fire Pumps), Bruce Whitehouse and Oran McNabb (AMDOR), Jerry Halpin (CET Fire Pumps), and Louis Carpentier (Innotex)
Fall 2010
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|| MEMBER NEWS Bostrom (HO) Company [September 3, 2010] The H.O. Bostrom Company is pleased to announce that Brianna Adams has joined our company as of September 7, 2010 in the position of Customer Service Representative. Brianna brings several years of diverse customer service management experience to her new role. Most recently Brianna worked for CKS Packaging in Hollywood, FL, where she served as the primary point Brianna Adams of customer contact across several functional areas. Previously, Brianna worked in various management positions in the Corporate Fleet industry. We are delighted to welcome Brianna to H.O. Bostrom as a valued new member of the sales and customer service team, and look forward to her contributions.
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co., Inc. [July 16, 2010] Elkhart Brass is pleased to announce Eric Sanders has accepted the position of Regional Sales Manager for the Pacific Southwest. He will be reporting to Scott Warbritton, Director of Sales, U.S. Municipal Market. Eric’s territory will include the client base in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada and Utah. Eric joins us with over 10 years of sales experience and as a veteran of the fire industry. Most recently, Eric was a Regional Sales Manager for Paratech covering the Mid-Pacific Region. Prior to his transition into sales, Eric was a firefighter for San Luis Obispo County Fire Department in California. Eric studied in the Fire Science Program at Allen Hancock College where he graduated from the Fire Academy in 1987. Elkhart Brass is extremely proud Eric has chosen to be a part of our team as we continue to grow to better serve our customers. Eric will be focusing on the municipal fire service with an added emphasis on the industrial fire market as well.
Hale Products/Class 1 [August 18, 2010] Effective July 12, 2010, Mark Coley was promoted to Regional Sales Manager, Latin America. Mark will be reporting to Andrew Shiner, Vice President of International Sales & Marketing for the IDEX Fire Suppression Group. Mark has a very strong background in the fire industry and he has been very supportive of Hale’s sales initiatives in Latin America. Mark has been with FSG and Class 1 since 2001, most recently as a Product Applications Manager. Mark has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida.
Hannay Reels [August 30, 2010] Hannay Reels today announced two promotions in the company’s sales organization. Denis Bleile has been promoted to the position of Midwest Regional Account Manager and National OEM Account Manager. He has over 25 years’ expe- Denis Bleile
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rience in the industrial sector, including extensive experience in OEM sales. Meanwhile, Ed Rash, Director of Marketing Communications, has expanded the scope of his responsibilities and also will serve as Sales Manager. A 29-year veteran at Hannay Reels, Rash now supervises all activities and personnel involved in sales, marketing Ed Rash and public relations.
Havis, Inc. [June 30, 2010] Havis, Inc. proudly announces Robert Simpson has joined their team as the Western Territory Regional Sales Manager. Robert joins Havis, Inc. from Grace Industries, and he brings 10 years of outside sales experience selling software and hardware to the public safety market. He originates from the Midwest (Peoria, IL area) up until he moved to Arizona in 1999 to pursue his career. During his tenure as an outside sales person, he was repeatedly one of the top sales persons in Grace Industries’ organization, and was also instrumental in advancements of the technology to meet market demand. He has had experience within Arizona state Robert Simpson government, as well as in earlier years he served in the military as an aircraft mechanic on both the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the C-130 Hercules. Robert will be reaching out to a number of people in your organization, and looks forward to assisting each of his Havis partners develop Havis business in the western territory. He will work tirelessly to promote Havis’ core value of “Maximizing mobile worker productivity with comfortable solutions, built to the highest safety standards, with a focus on quality. Havis - Productivity in motion™”. As a commitment to our loyal partners, Havis continues to invest in resources to help build our mutual businesses. Consequently, we are confident that Robert’s wealth of knowledge and experience will make substantial contributions towards our common goals.
Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. [August 26, 2010] Fire Chief Magazine, part of Penton Media, Inc.’s Public Infrastructure Group, and Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, today announced the 2010 winners of the annual “Fire Chief of the Year” awards. Volunteer Fire Chief Timothy S. Wall of the North Farms Volunteer Fire Department in Wallingford, Conn. and career Fire Chief Thomas W. Carr, Jr. of the Charleston Fire Department in Charleston, S.C. received the awards. Winners are honored for their dedication and leadership in the fire and emergency services. Sponsored by Pierce, the 15th annual awards were presented during the opening session at the 2010 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire-Rescue International Exhibits and Conference in Chicago, IL. Also in attendance for the presentations were 23 past winners of the award, who have previously been recognized for their leadership. It is the largest number of Fire Chief of the Year award winners ever assembled.
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|| MEMBER NEWS 2010 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Chief Timothy S. Wall (right), North Farms Volunteer Fire Dept., Wallingford, Conn., and Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency.
Rosenbauer America
2010 Career Fire Chief of the Year Thomas W. Carr, Jr. (left), Charleston Fire Department, Charleston, S.C., and Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency.
“The leadership, integrity and contributions to the fire service demonstrated by Chief Carr and Chief Wall are inspiring. All of us benefit from their dedication. And, we are honored to recognize their positive impact by presenting them with these Fire Chief of the Year awards,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “We are also pleased to have 23 past winners of the award here with us today. It’s a privilege for Pierce to be able to recognize and honor their collective achievements.”
R∙O∙M Corporation [August 23, 2010] - R•O•M Corporation announces the promotion of Jeff Hupke to President of the Kansas City-based manufacturer of products for the fire service, food distribution and building security industries. The announcement was made by R•O•M Board member John McAlister. Hupke joined R•O•M as CFO in 2005, and assumed the additional role of COO in 2007. In Jeff Hupke those roles, he has directed the finance team, led operations/manufacturing and supply chain management functions, implemented initiatives aimed at enhancing customer support and driven numerous Lean Six Sigma projects. As President, Hupke will build upon the customer relationship programs he has helped build and will oversee a 20-member internal and external
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sales and marketing staff. He will also be in charge of manufacturing, quality, engineering, human resources, material management and information technology. Before joining R•O•M, Hupke served in financial and operational capacities for some of the region’s largest companies (General Motors and Hallmark) as well as performing consultative work with a number of start-ups and smaller sized companies. He holds an MBA from Indiana University and a BSIM from Purdue University. “Jeff has been working toward this opportunity since joining our company,” McAlister says. “He has demonstrated strong leadership skills and a unique technical expertise in leading our finance and operations teams. More importantly, he has proven to be a key change agent in all areas of our company. We know he’ll build on that strong foundation as he takes over all facets of the business.”
[July 26, 2010] – Rosenbauer America recently made a few additions to its managerial staff. Please join us in welcoming Tim Johnson, Mike Schoenberger and Brad Turk to the Rosenbauer team! Before joining Rosenbauer America, Tim Johnson was the Central Region Sales Manager for Spartan Chassis from 2000 until 2010. He has 21 years of experience in firefighting and technical rescue with the Platte River Fire/Rescue Department as well as the Loveland Fire and Rescue Department, both in Colorado. Tim is currently a Lead Firefighting Instructor with the Texas A&M University Municipal Fire School. He has also Tim Johnson served as the chairman of the Fire Science Advisory Board and as a faculty member at Aims Community College in the Fire Science Degree Program. Additionally, Tim is a Senior Lead Instructor with Midwest Fire Training Associates of Burlington, KS, specializing in technical and confined space rescue training. Tim will serve as Rosenbauer’s Southern Regional Sales Manager. Mike Schoenberger will assume the role of Dealer Development Manager. Mike has been employed in the fire service his entire career, spending over 30 years with Pierce Manufacturing. During his last 10 years at Pierce, he held senior management positions in the sales and marketing area. After leaving Pierce in 2008, he worked as the vice president of sales for 5-Alarm Fire Equipment. Schoenberger was also active in the Mike Shoenberger Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association, including serving on its board of directors. As the Dealer Development Manager, Schoenberger will work closely with the entire dealer network and focus on driving improvements in both the sales and service areas which will lead to increased sales and market share. He will work out of the General Division offices in Wyoming, MN but travel extensively as he works with the dealers throughout North America. Brad Turk is a 29 year industry veteran and will serve as the company’s new eastern regional sales manager. He will be responsible for overseeing 13 dealers in 16 states, as well as Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes region.
Fall 2010
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Turk got his start in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Saltsburg, PA back in 1980. Since then, he has also been a member of the following fire departments: Slickville, New Centerville & Rural and Somerset. He began his fire apparatus career in 1981 with 4-Guys Manufacturing before joining with a group that founded the former New Lexington Fire Equipment Co. in April 1991, where he served on the Brad Turk board of directors for four years. In 1995, Turk joined E-One in Ocala, FL, where he served in a multitude of roles including sales administration manager, product manager for strategic growth, sales engineering bid team supervisor, custom pumper engineering supervisor, dealer support manager and factory service center engineer. Rosenbauer America is also pleased to announce the appointment of Accurate Fire Apparatus, LLC as the company’s dealer for north eastern Illinois, and Towers Fire Apparatus for south central Illinois, Indiana and parts of Missouri.
Setcom Corporation In June 2010, Setcom Corporation celebrated its 40th anniversary. Founded in 1970 by Kent Schwartzman, Comset – the original company name – was created from an existing industrial headset division of the San Jose Steel Company in San Jose, California. The business was initially started in Santa Clara, CA, and relocated to Mountain View, CA in 1975, where it operated for 29 years under its new name, Setcom, before Schwartzman retired and sold the company to Pinnacle Peak Capital Partners in 2004. Setcom is now located in Austin, Texas. “Setcom has remained strong throughout the many changes in the technology resolution of the past 40 years,” said Jim Roberts, president of Setcom. We have succeeded in recognizing our customer’s needs and offering innovative products that can be customized to help them do their jobs safely and effectively.” On August 17, 2010, Setcom published a White Paper on Fire Apparatus Intercom Systems – visit www.setcomcorp.com/whitepaper.php.
Bill Darley, Chairman of the Board, stated, “We have made a concerted effort to find and add the best possible members to our Board. Based on our #1 strategic direction of growing our sales to the Department of Defense, we could not have found a more fitting Board member than Pete. His insight and his leadership will be critical as we move forward. His input during our first Board meetings has been invaluable. We are honored to have him on our Board.” According to General Schoomaker, “What I have enjoyed about the Darley Board is the family environment that is evident in the company. This company has strong core values, principles, and commitment to excellence that are in play every day. It is exciting to see the agility, enthusiasm and energy that Darley exudes.” General Schoomaker serves as a Director for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, consults widely, and serves on the boards of several public and privately-held companies.
Waterous Company [August 30, 2010] - Waterous announces the appointing of Jay Rought to the position of Central Area Sales Manager, USA and Canada. Jay started with Waterous in 1986 as a Service and Training Specialist. He has taught the mechanic seminars at Waterous, traveled with the Mobile Demonstration Unit around the country and served on Jay Rought the EVT Certification Committee. “With his vast knowledge of Waterous products, Jay was a perfect candidate to take over the Sales Manager position,” said Steve Toren, Director of Sales and Marketing. Waterous is also pleased to announce its 2011 Class A Foam and CAFS Academy, February 3-5, in Glendale, AZ. Contact Jim Fazekas (jafazekas@ waterousco.com) for registration information.
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Thanks to Fire Engineering
W. S. Darley & Co. Darley is pleased to announce that General (Ret) Peter J. Schoomaker has joined our Board of Directors. General Schoomaker is a retired four-star general of the United States Army and served as the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from August 1, 2003 to April 10, 2007. General Schoomaker’s appointment as Chief of Staff was unique in that he was recalled and came out from retirement to assume the position. Schoomaker voluntarily retired from the Army for the second time in 2007 after completing the full four-year term as Chief of Staff. General Schoomaker served as Chief of Staff for the US Army from August 1, 2003 to April 10, 2007.
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Lyle Hoyt Senior Vice President
Eric Schlett Vice President—Fire Group
Chad Wimmer Magazine Team Leader
The FAMA Board and Membership gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Fire Engineering management and staff for the design and printing of the Flyer.
Fall 2010
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2010 FIRE SERVICE EVENTS CALENDAR P.O. Box 397 Lynnfield, MA 01940-0397 Tel & Fax: (781) 334-2911 E-Mail: info@fama.org Web site: www.fama.org Editors: Karen Burnham Peter Darley Editorial Staff: Jennifer Altfield Schlett Bruce Whitehouse Design: Chad Wimmer Cover photo: ©Sally Scott | Dreamstime.com
— © Copyright 2010, FAMA, Inc., MA (USA)
A Publication of Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association, Inc.
FAMA FLYER
Deadline Winter 2010-2011 Issue: November 1, 2010 (release: January 2011)
Show/Meeting/Contact
Date/Phone
Place
NFFF Memorial Weekend
Oct 1-3
Emmitsburg, MD
Pittsburgh Fire/Rescue & EMS 800-747-5599
Oct 2-4
Pittsburgh, PA
Fall Meeting : FAMA/FEMSA
Oct 6-9
San Antonio, TX
FireShowsReno
Oct 26-27
Reno, NV
F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Symposium
Oct 31-Nov 1-3
Charlotte, NC
IAFC Volunteer & Combination Officers Symposium
Nov 11-14
Clearwater Bch, FL
A preliminary 2011 Events Calendar will be made available to members attending the fall/annual meeting. It will be posted on the FAMA web site soon thereafter. — calendar UPDATES may be found at www.fama.org — For updates or corrections, contact Bob Barraclough at 972-618-1599 or rjbarra@aol.com
Preview of Future Dates
Year
Dates
Event
Location
2011
January 23-26
FDSOA Symposium
Orlando, FL
March 11 - 16
FAMA Spring Membership Meeting
San Juan, PR
March 21 - 26
FDIC
Indianapolis, IN
March 25 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Indianapolis, IN
April 5 - 6
FAMA/FEMSA Hill Day & CFSI Dinner
Washington, DC
August 23 - 27
Fire-Rescue International
Atlanta, GA
August 27 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Atlanta, GA
October 4 - 7
FEMSA/FAMA Membership Meetings
Arlington, VA
October 7 - 8
NFFF Memorial Weekend
Emmitsburg, MD
2012
March 30 - April 3
FAMA Spring Membership Meeting
Fort Lauderdale, FL
April 16 - 21
FDIC
Indianapolis, IN
April 20 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Indianapolis, IN
May 2 - 3
FAMA/FEMSA Hill Day & CFSI Dinner
Washington, DC
July 31 - August 4
Fire-Rescue International
Denver, CO
August 4 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Denver, CO
September 26 - 29
FEMSA/FAMA Membership Meetings
Glendale, AZ
October 8 - 9
NFFF Memorial Weekend
Emmitsburg, MD
2013
March 15 - 21
FAMA Spring Membership Meeting
Aruba
April 22 - 27
FDIC
Indianapolis, IN
April 26 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Indianapolis, IN
May 8 - 9
FAMA/FEMSA Hill Day & CFSI Dinner
Washington, DC
August 13 - 17
Fire-Rescue International
Chicago, IL
August 17 ??
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
Chicago, IL
Sept 25 - 27
FEMSA/FAMA Membership Meetings
Tampa
October 5-6
NFFF Memorial Weekend
Emmitsburg, MD