F.F.A.M.

President’s Remarks – May 2016

What a busy time for all of us in the emergency services field. The spring weather has been beautiful and we have been receiving rain on a timely manner. As far as the weather goes, for the FFAM Annual Convention in Osage Beach, Missouri on the last weekend in April, it was one of the best that I can remember in many years. It rained during the night on Friday but by Saturday morning the rain had stopped and the sky was overcast which provided ideal conditions for the competitions. I want to thank Gail Hagans for all of the photographs. She did an outstanding job of recording the history of the 2016 FFAM Convention.

The opening ceremony on Friday night had one of the largest crowds I have ever seen. The contests were well attended and a crowd of around 300 was in attendance at the Saturday night banquet. All of these things I mentioned did not just happen by chance, but was because of a well planned and executed effort by the Lake Ozark Emergency Services Association, consisting of Chief Mark Amsinger, Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, Chief Jeff Dorhaurer, Osage Beach Fire Protection District, Chief Drew Stark, Camdenton Fire Department, Chief Ed Hancock, Gravois Fire Protection District, and Chief Scott Frandsen, Mid County Fire Protection District. Along with Chief Dennis Reilly, Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District and all of their crew. It took many people to pull off a class act such as the one we were privileged to attend. Every time I had a request, the lake area chiefs responded quickly. They were awesome to work with. Congratulations, on a great job gentlemen.

The Henry Goldenboy Fire Fighter Edition Rifle was won by John Fortman of Pilot Grove, Missouri.

Congratulations also to all of the award winners and contest winners. I will let the committee chairs write about this in their articles.

It was a great convention and I thank everyone that had a part in its presentation. There is no way I could even begin to name everyone that helped. Again, awesome job. The FFAM Board of Directors will be conducting the 2016 Convention with the State Fair Fire Department Committee in charge. But please make plans now to attend. The exact dates will be forth coming. I will let Chief Larry Jennings provide those dates. You won’t want to miss this one.

Survivor, Missouri Funeral Team Member and Missouri Fire Fighters Foundation Member, Harriett Vaucher will be our Sunday morning speaker at our annual Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial on May 15, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in Kingdom City, Missouri. I am sure Chairman Keith Smith will write more about that event.

Our Candlelight Service will be May 14, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. and Chaplin Jim Cummings of the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District will be the speaker. Brother Cummings will encourage each of us as we remember those that have gone before us.

Honor Guard Commander this year will be Captain Pat Furlong, South Metro Fire Protection District. We invite all Honor Guards and Pipes and Drums to come and participate on Sunday morning and you may contact Commander Furlong at 816-916-7992 or by e-mail at pfurlong@southmetrofire.org

We also had an election of officers at convention and that brings me to congratulate everyone that was elected to office. I appreciate all of the officers, directors, and assistant directors that invest many hours serving FFAM in many different ways, attending meetings, promoting FFAM in their districts, serving on various committees, and having a can do attitude when I ask for a special task to be accepted. As president, I could not ask for a better group of individuals to serve with.

Our next board meeting will be held on June 5, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in Sedalia at the fire station on the fairgrounds. This will also be the first work weekend at the fire station to prepare for the State Fair. Hope everyone can come and help.

As always, I want to hear from anyone that has a question or a concern. This is everyone’s association. You may contact me by phone at 573-581-6235 or by e-mail at chiefhoover@sbcglobal.net

Until we gather again, I wish each of you the best and God Speed.

Kenneth Hoover, President

Kenneth Hoover, President

Fire Fighters Association of Missouri