President Ken Hoover called the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to order at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, December 3, 2017 at the Missouri State Fair Fire Department in Sedalia, Missouri.
Roll Call of Board of Directors and other officials:
Officers
President Ken Hoover, Little Dixie FPD; First Vice President Larry Jennings, Johnson County FPD; Secretary Treasurer Jaime Miller, Johnson County FPD #2; Sergeant-at-Arms Rex Reynolds, Southern FPD of Holt Co.
Directors
District 1, Terry Wynne, Galt FPD; District 2, Greg Wright, Shelbina FD; District 3, Larry Jones, Madison West Monroe FPD; District 5, Terry Plumb, Southern Stone FPD; District 6, Gary Berendzen, Cole Co FPD; District 7, RB Brown, Union FPD; District 9, Roy Sims, West Plains FD; District 11, Monty Thompson, Kearney FPD; District 14, Rick Dozier, Southern FPD of Holt Co.
Assistant Directors
District 1, Janet Cain, Braymer Fire; District 3, Steve Gentry, Rob Erdel, Little Dixie FPD; District 4, Jonathan Evans, Lincoln FD; District 10, Greg Brown, Eureka FPD; District 11, Ryan Miller, Norborne FPD; District 14, Glen Dittmar, South Central Buchanan Co FD.
Others
Past President Keith Smith, Warrenton FPD; Historian Kay Asher, Wentzville FPD.
Guests
Tim Bean, Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Gail Hagans, Kevin Zumwalt, MU FRTI; Larry Eggen, Joe Jennings, Johnson County FPD; Doc Kritzer, Memorial Foundation; Harriett Vaucher, Eureka FPD; Logan McCubbin, Pettis Co Ambulance; Billy Smith, North Central Carroll Co FPD.
Agenda
President Hoover asked for additions to the agenda. Rick Dozier moved to accept the agenda as presented. RB Brown seconded the motion and all approved.
Minutes
President Hoover asked for additions or corrections to the October 1, 2017 meeting minutes. The minutes were amended to note Vice President Jennings adjourned the meeting rather than President Hoover. Larry Jones moved to accept the minutes as amended. Terry Plumb seconded the motion and all approved.
Financial Report
President Hoover asked for a review of the SEP-OCT 2017 financial reports. Rick Dozier moved to accept the financial reports presented. Monty Thompson seconded the motion and all approved.
Report of Officers and Special Guest(s)
Acting Director Kevin Zumwalt with MU FRTI advised that the Winter Fire School brochure has been released. There are lots of new classes being offered. The Division of Fire Safety through the education commission is offering the Phil Sayer Scholarship so help spread the word regarding the scholarship opportunity.
There will be an update to the fire officer certificate program with a totally new look. This will be approved after the first of the new year.
As mentioned previously, Summer Fire School will be moving back to Columbia and they are working on providing no cost transportation for students to attend the annual Fire Fighters Memorial services in Kingdom City that same weekend.
Fire Marshal Tim Bean with the Division of Fire Safety reported that they have been receiving lots of calls regarding burn bans. DFS by state statute doesn’t issue burn bans. That is done on a local level through the county commission and municipality/city ordinances. DFS has no enforcement.
Fire department registration notices have been sent out. Last year there was a 72% compliance. It is a state law for all fire departments to register with the Division annually. The goal this year is to reach 80% compliance.
A work comp bill didn’t get funded last year. They are working to try and get the bill funded in 2018. Eight fire related bills have been filed so far in the legislation.
They are working on a veteran’s initiative to get those coming out of the military into the fire service.
Correspondence
Secretary Miller reported that 2018 membership packets have all been mailed out. Contact her if your department didn’t receive one.
A thank you was received from Retired MU FRTI Director David Hedrick for the plaque and years of service working with FFAM.
Unfinished Business
Discussion was held on increasing NVFC membership in Missouri as previously discussed at the last meeting. Keith Smith advised that the goal is 24,500 by the spring of 2018. If Missouri gets 500 individual members to sign up, then the FFAM membership fee is waived. Terry Wynne moved to advertise NVFC membership to our members in mailings and on our website. Greg Brown seconded the motion and all approved.
Gail Hagans reported that Bill Westhoff is still waiting on a few articles from different departments for the history book. The proposal is to take pre-orders at Winter Fire School with possible publication in March.
New Business
President Hoover proposed the following committee appointments: Ed Daughtery to the Scholarship Committee and RB Brown to the State Fair Committee. Monty Thompson moved to approve the committee appointments. Greg Brown seconded the motion and all approved.
President Hoover advised that the February 4 meeting falls during Winter Fire School. Discussion was held, and the board moved the February meeting to February 11.
Secretary Miller advised that the FFAM is not meeting the requirements of the SAFER Grant. The grant approved was for the FFAM to host the Recruitment and the Retention classes in each training area of the state as well as during Winter Fire School and the FFAM Convention. So far, several classes have been cancelled due to low enrollment or lack of any department signing up to hold the class. The grant continues until December 2019. Gail Hagans encouraged all District Directors to try to hold the classes in their respective departments and to contact her to schedule.
Committee Reports
Awards Committee
Joe Jennings announced that nominations are due February 28, and can be submitted at any time.
Budget Committee
Larry Jennings presented the proposed 2018 budget. Discussion followed. Rick Dozier moved to approve the 2018 proposed budget. Greg Brown seconded the motion and all approved.
Bylaws Committee
Rex Reynolds advised that the committee is working on several changes and additions for approval at the February meeting.
Chaplain Committee
No report was given.
Contest Committee
No report was given.
Convention Committee
Larry Jones advised that he received an email from Chief Dalsing and all of the hotel rooms have been blocked. Rick Dozier advised he would be meeting with Chief Dalsing soon to further discuss the convention.
Education Committee
Rick Dozer advised that the Certified Board of Directors class and the Recruitment and Retention class would both be held at convention.
Fire Prevention Committee
RB Brown advised that he has made lots of phone calls regarding the poster contest and he hopes to have a large turn out at convention.
Legislative Committee
Greg Brown advised that the legislative session will begin in January. Pre-filings have started. A presumptive cancer bill is in the works and the Division of Fire Safety is working on minimum training standards. 9-1-1 legislation will be introduced again. Fire department registration and board member training requirements will also be discussed. Ground emergency transport ambulance claims has been filed with the federal government for possible additional funding. SEMA, Department of Public Safety and the Division of Fire Safety are updating the mutual aid plan.
Tim Bean reported that there is now a case where an insurance company is suing a fire department for improper actions on a fire scene. Discussion followed regarding the support of legislation on minimum fire fighter standards and certifications. Roy Sims moved that the FFAM supports improved fire fighter training and helping to reduce loss of life and property and that the Association wants to be involved in discussions and helping decide those standards and/or requirements through the state and legislation. Greg Wright seconded the motion and all approved.
Membership Committee
Secretary Miller reported the following membership counts: 458 Directors/Councilman; 282 Retired; 17 Associate; 11 Sustaining; 18 Corporate, 354 Departments; 6575 Active; 10 Educational; 47 Juniors.
Nomination Committee
Keith Smith advised that the following director positions will be up for election in 2018: District 4, District 5, District 9, District 10.
NVFC Committee
Keith Smith reported that the opioid crisis continues to be a big factor with emergency services. NVFC is working on a position letter.
NVFC is also working on a hot link for legislation so firefighters can keep up to date on changes and contact information for state representatives.
Scholarship Committee
Larry Eggen advised that the scholarship application deadline is February 28.
State Fair Committee
No report was given.
Website Committee
No report was given.
Newsletter
The deadline for the next newsletter will be January 1.
Historian report
Kay Asher advised that they are working on moving items to the storage room in Kingdom City. Discussion was held on moving the large safes from her basement to Kingdom City.
Funeral Team report
Harriett Vaucher advised that the team assisted with services for Nick Sacco last weekend. There will be a training in October for the fire and ems funeral teams.
Foundation report
Keith Smith advised that an architect has an outline for the Foundation to review regarding the museum. Brian Zinanni is working on 3 initiatives for the Foundation inluding LODD, PSOB and cancer benefits.
Jonathan Evans moved to adjourn the meeting. Terry Wynne seconded the motion and all approved.
President Hoover adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m.
Jaime Miller
Secretary
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
FFAM
