What a beautiful beginning to our fall season. Cool, crisp air in the mornings and the brilliant colors of the fall foliage remind us of the changing of the life cycles of Mother Nature.
This is a very busy time of the year for many of us, Fire Prevention Week is just ending, deer season is just beginning, Halloween is in just a few days, Thanksgiving is quickly arriving, and then the Christmas holidays will wrap up the year. If that does not fill up your calendar, I don’t know what will.
I would ask everyone to please remember Chief Paul Berardi and the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department as they have lain to rest two of their firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice at a building collapse in early October. Thanks to each one of you that were able to travel to Kansas City to pay your respects.
On behalf of the FFAM, I attended the annual EMS Funeral Team Awards Banquet in October at the Lake of the Ozarks and accepted an award recognizing FFAM’s support and donation supporting their funeral team. The donation was made through the FFAM’s State Fair Fire Department Committee. Thank you Greg Wright and the entire EMS Funeral Team for the award and to the FFAM State Fair Fire Department for your generous donation.
At a recent Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation meeting, a vote was taken to break ground and move forward with the construction of the museum/educational facility. A date will be chosen soon and we will announce it to everyone. Please continue to support this effort by raising funds and continuing with your donations. It will take all of us to complete this project.
FFAM annual dues were sent out this week. All membership renewals are due January 1, 2016. Secretary/Treasurer Jaime Miller has included in the notices a list of membership benefits. FFAM offers the largest amount of benefits compared to any other state fire organization, all for $7.50 a year and $2.50 of that goes to the Fire Fighters Memorial in Kingdom City. The FFAM Board of Directors continue to look for additional benefits for its members. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact your district director.
The FFAM Directors are currently working on the 2016 budget and I want to remind all directors and committees that your request for funding is currently due to First Vice-President, Chief Tim Bean. We will be voting on the 2016 proposed budget at the December 6, 2015 board meeting in Sedalia at 9:00 am at the fire station.
Other items that are due for submission soon are the nominations for awards and scholarships. You can find the applications on the FFAM website. Please take the time to nominate deserving individuals for these important awards. These are just a few of the excellent benefits I was talking about earlier.
I would like to remind all committee chairpersons, to please meet and discuss your assignments and forward me the results of your meetings. I encourage all FFAM members, if you have input, please contact the appropriate committees or director with your thoughts, and opinions. This will insure state wide participation and fairness to all our members. If you experience any difficulties, please contact me. FFAM’s success depends on the efficiency of the committees.
Being that this edition of the newsletter will be the holiday edition, I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. All of us have so many things to be thankful for. May joy and happiness follow you all the days of your life!
If there is anything you need from the FFAM, please do not hesitate to contact one of the officers or directors. We are here to serve.
God Speed,
Kenneth Hoover, President
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
FFAM
