Greetings FFAM members. Summer is upon is us. As the temperature outside begins to get hot, we start getting sunburned and then tan from activities we are doing or we just need that break from life to enjoy a vacation. Especially when we could not do these activities from this time last year since the COVID-19 pandemic. My article this time around will be a bit different. In this article, I am going to write about our first 911 agency that has joined the FFAM and I will also tell about the activities that the FFAM has planned for the later part of the year.
Our fire 911 agency that has joined the FFAM is the Monroe County Joint 911 Communications Center in Paris, Missouri. The agency is under the direction of Cory Putnum. The agency has 8 full-time and 6 part-time dispatchers. They answer calls for a county that covers 912 square miles, and they dispatch for 3 fire departments, 2 ambulance services, and 2 law enforcement agencies. There are 2 dispatchers on at all times of the day. They answered 21,421 calls last year with a population of 14,000 for the county, but during Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, their population swells to 2 million visitors that visit Mark Twain Lake. In the last year under the direction of 3 county commissioners and Director Putnam, they will be receiving a new Computer Aid Dispatch System and Geo Linx system for their dispatch center. Congratulations to Monroe County for being the first 911 center to join and spread the word about how great the FFAM is.
As I am writing this article, the FFAM is represented at the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts at the Lake of the Ozarks. The FFAM has a booth at this conference, and we are telling departments what our great organization has to offer and the many benefits we offer our membership. Thanks go to Director Gary Berendzen and Assistant Director John Scheper for manning the booth at this conference. I appreciate the help.
At the end of July, the FFAM will be participating in the statewide BBQ contest that benefits the memorial and also the Firefighter Cancer Network. The FFAM has a team in the contest and consists of men from all over the state and they are being assisted by the FFAM Auxiliary This event will be happening in Columbia at the Parkade Plaza located at 601 Business Loop 70 w on July 31st at 11 a.m. Please come out to join this great event and support two great causes.
The FFAM will be busy the rest of the year. We will be attending several events and conferences. The Revolutionary Fire Tactics at the Lake on July 16th, Missouri EMS Conference at St Charles on August 3rd-6th, Patriot Day on September 11th at Jefferson City, September 25th at the Jefferson Engine Rally, and the Annual Memorial Service in Kingdom City October 10th.
As you can see the FFAM is your organization, and we are committed to spreading the word about it. If your department would like the FFAM to attend your event or you would like for us to attend a regional chief’s meeting, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we would love to attend your event.
As always if you need any assistance feel free to email me at grant_oetting@yahoo.com or call my cell at 660-229-4525, if I don’t answer please leave me a message and I will call you back. Until next time, be safe my brothers and sisters.
FFAM
