PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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K O V A C S
s we usher summer away and kids head back to school, California’s fire service remains diligent. California’s fire seasons have demonstrated destructive fire incidents continuing well into the late fall. On behalf of the FDAC Board of Directors, I want to personally thank each one of you for the valuable services provided by your fire districts, to your constituents. FDAC has had a busy summer. In July, the FDAC Board held its annual planning session to identify strategies priorities, goals and programs for the next three years. Former FDAC President and retired fire chief Mike McMurray facilitated the session, which included FDAC Board Members, staff and Cal Chiefs President Jeff Meston. A lot of exciting discussion took place and the future of FDAC remains bright and impactful! There are some challenges ahead such as district mergers, adequate funding streams and lot of retirements, but we have a plan in place to keep focused on our core priorities which are legislation, education and being the voice of California’s fire protection districts.
This summer also included the relaunch of FDAC’s very successful Certificate of Achievement (COA) program. Over 23 attendees were part of August’s Sonoma Valley COA. The COA is a traveling training program that is hosted by local fire districts with instructors being supplied by FDAC. The four modules include: Fire District Legal Aspects, Leadership, Planning and Trends and Issues. If districts in your area are interested in hosting a COA, just reach out to the FDAC headquarters (office@fdac.org) to get the conversation started. Another COA is scheduled November 2-3, 2019 in Stanislaus County. The FDAC/Cal Chiefs Legislative Task Force continues to monitor many bills which would impact our collective members. Two of our sponsored Bills, SB 438 (Hertzberg) on EMS dispatch and AB 1705 (Bonta) on Medi-Cal EMS Transport, are moving through the legislative progress. Many volunteers have provided expertise and put in a lot of time on these important bills. With this being the first year of the two-year session, the bills need to be acted upon by the mid-September adjournment. This fall, the second annual FDAC Fire Leadership Symposium is being presented on October 21-23, 2019 at the Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo. The inaugural event in 2018 was well received. This year’s training will build upon the success of last year with some new offerings. We are starting to work on the 2020 annual conference which will return to the Mariott Napa Valley in April. Be sure to mark your calendars to join us March 31-April 3, 2020. More details to follow! Stay safe.
Chief Steve Kovacs, President FDAC Board of Directors
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FDAC