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 2, 2018, at the Missouri State Fair Fire Department in Sedalia, Missouri. Vice President Jennings led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call of Board of Directors and other officials:
Officers
President Ken Hoover, Little Dixie FPD; First Vice President Larry Jennings, Johnson County FPD; Second Vice President Grant Oetting, Higginsville FPD; Secretary Treasurer Jaime Miller, Johnson County FPD #2; Sergeant-at-Arms Rex Reynolds, Southern FPD of Holt County.
Directors
District 1, Terry Wynne, Galt FPD; District 2, Greg Wright, Shelbina FD; District 5, Terry Plumb, Southern Stone FPD; District 6, Gary Berendzen, Cole CO FPD; District 7, RB Brown, Eureka FD; District 9, Roy Sims, West Plains FD; District 11, Monty Thompson. Kearney FPD.
Assistant Directors
District 1, Janet Cain, Braymer Fire & Rescue; District 3, Steve Gentry, Rob Erdel, Little Dixie FPD; District 4, Jonathan Evans, Lincoln FD; District 7, Andrew Caldwell, Boles FPD; District 10, Harriett Vaucher, Eureka FPD; District 14, Glen Dittmar, Dearborn Area FPD.
Others
Past President Keith Smith, Warrenton FPD.
Guests
Tim Bean, Judy Bean, Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Gail Hagans, Kevin Zumwalt, David Hedrick, MU FRTI; Larry Eggen, Joe Jennings, Johnson County FPD; David Miller, Johnson County FPD#2; Billy Smith, North Central Carrol FPD; Ethan Ralls, Hale Fire; Charlie Peel, SE Randolph FPD; Cy Fields, Paris Rural FPD; Chris Thompson, Holts Summit FPD; Stephen Mclane, Doc Kritzer, FF Memorial Foundation; Donald Vaucher, Eureka FPD.
Agenda
President Hoover asked for additions to the agenda. Terry Wynne moved to accept the agenda as presented. Grant Oetting seconded the motion and all approved.
Minutes
President Hoover asked for additions or corrections to the October 7, 2018 minutes. Roy Sims moved to accept the minutes as presented. Glen Dittmar seconded the motion and all approved.
Financial Report
President Hoover asked for a review of the September – October 2018 financial report. Terry Wynne moved to accept the financial report presented. Greg Wright seconded the motion and all approved.
Report of Officers and Special Guest(s)
MU FRTI Director Kevin Zumwalt reported that O’Fallon FPD donated a structural fire training prop. They did hold instructor training a couple weeks ago so it will be available soon.
Winter Fire School will be held February 1-3, 2019.
MU FRTI has seen an increase in the number of courses taught this fiscal year. There is still training available to contact your regional coordinator if there is a training your department is interested in.
The Recruitment and Retention classes, being taught on behalf of the FFAM’s FEMA grant has two remaining courses for 2018. There are also several scheduled for 2019. Since the classes started in 2016, 524 students have been through the program.
Summer Fire School will be held May 29 – June 2, 2019.
State Fire Marshal Tim Bean with Missouri Division of Fire Safety reported that there are many new state representatives and senators since the election. He encouraged everyone to reach out and get to know your local reps. They work for you and be an asset when it comes to fire legislation. Make them aware of what is happening in their area with the fire service.
The Division recently conducted budget exercises looking for ways to cut funding to the DFS budget. Although it was only an exercise, the predictions for the next fiscal year’s budget are not good.
There is still discussion regarding standardized fire fighter qualifications and training.
Correspondence
None.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
The 2017 Compilation Report prepared by Gillum & Gillum CPA’s was presented for review. Glen Dittmar moved to accept the report as presented. Gary Berendzen seconded the motion and all approved.
Committee Reports
Awards Committee
Joe Jennings reported that nominations are starting to come in and that they are due February 28.
Budget Committee
Larry Jennings presented the 2019 proposed budget. Discussion followed. Glen Dittmer moved to approve the 2019 proposed budget as presented. RB Brown seconded the motion and all approved.
Discussion was held on the current investment CD’s that will be maturing soon. Terry Plumb moved to give the Budget Committee the authorization to invest funds accordingly dependent on the Memorial Foundation’s need/timeline for funds request. Greg Wright seconded the motion and all approved.
Bylaws Committee
Rex Reynolds provided clarification on retired members holding office.
Chaplain Committee
David Hedrick reported that the MFCC is pleased to announce that Floyd Ferguson, Chaplain with St. Joseph FD and North Central Regional Coordinator for the Federation of Fire Chaplains, was awarded the Federation of Fire Chaplain’s Fire Chaplain of the Year for 2018, at the FFC annual conference in Fort Worth, TX in October.
The Missouri Fire Chaplains Corp’s Southwest Region will resume their monthly luncheons beginning on January 24, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. at Buckingham’s in Nixa.
The Federation of Fire Chaplains 2019 annual conference will be held October 19-24, at the Double Tree by Hilton in Cathedral City, CA.
The Missouri Fire Chaplain Corp 2019 annual meeting and training conference will be held September 9-10, at the Greene County EOC in Springfield, MO.
Contest Committee
Rob Erdel reported that the site is ready and if anyone is interested in singing the national anthem prior to the games, please contact him.
Convention Committee
Larry Jennings reported that the guest speaker for the banquet has been secured. He encouraged everyone to go out to their local areas and sell ads/sponsorships for the convention.
Education Committee
Gail Hagans reported that the Certified Board of Directors class and Recruitment and Retention classes have all been scheduled for the 2019 convention.
Fire Prevention Committee
RB Brown challenged each director to get posters submitted from their areas.
Legislative Committee
Tim Bean reported that December 1 started the filing of bills. The next legislative session starts in early January. On behalf of Greg Brown, he advised that the Fire Service Alliance is currently working on training, presumptive cancer legislation, physician drug monitoring, cleanup language on the 9-1-1 legislation and the donated equipment process.
Membership Committee
Vice President Oetting reported the following membership counts: 472 Directors/Councilman; 280 Retired; 24 Associate; 13 Sustaining; 19 Corporate, 349 Departments; 6413 Active; 11 Educational; 90 Juniors.
Nomination Committee
Keith Smith advised that the District 2, 6, 8 and 12 Directors positions are all up for election in 2019. President Hoover advised that he will be retiring as Chief from Little Dixie Fire Protection District effective February 28.
NVFC Committee
Keith Smith reported that NVFC is expanding their membership into EMS to continue its growth.
During the California wildfires, 68 firefighters have lost or had damage to their homes. Japan has donated $10,000 for firefighter relief funding to assist with the disaster.
Scholarship Committee
Larry Eggen reported that scholarship applications are due by February 28. He reminded all applicants to follow the application instructions, so they don’t get disqualified.
State Fair Committee
None.
Website Committee
None.
Newsletter
The deadline for the next newsletter will be January 1.
Historian report
Grant Oetting reported that he will soon begin scanning old documents in order to create an electronic archive of the history. Anyone who would like to assist with the project should contact him.
Funeral Team report
Harriett Vaucher reported on behalf of Brian Zinanni that the Federal LODD has implemented new criteria in order to open up eligibility. The NFFF also now accepts cancer death as line-of-duty if it meets certain criteria. The team has responded to 1 LODD and 28 non-LODD so far this year.
Foundation report
Keith Smith reported that there will be a foundation meeting today. The 2019 memorial services will be held May 18-19.
As a reminder, there is also now an Amazon Smiles account that for every purchase made through the firefighter museum Amazon Smiles site, a ½% is donated back to the project. You just have to choose the Foundation as the recipient of the donation.
Discussion was held on the February meeting as it conflicts with Winter Fire School. The next meeting has been moved to January 27, 2019, in Sedalia.
RB Brown moved to adjourn the meeting. Glen Dittmar seconded the motion and all approved.
Vice President Jennings adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m.
Jaime Miller
Secretary
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
FFAM
