The Leader August 2013 February 2012
Inside this Issue: SEAFC 2013 Fire Chief of the Year Page 2
SEAFC President’s Comments
Florida 2013 Fire Chief of the Year Page 2
August 2013
Tennessee 2013 Fire Chief of the Year Page 18 SEAFC 2013 Conference Pages
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2014 Knoxville, TN Conference Dates Page 15 FRI 2013 and the SEAFC Crossine Award Pages 22-23 SEAFC Board 2013-2014 Page
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Chief Garzarek
This is my first newsletter as President of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs. As I begin my presidency, I would like you all to know how humbled I am to have this opportunity to serve. Working alongside the Board of Directors and all involved in this great association are truly an honor and a highlight of my professional career. I look forward to the coming year. Looking back on our 85th Leadership Conference in North Charleston, the first word that comes to mind is SUCCESS. All of the hard work by the Board of Directors and everyone involved certainly paid off. I have nothing but praise and appreciation to all the vendors and exhibitors. Conference Committee Chairman, Dan Cimini outdid himself on his last conference. Thank you, Dan, for such a memorable and educational experience in such a beautiful location. We will miss your hard work and dedication in this capacity. It was an honor to be invited to attend the Florida Fire Chiefs Conference last month in Key West. The setting was picture perfect and the informative educational programs were top notch. However, the highlight of the trip was being present to witness fellow board member, Chief Kingman Schuldt, (pictured page 2) receive the Florida Chief of the Year accolade. Congrats to Chief Schuldt for being selected for such a prestigious award.
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SEAFC 2013 Career Fire Chief of the Year Chief Mark A. Melvin June 21, 2012
Chief Schuldt has been the SEAFC Florida State Director since June 2010. Congratulations on your award.
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SEAFC News Letter News from Mississippi
Mississippi State Director Chief Rob Martin
The summer of 2013 included a number of events that the Mississippi Fire Service heavily participated in. The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary led the Governor of Mississippi, a former firefighter and deputy sheriff, to convene a panel of experts to provide recommendations to school administrators for the purpose of developing appropriate all hazard plans for their schools. Unfortunately, October 1, 1997 Pearl Mississippi experienced firsthand a school attack when Luke Woodham opened fire with a 30-30 rifle at Pearl High School Killing two and wounding seven students. Too often, the fire service is left out of the active shooting planning. However, be assured that should a school shooting occur the fire service is involved particularly if your agency provides first responder medical aid. The assembled taskforce began work on the project in January and had a very good presentation prepared and ready to deliver by late May. The taskforce was composed of members from the Police Chief’s Association, Fire Chief’s Association, Mississippi Emergency Management, FBI, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security, Mississippi Sheriff’s Association, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, The Salvation Army, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks. The program delivery began in June and ran through August and covered the state with four presentations. The information was well received with follow-ups planned. The program has been well received throughout the state. Many are beginning to incorporate the unthinkable act into their emergency planning and the Mississippi Fire Service was privileged to play its part. Submitted 8/13/13
Chief Martin was sworn into office as the SEAFC Mississippi State Director on June 21, during the installation banquet at the North Charleston Conference.
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The North Charleston, SC Fire Department under the leadership of Chief Greg Bulanow hosted a successful conference for the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs June 20—22. The SEAFC Board of Directors, Conference Chairman Dan Cimini and ED Pat Cimini cannot express enough how grateful we are to the fire department for going above and beyond the call of duty to make this event happen. For those of you who were in attendance I hope this newsletter brings back some good memories. For those of you that were unable to attendee hopefully this will encourage you to participate in one of our future events.
Photographs provided by Paul Bryant
President Syx opened the conference at 9:00 on June 20, followed by posting of the colors by the North Charleston Fire Department Honor Guard (pictured above).
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Pledge of Allegiance - SEAFC Second Vice President Rocky Garzarek ( top left). National Anthem - Ricsha Edgar Kinard Former Miss N. Charleston 1997 (top right). Invocation—Chaplain George Coleman, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy (middle left). Welcome—Chief Greg Bulanow, Host Fire Department N. Charleston (middle right). Welcome—Mayor R. Keith Summey (bottom).
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Memorial address by SEAFC President Paul Syx. Presentation of Helmets by N. Charleston Fire Department Honor Guard. Taps Captain Dave Willi N. Charleston Fire Department. Bagpipes by Firefighter Andy Brown Myrtle Beach Fire Department.
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Photographs provided by Paul Bryant
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Chief Dan Cimini, SEAFC Conference Chairman announces award presentations to our 2013 Conference Sponsors while President Paul Syx presents the awards. Photographs provided by Paul Bryant
Platinum Plus Sponsor American LaFrance Doreen Miller
Platinum Sponsors
Sutphen Dan Sutphen and Alissa McGlone
Harris Corporation James Potter (left) Harris SE Regional Sales Manager Gabriel Tucker (also pictured) Sales Mgr. AMK Services
Air Methods/Life Net South Carolina Junius Frederick
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Kovatch Mobile Equipment Sincere thanks for the donation of the podium Gold leaf donated by American LaFrance
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Chief Billy Goldfedder Keynote Speaker IAFC President Hank Clemmensen addresses the conference attendees.
Chief Paul Syx with his award of appreciation for service to the SEAFC as President 2012—2013
Chief Paul Syx passes the role of SEAFC President to Chief Rocky Garzarek
Chief Dan Cimini received the President’s Award From President Paul Syx for service as Conference Chairman and the job he has done to facilitate the SEAFC needs to make the conferences successful. This is his last year in that role.
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FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION Sunshine State Report Chief Kingman Schuldt East Naples Fire Control & Rescue District SEAFC Florida State Director
August, 2013 The Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation held the 2013 Executive Development Conference, July 19-24 at the Casa Marina Resort in Key West, FL Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs President Rocky Garzarek from Franklin, Tennessee was in attendance and addressed the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Board of Directors during their Board meeting. SEAFC President Garzarek (left) is pictured with Florida State Director Kingman Schuldt. The Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation utilized the conference to roll-out an updated Vigiles Societas program in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation and Association. The original Vigiles Societas was established by Caesar Augustus in 6 AD after a particularly disastrous fire in Rome, thus was born the first organization of firefighters. The Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation Vigiles Societas is composed of a corps of men and women who are committed to the fire service and pledge to advance the educational knowledge of others in the fire service and the public. Members of this distinguished group have the opportunity to impact the future of the fire service by helping fund the costs associated with the educational opportunities available at all conferences organized by the Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation. To learn more about this program please go to http://www.ffca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3310 for additional information. During the conference President James Large of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue stepped aside and Ron Parrish, Fire Chief - St. Lucy County Fire District took the helm as the 2013-2014 Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association President. President Parrish’s new Board of Officers and Directors for 2013-2014:
1st Vice President Chief Kingman Schuldt, Fire Chief - East Naples-Golden Gate Fire Control and Rescue Districts 2nd Vice President Gary Ballard, Fire Chief - Lakeland Fire Department, Secretary/Treasurer Carols Duran, Assistant Chief - St. Lucy County Fire District Foundation Chairman Rand Napoli, Director (Retired) Immediate Past President James Large, Fire Chief – St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Northwest Director Wayne Watts, Fire Chief – Panama City Fire Department Northeast Director Richard Knoff, Deputy Chief – Clay County Fire Rescue Southeast Director Darrell Donatto, Fire Chief – Town of Palm Beach Fire Rescue East Central Director John Miller, Fire Chief – Orlando Fire Department Executive Director Jim Wile – FFCA Staff
A special thanks goes out to Chief John “Big Daddy” Williamson as his term as Immediate Past President has finished and he departs the Board of Directors. CALENDAR OF UPCOMING FFCA EVENTS September 18-22
Northwest Volunteer Weekend Niceville, FL
October 22-23
Emergency Services Leadership Institute Personal Qualities, Leadership & the Organization Tallahassee, FL
December 9-11
2013 Safety & Health Conference Orlando, FL
January 23-25
Fire Rescue East Daytona Beach, FL
For additional details and a complete calendar of FFCA events please visit the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association web site at www.ffca.org.
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South Carolina Report
South Carolina State Director Chief Doug Eggiman Midway Fire Rescue
I want to take the opportunity, in this my inaugural newsletter article, to thank the members of the South Carolina State Fire Chief’s Association and their Board for giving me this opportunity to serve. I appreciate your trust and support. I also want to thank the current Board of the SEAFC and Executive Director Pat Cimini for their warm welcome and orientation guidance. I am excited for the privilege of representing our great state and of serving with what I can tell is a group of people that have a huge amount of wisdom and a shared passion for our fire service. It has been a busy quarter in South Carolina! Our annual South Carolina Fire Rescue was held in Myrtle Beach June 10 – 15. This year’s attendance of approximately 5,200 enjoyed an exhibit hall packed with 148 vendors. There were 1,420 students that attended the 55 classes offered. During the conference Deputy Chief Jonathan Jones of Clarendon County was sworn in as the President of the South Carolina State Firefighter’s Association. Concurrently and co-located at South Carolina Fire Rescue was the annual leadership conference of the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chief’s. This is the second year the two conferences have been held jointly and is a result of the leadership of the organizations increased focus on working together for the betterment of the fire service in South Carolina. This year’s attendance was one of the highest in the last several years. Members attended several Chief Officer related classes and selected the slate of officers for 2013 – 2014. Congratulations to: President – Chief Tracy Wallace 1st Vice-President – Tom Barstow 2nd Vice-President – Alvin Payne 3rd Vice-President – Phil Jolley Past President – Butch Womack Congratulations are also in order to Tim Cobb, Chief of Piedmont Park Fire Department, for receiving the Fritz Turner Award for being South Carolina’s Fire Chief of the Year. Also in June, South Carolina had the honor of hosting the 85 th Southeastern Association of Fire Chief’s Leadership Conference in North Charleston. The conference went very well and we owe a special thanks to Chief Greg Bulanow and the members of the North Charleston Fire Department for their outstanding support.
continued page 15
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continued from page 14: I am pleased to also report that the 2012 family of the I.C.C. codes were formally adopted by the state and went into effect July 1st, 2013. This was a result of joint efforts by our state’s fire service and led by our State Fire Marshal Shane Ray. This now becomes the state-wide standard. We were also saddened, but pleased for him personally, to learn of the up-coming retirement of the Superintendant of our State Fire Academy, Russ Friar. I know all of South Carolina’s Fire Service appreciates his 39 years of service and wish him the best for the future. In closing I want to echo an earlier newsletter message from SEAFC Past President Paul Syx and encourage you to “get involved”! Regardless of what level or organization, get involved. There is a tremendous amount of things going on and your help is needed. Reach out and offer yourself for a committee or whatever is needed. You will enjoy the service and our fire service will be better because of your involvement. Take care and be safe! Chief Eggiman was sworn into office as the SEAFC South Carolina State Director on June 21, during the installation banquet at the North Charleston Conference.
Chief Roger Byrd and D. J. Corcoran Public Information Officer from the Knoxville, TN Fire Department working their booth at the North Charleston 2013 SEAFC Conference to promote the 2014 SEAFC Conference they are hosting.
June 18—21, 2014 Knoxville, TN Mark your calendar
Stay Real®
Holiday Inn World's Fair Park Our Mission: “To provide a great guest experience through genuine hospitality and superior service.”
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Alabama State Director Chief Larry Williams
The Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs had another great conference this summer in Orange Beach. There were fantastic educational classes with top speakers and of course many opportunities to network with vendors and fellow chiefs. I would like to congratulate our out-going executive board, board of directors, and all committees of the Association for a great year. The membership is grateful to each of you for the dedication and commitment you willingly demonstrated during your term. The 2012-2013 Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Executive Board consisted of: President, Chief Jim St. John, Vestavia Hills 1st Vice President, Chief Joey Darby, Foley 2nd Vice President, Chief Donnie West, Center Point Secretary/Treasurer, Chief Jon Lord, Rocky Ridge As newly elected president, Chief Joey Darby takes over the helm; we also welcome our newly elected 2 nd Vice President, Chief Gary Sparks from Oxford into the leadership of our Association. Over the summer, eighteen (18) of our members attended the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs conference in North Charleston, SC and twelve (12) of our members attended Fire Rescue International in Chicago, IL. Thanks to all of the members of the Alabama Chiefs that once again attended these vital conferences in order to advance the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the entire fire profession. Below are the dates and locations of the primary conferences that will be held in 2014. It has been a pleasure serving you as the Alabama State Director and I look forward to seeing everyone at the Alabama Mid-Winter Conference in Tuscaloosa. Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Mid-Winter Conference, Tuscaloosa, February 4 – 6, 2014 Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Summer Conference, Orange Beach, June 15 – 17, 2014 Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs Conference, Knoxville, TN, June 18 – 21, 2014 International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International, Dallas, TX, August 12 – 16, 2014
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Tennessee State Director Chief Eddie Phillips
Chief Daryl Blair Named Tennessee Fire Chief of the Year
Chief Daryl Blair, Putnam County Fire Chief, has been selected as the “Fire Chief of the Year” for 2013 by the Tennessee Association of Fire Chiefs (TFCA). The prestigious award is given annually by the statewide fire chiefs group and is based on a fire chief’s commitment and service that has impacted the Tennessee fire service on a statewide level. According to the TFCA, Chief Blair was selected for several reasons. He just completed his term as President of the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association for 2012-2013. During his term of office he spearheaded a statewide safety pledge that had fire departments across the state pledging to use seatbelts and other firefighter safety measures. During his The Fire Chief of the Year Committee presents presidency the TFCA’s business manager, Chief Kevin Chief Daryl Blair the Tennessee Fire Chief of the Lawrence, passed away suddenly. Chief Blair assumed the Year Award. duties of business manager while continuing his duties as President and still managing his duties at both Putnam Left to right: Chief Lynn Murphy, Chief Daryl County and Cookeville fire departments. As TFCA Business Blair, Chief Eddie Phillips, Chief Marty Bowers. Manager, Chief Blair manages the annual fire chief’s convention and training sessions as well as the quarterly business and board of directors meetings. As Putnam County Fire Chief he has overseen the department changing from an all volunteer force to a combination career and volunteer force. This past year Chief Blair has written new procedures and hired the first paid career firefighters in the department’s history. The Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association (TFCA) had a great annual conference in Nashville July 13-16. Among the many superb training and educational classes was a presentation on leadership by Atlanta Fire Chief and former U.S. Fire Administrator, Chief Kelvin Cochran. During the TFCA annual conference new officers were appointed for the upcoming year. Several new board members joined the ranks and a couple of long term members stepped down. We want to thank Chief Jerry Crawford, former Treasurer, and Chief Jaime Steele, former Middle Tennessee Board Member, for their long time loyalty and service to the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association. continued page 19
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continued from page 18 New Officers for the TFCA for 2013-2014 elected at the annual conference include: President Chief Roger Robinson of Alcoa. 1st Vice President Chief James Fountain of Milan. 2nd Vice President Chief Chuck Walker of Ashland City. Treasurer Chief Eddie Phillips, Ret., of East Ridge. Secretary Chief Barron Kennedy, Ret., of Tazewell/New Tazewell. Immediate Past President Chief Daryl Blair of Putnam County. East TN Board Member Chief Tony Watson of Pigeon Forge. West TN Board Member Chief Michael Williams of Paris. Middle TN Board Member Chief Brian Goss of Brentwood. Middle TN Board Member Chief Kirk Young of Sparta. Also appointed was: Business Manager Chief Daryl Blair of Putnam County. Chaplain Chief Charlie Vance, Ret., of Nashville. Director-at-Large Chief Roger Fuqua of Cookeville. These officers join our existing board members from East, Middle, and West Tennessee, including Chief Dewey Woody, Chief David Hodges, Chief Bob Dudley, Chief John Selberg, and Ass’t Commissioner/State Fire Marshal Gary West. We look forward to a great year serving the Tennessee Fire Service and the citizens of Tennessee! The Tennessee Weekend at the National Fire Academy is coming up. We have a full group of Tennessee firefighters who will be partnering with Virginia for this year’s training weekend at Emmitsburg, Maryland. If you didn’t sign up this year please do so next year as this is a great tradition with outstanding training and experiences. This year’s NFA weekend is coordinated by the Tennessee Fire and Codes Training Academy and the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association. Commissioner Gary West has announced two new members to the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office team of outstanding leaders. Commissioner West announced that Randy Fox has been appointed as the new Director of the Tennessee Firefighting Commission. He also announced that Peyton Bullen has been appointed Director of Special Projects for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Both new directors are experienced Tennessee fire service members and we are excited about their continued service in these important positions. The Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association is partnering with the International Association of Fire Chiefs to apply for a SAFER Grant for volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention on a statewide basis. If the grant is successful we will have a turnkey state-of-the-art program for recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters that will be handed down to Tennessee volunteer and combination fire departments. We will keep you posted on this initiative. Make plans to attend the next Tennessee Fire Chiefs quarterly meeting in Jackson, Tennessee October 16-18, 2013 at the Doubletree Hotel. Also don’t forget to make your plans to attend the 2014 Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs Leadership Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. That’s right, Tennessee is hosting the SEAFC annual conference at the Knoxville Convention Center June 18-21, 2014. See you there!
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Virginia News August 2013 Virginia State Director Chief Rick Burch
First Ever Virginia Fire-EMS Memorial Week Begins with Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service June 1st The 16th annual Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service was held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at the Richmond Raceway Complex Main Exhibition Hall. Ten firefighters who died in the line of duty or have been recognized by the Virginia Line of Duty Act in the last year were honored for their bravery and dedicated public service. The memorial service marked the official start of the first ever Virginia Fire-EMS Memorial Week which was commemorated during the week of June 2-8. The fallen firefighters honored are Medic II Joshua Weissman of Alexandria Fire Department, Firefighter Zachary Whitacre of Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Firefighter Jonathan Myers of Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Lieutenant John Echternach of Boones Mill Volunteer Fire Department, Lieutenant David Chew of Bloxom Volunteer Fire Department, Chief M.L. “Pug” Wells of Elliston Volunteer Fire Department, Technician Mark Baban of Fairfax County Fire Department, Captain Clyde Berry of Hopewell Fire Department, District Chief Eldridge Canaday of James City County Fire Department, and Firefighter Joshua Culler of Disputanta Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to honoring recently fallen firefighters, the memorial service honored the memory of all Virginia firefighters who have given their lives in the service of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This year’s service included a keynote address by Chief Glenn Gaines, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator, a Virginia Fire Services Honor Guard procession featuring the Saint Andrew’s Legion Pipes and Drums, musical performance by Regina Rossi-Valentine, and a fire apparatus display from fire departments across the state. State flags that had been flown above the Virginia State Capitol were presented to the families of the fallen firefighters by Secretary of Public Safety Marla G. Decker. Additionally, this is the third year that the service was broadcast live over the internet. Viewers were able to access a live feed of the service starting at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time at http://www.vbfdtv.com/vbfdtv.html, with preliminary information on the firefighters being honored, followed at 12 p.m. by the full service. A reception, sponsored by the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, Virginia State Firefighters Association, and Virginia Professional Firefighters Association, was held for fallen firefighter family members and guests immediately following the service. Both the service and the reception were open to the public. Governor McDonnell issued a proclamation on May 9 designating the week of June 2-8, 2013 as Virginia’s first ever Fire and EMS Memorial Week. The memorial week served to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the Commonwealth. Speaking about the proclamation, Governor McDonnell said, “These brave men and women have demonstrated remarkable courage in the face of danger. It is critically important that we take time to recognize and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as firefighters and EMS providers on our behalf. It is fitting that we pay tribute to them for what they have done and express our deepest sympathies to the families of these heroes. I encourage all Virginians to observe Fire and EMS Memorial Week by remembering these true public servants and extending your gratefulness to the first responders in your community.” Speaking about the memorial week, Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker stated, “First responders have tremendous dedication and commitment to saving lives and property. That dedication often leads them into harm’s way. We all mourn the loss of these true heroes and we are forever grateful for the price they paid to keep us safe. This memorial week will enable us all to reflect on their supreme sacrifice and to express our heartfelt gratitude. Additionally, the week will allow us to show our appreciation and utmost respect for all of the Commonwealth’s first responders who serve knowing they may one day be called to make the same sacrifice.” Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel commented on the tribute, “Virginia’s first responders step forward on a daily basis to serve others. Fire and EMS personnel risk their lives every day when they rush into burning buildings or provide life saving aid to someone in need. Fire and EMS Memorial Week is our opportunity as a Commonwealth to memorialize those first responders who sacrificed their lives in an effort to save another. It is also an opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women and their families every day.” Regions and localities were invited and encouraged to host memorial events of their own during the memorial week. The focus of this year’s memorial week is to honor the memory of the individuals who died in the line of duty in 2012; however, localities were urged to recognize all of those who have been lost in the line of duty in their jurisdiction. continued page 21
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Continued from page 20
VFCA and the Chiefs Foundation Present Annual Virginia Fire Officers Academy Offerings By: Nick Caputo Forty fire officers were selected to participate in each academy and were selected through a competitive application process. Participants represent various geographic areas of Virginia, including metropolitan areas, rural areas, and suburban communities. Applicants were nominated by their respective departments and selected by the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association/Virginia Fire Chiefs Foundation Selection Committee. The students are members of career, volunteer and combination fire departments. The theme of the VFOA is Safety through Leadership (STL) which is based upon the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program known nationally as the Everyone Goes Home (EGH) program. The STL curriculum focuses on improving leadership techniques, personal accountability and fostering the cultural change required to improve firefighter safety by implementing the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. Modules for the program include: the impact of the leader’s attitude on safety, employee coaching techniques, conflict resolution, correcting unsafe behaviors, effective communication, and dealing with employee stress. Students will deal with leadership challenges, by participating in real life role playing scenarios using actors and facilitators to guide the learning process. Speakers included: Fire Chiefs David Hoback (City of Roanoke) and Steve Cover (City of Virginia Beach); Art Jackson of Eagles Next Performance; District Chief Randy Keirn (Lealman Fire and Rescue, St. Petersburg, FL and Fully Involved Consulting, Inc.); District Chief John Sullivan (Worcester Fire Department, MA); Vickie Taylor (Prince William County, VA and NFFF Behavior Health Specialist); Winning the Training Game LLC (Glen Allen, VA); Division Chief Bryan Frieders (San Gabriel Fire Department, CA and Director of Communications for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network) and District Chief Michael J. Barakey (Virginia Beach Fire Department). Graduation ceremonies were held on June 7 and June 14 for each respective graduating class. A follow-up article will appear in the October issue of Commonwealth Chief.
Virginia Fire and EMS organizations honored On Thursday evening, April 4, 2013, Governor Bob McDonnell and Secretary of Public Safety Marla G. Decker hosted a special reception in the Rotunda of the Capitol building for Fire and EMS leaders from across the Commonwealth. Presidents and representatives from fire and EMS associations were invited to the special reception by the governor and his staff who wanted to honor and recognize the sacrifices that individuals and fire and rescue agencies make every day to help make the Commonwealth a safer place to live for all its residents. In Virginia, there are more than 100,000 firefighters and EMS personnel, with approximately 80 percent of those individuals being volunteers. Past VFCA President Walt Bailey with representatives of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, the Virginia Fire- fighter’s Association and the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, shown presenting Governor Bob McDonnell with a Maltese cross plaque honoring him as Virginia’s Honorary Fire and Rescue Chief. Photo: Tom Saunders, VDOT
During the reception, Phenix Fire Chief and Past President of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Walt Bailey, was chosen to present Governor McDonnell a plaque with a Maltese Cross making him Virginia’s Honorary Fire and Rescue Chief. The plaque was presented to McDonnell from the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, the Virginia Firefighter’s Association and the Virginia Fire Chiefs
Association. In Bailey’s remarks, he compared the job of governor to that of the many fire and rescue chiefs across the Commonwealth, “Dealing with a variety of crisis on an almost daily basis with the temperatures in his office exceeding those on the fire grounds.” In his remarks, Bailey also thanked the governor and his staff for their support for Virginia’s first responders. After Bailey’s presentation to the governor, current VFCA President Steve Cover presented Secretary Decker with a plaque honoring her for her unwavering support of Virginia’s Fire and EMS community. While the program was designed to honor fire and rescue units from across the state, those units chose to honor the governor and his staff, as well as legislators for their support of fire and rescue efforts in the Commonwealth.
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FRI 2013 Southeastern Luncheon in Chicago
Right: Members of the IAFC Board and SEAFC President Garzarek.
Thanks to Sprint for their sponsorship
Left: Representatives from Fire Rescue GPO, The Bookstore and iLearnFire.
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Chief Eddie Phillips Tennessee State Director Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs
Director Alan Perdue Given H.D. Crossnine Award at Fire-Rescue International
The Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs presented Director Alan Perdue the prestigious H.D. Crossnine Award at the SEAFC Luncheon during this year’s Fire Rescue International conference in Chicago. Director Perdue, from Guilford County, North Carolina, represents the SEAFC as the International Director to the IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section. He has served the Fire and Life Safety Section as a Director-at-Large, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman as well as serving on the IAFC International Board of Directors.
Chief Eddie Phillips (left) Director Alan Perdue (right)
Director Perdue has also represented the SEAFC well by being very active in fire prevention, fire safety, and code development in the State of North Carolina. He was appointed by the Governor of North Carolina to serve on the North Carolina Building Code Council. He has also served as President of the North Carolina County Fire Marshal’s Association, and both Vice-Chair and Chair of the North Carolina Fire Code Revision Committee. The H.D. Crossnine Award is the highest honor given by the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs in the area of fire prevention and fire code development. The award has only been given eight times in the eighteen years since its inception. Established in 1995, the Award commemorates the career and contributions of retired Memphis, TN fire marshal Deputy Chief Herbert D. Crossnine. Chief Crossnine contributed greatly to the association’s efforts to develop fire safety codes and standards in line with fire service values and the needs of communities we serve. During his impressive fire service career, Chief Crossnine served for more than 20 years as a member, vice chairman or chairman of several code development committees for BOCA, SBCCI, and SEAFC.
SEAFC 2013—2014 Board of Directors and Executive Director
Front row left to right: Chief Pat Wilson (First Vice President), Chief Paul Syx (Immediate Past President), Chief Rocky Garzarek (President), Chief Gary Bonnett (Second Vice President). Back row left to right: Chief Doug Eggiman (SC State Director), Chief Phil Hart ( WV State Director), Chief Rob Martin (MS State Director), Chief Keith Brown (International Director), Chief Wallace Possich (KY State Director), Pat Cimini (Executive Director), Chief Larry Williams (AL State Director), Chief Kingman Schuldt (FL State Director), Chief Rick Burch (VA State Director), Chief Ron Fowler (NC State Director), Chief Eddie Phillips (TN State Director) and (not pictured) Chief Bill Lacy (GA State Director).