Oklahoma Firefighter magazine May-June-July 2023

of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association to educate its membership, to improve the fire service and to enhance the value and dignity of their profession, either paid or volunteer.

Editor in ChiEf Mike Kelley mkelley@osfa.info

Co-Editor Sheri Nickel sherin@osfa.info

Managing Editor Penelope Soldan penelopes@osfa.info

- Ride to Remember Stops at Museum

2023 OFCA Conference Golf Tournament L-1 2005 Seagrave 2000 pump/500 tank/75’ ladder

OCFD Recruit Class roll out Hand Pump at Museum

OKLAHOMA IS CHEROKEE STRONG

Cherokee Nation is proud to support Oklahoma communities through education and schools, health care, law enforcement and infrastructure. Oklahoma is our home, and we are honored to be part of its success.

PRINCIPAL CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN JR. DEPUTY CHIEF BRYAN WARNER

Jim Ed Nimmo: OSFA President’s Report

The last season of my time on the board is about to begin.

The truth is I wish I could have accomplished, and when I say accomplished, I really mean facilitated, more in the time I spent moving through the positions on this board.

I have never really utilized this space to give vanilla reports and gratitude that were just a rehash of the various scheduled events the OSFA puts on every year. I have tried to make my reports something of substance, interest, humor, or all three; something I would want to read.

When considering those elements, substance is the most difficult to put in writing. It isn’t difficult to say something of substance, but it is very difficult to do it in such a way that no one interest group is offended to the point that they no longer hear the message, or worse yet begin to actively work against the goals of the organization. Truth, reason, and accountability are of little value once that threshold is crossed.

There are three main interest groups in the OSFA. Active career firefighters, active volunteer firefighters, and retirees. Within each of these groups, there are internal interests that are often at cross purposes with one another.

To further complicate these interests, there are comingled or tangent groups who exercise influence on the interests of the main three, some of which are legitimate, and some of which are not. None the less, they still have influence.

I thought for my final report in this magazine as the President, I would go over these main three interests and what I think the future holds for them, or at least what they should or should not be concerned about.

First, active career firefighters. Up front, I will say this is my group. It is what I know. I’ll also admit that as my time in this group wanes, I’m not sure I still recognize what weighs most on the mind of a firefighter with a few years on the job, but that doesn’t keep me from being able to recognize what the future holds for this group.

The only thing I had on my mind at a few years on the job was how awesome it was to get paid to do what I do. However, at some point, the “more” started to take a toll. I can’t say the “more” has any real value at the end of the day, because the “more” did not put more money in the bank (although almost every “more” was accompanied by the suggestion that doing more would somehow lead to the other).

The “more” didn’t lead to more bodies on the truck. The “more” didn’t lead to better equipment. Most of all, the “more” hasn’t led to an increased feeling of accomplishment for the only job I love.

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy actually

helping people, but a strong argument could be made that the “more” we have transitioned to doing as the fire service isn’t helping those in need. At least not a need that can be addressed, it has led to enabling.

If you want to know the real toll on mental health in firefighters, real firefighters, it isn’t a result of horrible calls and high stress (although those are there). It is the impact of living and training for high stress events while constantly responding to calls where all we do is offer the illusion of help.

One of the largest factors that will change things in the future for career firefighters is technology. Easy now, I’m not going to talk about robots and suppression equipment this time, I’ve done that before. It won’t immediately impact line firefighters who are actually out on the line doing the Lord’s work, but it will eventually.

A day is coming when a large section of what middle management (yes, I’m talking about various white shirts, Chiefs, and Staff Officers) does daily can be done by an algorithm, an app, a program, or some kind of software. The truth is that day is already here, it will just take some time and a few environmental factors for those that count the beans at city hall and make decisions in khakis and business suits to realize it. That crunch is already being felt by middle management in the private sector.

The second factor is something is going to have to be done about Emergency Medical Service. The never-ending expansion of what defines an emergency is going to have to come to a head.

If you are a leader in your department, you had better be defining what that end looks like. I’m talking about decreasing the definition of what warrants a response, level of response, and urgency of a response from both transport and non-transport fire departments. If you think expanding into the social services realm is a means to an end, it is not, it is just a means to a never-ending loop of inadequate funding and ultimately an unhappy workforce stretched too thin (a situation you really have not had to deal with).

Come to terms with what your organization does, what tangible impact it has at 80% (and I’m being generous here) of medical runs, and the truth is clear. I know it’s a difficult task, it requires real work, unpleasant decisions, real executive level work, and I don’t think the solution can be copied from someone else’s homework. You can say I’m wrong, but I’m not.

To all the locals, at least the big ones, but the smaller ones as well in this state. My hat is off to you at the inroads you have made in local, county, and state politics with an establishment that has not traditionally been our friend.

Continued on next page

2022-23 OSFA EXECUTIVE BOARD

PRESIDENT

Jim Ed Nimmo Tulsa FD jimnimmo7@gmail.com

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Tony Lopez Midwest City FD tlopez@midwestcityok.org

2ND VICE PRESIDENT Donnie Bennett Oklahoma City FD donben1889@gmail.com

3RD VICE PRESIDENT Cary Provence Yukon FD cprovence@yukonok.gov

PAST PRESIDENT

Cliff Davidson Ringwood FD davidsoncliff@yahoo.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 6, 2023

42nd ORFA Convention in Tahlequah

June 7-10, 2023

129th OSFA Convention in Tahlequah

June 7-10, 2023

91st OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Convention in Tahlequah

Sept. 19, 2023

OSFA Public Education Summit at the Bethany Children’s Center

Jim Ed Nimmo, continued

I think we currently enjoy as a whole, at least on the surface, a good relationship with the political establishment in power at all levels, but it has only been that way for a relatively short period of time, and only because we don’t ask too much from them.

At the end of the day, we are like a side relationship. That’s OK, but there is a price. We are never going to be a primary relationship, and we’ll never replace what big money does for politics. Unless of course, one of us is sitting at the head of the senate, house, and the Governor’s office.

I don’t know if our pockets are deep enough, or our skeletons are buried deep enough to make that a possibility, but as one of my old professors used to say, “politics is the art of the possible.”

For those of you whose careers are not passed noon yet, start thinking about your tomorrow. You are building the foundation or lack thereof now. This job provides a good living, even if it is relative to where you live. It provides a generous retirement, but that retirement will never be generous enough.

It ties into something I was told when I started at Muskogee which is “You will have the opportunity to make a second living on your days off, but don’t get your bills higher than what you can pay for with this job.” That sounds obvious, but in a society driven by consumerism and immediate gratification it is hard to achieve.

By the time you retire, you had better have your money right enough to afford to live comfortably on half, and when I say half, I mean what half represents the day you retire, and what that same half will be worth 30 years from that day. I’d also suggest you consider where your better half fits into that equation, because unless they are producing their own income and retirement, the half they will be spending from comes from yours.

Know this, the funding crunch on the pension system related to plan B, and measures that have been taken to shore it up, as it is

OSFA ARCHIVE

Here’s a bit of history you may or may not know about your association:

The 10th Annual Convention of the Oklahoma & Indian Territory Firemen’s Association (May 7-9, 1903, in Ardmore) was the first held in Indian Territory.

Because of its geographical location and the fact that Ardmore had but one railroad, all the delegates arrived on a southbound Santa Fe passenger before daylight of the first day set for the convention.

Forming in columns of two, the firemen marched from the depot to the fire department headquarters where they received a cordial and hilarious welcome by the local firemen.

In the revision of the Constitution, provision was made for the payment of a salary of $25 a year to the Secretary (the position now known as Executive Director).

The association also authorized the Secretary to have a seal designed for the association.

today, have all been done at your expense, and your expense alone. If you want to change that you had better be at our offices in OKC making sure your voice is heard, and don’t let anyone who is not yet shouldering the load pull the wool over your eyes with their own stories of woe.

On to the active volunteers. I am sorry. I had hoped I could do more. As a career fireman I am not here to pretend that I understand all of the difficulties you face, especially in light of funding, recruitment, and training. I am sure there are a litany of other issues that effect those three, but those seem to be the three I hear the most.

As far as funding, if you are a member of a struggling volunteer department, ultimately it will come down to what your local community is willing to pay (on a regular recurring basis) to have a fire department. They are already getting your time for free.

I think the reality is, if your communities are satisfied with the responses that they are getting for what they pay in dues, taxes, or whatever funding mechanism they utilize, they are unlikely to pay more. Cities do the same thing to paid departments. It seems to me that until the call is made, and no one shows up because there is no one to show up, or no equipment to use, or no one that knows what to do even if the other two are present, nothing will change.

I know that you all love this thing we do and it isn’t about the money for you. There is part of me that is jealous of that. There is some freedom in not being paid and doing it simply for the love of the calling.

I’m not suggesting that volunteers shouldn’t fight fire if they are not paid. Rural communities can’t sustain a paid model without an umbrella of government payroll. I am suggesting that these communities pay what it takes for the overhead not counting payroll. Payroll is the most expensive element of most any organization. If a community does not have to pay that, they should at least pay the necessary upkeep and maintenance for equipment and training. That means taxes of some kind or another, the catch 22 being none of us want to pay them either. Perhaps there are other answers out there, but it is up to you to generate that idea.

On another note, about volunteers, I think autonomy and identity play a large role in the culture of volunteer departments. That is, being able to do things the way you want to do it, when you want to do it, and where. I recognize that value.

Consider this, if a funding source (a significant funding source), different than what you are used to, that required you to give up some of these elements but promised consistent substantial funding, would you and your organization be willing to accept those terms?

This possibility may not exist for all of Oklahoma’s rural volunteer fire service, but for those within the boundaries of tribal reservations it might. Like everything there would be a price to consider.

For our retirees and their representatives at ORFA. It has been an interesting year, but simply put the repeated message our board has received is that you want a COLA. I do admire your tenacity.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading over “OSFA: First 40 years and Last Few Decades.” I wish I had read it four years ago, and I would suggest that all current board members, or those entertaining the idea of becoming one, do so. There is some insight to be gained from the history. This piece is supposed to be about concerns of the future. So, what do I think the future holds for ORFA? Stated most concisely, COLAs will be more difficult, and there will be generational strife. There are a couple of different reasons.

Most of the baby boomers who were in the end of their

careers in the late 90s through 2000s are retired. They will live longer, and so will their surviving spouse. They were the first beneficiaries of plan B and they were board members of OSFA when it went into effect. They had the opportunity to both build and enjoy that benefit.

At the same time, they consistently lobbied for and received COLAs while plan B germinated and began to grow exponentially. Although red flags about the unfunded liability unlimited compounding would create were there, no action to address the problem was taken. The hot potato was laid off on the next generation.

Then a couple of environmental factors took place. One was the dot com bubble of 2002 and the financial crisis of 2008, the other was a wholesale shift of the political landscape in Oklahoma at about the same time.

I used to think the latter was the reason to blame for the lack of COLAs for retirees during the later part of that time to the present. Now I believe that although that played a factor, it was only a flashlight on the inability to sustain plan B long term as it was in the mature stage of the benefit.

I’ve started to think the real reason COLAs fell off is because they brought attention to the issues of unchecked unlimited upside compounding. Pushing for COLAs drew attention to the shaky ground plan b was on. Nothing in earnest was done to address the problem (because to address the problem meant to decrease their own benefit) until 2012, when an attempt was made.

However, it wasn’t until nearly 10 years after the 2008 collapse before anything was really done.

The solution proposed was that from then forward, everyone would have to draw their interest and transfer it to another vehicle. Everyone would shoulder the load together, past retirees who ignored the problem to their own benefit, current members who had worked a substantial amount of their career with the expectation of the benefit, and newer members who were early in their career with

time to plan for the future, and while it did not sit well with anyone, it did put us on a course to meaningfully decreasing the unfunded liability of plan B and keeping those same liabilities from eating away at plan A or destroying plan A altogether with a run on the bank.

Then came the lawsuit and where we stand today. Those unfunded liabilities are still eating away at plan A while the suit crawls forward, and a major generational divide has been created between those who had 20 years in the system as of Sept. 11, 2017, and those who did not.

A better way to look at it might be those who started before Sept. 11, 1997, and those who started on Sept. 12, 1997. Those who did are currently enjoying the benefits of unlimited compounding, those who don’t are facing mandatory distributions of interest.

Once aspects of the lawsuit pointed toward the pre ’17 retirees keeping their compounding and post ‘17 retirees loosing it, the COLA battle cry resumed.

There will be another group of unhappy retirees around 2028 to 2038 as that cohort of future retirees realizes what has been done to them, as well.

So, what does that all mean for the future of ORFA and the future of COLAs? What it means is that ORFA should be pressing for funding from outside of the pension fund to fund the COLAs.

Instead of taking the easy road of simply demanding a COLA that adds to the unfunded liability of the system through exceptions to OPLAAA and born on the back of those hired after Sept. 12, 1997.

One more thing, know that those hired after ‘97 have, or are approaching 25 years in the system en masse. They will likely have 30 or more by the time the suit is resolved. They see you, and that number will increase every day. Don’t be surprised or angry when their only concern is taking care of themselves.

After all, like the old 1980s PSA said, “We learned it by watching you, Dad.”

Mike Kelley: OSFA Executive Director’s Report

Greetings Oklahoma Firefighters!

Hopefully your year is off to a great start as the weather gets warmer and spring sports season is in full swing.

Speaking of full swing, the legislative session is definitely in full swing. One of the things that your association does on your behalf is propose, track and speak on your behalf at the state legislature.

Obviously with a membership base as diverse as ours, there is a wide range of issues and perspectives for us to track.

Since the five members that make up your OSFA Board are also five of the 13 pension board members, we are deeply involved in anything that would affect pension benefits or the viability of your pension system.

I can tell you as a former board member and also working with your current board that they take their fiduciary responsibility to the pension system extremely seriously.

Due to the delay in writing this article and its publication, I will refrain from speaking specifically about current legislation because during session, it can truly change hour to hour.

A little history about your pension system:

Prior to 1981, the system(s) were municipal systems meaning each city had their own system. When the law was passed combining the systems, our system was 11% funded utilizing the combined assets. We are currently 73% funded.

So as you can see, your system has improved exponentially in a little over 40 years. Our system is funded through contributions from you the employee, your employer (City) and through a percentage of insurance premium tax (State).

At one time, our retirees received a COLA (Cost of living adjustment) every other year. These increases were funded by the pension system and were typically passed by the legislature in even or election years.

Around 2010, there was a major national effort to reform pen-

sions and there was a lot of misinformation and halftruths being circulated in political circles concerning defined benefit plans such as ours.

The bottom line was that the OSFA, PFFO, Local Unions, and our brother and sister volunteers across the state had to fight against the push to change our system from a defined benefit to a defined contribution system.

Prevailing and keeping our defined benefit system was a huge win, however the fight was not over. Lawmakers still demanded reforms and the OSFA was on the front line offering solutions that would improve the system and maintain our member’s benefits.

We offered a legislative solution to preserve Plan B benefits, and while it received overwhelming support in the House, it stalled in the Senate.

The lawmakers passed a law at that time that made it nearly impossible for them to grant another COLA. It required any COLA legislation be introduced in an odd year and, if agreed upon, sent for an actuarial study between sessions to determine a cost which would then be considered in an even year.

The law also required that the legislature fund any benefit increase.

That legislation has made COLAs extremely difficult to secure for our retirees, and the benefit increases that we have secured have not been paid for by the legislature as the law intended. Instead, the pension system has absorbed the cost of any benefit increase.

What I attempted to describe is a very simple explanation of our systems history and the on-going legislative fight.

Bills that have been sent to the actuary this session include an increase in the volunteer multiplier to $10 per year of service, a 2% COLA, a 4% COLA, and a $2,500 increase to the death benefit.

I can assure you that your OSFA will be at the Capitol protecting and securing your benefits well into the future!

Hope to see you in Tulsa for State Fire School in May and at convention in Tahlequah in June! Stay safe my sisters and brothers! Leave it better than you found it!

PURCHASE AN OKLAHOMA FIREFIGHTER LICENSE TAG!

• Oklahoma Firefighter tags cost $40 a year (on top of regular tag fees)

• $20 goes directly to the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum/Memorial

• Tags can be purchased from local tag agents any time during the year

• Tags can be customized to 6 letters as approved by the Tax Commission

Sheri Nickel: OSFA Administrative Director’s Report

The administrative office here at the OSFA is like a tin can surrounded by a circle of powerful magnets.

The magnets represent tracking memberships for three associations, planning events, committee meetings, board meetings, maintaining social media, answering phone calls, tracking legislation, managing grants, attending meetings outside of the office, just to name a few.

You may be thinking to yourself that those responsibilities don’t seem like much, but each magnet attracts hundreds of pins and needles on the back side because there are so many people and additional duties attached to each task.

I use this parody to help you visualize how busy our office has been. Whenever I began working here six years ago, I was told that the first six months of the year was our busy season, and that was no lie. We begin with the Chief’s Winter Workshop in January, end with the OSFA Convention in June and have events in between.

But don’t think that after convention that our office is at a standstill, because it is anything but that.

We continue with sending out and processing ORFA, OFCA and associate memberships, notifying members of their committee appointments, preparing for the statewide memorial, and if we haven’t already, begin planning the events for the next year. Again, to name only a few.

This is not a six-month job. There’s sometimes that we don’t think that 365 days is enough to get everything done in between events.

Being busy isn’t an absolute. Everyone has a different threshold. Some people are overwhelmed with more than one social engage-

ment in a week; others love to party, party, party.

There are people who would trade in bored and stagnant careers for a little stress if they were engaged in doing something they love. Fortunately for the members of the OSFA, our staff is willing to keep up a frenetic pace because they are passionate and care about their jobs and are sometimes too busy to notice they are busy.

Six years ago, there were six administrative employees working in the office. We are now doing the same job with three.

We have digitized membership and streamlined a lot of the work that was done manually in the past. Digitizing membership and registration isn’t necessarily popular with some of our members, while others are over-the-top happy with the ease of it. It gives us less room for error and enhances the way that we keep membership records.

Offering the option to Zoom into meetings has also given firefighters the option to be able to join committees since they don’t have to drive into the city to attend meetings.

Change isn’t for the faint at heart but it is necessary to improve and grow. And we are committed to being the best we can be.

OSFA & Museum Staff

Executive Director Mike Kelley mkelley@osfa.info

Administrative Director Sheri Nickel sherin@osfa.info

Membership Coordinator Madelyn Roth madelynr@osfa.info

Fire Chiefs and Department Heads

Need training for your mechanics?

Are the mechanics working on your equipment certified?

Think you cannot afford training?

Events Coordinator Raegan Layne raeganl@osfa.info

Publications

Penelope Soldan penelopes@osfa.info

Museum Director Gene Brown geneb@osfa.info

Museum Archivist Bob Noll bobn@osfa.info

Museum Assistant Lance Gill lanceg@osfa.info

Museum Volunteer Greg Roberts groberts1960@gmail.com

Museum Volunteer Andie Hernandez

On Display at Oklahoma Firefighters Museum

Who Was William Cooper Hunneman?

William Cooper Hunneman, a citizen of the state of Massachusetts, was born in 1769, in Boston. As he passed through his childhood and then his teenage years, it became evident to him that he would be a craftsman and tradesman.

As such, he apprenticed with Paul Revere, patriot-to-be and an accomplished coppersmith. After his employment contract with Revere was finished, Hunneman went to work with Martin Gay, a brass founder.

This was a period of intense political feeling, and opinions on many subjects varied. Mr. Gay was a rabid Tory, and as such, was banished back to England.

Hunneman then set himself up in business and produced warming pans, and irons and other household items. As a master smith, he made many of the items that were essential to both homes and businesses.

Major fires plagued many colonial cities, and Boston was no exception. Hunneman responded to this continued threat by beginning the manufacture of hand pumped fire engines. He was joined by a gentleman named Ephraim Thayer, who had also been an apprentice of Paul Revere.

New York City produced another hand engine builder by the name of James Smith. There were several others who also produced hand engines.

Hunneman produced his first hand engine in 1792 which was sold to Bath, Maine. This was the start of a decades long interface with the American fire service.

Hunneman, with his brothers and sons, produced 750 hand engines, and then later steam fire engines. Growing competition from larger builders, such as American, eventually caused Hunneman’s company to cease operation.

I hope, after reading to this point, you have found this article interesting but may be thinking, “How is Oklahoma involved?”

The Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum, which is supported by over 900 fire departments in Oklahoma, is in proud possession of one of Hunneman’s hand engines. Its production number, 708, originally sold to New Richmond, Indiana, in April of 1870.

While our hand engine never served in Oklahoma, it is very illustrative of fire apparatus that was manufactured in the mid 1800s. This hand engine is fully operational and

Gene Brown: Firefighters Museum Director’s Report

Hello everyone!

Progress has been made on the new shop.

Ronnie Walker (Ret. Lawton), Bob Noll (Ret. Yukon), Shannon Conway (a friend of Ronnie’s) and I built the shop bathroom.

The next step is to get the plumbing completed. We are ready for the electric, and we hope to have it completed very soon. Our fundraising is off to a good start. We have already raised almost $8,000 parking cars for softball games.

The Big 12 Softball Tournament will happen before you get this magazine, and we hope we were able to park cars for that tournament.

We also have the Women’s College World Series coming in June. This a great fundraiser for your museum.

We have expanded the gift shop with more items for sale, We have plenty of new ball caps. Come in and see us!

Stay safe!

will draft and pump.

Many recruit firefighters have come to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum to hear about the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association and our museum. Part of their museum experience is putting our hand engine in service and pumping a very satisfactory fire stream.

William Cooper Hunneman’s company’s craftsmanship has made its way into 21st century and is still going strong.

Ret. The Village FD

-- Bob Noll, Retired Yukon & Firefighters Museum Archivist

Oklahoma City FD Recruit Class 17-3 visited the museum on Feb. 15, 2017

Norman FD Recruit Class visited the museum on Sept. 29, 2022

Bob Noll, Ronnie Walker and Shannon Conway working in the new shop

2023 Ride To Remember - Riders stop at Firefighters Museum

Tom Marcum: OSFA Volunteer Fire Service Committee Report

The Volunteer Fire Service Committee has been busy since the last update.

The committee held a successful Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Caucus in Atoka on Feb. 4, 2023. There were numerous new attendees, several vendors and a day stocked full of speakers. We had approximately 85 attendees representing 42 departments across Oklahoma.

The other thing that the Volunteer Fire Service Committee has been working diligently on is our Strategic Initiatives. In August of 2022, the committee met with Dennis Compton at the FPP Mace Center in Stillwater for a day of setting the group’s initiatives, as well as setting up people responsible for each initiative and setting due dates for each.

The initiatives (and their major objectives) are as follows:

1. Enhance communications with the Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Service through outreach, use of technology, data, and more direct communications with the individual members.

a. Create a downloadable pdf of current OSFA information and benefits for consistent messaging in our outreach.

UPDATE: This was due during the 1st quarter of 2023 and the document has been created and just needs to be converted to a pdf and uploaded to the OSFA website.

b. Expand outreach by attending local and regional FD meetings quarterly, with consistent messaging from VFSC & OSFA.

UPDATE: This, too, was due during the 1st quarter of 2023 and multiple meetings from OKC, Beaver, Mooreland (NW OK) have been attended by the membership of this committee.

c. Create and maintain an accurate database of contact information for members of the OSFA.

UPDATE: This is due by the 4th quarter of 2023 and is already being worked on.

d. Using future and existing technologies, provide a minimum of monthly communications to members on OSFA topics, information, training, etc.

UPDATE: This is due in the 2nd quarter of 2023 and is nearing completion.

2. Establish performance criteria and funding mechanisms for the Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Service including emphasis on safety, quality of training, and access to training.

a. Form a subcommittee to research and establish the performance criteria for firefighters to be reported to VFSC to present to caucus.

UPDATE: This is due in the 1st quarter of 2024 and is currently being worked on.

b. Form a subcommittee to research funding mechanisms on a state level for training including the oversight agency to be reported to the VFSC to present to caucus.

UPDATE: This is due in 1st quarter of 2024 and is in progress.

c. Work with the oversight agency to create legislation.

UPDATE: This is due in 3rd quarter of 2024 and is progressing.

Zach Bruhn: OSFA Educational Advisory Committee Report

Planning and logistics of this year’s John F. Futhey II Oklahoma State Fire School is finished.

Your Educational Advisory Committee and the OSFA staff worked diligently to create another outstanding State Fire School May 4-6 in Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Owasso. This year’s John F. Futhey II State Fire School offers a wide variety of amazing nationally recognized instructors who come from all over the nation to present right here in our great state.

If you missed this year’s event, put it on your calendar for next May. This event is free to OSFA members and only $100 for unlimited conference access to non-members. We all know that traveling to attend class at national conferences is way more expensive than it should be. So don’t waste your time and money traveling out of state to see these FDIC experienced classes and instructors.

Just make a short trip over to the Tulsa metro area next year for the Oklahoma State Fire School.

d. Proceed to legislation.

UPDATE: This is due in the 1st quarter of 2025.

3. Enhance the participation of the Oklahoma Volunteer Fire Service in the OSFA/VFSC to enable buy-in and participation for the goals and objectives of the committee.

a. Develop protocols for hand off of requested information and training/promotional material for district committee members.

UPDATE: This is due in the 1st quarter of 2023 and is in process currently.

b. Develop district representation to promote OSFA & VFSC to all assigned areas.

UPDATE: Due in the 3rd quarter of 2023 and is in discussion currently.

c. Develop training credit for attending the volunteer caucus.

UPDATE: Due in the 1st quarter of 2024 and is in discussions.

The entire committee is involved in the strategic planning session and the objectives that are discussed above, with seven of the committee members, as well as the OSFA Staff, being assigned to the major objectives.

As you can see, the Volunteer Fire Service Committee is very involved and committed to moving the membership forward and taking care of their needs. It’s been a busy year for this committee, but we feel like we’re accomplishing important work for the Oklahoma Fire Service.

Mooreland FD

OSFA lobbyists Don Armes and Julia Jernigan- Smith talked to volunteers and answered questions at the 2023 OSFA Volunteer Fire Caucus

Oklahoma City FD

Blake Braden: OSFA EMS Committee Report

It has been a busy year on the EMS subcommittee. There have been multiple bills introduced to the House and Senate that we have been following that pertain to our fire-based EMS departments. These have sparked great discussion and areas we can help improve upon as a State. Members of the OSFA staff and the subcommittee met with Senator Todd Gollihare to discuss ways to make his Active Shooter Bill work for all agencies.

Another conversation we have discussed was about the possibility of Community Paramedicine in Oklahoma. This need was voiced by one department about the length of time their engine companies are waiting for ambulances.

Another department said this would allow the decrease in call volume by lowering the readmission rates. There were reports of some education departments trying to bring this training to Oklahoma.

With the dry conditions and heavy winds, we hope that everyone is pre-hydrating for the potential fires or rescues waiting around the corner. If you do find your agency in an extended scene or disaster, remember there are resources that can be activated for rehab.

Contact your local Oklahoma MERC about resources in your area. Stay Safe!

Jeremy Williams: OSFA Safety & Health Committee Report

With the higher temps and very little rain, firefighters have been very busy. The OSFA Safety & Health Committee would just like to remind you to stay safe and remember your training.

I would like to take this time to remind you that a peer support organization has been created -- Oklahoma Firefighters Peer Support.

The organization is split into five districts across the state. If you or anyone is in need of help or if you’re interested in becoming a peer support member, please contact the OSFA office for more details.

I would also like to let everyone know that a Mental Health Gala is being planned for Oct. 14, 2023. This Gala is to raise awareness for mental health.

The funds raised during this Gala will go into the Benevolent fund and be earmarked for mental health. Moneys raised will go to any OSFA member seeking counseling. The Gala is still in the planning stages but more information will continue to be released as we get closer to the date.

If you or anyone you know would like to support this very important cause, you can contact the OSFA office for more details. Thank you all for what you do for your communities.

Guthrie FD

Blake Braden was named to Journal Record’s fourth class of Health Care Heroes

Guthrie FD

B.J. Baker: OSFA Legislative Committee Report

This year, your OSFA Legislative Committee had two resolutions that came out of last year’s OSFA Convention: The Volunteer Multiplier Resolution and the Passive Exposure Protection Resolution.

We were able to find an author in Senator John Michael Montgomery from Lawton for the Volunteer Multiplier Bill; it will raise the volunteer multiplier to $10 for future retirees ($10 x years of service).

It has passed the Senate Finance and Insurance Committee and is being sent to actuary.

The Passive Exposure Protection Resolution was authored as a bill by Tahlequah’s Representative Bob Ed Culver. It has passed committee vote, unanimously passed the House floor, and its next step is Senate committee where it has been picked up by Senator Todd Gollihare from Creek County.

It provides some protections to firefighters who suffer passive exposure to marijuana while working around grows or processing facilities.

Of course, the OSFA Legislative Committee watches all bills that affect firefighter interests. Particularly of note, there are two much needed COLA Bills (Retirement Cost of Living Adjustments) sponsored by Speaker of the House Charles McCall, one for 2% and one for 4%.

There are bills started to increase the volunteer income tax credit, one to establish a wildfire reimbursement fund, and several bills related to PTSD workers compensation, awareness and training for firefighters.

It has been a pleasure serving as Chairman of your Legislative Committee, and from what I have learned over this last year, things are looking good for Oklahoma firefighters.

Jacob Stangl: OSFA Public Education Committee Report

OSFA’s Public Education Committee has finalized the speakers for our 2023 Public Education Summit.

The Public Education Summit set for Sept. 19 at the Bethany Children’s Center will feature Scott Ayers of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Brett Brenner of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

The speakers bring a vast knowledge

base in their respective industries and will update our state on some of the national trends in their fields.

The CPSC is a valuable resource for the fire service. Its product safety recalls provide us with information to reduce fires, injuries and deaths in our communities. Recently the CPSC recalled two Million COSORI Air Fryers due to fire and burn hazards.

The units were recalled after reports of the units catching fire and overheating. These air fryers are likely in all of our communities, and spreading the recall

information can reduce property damage by preventing these types of fires.

The (ESFI) is dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace. Its marketing and awareness campaigns work to advance electrical safety.

These campaigns have established ESFI as the primary source for unbiased electrical safety information to reduce electrically related deaths, injuries, and property losses.

Their programs include home, workplace, disaster, and kids safety and are another valuable resource for the fire service.

Tahlequah FD

Edmond FD

2023 OSFA Legislative Reception

Gathering in the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum on March 28 were 135 firefighters, legislators and other stakeholders. There were a lot of great discussions amongst everyone in attendance!

A special thank you to the Tulsa Retired Firefighters Association, the Oklahoma City Retired Firefighters Association and the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association for sponsoring this event!

James Fullingim: ORFA President’s Report

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your ORFA President the past year.

Not everything went as I had hoped and envisioned, but I do believe we are making progress.

As I mentioned in my previous report, the ORFA Board did request an 8% COLA bill to be sent to actuary study this year. That did not happen; however, it appears there are three bills of interest going to study this year: one for a 2% Cola, one for a 4% Cola and another to increase the death benefit from $5,000 to $7,500.

Additionally, there is legislation currently going through the process to provide a 13th check. This would have a $1,500 minimum and a $3,500 maximum benefit, and we should know the fate of this legislation by the time you read this report.

We are looking forward to our convention on June 6 in Tahlequah. The ORFA Constitution and By-laws Committee worked diligently to review our Constitution and By-laws and has prepared some resolutions to make the necessary changes to better reflect the way we operate and identify the organizations priorities.

Our guest speaker this year will be US Navy Admiral Doug McClain (retired) who always has something worthwhile to pass along. Please plan to join us lunch, participate in the convention and stay for the hospitality provided afterward.

Again, I appreciate the opportunity you allowed me to serve the ORFA, and I am certain Mike Duncan will serve you well this upcoming year. I want to thank the ORFA Board and all our committee members for their support, guidance and many hours of work over this past year. Additionally, I must recognize Tippy Pierce, our Executive Director and Madelyn Roth our administrative support person. They have done an excellent job of keeping us in line and on track.

Ret. Norman FD

Question & Answers

Here is what they said:

w Melanie Colvin, Lexington: Pickup Trucks! You use to be able to get one for a decent price. Now their price is astronomical!

w Keith Bryant, Ret. OKC: I would say funerals are way too expensive.

w Jim Ed Nimmo, Tulsa: Influence. Real influence. It’s not just measured in dollars, but the price is high to get people to do the right thing. I suppose the exact opposite argument could be made, but that isn’t the case in my experience.

w Kendra Engle, OSFA Women’s Aux: Insurance.

w Bryan West, OSU-FST: This is an easy one because I just had to purchase them. WIPER BLADES! Every vehicle needs them, every vehicle needs at least two of them yet they are only sold as singles and cost over $60 per blade, and that’s not the most expensive ones available.

w Jacob Stangl, Edmond: Bottled water!

w Eric Carranza, Springer: Our apparatus are out of control and it’s going to keep going up!

w B.J. Baker, Tahlequah: Commercial beef.

w Tom Marcum, Mooreland: Insurance! Both auto and home. If you don’t have any claims, you should get some free time from both and still be covered.

w Greg Roberts, Ret. Norman: Gasoline and Diesel.

w Michael Baker, Tulsa: The basics of life – food, housing, utilities. Many in our community cannot afford these essentials and they go without the items that help with their mental and physical well-being.

w Troy Calvert, Clinton: Health Care. I understand the circumstances that have made it so costly, but it shouldn’t be.

w Greg Lindsay, OKC: Education is way too expensive.

w Donnie Bennett, OKC: Internet service.

ORFA Constitional Resolution 23-01

WHEREAS The Constitution and By-Laws of the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association (ORFA) have been under review over the past year and;

WHEREAS at the request of the Executive Board of the ORFA the Committee has several times since the 2022 Conference to review the Constitutions and By-Laws of the Association to determine any proposed changes beneficial to the membership and;

WHEREAS in the current constitution there is no Article to address Executive Board Meetings and;

WHEREAS there is a need to ensure transparency and information sharing with the members of the Association. The Executive Board proposes the addition of Sections 4, 5 and 6 to Article IV.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Article IV be changed to include the following:

ARTICLE IV – ELECTIVE OFFICERS

Section 4. All regular meetings conducted by the Executive Board of the Association shall be posted on the ORFA website two weeks prior to the meeting.

Section 5. All agendas and meeting minutes shall be posted on the ORFA website.

Section 6. All items should be discussed in open session other than items that require confidential communications between Executive Board Members and the Executive Director. Items to be discussed in executive session shall be stated on the agenda and no action shall be made concerning executive session items. All items requiring action shall be made in open session. Items appropriate for discussion in executive session shall include:

A. Discussion concerning the employment and/ or compensation of the Executive Director and/or any other employee(s).

B. Discussion regarding items that would violate the confidentiality of any individual or organization.

C. Discussion concerning any legal actions that would impair the organization’s ability to investigate and/or litigate any pending action.

Respectfully submitted: ORFA Board

w Mike “Rookie” Billingsley, Ret. Nichols Hills: Funerals … Gasoline … Food … Vehicles … Medicine … College … Health Care … Insurance … Clothes … What A Burger.

w Darren Alexander, Cedar Country: Mattresses. I have always said nobody can justify 8-10k on a new mattress. Unless it is made out of gold and takes away every muscle pain we all get as we get older, there is no reason.

w Kara Owens, Piedmont: Health insurance!

w Marshall Dunnam, Ret. OKC: Electric vehicles.

w Ray Hammons, Ret. Tahlequah: There are so many things but medicine, particularly Insulin! It’s a shame that we have allowed big pharmaceutical and politicians to create an atmosphere of marketing and targeting the sick the poor and the elderly!

We firefighters are allowed to hand out lifesaving Narcan because it’s politically correct, while others have to choose between food, utilities and medicine!

ORFA Constitional Resolution 23-02

WHEREAS the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association is a Century old institution created with the intent of offering an opportunity for retired firefighters or their surviving spouse to offer support and assistance to both active and retired firefighters when needed and work to protect and improve the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

WHEREAS the ORFA is governed by a Constitution Approved by the membership and;

WHEREAS the Association Constitution is much like our nation’s constitution in that there may occasionally arise different interpretations of the same written document and;

WHEREAS the Association has created a resolutions and constitution committee to research and propose any needed changes to keep our Constitution current, clear in intent and content and;

WHEREAS the Resolutions and Constitution Committee has met numerous times since our last convention and has drafted and approved a proposed new version of our Constitution with clarifications and simplifications without changing the intent of the document and;

WHEREAS the items listed in Article II-Objective are all of equal importance, it was inferred by some that the order of said items determines their priority. It doesn’t, but we reworded the objectives to clarify our focus.

WHEREAS the Constitution needed some additional clarification and simplification and we believe we have done just that in our attached draft proposed constitution.

WHEREAS the modifications to our constitution in the attached draft have been reviewed and approved by the ORFA Constitution and Resolutions Committee as well as the Executive Board of the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Resolutions and Constitution Committee recommends a Do-Pass on ORFA Constitutional Resolution 23-02.

Respectfully submitted: ORFA Resolutions & Constitution Committee, Chair Phil Ostrander

ORFA Constitional Resolution 23-02

Proposed Amendments to the CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE OKLAHOMA RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I – NAME

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association. (NOTE: Any reference to “ORFA or Association” in this constitution shall mean the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association. Any Reference to OSFA in this constitution shall mean the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

Section 1. To serve the best interests of Association Members.

Section 2. Assist the OSFA in pursuit of common goals.

Section 3. Protect and improve the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

Section 4. To assemble in an annual ORFA meeting for the purpose of fellowship, discussion of timely issues of concern to the membership, encourage involvement as Participating Members of the Association, and encourage formation of local/area/district retired firefighter organizations.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility for membership in the Association shall be automatic for any retired firefighter or their surviving spouse.

Section 2. Classifications of membership shall be defined as follows:

PARTICIPATING MEMBER: The retired firefighter or their surviving spouse who is paying dues as set forth in Article VIII of this constitution. All past presidents of the ORFA shall automatically become Participating Members of this Association for life and shall not be required to pay dues.

HONORARY MEMBER: The title of “Honorary Member” may be bestowed on any person who has rendered the Association outstanding service, through act(s) or deed(s). Honorary Membership may be bestowed on person(s) by a majority vote of those in attendance at any annual meetings of the Association.

Section 3. Only Participating Members have full voting rights at the annual Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association meeting.

Section 4. Proxy votes shall not be recognized in any form.

ARTICLE IV - ELECTIVE OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers of the Association shall be President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President and Immediate Past President. Officers shall be retired firefighters who are Participating Members of the Association.

(NOTE: Any reference to “officers” in this constitution shall mean those officers described in this Section.)

Section 2. Officers of the Association shall be

retired firefighters elected at the annual ORFA meeting; the exception being the Immediate Past President. Officers shall be retired firefighters elected from the Participating Membership for a term of one year. A simple majority vote of those Participating Members in attendance at the annual ORFA meeting shall constitute an election. Should a vacancy occur in any office, the Association Officers must appoint another retired firefighter who is a Participating Member to fill the unexpired term until an election can be held at the next annual ORFA meeting to fill that position. No more than one person who retired from the same city shall serve on the Board simultaneously.

Section 3. The Association Officers will be ex officio members of all association committees.

Section 4. In accordance with OSFA’s Constitution, Article 3 Section 4, The President shall serve as Liaison Officer to the OSFA Executive Board and shall serve at ORFA’s expense in liaison capacity between the two organizations, and, Therefore, shall have no vote nor proceed through OSFA chairs.

ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside over all meetings of the officers and the annual ORFA meeting of the membership. The President or their designee shall serve on the Oklahoma Fire Pension and Retirement Board as provided in Oklahoma State Statutes 49-100.3 (3). The ORFA representative to the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System Board must be a retired member of that Pension System.

Section 2. The 1st Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his absence. The 2nd Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of both the President and 1st Vice President.

Section 3. Meeting of officers shall be at the call of the President, with timely notice to all officers, and shall be a minimum of four (4) meetings per calendar year.

Section 4. Any three (3) officers in attendance at a called meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business of the Association

Section 5. Officers shall exercise general supervision over the Association’s affairs in the interim between annual ORFA meetings and shall have full and complete authority over all business conducted by the Association in that interval.

Section 6. Warrants issued from the account of the Association must bear the signature of those authorized by the Officers of the Association.

Section 7. All meetings of Officers of the Association shall be open to the membership.

Section 8. Officers of the Association shall be responsible for the annual meeting arrange-

ments at the selected site.

Section 9. Officers shall identify and maintain a list of board operating rules.

Section 10. The 1st Vice President shall serve as the ORFA liaison to the OSFA Legislative Committee. The 2nd Vice President shall be responsible for the Cornerstone Committee, as the Chairman. The 3rd Vice President shall be the Vice Chairman.

Section11. The Board shall approve, adopt, or amend the Association budget and the annual convention budget upon recommendation of the President and the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall prepare a line-item budget with supporting details for Board approval at the October meeting. The Association budget shall be approved by January 1 of the following calendar year. Copies of the Association budget shall be available to the membership at the Association office and at the annual convention.

Section 12. Reimbursement for Expenses Incurred: The Board shall establish the amounts and items to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by any member of the Board, Committees or other members serving in an official capacity of the Association, and identified in “board operating rules”.

ARTICLE VI – APPOINTED POSITIONS

Section 1. The Board shall annually employ an Executive Director whose terms and conditions of employment shall be set by the Board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Executive Director except in the event of death, removal, or resignation, shall hold the position until the next annual meeting of the association. They shall always be subject to the direction of the Board.

Section 2. The duties of Secretary/Treasurer shall be assumed by the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association, unless otherwise directed by the ORFA Executive Board, and/or the OSFA Executive Board. A separate account shall be maintained for Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association in an Oklahoma Financial institution. A report on the status of such accounts shall be made at the annual ORFA meeting.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1. STANDING COMMITTEES of the Association shall be the LEGISLATIVE, CORNERSTONE and other committees as may be found necessary by the Board.

Section 2. The ORFA Executive Board shall appoint such committees as deemed necessary to conduct Association business, both during the annual Oklahoma Retired Fire Association meeting and in the interim between annual meetings.

Section 3. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE shall draft such legislative resolutions for submittal to the OSFA according to OSFA Constitution

Article 12, for the enactment of Legislation as the OSFA may designate, see that such legislation is intelligently presented to the members of the State Legislature, and to have the same introduced and endeavor to have same passed and enacted into law.

Section 4. CORNERSTONE COMMITTEE

- The mission of this committee will be to promote the sustainability, maintain the integrity and relevance of the ORFA by providing insight to the ORFA Executive Board to enhance member services, membership, fundraising, and other activities needed to support ORFA and OSFA.

Section 4, A. MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE shall initiate and manage member services including recognition and delivery of information needs, ongoing communications to keep members informed engaged in our Association. All politics are ultimately driven by informed and engaged constituent votes. State Firefighters, Retired and Active have the constituent votes to succeed when informed and engaged.

Section 4, B. FINANCIAL COMMITTEE shall ensure the organization is operating with the financial resources it needs to provide programs and services through budgetary/financial oversight recommendations to the association Executive Director.

Section 4, C. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE as directed by the ORFA Executive Board.

Section 4, D. RESOLUTIONS & CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE shall review and make changes to the ORFA Constitution and By-laws and develop Resolutions if necessary to be brought to the membership at the annual ORFA Convention.

ARTICLE VIII– DUES

Section 1. Participating Members are also OSFA Pension Members and pay Association dues annually of thirty-six dollars ($36.00), from which OSFA Pension Member dues are paid as described in OSFA Constitution Article 8, Section 2, and the remainder to be placed in the Association’s account. Dues must be paid to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association, by July 1 of each year, or withholding arrangements made, as described in Section 3 of this Article.

Section 2. By payment of dues to the Association, an eligible person as qualified in Article 3 Section 1 shall automatically become a Pension Member of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association as per OSFA constitution and bylaws article 2 section 7 and shall receive OSFA Publications and other pertinent information regarding firefighter activities and become eligible to attend and vote at the Annual ORFA Convention and to attend the annual OSFA convention and vote through their ORFA elected delegates.

Section 3. Annual dues may be paid by either full advance payment or may be withheld in twelve (12) equal monthly payments from a member’s pension warrant issued by the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

Section 4. An accounting of Association income and expenditures shall be given at the annual ORFA meeting, as provided in Article VI, Section 2, of this constitution.

ARTICLE IX – ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1. There shall be an annual ORFA meeting of the membership of the Association at a location and time or date chosen by the officers.

Section 2. At each annual ORFA meeting a majority vote of the Participating Members in attendance shall approve issues properly before it and determine the location of the succeeding annual ORFA meeting.

Section 3. Emergency meetings of the membership may be called by a majority vote of the officers. The officers shall determine location of the emergency meeting.

Section 4. Delegates to the OSFA Convention shall be the Executive Board of ORFA. If a member or members of the Executive Board already holds the position of Delegate at Large then the remaining allocated delegates shall be elected from the Participating Members in attendance at the annual ORFA meeting in accordance with the OSFA Constitution Article 9 Section 2 concerning delegates.

Section 5. Only Participating Members as set out in Article III Section2, have full voting rights.

Section 6. The Board shall, after the close of each annual convention, convene for the purpose of disposing of such business as may have been referred to it by the delegates of the convention and the appointment of an Executive Director.

ARTICLE X – EXPENSES

Section 1. Officers of the Association shall budget sufficient funds for all necessary expenses for the efficient operation of the Association.

Section 2. Reimbursement for Expenses Incurred: The Officers shall establish the amounts and items to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by any member of the Board, Committees or other members serving in an official capacity of the Association.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section 1. Proposed amendments to the constitution shall be submitted by registered mail or hand delivered to the Association office, with date affixed and receipt given, by a participating member over his or her signature not less than sixty (60) days prior to the opening day of the ORFA annual meeting.

Section 2. A majority vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those Participating Members in attendance at the annual ORFA meeting is required to amend this constitution.

Section 3. This constitution may be amended by unanimous vote of those Participating Members in attendance at an annual ORFA meeting; otherwise, Section 1, of this Article will apply.

ARTICLE XII – RESOLUTIONS

Section 1. Resolutions shall be submitted by a Participating Member over his or her signature to the Association office no later than sixty (60) days prior to the annual ORFA meeting.

Section 2. The Association President shall present applicable resolutions approved at the annual ORFA meeting to the Executive Board of Oklahoma State Firefighters Association for distribution forthwith.

ARTICLE XIII – RESTRICTIONS

Section 1. No member shall present her/himself as spokesperson for the Association on any issue, for or against, unless expressly authorized by the consensus of the Officers.

Section 2. No member shall attempt to influence any person by representing himself as spokesperson for the Association, unless expressly authorized as described in Section 1 of this Article.

OKLAHOMA RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I – ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1. The following shall be the regular Order of Business at annual meetings of the Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association. Call to order

Reading of Previous Meeting Minutes

Opening Remarks by President

Treasurer’s Report Committee Reports

ORFA Chapter Reports

Old Business

New Business

Election of Officers

Election of Delegates to OSFA Convention

Appointment of Interim Committees

Adjourn

The order of Business may be altered at the discretion of the Chair.

ARTICLE II – RULES OF ORDER

Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority of all Parliamentary questions.

Section 2. All members shall have floor privileges; all Participating Members shall have voting rights.

Section 3. Voting on issues may be by voice vote; the President determining a majority.

Section 4. Election of officers shall be by a show of hands or may be by secret ballot as described in Section 5 of this Article.

Section 5. Upon request of any five (5) Participating Members in attendance, voting shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE III – AMENDMENTS

Section 1. By-Laws may be amended by majority vote of those Participating Members in attendance at the annual ORFA meeting.

Section 2. By a seventy-five percent (75%) favorable vote of Participating Members in attendance, rules may be suspended to conduct business not otherwise scheduled.

Sara Johnson: OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Report

Hello all!

This is the last article before the convention in June. If you have not booked your rooms, now is the time.

If you will be joining the fun in Tahlequah this year and your spouse will be joining you, we would love to meet them and enjoy some time with them. We have some fun stuff planned and we love making new friends and memories.

We have our own events that we do while the firefighters are in their meetings.

Thursday, June 8: Join us for our meeting at 9:30. Registration will be from 8-9 a.m.

Friday, June 9: Join us for our luncheon, where we venture out and see what the host city has to offer. Cost is $25 a person, and you can pay at registration.

At 5 p.m. Friday, we also host a silent auction.

Saturday, June 10: We will host our final meeting that morning, where we will elect a new junior board member.

If you are interested in sitting on the OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Executive Board, please see one of us at convention, or you can also email one of us.

If you are planning on attending, door prizes will be needed everyday. And if you have any silent auction items, please get with a board member and we will be happy to arrange a pickup or we will get with you at the convention.

In Memoriam

2022-23 OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Executive Board

PRESIDENT

Kendra Engle kedamo10@yahoo.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Courtney Thompson courtneythompson524@ gmail.com

SEC/TREASURER

Haley Thompson hthomp933@gmail.com

JR BD MEMBER

Sara Johnson sjohnson033@ yahoo.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Ashley Corbett ashleyc814@att.net

OSFA Women’s Auxiliary Proposed By-Laws Amendments

AMENDMENT 7 (Revised from 2022)

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and all Annual Conventions, and appoint all committees and perform all other duties incidental to her office, or such requirements as directed by the Annual Convention or Executive Board. In addition, she shall be the Chairperson of the Membership activities, for example OSFA Functions where Auxiliary members are needed. Other duties include the following:

At-Convention:

f. Appoint Committees (Resolution, Nominating, By-Law)

PROPOSED CHANGES:

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and all Annual Conventions, and appoint all committees and perform all other duties incidental to her office, or such requirements as directed by the Annual Convention or Executive Board. In addition, she shall be the Chairperson of the Membership activities, for example OSFA Functions where Auxiliary members are needed. Other duties include the following:

At-Convention:

f. Appoint Committees (Resolution, Nominating, By-Law, & Advertising)

YES____ NO____ AMEND____

AMENDMENT 8 (Revised from 2022)

ARTICLE 5 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Doris Bunch, who served as OSFA Women’s Auxiliary President in 1970, died Jan. 15 at age 95. She grew up in Taloga, OK, where she met the love of her life, Louis. They wed on Nov. 3, 1946, and remained married for 70 years until Louis’ passing in 2017.

Doris was always supportive of Louis’ career as an Oklahoma City firefighter (194875) and OSFA Executive Director (1976-84).

She was a charter member of the OKC Firefighters Ladies Auxiliary, as well as a member of the OSFA Women’s Auxiliary and the OFCA Ladies Auxiliary.

Her sons Kenneth and Troy were also OKC firefighters. Kenneth served as both OSFA and OFCA Presidents. Troy, who died in April 2020, served as OKC Retired Firefighters Association Treasurer.

Section 2: The Vice-president in the absence of, or the inability of the President, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when the President is presiding, she shall assist the President in every way possible, and should a vacancy occur in the office of President, she shall assume all the duties of the President. She shall take minutes during the convention and provide such reports to the Secretary-Treasurer. Other duties include:

At-Convention:

c. Take minutes during convention meetings

PROPOSED CHANGES:

Section 2: The Vice-president in the absence of, or the inability of the President, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when the President is presiding, she shall assist the President in every way possible, and should a vacancy occur in the office of President, she shall assume all the duties of the President. She shall take minutes during the convention and provide such reports to the Secretary-Treasurer. Other duties include:

At-Convention:

c. Take minutes during convention meetings. The completed official minutes will then be provided to the Secretary - Treasurer no later than thirty (30) days following the close of convention to ensure they are included in the proceedings book.

YES____ NO____ AMEND____

Doris and Louis Bunch at the 2013 ORFA Convention

Firefighters Convene June 7-10 For 129th OSFA Convention

DUES

Membership in the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association will be forfeited if dues are not paid by May 9.

CREDENTIALS

Credentials are totally digital and must be completed through the OSFA website at https://osfa.info/register/osfa2023. Paper credentials will not be received by the office. If you need assistance, contact OSFA’s Madelyn Roth at MadelynR@osfa.info.

REGISTRATION

Registration cost for delegates and members is $60. Registration cost for spouses and guests is $50.

The OSFA encourages all members to attend convention, whether as a delegate or as an interested member. Everyone should pre-register, including spouses & guests. Registration must be completed online.

If you do not register online prior to convention, you will be asked to complete online registration before checking at the registration table. Payments will only be accepted through online registration or by invoice.

Note: Everyone Must Pre-Register. OSFA Staff Will Not Do Live Registrations at Convention.

ACCOMMODATIONS

• Tru by Hilton (918-871-4791)

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites (918-506-4545)

• Best Western NSU Inn (918-431-0600)

• http://www.springstreethideaway.com

• https://townbranchguestranch.com

• http://www.bluefernbedandbreakfast.net

• https://www.airbnb.com/a/stays/Tahlequah--Oklahoma

MEETINGS

Daily meetings will be held at the Chota Event Center in Tahlequah.

ACTIVITIES

Fishing Tournament -- Tuesday, June 6, at Lake Tenkiller. Check-in not required - put in at any ramp. Lines in at 6 a.m. Lines out at 2 p.m.

Cost is $100 per team - at least one member must be active or retired firefighter (includes lunch, big bass pot). Official Rules online at www.osfa.info/events.

Golf Tournament -- Wednesday, June 7, at Cherokee Springs Golf Club (700 E. Ballentine Rd., Tahlequah, OK 74464). Tee times at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cost is $75 per person (includes green fees, cart, lunch). Official Rules online at www.osfa.info/events.

Float Trip -- Thursday, June 8, at Riverbend by the Bridge. Begins at 1 p.m. Free if registered by 4 p.m. on May 26.

OSFA Picnic -- Thursday, June 8, at Riverbend by the Bridge. Begins at 4:30 p.m. Features Double Barrel BBQ and Live Entertainment. Meal Voucher Provided.

Bar Crawl Poker Run -- Thursday, June 8. Begins at 9 p.m. at The Branch. Official Rules online at www.osfa.info/ events.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

To honor those members who have passed since our last convention, an abbreviated Memorial Service will be held Thursday, June 8. There will NOT be a full service where families are invited as in years past.

DOOR PRIZES

Each department is asked to bring three (3) door prizes. Please indicate who the door prizes are from and turn them in at the registration table. Grand door prizes will be given away at the banquet, and you must be present to win.

BANQUET

Friday, June 9, at Chota Event Center

Ozark Tuxedo Encouraged

• Overalls with dress shirt/blazer for men

• Denim or similar dress/skirt for women

Dress code will NOT be strictly enforced.

At Right: Bob Ed Culver, Oklahoma D4 House Representative and strong supporter of Oklahoma Firefighters, sporting an Ozark Tuxedo

BUSINESS MEETING

Reports from the State Fire Marshal, Firefighters Pension and Retirement System and the OSFA Committees will be presented. Written reports also will be made available from different organizations in the fire service.

You will select the OSFA 3rd Vice President, who will represent you and serve on the State Pension Board for the next five years.

There will also be detailed discussions and voting on legislative and constitutional resolutions that will affect the fire service over the next few years.

QUESTIONS?

Call OSFA at 405-424-1452.

Unconventional Picks for

And the Host City for This Year’s Convention is ...

By Penelope Soldan, Oklahoma Firefighter Editor

When Jim Ed Nimmo was sworn in as the 3rd Vice President in 2019, it was pretty much a given that the OSFA Convention in four years would be held in Tulsa.

After all, he has been with the Tulsa Fire Department since 2004. And the 11 previous Tulsa firefighters elected to the OSFA Executive Board held their conventions in Tulsa.

But Nimmo lives in Tahlequah. And retired Tahlequah Fire Chief Ray Hammons floated the idea of bringing the convention back to Tahlequah.

After all, Hammons, the 2009 OSFA President, held the 115th OSFA Convention in Tahlequah. And, according to reports, a great time was had by all.

“Honestly, I was surprised at the interest our brothers and sisters in Tahlequah expressed over the last couple of years,” Nimmo said.

“I talked it over with my Fire Chief, as well as our union president, and they were copacetic with it. I also ran it by Chief Casey Baker of Tahlequah to make sure he was down, because it entails a lot of responsibility.

“Ultimately, it is what I wanted to do. However, I did consult the largest stakeholders in the organization, which is the membership delegation at the last convention in Enid. They were kind enough to accept the idea, and that was that.”

Historically Speaking

This will mark Tahlequah’s third time as host city for the OSFA Convention.

Tahlequah Fire Chief Casey Baker served as a convention chair for Ray Hammons’ 2009 OSFA event. And 1992 OSFA President Robert Adrian brought the 98th OSFA Convention to Tahlequah.

Symbolism in Shirt Design

Nimmo has spent the majority of his 19 years with Tulsa FD at Station 7. On the Jack of Hearts design at right, which is featured on the official convention shirts, “E-7” is on the fire helmet. Other symbolic elements are “4099”(Tahlequah Fire’s local #) and “176” (Tulsa Fire’s local #). Asked if the firefighter artwork was modeled after him, Nimmo said: “Any likeness to me is purely coincidental.”

On the Cover

Nimmo personally picked the photo featured on this issue’s cover.

Jesus Nava, a volunteer and Captain at Tahlequah Fire, is shown at a structure fire in December of 2022. Nava, 31, joined Tahlequah FD in 2015. He is manager of Locke Electric in Tahlequah, has three children with wife Casey and coaches youth soccer.

Nimmo on OSFA Conventions

• The first I remember going to was I believe the 107th in 2001. I think it was Claremore’s convention, but it was in Tulsa at what I think was the Ramada out east at the 41st and Garnett area.

Strong Bond Between Tahlequah / Tulsa FDs

By Casey Baker, Tahlequah Fire Chief

• I have always said that Juan Rodriguez’s convention in Lawton was a great time. I told him that one time in Tulsa and his reply was something to the effect of, “who are you?”

• We are bringing in Battalion Chief Mark Campanell who is a survivor of what was called the July 4th Fire in Gloucester City, NJ, to share his experience and lessons learned after multiple line of duty deaths.

• I just hope everyone has a great time, good fellowship, mended fences, and they can look back and say, “Ol’ what’s his name with the hat’s convention in Tahlequah, it was kind of a big deal.”

Tahlequah FD has always had a good relationship with Tulsa FD, and it goes all the way back to the early 1900s.

From 1934 to 1939, Tahlequah Assistant Fire Chief Sid Bean sat on the OSFA Executive Board alongside Tulsa Firefighters.

Several past Tulsa firefighters and current Tulsa firefighters live in our community. They have been called to help train, mentor and consult Tahlequah firefighters over the years.

Tulsa FD’s Jim Ed Nimmo is no exception. He has always been willing to help or mentor whenever called upon.

Tahlequah community.

Last June, would like diately shocked My mind little time tacted my me that it I then contacted me of what

Jim Ed Nimmo

OSFA President and Tulsa Fire Captain

129th OSFA Convention Features Many Firsts for

129th Convention

And the 2023 OSFA Convention Theme is ᎯᎠ VᏳ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏓ

Yes, that’s the theme for the 129th OSFA Convention June 12-14 in Tahlequah. And here’s the backstory for picking the theme from OSFA President Jim Ed

Nimmo:

So we were throwing around ideas. There have been some pretty heavy ones in the past — biblical references, Latin phrases, country song titles, firefighting t-shirt slogans and so on.

The Latin route has been done, and honestly, I didn’t want to be struck by lightning with a biblical reference.

Pretty much all the old Hank Jr. song titles have been used. I had thought of using the old John Prine song title “In Spite of Ourselves.” But for starters, I doubt many of our members have heard that song.

I wanted it to be light and humorous. I settled on something I thought was funny with a little double entendre to it. Anyone who has seen me speak at an event has probably heard me rip off the Ron Burgundy bit from “Anchorman,” saying “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” and tag it with “In Tahlequah.” The truth is I’m not a big deal, and I only say so in irony. But I do want the convention to be a big deal, and I do believe the firefighters in Oklahoma are a big deal.

I also wanted to tie the convention back to the Cherokee Nation and Reservation, of which Tahlequah is the Capital and my wife and children are members.

I thought that if we’ve used Latin, why not use Cherokee. Our convention committee reached out to the language department at the Cherokee Nation to translate “Kind of a Big Deal” (which was no small task) from English to Cherokee and provide the proper script.

They were gracious enough to do so. I’m proud of how it turned out. And I’m thankful for the support the Cherokee Nation has shown the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association.

In English it reads: Hi’a Doyu Ulsgeda.

In the Cherokee syllabary, it reads: ᎯᎠ VᏳ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏓ.

Tahlequah is lucky to have so many Tulsa firefighters in our community.

June, Jim Ed called me and asked if Tahlequah like to host the 129th OSFA Convention. I was immeshocked and surprised to be asked that question. mind and heart said yes, but I told him to give me a to consult with a few people. I immediately conAssistant Chief and consulted him. He advised was a great opportunity and let’s go for it. contacted the Tahlequah Mayor, and she advised what an opportunity it is, and that she was 100%

behind the OSFA Convention being held in Tahlequah.

Having the OSFA Convention in Tahlequah three times is a great honor and privilege. It is not only good for Tahlequah FD, the surrounding fire departments and the City of Tahlequah, but for the whole community.

I personally want to thank Jim Ed for considering Tahlequah as the host city for the 129th Convention, and I would also like to thank Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker for supporting the decision.

I want to welcome everyone to Tahlequah! I know you will have a great time!

OSFA Conventions Through the Years

10 YEARS AGO (2013)

The 119th Convention held June 5-8 at the Tulsa Hyatt was mesmerizing. And not just because of the hypnotist.

Oh sure, the guy in the sparkly red jacket had everyone’s attention after the Friday night banquet. Especially the 15 folks who took the stage to see to see if they could be hypnotized. Some did fall under his spell, which made for a good time for those still conscious.

In fact, Tulsa firefighter Jimmy Ober, who helped with the planning of the 2013 convention, said that the antics of hypnotist Mark Maverick and the willing participants will leave a lasting impression on him.

Also of note:

• Gerald Garrett hosted his second convention as OSFA President. His first was held in Tulsa in 2003.

He was also the go-to guy in Tulsa for planning conventions. Garrett was the chairman for T. Dick Cagle’s OSFA Convention in 1998 and for Allen LaCroix’s OFCA Conference in 2005. And he helped a whole lot on the OSFA Conventions for Mike Ramsey in 2001 and Don Chambers in 2008.

• Camouflaged banquet-goers filled the Tulsa Hyatt for the “Duck Calls and Overalls” feast. Was that Si from “Duck Dynasty” spotted in the buffet line? Maybe it was retired Lawton firefighter Chigger Burch in disguise.

25 YEARS AGO (1998)

In his convention report, Legislative Director Pete Stavros said this year was the best legislative session for firefighters since 1987.

Senate Bill 1037 passed and granted a 7.5% benefit catch-up based on the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers (CPI-U).

House Bill 2289 passed and required municipalities to provide medical coverage for firefighters for treatment of heart disease and injury to the respiratory system.

House Bill 2464 passed and permitted county fire departments to participate in the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

Representative Phil Ostrander, who doubles as a full-time Tulsa firefighter, was happy to report that HB 2464 passed unanimously. But the other two bills did have some opposition.

“I don’t know if it’s appropriate or not, but I’m going to read some names of some people that voted against these bill,” Ostrander said. “It’s up to you to make up your mind whether you support or whether you oppose these people.”

Also of note:

• An attempt was made to obtain photos of the 167 firefighters whose names were read during the Memorial Service.

That task proved impossible, but those attending did enjoy seeing the photos that were gathered flash across the screen as names were read.

• Regional Finals for the National Firefighter Combat Challenge were held in conjunction with the convention’s games. It consisted of five stages: tower climb, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and victim rescue.

50 YEARS AGO (1973)

While waiting for Governor David Hall to arrive to give the Keynote Address, door prizes were handed out and a suggestion was made.

“I move we fine the Governor $10 for being late,” Tulsa Chief Stanley Hawkins said.

Before beginning his speech, Gov. Hall said, “Where is Stanley Hawkins? Stanley, I want you to know I signed your parole just before I left the office.”

Then the Governor turned sincere in his appreciation for what Oklahoma firefighters do.

“Everywhere I go, of all the public service groups, I hear more complimentary remarks made about firemen in the state,” he said. “You remain the best known and best loved.

Also of note:

• In her Address of Welcome, Oklahoma City Mayor Patience Latting commended the OSFA for being the oldest service organization in Oklahoma and for being the first and only association in the nation to develop a firefighters museum.

• International Association of Fire Fighters Secretary/Treasurer Frank Palumbo addressed the delegates.

“You were the first state to endorse my candidacy as Secretary-Treasurer of the IAFF, and that is something I will never forget,” said Palumbo, a retired New York City firefighter.

And he didn’t forget. Every month without fail, Palumbo would make a donation to the Pete and Lela Stavros Scholarship fund. Constance, Frank’s wife of 64 years, promised to continue the tradition after his death in June 2000 at age 90.

1998 OSFA President T. Dick Cagle

1973 OSFA President Louis Bunch

2013 OSFA President Gerald Garrett

75 YEARS AGO (1948)

After calling the 54th Convention in McAlester to order, OSFA President J.E. Sweeney joked with the attendees a bit.

He said, “When I was elected President, I was kinda misinformed. I was told after you got to be President, all you had to do was sit in the swivel chair, lean back and smoke a big cigar, look wise and do nothing.

“And then I find my job includes that of making a speech. That is one thing I can’t do ... make a speech.”

Also of note:

• Jake Amberg, Legislative Committee Chairman, recalled a recent trip to the Governor’s mansion.

“I talked with the Governor about where he stood (on an increase in gross premium tax). He told me, ‘You put it to the Legislature, and I will give you my word, I will sign it.’

“Now fellas, that really sounds good to me, and he will do it. He really told me that.”

• The 1948 Report of the Secretary-Treasurer showed an increase in 115 members from the previous year.

The 227 member departments included 410 companies composed of 995 full paid men, 683 part paid or call men and 1,604 volunteers for a total membership of 3,242 firemen.

100 YEARS AGO (1923)

At the 29th Convention in Oklahoma City, the Memorial Service became an official part of the proceedings.

And it was during the past year that two very prominent members of the association passed to the Great Beyond: J. Bart Foster, for many years Secretary and two-time OSFA President (1915 & 1916); and Mark H. Kessler, retired OKC Fire Chief and 1907 OSFA President.

Both of these members had been exceedingly active in all matters pertaining to the welfare and betterment of the individual fireman and the association.

Also of note:

• Lovingly known as the “Papa” of the OSFA, T.E. Dowell of El Reno told of the early conventions when the association was in its infancy -- lustily ringing the little cowbell at intervals during his speech, once emblematic of his state-wide authority.

• After attending a baseball game between the Oklahoma City Indians and Omaha (the Indians came from behind to win), the men hurried to prepare for the annual dance held at the Central Station.

1948 OSFA President J.E. Sweeney

1923 OSFA President W.L. Jackson

OSFA Legislative Resolution 23-01

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates at the 129th Annual OSFA Convention show the overall support of the organization toward our volunteer members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Volunteer Fire Services Committee and the Legislative Committee, along with the OFCA research, develop, and propose legislation for the purpose of enhancing statewide oversight/accountability and examine current and potential future minimum necessary standards for administration, training and funding of fire departments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Volunteer Fire Services Committee and the Legislative Committee, research, develop, and propose legislation for the purpose of proposing funding sources that would aid in the aforementioned while augmenting recruitment and retention; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these committees report back to the 2024 Volunteer Caucus and the 2024 OSFA Convention on their recommendations.

Respectfully submitted: By unanimous vote of the members present at the OSFA 21st Annual Volunteer Caucus, Chair Shane Archuleta

OSFA Legislative Resolution 23-02

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates at the 129th Annual OSFA Convention show the overall support of the organization toward our volunteer members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Volunteer Fire Services Committee and the Legislative Committee, along with the OFCA research, develop, and propose legislation for the purpose of evaluating forestry grant disbursements including clear updated language on how qualifications for receipt of grant funds are met to include minimum training standards if deemed necessary ; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these committees report back to the 2024 Volunteer Caucus and the 2024 OSFA Convention on their recommendations.

Respectfully submitted: By unanimous vote of the members present at the OSFA 21st Annual Volunteer Caucus, Chair Shane Archuleta

OSFA Legislative Resolution 23-03

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates at the 129th Annual OSFA Convention show the overall support of the organization toward our volunteer members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Volunteer Fire Services Committee and Legislative Committee, research the possibilities of working to develop, and propose legislation for the purpose of allowing a volunteer firefighter to retire upon reaching 35 years of credited service in the Oklahoma State Firefighters Pension and Retirement System and continue to serve his/her community as a volunteer firefighter while drawing a pension; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these committees report back to the 2024 Volunteer Caucus and the 2024 OSFA Convention on their recommendations.

Respectfully submitted: By unanimous vote of the members present at the OSFA 21st Annual Volunteer Caucus, Chair Shane Archuleta

OSFA Legislative Resolution 23-04

WHEREAS an Oklahoma fire service career allows each firefighter to obtain a certain standard of living level peculiar to each individual’s career as provided within applicable Oklahoma statutes. And,

WHEREAS for decades the stakeholders of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System (OFPRS) have failed to provide a dependable, ongoing means by which retirees in the system can maintain the standard of living they have earned at the time of retirement. And,

WHEREAS said stakeholders should try a different “out of the box” approach in an attempt to obtain annual cost of living adjustments for all retirees in the system.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED a statewide referendum project shall be initiated by and coordinated through the OSFA to establish dependable legislation through which the maintenance of the cost of living level retiring firefighters have earned at time of retirement will be assured.

This referendum will call for a statewide election to incorporate language into statute providing that all retirees within the firefighter pension system receive an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA).

This COLA to be based upon and in line with an established credible index system such as that developed by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and utilized for annual COLA determination by Social Security Administration (SSA).

Respectfully submitted: Paul T. Gallahar

OSFA Legislative Resolution 23-05

WHEREAS An Oklahoma fire service career allows each firefighter to obtain a certain standard of living level peculiar to each individual’s career as provided within applicable Oklahoma statutes. And,

WHEREAS for decades the stakeholders of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System (OFPRS) have failed to provide a dependable, ongoing means by which retirees in the system can maintain the standard of living they have earned at the time of retirement. And,

WHEREAS said stakeholders should try a different “out of the box” approach in an attempt to obtain annual cost of living adjustments for all retirees in the system.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED said stakeholders shall seek legislation addressing cost of living for future retirees in the following manner:

All active firefighters (paid and volunteer) who have not yet reached their vesting date in the system, but who do vest after the effective date of said legislation, shall receive annual cost of living adjustments (COLA) after they retire.

Further, this cost of living adjustment shall be based upon a credible, established index system such as that utilized by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Respectfully submitted: Paul T. Gallahar

OSFA Constitutional Resolution 23-01

WHEREAS The Constitution and By-Laws of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association (OSFA) was originally drafted many years ago and only a relatively few amendments have been made throughout the years; and

WHEREAS At the request of the Executive Board of the OSFA, the Legislative Committee has convened numerous times over the last several years to review the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association and any possible legislation to determine any proposed changes beneficial to the membership; and

WHEREAS in the current constitution there is no Article to address how Executive Board Meetings or Executive Sessions held during Executive Board Meetings are conducted; and

WHEREAS Roberts Rules of Order outlines how board meetings are to be conducted and how Executive Sessions are for specific issues such as discipline of employees, discussion of employment contracts, or consulting with an attorney under attorney client privilege; and

WHEREAS there is a need to ensure transparency and open communication with the members of the Association. We as members in good standing of this Association propose the addition of a new section under Article 5 “Responsibilities of the Board” of the Constitution and By-Laws:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Article 5 “Responsibilities of the Board” be changed to add a new Section 2 as follows:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD

Section 2. Executive Board Meetings and Executive Sessions: All regular meetings conducted by the Executive Board of the Association for the calendar year shall be posted on the OSFA website by December 15 of the preceding year. Special meetings may be held

throughout the year when needed with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to the meeting. All agendas shall be posted on the OSFA website a minimum of 48 hours in advance of each called meeting. Minutes ofthe meetings shall be posted on the OSFA website within 48 hours of being approved by the Executive Board. All items shall be discussed in open session unless specifically stated in Roberts Rule of Order for Executive Session or otherwise contained in this section. Items to be discussed in Executive Session shall be stated on the agenda and no action shall be taken concerning Executive Session items during the Executive Session. All items discussed in Executive Session requiring action shall have such action be taken in open session of the meeting. Items that may be considered in Executive Session may include:

A. Discussion concerning the employment and/or compensation of the Executive Director and/or any other employee(s).

B. Discussion regarding items that would violate the confidentiality of any individual or organization. “Confidentiality in this Section shall be defined as information entrusted by an individual or organization to the members of the Executive Board, either individually or collectively, of which unauthorized disclosure would be prejudicial to the reputation or working relationship with the entrusting individual or organization (i.e. State Pension Board, State Fire Marshal’s Office, ORFA, OFCA, Rural Coordinators, etc.).

C. Discussion concerning any legal actions that would impair the organization’s ability to investigate and/or litigate any pending action.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the remaining sections under Article 5 be renumbered to allow incorporation of this new section.

Respectfully submitted: James Heap

B J B A K E R

Just as every fire department across our State benefits from the different experiences and expertise of it’s members, and uses different members in different capacities depending on their skill sets, the same is true for the body of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association. My nonfirefighting skill set is that I am an attorney. I have a doctorate degree and fifteen years of experience in negotiation, advocating for my client’s position, and analyzing law These skills that I have honed as an attorney are the exact skills that board members utilize when serving businesses or organizations like OSFA. There is a reason that more U S Presidents, that more university presidents, that more bank presidents have law degrees than any other background. My skills as an attorney directly translate to the tasks and responsibilities expected of your next 3rd Vice President of OSFA, and are as follows:

HONESTY

As an attorney my word is my most valuable asset. I have hard discussions with clients on a daily basis where I can not sugar coat things to tell people what they want to hear, and I will not do that in my capacity as your representative with OSFA I may not be able to always deliver the news that people want to hear, but you can always count on what I say being 100% truthful and honest.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching Johnny Cash once said, “But as sure as God made black and white, what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.”, and as a former 5 year prosecutor and as a criminal defense attorney, I have seen time and again how people’s actions come back to haunt them My legal license requires integrity; growing up my Dad demanded integrity; and you can count that I will serve OSFA with integrity

ADVOCACY

For the last fifteen years I have practiced the art of advocacy Whether I was negotiating divorce terms, claims settlements, or plea bargains I have had to navigate and understand positional leverage, timing, and the give and take nature of negotiation It is said that only a fool represents himself. This is because when you advocate for yourself, often times your emotions will blind you. I have argued both sides of every argument based on who my client is at the time, which requires one to operate without emotion By removing emotion, I am able to analyze laws or issues to arrive at the best possible outcome for whatever my client’s position may be. I am practiced at bending words and framing issues to the benefit of my client, and I would be a zealous advocate for all firefighters

ANALYSIS

Drafting and understanding law does not come natural and takes lots of practice At the University of Tulsa, I was the CALI Award Winner for Legal Research and Writing, and I have had the benefit of utilizing those skills in practice for the last 15 years There is an art to employing the Socratic Method, asking the hard questions while playing devil’s advocate to expose weaknesses in your own position While I am certainly not a legal analysis expert, I do bring 15 years of real life, high stake practice to the table.

SERVANT’S HEART

Just as we were all drawn to fire service out of a dedication to community, I am drawn to serve in OSFA out of dedication to our brotherhood and common interests I would not pursue this endeavor if I did not feel that it was in the best interest of our brotherhood; I humbly ask for your vote, and the opportunity to serve.

Caroline Reed: OSU FST Director

I’m pleased to share that after many months of development, testing, and refinement, the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) is officially open for registration!

Craig Hannan: Fire Protection Publications Director

Greetings Oklahoma Firefighters!

OFCA Ex Officio

Developed by NIOSH, the NFR is the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce the risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters.

The NFR is actively recruiting all U.S. firefighters -paid and volunteer, active and retired, with and without cancer -- to help researchers better understand and reduce cancer in the profession.

Firefighters can join the NFR through NIOSH’s secure web portal. Participation is vol untary and registration takes about 30 minutes.

NIOSH will match the informa tion provided by participating firefighters with cancer diagnosis information from state cancer registries. This data will help NIOSH study the relationship between firefighting and cancer outcomes over time.

FSRI is proud to collaborate with NIOSH in promoting this important tool. Our online training course, “Comprehensive Cancer Prevention Strategies for the Fire Service,” that was originally launched last fall now includes a demonstration of how to register for the NFR.

We hope you will join us in amplifying this effort and the results will help protect members of the fire service from developing cancer, lessen the impact of cancer on firefighters’ families and friends, pave the way for new health and safety measures, and improve our understanding of cancer risk among minority, female, and volunteer firefighters.

Thanks for all you do!

It is my pleasure to invite each of you to the International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management Research Symposium on Saturday, July 8, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Tulsa (100 East 2nd Street).

Wait! Before you read “research” and stop reading the rest of this article, please bear with me and continue reading.

The Research Symposium will have a slate of speakers that most would pay time, travel and hotel to hear.

This annual event is designed to bring the latest research into the hands of those on the front lines of the fire service and fire service administration.

This event is FREE and a free lunch is included.

The 2023 Research Symposium speakers include Dr. Lori-Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator; Dr. Stephen Kerber, Vice –President of Research and Director of the Fire Safety Research Institute; Dr. Sara Jahnke, Director and Senior Scientist, Center for Fire, Rescue, & EMS Health Research, and Chief Otto Drozd III, Executive Secretary of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association.

Topics for the symposium include applied fire science in burning buildings, bullying, wildland fires, leading change, firefighter health and bringing science to the station.

Each of these topics is relevant across the United States and Oklahoma. Please don’t miss this opportunity to hear the brightest minds in fire service research discuss meaningful science and research and you can apply in your fire department.

So, what do you have to do?

1. Register at this link no later than May 31, 2023.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/FireProtectionPublications/_90thannualifstavalidationconferenceifsjlmresearchsymposiumregistration

2. Show up! Again, the event is free. We ask that you register so we can plan for the correct numbers for lunch.

Career, volunteer, rookie or chief, this event is for you. If you have questions about the event, please contact me. I hope to see you there.

Until next time, be safe, be well, be well trained.

Kelly Ransdell: NFPA Report

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook (FPH).

The two-volume printed set is now available for pre-order. One of the organization’s most significant publications, the Handbook is a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind reference guide of fire and life safety prevention and protection information for students and professionals across a wide range of First published in 1896 as the Handbook of the Underwriter’s Bureau of New England, the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook provides exclusive content unparalleled anywhere else in the industry. Through 21 editions and its 126 years of

impact on safety, NFPA has regularly updated the Handbook’s contents according to industry trends, the latest training methods, case studies, and code requirements at the time of publication.

The new edition reflects the very latest fire protection and fire safety information, research and data, emerging technologies, and safety practices. The last edition was published in 2008.

As industry practitioners advance in their careers and new workers enter the labor force, professionals including engineers, designers, building managers, fire prevention managers, fire service members, insurance agents, inspectors, students, and other individuals who have responsibilities related to fire prevention and protection can use

the Fire Protection Handbook to get the answers they need to their fire protection questions.

The information and methodologies used for calculations, system designs, and related processes give students and professionals not only the opportunity to enhance their understanding of a given concept, but they also can put that knowledge into practice to help safeguard lives and property and mitigate hazards in their communities.

With input from more than 200 industry specialists and NFPA subject matter experts, the 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook features 210 revised and updated chapters, 21 sections grouped by industry topic, full-color images, and accompanying index tabs for navigation.

Visit the NFPA catalog for more info.

Keith Bryant: Oklahoma State Fire Marshal Report

Something for us all to be paying more attention to and learning more about is the prevalence of lithium-ion batteries.

From the size of a watch battery in a vaping devices to large banks of batteries used in industry, lithium-ion batteries are being used in increasingly more locations and applications than ever.

Some of the more common uses of these batteries currently include pacemakers, smartphones and laptop computers, personal mobility devices, scooters, hoverboards, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), emergency power backup and obviously, electric vehicles.

The reasons for their increased usage in general is they have a high power capacity, they are longer lasting, quick charging, low maintenance all in a smaller size unit than other batteries such as lead-acid or nickel-cadmium.

Despite their advantages, lithium-ion batteries present firefighters with challenges and hazards.

With their high energy density, they produce a tremendous amount of heat. When this heat builds up within the battery faster than it can be dissipated it causes the battery to off gas or even explode. This situation is referred to as “thermal runaway.”

Thermal runaway can occur when the battery is overcharged, overheated, or suffers damage such as a puncture. The ensuing fire is one

of rapid build up and intense heat. If the battery is part of a bank of multiple batteries a chain reaction is very possible.

Fighting fires involving lithium-ion batteries can be more difficult because of the increased heat and energy. The application of water may not be adequate and, in many cases, total submersion of the battery is required to control the fire.

I bring this to your attention because on March 1, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshals Office investigated a double fatality fire in the community of Osage. The investigation revealed that the likely cause of the fire was the failure of lithium-ion batteries left on a charging station in the living area of the home.

While other factors were involved, it is more than likely the escape time could have been significantly decreased because of the rapid and intense build up of the fire.

I encourage you to educate yourselves and your department on the unique hazards associated with lithium-ion battery technology.

I suggest the following publications:

• National Fire Sprinkler Association / Lithium-ion Battery Fires and Fire Protection -- https://nfsa.org/2023/01/12/lithium-ion-battery-fires/

• United States Fire Administration / Guidance on Responding to Lithium-ion Battery Fires in Mobility Devices - https://www.usfa.fema. gov/blog/ig-042822.html

Troy Calvert: Oklahoma Fire Chaplain Report

I have been a Volunteer Firefighter for the Clinton Fire Department for about 16 years.

The last five have been spent also serving as the department Chaplain. Our department is a combination of full time and volunteer Firefighters/EMT’s.

In 2022, the department responded to

over 1600 calls for help. Although most of the calls are medical in nature, Clinton’s location right on I-40 and Hwy 183 means that we run on our fair share of MVA’s. Throw in a few structure fires and multiple grass fires and that equals a lot of calls.

The result is a lot of exposure to trauma or critical medical situations. Because we are a small town, there is a higher-than-normal chance that we may personally know or even be related to the people that we are summoned to help.

All of you who have chosen this profession have probably seen more than your share of bad scenes. We all like to think that because we chose this life, that we are immune to the many side effects that come with the job.

While small departments do not see the kind of numbers that a big city will see, they are certainly not immune to the mental fatigue and other effects that come with the job.

Look around and you have probably seen failed marriages, alcohol or drug abuse, changes in behavior or withdrawal from the group. Most of us probably know someone that has committed suicide or at least attempted it. All of these are very real and extremely serious problems in the Fire Service.

We can and should all do our best to mitigate the damage that can occur to our mental health by the repeated exposure to traumatic events.

Part of the role of a Fire Chaplain is to look for signs of trouble and to help those individuals either by working with them one on one

or referring them to other resources that can help.

Praying with someone can have a monumental effect on their wellbeing. Besides prayer, the next biggest thing that a Fire Chaplain can do is to be a good listener. A vast majority of the time, all that someone really needs is to be heard.

The old cheesy adage of the good Lord gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, really isn’t that cheesy. I challenge anyone to convince me that listening is not more important than speaking. You do not have to be a Chaplain to be a good listener and to reach out to someone you think needs it.

Our department is fortunate to have a Peer Support Team. Not all departments have this luxury, but what they do have is a large network of neighboring teams that are ready to answer the call.

If you are in need or know someone that is, please do not delay and reach out to your Chaplain or Peer Support Group. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Being a Firefighter is a tough calling. I challenge all of you to be your brother or your sister’s keeper and at the very least, try to be a good listener.

James 1:12 -- Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Have a blessed day.

Clinton FD

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Corey Conrady: The Rural Firefighter

This article is dedicated to all fire departments -not just rural -- and the kinds of things we deal with as firefighters who live and serve in the communities we have grown up in.

Building a Culture of Safety

This month again we will focus on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s firefighters’ life safety initiatives.

The 6th initiative seeks to increase awareness of the need for medical and physical wellness programs for EVERY first responder.

Medical & Physical Fitness - Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform.

As first responders, firefighters and EMS alike, we all face deadly dangers in our jobs. Carcinogens on scene, stress leading to substance abuse, and depression, impact mental health.

This 6th initiative focuses on the physical and mental fitness of responders to combat the issues that would significantly reduce a first responder’s ability to respond quickly, save lives (including our own) and protect property.

Medical Fitness Physicals: we all would opt out, if given the chance, right? But should we? Shouldn’t we have a different mindset?

Cancer is the number one killer of firefighters. Every first responder needs to understand the risks and what can be done about them.

We have a 9% higher risk than the US general population, and a 14% higher risk of dying. According to the IAFF, cancer caused 61% of deaths for career firefighters (from Jan 2002-Dec 2016), also, cancer caused 70% of line-of-duty deaths in 2016.

Now just one minute, for all of those who might be thinking those stats are for careers, volunteer numbers just don’t get reported as often. But volunteers are no less susceptible to cancer than careers, we are all human. Men, for instance, have a higher risk of testicular cancer, not just because of smoke, but higher temps in the bunker pants. That’s why it is so very important in rehab to pull the bunkers off, all the way!

I was fortunate enough to attend a Wildland Incident Commander’s Toolbox put on by FST, and in that class, we discussed rehab and its notion that it is a “penalty box” and how we have to change our mindset about rehab as well. That’s another article for the next issue. Medical physicals are the first line of identifying conditions that could lead to a medical line-of-duty death. Wouldn’t you want to know if there was an issue you could correct as soon as possible? Early detection can save lives!

Physical Fitness A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who did 1.25 hours of vigorous activity, or 2.5 hours of moderate activity a week had a 31% lower risk of dying of cancer than those who didn’t. Regular exercise also helps you stay at a healthy weight, regulates hormones, and helps the immune system.

Hydrate - Drinking plenty of water and other liquids may reduce the risk of cancer by diluting the concentration of cancer-causing agents and help flush them through the body faster. Drink at least 8 cups of liquid a day, suggests the American Cancer Society.

A second leading cause of line-of-duty deaths is cardiovascular strain from strenuous activities, and heat stress faced by first responders. These things place extreme demands on the heart, arteries, and circulatory system. A heart attack or stroke during a fire scene is a constant threat.

What other benefits can be gained by a good physical fitness program? Your ISO rating. They will evaluate your structured fitness and wellness program, along with your documented cardio, weight training, and other types of exercise.

As the saying goes, “It starts at the top,” and in the case of a structured fitness and wellness program, this is true. But this isn’t just the

chief; successful programs have shared their vision and goals with the public and what we are doing in the background to be better for them.

Firefighter health and wellness needs to be clearly explained to the concerned parties, so if you need funding for equipment or training, the “why” is clearly understood.

This buy-in at the top is especially important if and when training injuries occur, as I would rather have a training-based “minor injury” than a catastrophic injury on scene. Of course, exercise should never cause injury, but we have to cover all of our bases.

Once we have the administrative buy-in, the next top-down plan is to build fitness and wellness into your standard operating procedures (SOPs) and follow them. As bugles come and go, so do priorities, but surviving the job is always a top priority.

Your culture is also established the moment the probie walks in the door. If they walk into a lazy and fractured fitness/wellness culture, then nothing will work. If they walk into a department that is invested in their health and wellness from the start, that probie will become a brand ambassador for the next group.

This culture falls heavily on the established company officers, and this is where the push often fails. If one crew is fit and invested while the next crew is invested in the recliner, then you have a leadership issue. This is why buy-in from the top is so critical. Someone with rank needs to remind these folks that safety also involves being fit for duty and following a department-wide SOP on fitness.

There are several tools to guide the process. One such tool is the Vulnerability Assessment Program (VAP) administered by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. This free assessment is available to all fire departments—volunteer, career, industrial, fire/EMS, and combination services.

Until next time, remember to look out for one another, in the smoke and at the station. Everyone Goes Home!

Sources

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation leads an “Everyone Goes Home” Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives” plan on their web page www.everyonegoeshome. com/16-initiatives that lists 16 attitude initiatives.

The National Safety Culture Change Initiative (NSCCI) was developed to advocate for the need for culture change for health and safety within the fire service. This effort is led by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). www.ffsafetyculture.org/ Download report at www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_342.pdf

Fire Rescue Fitness, Firefighter Cancer Prevention -The Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Risk, https://firerescuefitness.com/2023/01/firefighter-cancer-prevention-thetop-5-ways-to-reduce-your-risk/

Drummond FD

By Greg Lindsay OKC Fire Department Greg Lindsay:

Firefighter Near-Miss Report

Front Load for Heat

A working structure fire has many hazards that we must attempt to avoid. Most of them are obvious hazards we see and direct our crews to bypass. Other threats are from information learned as the incident unfolds.

This edition’s featured report describes a residential structure fire that becomes a medical emergency for one crew member. The full report can be found at http://firefighternearmiss.com/Reports?id=4887.

As you read this report, consider how this incident is similar to many of the responses your department covers and how likely this could happen to you.

Heat Stress Overcomes Firefighter (Published: 6/23/2010)

On this incident, the weather conditions were 101 degrees with a heat index of 110; the humidity was over 80%, sunny skies, and no rain in the past 24 hours.

I was assigned to the driver/operator position of my engine company, which is only staffed by a driver and an officer. My company was dispatched for a working structure fire in a subdivision. Homes in this subdivision are approximately 1800 - 2200 square foot wood frame constructed within the past 15 years.

Upon arrival at the scene, we found a 2000-square-foot home with 25% involvement with exposures on the two sides. I hand-jacked 400 feet of 5” LDH to the hydrant, then charged two 1.75” cross-lays. There was one engine (staffed with 2), one truck (staffed with 2), and one heavy rescue (staffed with 3).

I assisted with pulling a 2.5” pre-connect with a portable master stream attached to the rear of the building where the fire was located. My pump was taken over by the next arriving apparatus, and I was reassigned to interior operations. I performed interior operations for approximately 12 minutes and went to rehab with the rest of my crew.

I was in rehab for about 10 minutes before I began to feel bad. According to medical crews on scene, I was lethargic, disoriented, and hypotensive. I had hydrated prior to and on shift and while in rehab.

At this point, I do not know the actual events that happened as this is all secondhand accounts from people on the scene. I was moved to the medic unit, and a cardiac monitor showed sinus tachycardia.

After several minutes of cooling and IV fluids, my core temperature was 99. I was in the hospital for several hours and was administered three one-liter bags of saline.

I was sent home from the ER at approximately 1600 and placed on sick leave for the remainder of my shift.

During an incident, our bodies undergo unavoidable stress. Being physically fit is vital, but proper nutrition and hydration are necessary for fueling our system.

As part of your regular training, discuss how your crew addresses the following topics:

• What does it mean to hydrate? Does your department provide any guidelines for hydration? What do you consider acceptable for your climate?

• Do you use any specific indicators to remind you to hydrate?

• Discuss the types of medical checks needed during rehab at an incident.

• What indicators would you look for from this report when this firefighter entered the rehab area?

• Could nutrition have been a factor in this event?

Lessons Learned

The entire crew (two on the engine and two on the ambulance) was hydrating prior to and during the shift to prevent this very problem. Nobody else had this happen during this call, so does this mean it is simply the way my body reacted?

Hydration is important and must be constant during periods of high heat and humidity. However, hydration is not the only way to ensure our safety and health in this weather. We must monitor ourselves and not be afraid to say, “I need a break.” I was not pushing myself any harder than normal.

Higher initial staffing levels would have allowed me to perform just my driver’s tasks. I delivered the hose to the hydrant by hand. I also pulled the master stream hose because the firefighters operating in the house were not positioned to perform this task.

Dehydration is an elusive condition that can affect anyone. Even mild dehydration results in significant adverse physical outcomes: headache, exhaustion, rapid pulse, and irritability, to name a few.

“Mild dehydration occurs when a person is just 1.5 percent dehydrated” (Willing, L.) Mild dehydration can also come from unexpected sources.

“Certain antihistamines, blood pressure medicines, laxatives, diuretics and chemotherapies can cause dehydration” (Northwestern Medicine.)

Over the years, I have learned that drinking water is one of the most important ways to remain hydrated. Sports drinks can help replace electrolytes but should be used occasionally with plenty of water between servings.

Also, we have been told that waiting until we feel thirsty is a late sign of needing hydration.

So, how do we know when hydration becomes a significant issue?

Color charts are available to assess even mild dehydration (See chart at left by Wojcik, G.).

However, when it has been a while since you have had the opportunity to check the color chart, you are probably overdue for something to drink. Front-load hydration today for good hydration tomorrow.

Nutrition is another point to consider. We have all been told to eat healthy balanced meals. This holds for fighting fire any time of the year. Eating regular balanced meals and snacks will help absorb liquids and bank those fluids for later.

Some studies suggest we need more carbohydrates when exercising in the heat. Still, as we do not schedule when the fire alarm will happen, it isn’t easy to plan for these events.

Maintaining a healthy diet makes the most sense; I keep a rehab snack stashed in my bunker coat just in case a call interrupts the meal schedule at the station.

Now, what should we avoid when the temperature soars? We often have a routine that we follow each day. Morning coffee, pre-workout drinks, water, and a snack are typical starters for the fire crew. Care should be observed because the things we ingest out of habit could rob our bodies of the nutrition we need later that day.

“Also, if you’re consuming energy drinks or energy shots, don’t consume immediately before, during, or after strenuous activity” (Uniformed Services University.)

Also, “Coffee, tea, or soda can contribute to your hydration, but they should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. These fluids contain caffeine, which is a mild stimulant, and can act as a diuretic. This promotes fluid loss and contributes to dehydration” (Sherek, B.)

The ultimate goal of every shift at the fire station is to return home to our families as healthy as when we left them. Maintaining health and fitness is essential, but we may need to tailor our individual routines to fit each season.

Thank you for reading.

Works Cited

Northwestern Medicine (2022, July 1). (De) Hydration: What You Need to Know. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from www.nm.org/healthbeat/ healthy-tips/nutrition/

Sherek , B. (2008, August 27). Water 101: Truly the Firefighter’s Best Friend. Firehouse.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from www.firehouse. com/safety-health/article/10495172/water-101-truly-the-firefighters-bestfriend

Willing, L. (2022, June 3). Staying hydrated is vital in the fire service. Fire Rescue 1. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from www.firerescue1.com/ dehydration/articles/staying-hydrated-is-vital-in-the-fire-service-eDPp9Uwn33ZV1vxb/

Wojcik, G. (2019, December 27). Are You Dehydrated? Our Pee Color Chart Will Tell You. Healthline.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023, from www.healthline.com/health/hydration-chart#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1

Uniformed Services University (2021, June 4). Performance-nutrition strategies to prevent heat illness and rhabdomyolysis. Human Performance Resources by Champ. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://www.hprc-online.org/physical-fitness/environmental-extremes

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n MEETING (January 20, 2023)

Travis L. Timms/Claremore - Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Lopez and seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, Bryant, Nimmo, Price and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Vernon Boyce/Moore – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion made by Davidson and seconded by Lopez to approve Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Bryant, Davidson, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, , Laws, Price and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Scott L. Landis/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective Jan. 1, 2023: Motion was made by Davidson seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Norita Bridges/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Baggett seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Robert D. Chorette/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Baggett seconded by Lopez to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Brad King/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Provence seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Sean Lawless/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Provence seconded by Davidson to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Robby Roberson/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Bennett seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Andrew Teeter/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Provence seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Gerry Tarver/Tulsa – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective January 1, 2023: Motion was made by Davidson seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective January 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Davidson, Laws, and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Brian Orndorff/Oklahoma City – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Bennett seconded by Lopez to approve the request of Orndorff to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Davidson, Lopez, Nimmo, Bryant, Price, Laws and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Michael Rice/Okmulgee – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion made by Bennett seconded by Baggett to approve request of Rice to modify pension from “Service” to “Disability in Line of Duty”: Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Bryant, Davidson, Lopez, Laws and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Rob Ralston/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lopez seconded by Bennett to approve the request of Rice to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Price, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Bryant, Davidson, Lopez, Laws and Baggett. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

n MEETING (February 17, 2023)

Thad R. Hulbert/Lawton - Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty”

Pension, Effective Feb. 1, 2023: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Lay to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective February 1, 2023. Ayes: Bennett, Provence, Lopez, Davidson, Bryant, Nimmo, Kohls, Lay, Green, and Cramer. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Kyle M. Olsen/Moore – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty”

Pension, Effective February 1, 2023: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Lopez to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective February 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Bryant, Davidson, Provence, Cramer, Lopez, Kohls, Lay, and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Bryan K. Fuller/Muskogee – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty”

Pension, Effective Feb, 1, 2023: Motion was made by Davidson seconded by Lay to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective Feb. 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Lopez, Davidson, Cramer, Lay, Kohls and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Kyle Patterson /Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective Feb, 1, 2023: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective February 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Lopez, Davidson, Kohls, Cramer, Lay and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

David Britton/Ponca City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective February 1, 2023: Motion was made by Davidson seconded by Lopez to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective February 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Bryant, Provence, Lopez, Davidson, Cramer, Lay, Kohls and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Michael Pennington/Oklahoma City – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In Line Of Duty”: Motion made by Cramer and seconded by Lopez to approve request of Pennington to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Bennett, Provence, Davidson, Lopez, Nimmo, Bryant, Kohls, Cramer, Lay and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Gregory Tallman/Sapulpa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: No action was taken.

Ricky Bruder/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In Line Of Duty”: Motion made by Lay seconded by Kohls to approve request of Bruder to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Bryant, Davidson, Lopez, Kohls, Cramer, Lay and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Phillip Lee/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lay seconded by Bennett to approve the request of Lee to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Bryant, Davidson, Lopez, Kohls, Cramer, Lay and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

John Williams/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lay seconded by Kohls to approve the request of Williams to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Bryant, Davidson, Lopez, Kohls, Cramer, Lay and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

n MEETING (March 17, 2023)

Jefferson Bowman/Muskogee - Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective March 1, 2023: Motion was made by Cramer and seconded by Provence to deny the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective March 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Bryant, Cramer, Kohls, Lay, Baggett, Laws and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Gilbert Keith/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective March 1, 2023: Motion was made by Baggett and seconded by Bennett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty”, effective March 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Bryant, Cramer, Kohls, Lay, Baggett, Laws and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Terry Traxler/Oklahoma City – Application For “Disability In The Line Of Duty” Pension, Effective March 1, 2023: Motion was made by Cramer seconded by Baggett to approve the Application for “Disability in the Line of Duty” effective March 1, 2023. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Bryant, Cramer, Kohls, Lay, Baggett, Laws and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Brent Armer/Edmond – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: No action was taken.

Brian S. Goins/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Lay seconded by Cramer to approve the request of Goins to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Bryant, Cramer, Kohls, Lay, Baggett, Laws and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

Jeffrey Wagnon/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: No action was taken.

Richard Tattershall/Tulsa – Request To Modify Pension From “Service” To “Disability In The Line Of Duty”: Motion was made by Cramer seconded by Lay to approve the request of Tattershall to modify his pension from “Service” to “Disability in the Line of Duty”. Ayes: Nimmo, Bennett, Provence, Fullingim, Lopez, Bryant, Cramer, Kohls, Lay, Baggett, Laws and Green. Nayes: None. Motion carried.

n CONSENT AGENDA (February 17, 2023)

CHECKS TERMINATED IN JANUARY 2023 (Deceased):

Arapaho Garland R. Howell

Caddo Kenneth R. Whorton

Catoosa Dwight Sappington

Crescent Norma J. Cox

Duncan Betty J. Hendricks

Drummond Lora N. Crow

Drumright Teri L. Montgomery

Eufaula Melvin L. Cooper

Ponca City Delores Andrews

Madill Peggy A. Bailey

Midwest City Anna M. Brice

$5,000.00 DEATH BENEFIT:

Morrison Dee T. Ball

Nichols Hills Mary E. Wallace

Oklahoma City Peggy Burgess

Tahlequah Joyce Bliss

Tulsa Ronald D. Chapman

Tulsa Mary E. Lee

Tulsa Harold L. Reese

Tulsa Arnold R. Sikes

Wayne Ira R. Perry

Wilburton John Cook

Wilson Emma J. Tucker

Anadarko Mark Edwards, Child Of Ronald D. Edwards

Copan Stumpf Funeral Home On Behalf Of Dewayne J. Anderson

Fairfax Shirley A. Brewer, Widow Of Dale W. Brewer

Gage Nancy L. Morley, Widow Of Richard P. Morley

Muskogee Hunn Funeral Home On Behalf Of Roy Derebert

Morrison David Ball, Child Of Dee T. Ball

Morrison Connie Ball, Child Of Dee T. Ball

Morrison Carla Waller, Child Of Dee T. Ball

Noble Mcmahans Funeral Home On Behalf Of David P. Donihoo

Norman Wilson-Little Funeral Home On Behalf Of Harold W. Caskey

OKC Mary L. Colwell, Widow Of Bob L. Colwell

Ponca City Grace Memorial Chapel On Behalf Of Virgil O. Taylor

Sapulpa Rhonda K. Gatrell, Child Of Edward E. Duty

Sapulpa Jodi K. Crane, Child Of Edwards E. Duty

Taft Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral On Behalf Of Willie K. McGee

Tulsa Shipman Funeral Home On Behalf Of Harold l. Reese

Tulsa Serenity Funeral Home On Behalf Of Arnold R. Sikes

Wayne Wilson-Little Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ira R. Perry

Westville Roberts & Hart Funeral Home On Behalf Of Alfred E. Hembree

Wilson Alexander Gray Funeral Home On Behalf Of Jim D. Barnes

APPLICATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM:

Ada Levi H. Teel

Ardmore Allen J. Williams

Blackwell Christopher O’Neil

Blanchard Colyn T. McNair

Bristow Steven Marlow

Chandler Anthony Rednour

Cleveland Christopher Kesner

Collinsville Russell Cashman

Collinsville Tyler Peters

Edmond Lauren A. Midgley

Guymon Macauly Evans

Hobart Devin Humphrey

McLoud David Winlock

Miami Brayden Smith

Miami Jasper Woods

Ponca City Autry Westfall

Shawnee William Motley

Tulsa Kolten Allphin

Tulsa Terry Barnes

Tulsa Horacio Bencomo-Beltran

Tulsa Kristian Fairchild

Tulsa Gunner Green

Tulsa Issac Ledbetter

Tulsa Daniel Mefford

Tulsa Dalton Ray

Tulsa Zachary Riddle

Tuttle Matthew Krueger

APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE:

02/01/2020

Howard, Common-Law Widow Of Zachary D. Adair (Deceased 4/26/2019)

APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE FOR CONTINUATION:

APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY IN THE LINE OF DUTY –MODIFY TO SERVICE PENSION:

APPLICATION FOR SERVICE PENSION:

APPLICATION FOR VESTED BENEFIT:

n CONSENT AGENDA (March 17, 2023)

CHECKS TERMINATED IN FEBRUARY 2023 (Deceased):

Berryhill David W. Priest

Gage Judith Lalicker

Fairland Vera R. Boyd

Hollis Dalton T. Webster

Lawton Richard W. Foster

Mannsville Geraldine Gray

Miami Martha L. Gaily

Midwest City Darin J. Hodges

OKC Doris A. Bunch

$5,000.00 DEATH BENEFIT:

Pink Shirley Stansell

Rush Springs Minnie L. Davis

Stigler F. Pauline Harrell

Stigler Jimmy H. Stamper

Tulsa Anna J. Castle

Tulsa Shirley J. Benson

Wilburton Vernon Underwood Wright City Terry D. Laster

Antlers Serenity Funeral Service On Behalf Of Billy C Hampton

Antlers Serenity Funeral Service On Behalf Of Donald W. House

Berryhill David W. Priest Jr., Child Of David W. Priest

Bethany Shirley King, Widow Of Alvin V. King

Checotah Karen Bliard, Widow Of Andy L. Blizzard

Cyril Fletcher Funeral Home On Behalf Of Don Snider

Davenport Parks Brothers Funeral Home On Behalf Of Jimmy Clarkson

Greasy Audrey Howard Common-Law Spouse Of Zachary D. Adair

Laverne Rama M. Harvey, Widow Of Guy M. Harvey

Lawton Karen L. Haggenmiller, Child Of Richard Foster

Lawton Kelly Kaley, Child Of Richard Foster

Lawton Stephanie Foster, Child Of Richard Foster

Midwest City Barnes-Frederich Funeral On Behalf Of Douglas R. Herren

Midwest City Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home On Behalf Of Darin J. Hodges

Muskogee Cornerstone Funeral Home On Behalf Of Curtis D. Jackson

Okmulgee McClendon-Winters Funeral On Behalf Of Thomas Porter

Pryor Shipman’s Funeral On Behalf Of Richard H. Crittenden

Spencer Caskets Inc & Johnson Funeral On Behalf Of Paul Judkins Jr.

Spiro Mallory-Martin Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ernie Tobler Jr.

Tulsa Mallett Funeral Home On Behalf Of Stanley E. Day

Tulsa Bixby-South Tulsa Funeral On Behalf Of Gary W. England

Tulsa Patricia D. White Of Widow Of Jimmy L. White

Vian Agent Mallory Martin Funeral On Behalf Of Carl E. Rolston

Weatherford Lockstone Funeral Home On Behalf Of David W. Wright

Wilburton Mark Underwood, Child Of Vernon Underwood

Wilburton Marie Underwood, Child Of Vernon Underwood

Wright City Bunch-Singleton Funeral Home On Behalf Of Terry D. Laster

APPLICATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM:

Blackwell Andrew Frost

Broken Bow Clay Channing

Collinsville Tyler McCoy

Collinsville Jordan Vivar

Deer Creek Corbyn Slimp

Duncan Ko Withrow

Hominy Connor Wadkins

Nichols Hills Joshua Balch

Mcalester Logan Bellinger

Mcalester Devin Hunter

Muskogee Thunder Kirk

Nicoma Park Justin Nelson

Oak Cliff Jake Cole

Oak Cliff Nolan Kuehnl

Okmulgee Jonathan Evans

Sallisaw Jacob Lloyd

Sallisaw Preston Warren

Seminole Mitchell James

Seminole Jared Wyatt

Stillwater Joseph Lalli

Tulsa Ryan Arnold

Tulsa Bryce Beall

Tulsa James Bowman

Tulsa Joseph Crump

Tulsa Blane Dean

Tulsa Luke Dewan

Tulsa Ryan Fitzsimons

Tulsa Thurman Garrett

Tulsa Richard Hartman

Tulsa Brannon Holman

Tulsa Brandon Hussey

Tulsa Darrek Kirkland

Tulsa Matthew Krames

Tulsa Trenton Morris

Tulsa Garrett O’Hara

Tulsa Danny Oliver

Tulsa Chandler Olson

Tulsa Jonathan Peterson

Tulsa Joel Potts

Tulsa Garrett Richardson

Tulsa Jesse Short

Tulsa Jace Starling

Tulsa Grant Vanlandinhan

Tulsa Joshua Vinyard

Tulsa Corbin Whittaker

Tulsa Dequan Woodard

APPLICATION OF CHILD PENSION: 12/01/2022

Ann Vessell, Guardian Of Ronnie Vessell, Child Of Bobbie Vessell- Deceased

APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE FOR CONTINUATION:

APPLICATION

APPLICATION

REFUND

n CONSENT AGENDA (April 21, 2023)

CHECKS TERMINATED IN MARCH 2023:

Bristow Elrita J. Baker Deceased

Fairfax Shirley Brewer Deceased

Guymon Katherine Smith Deceased

Henryetta Ila L. Sams Deceased

Leedey Eleanore G. Smith Deceased

Mcalester Paul M. Lalli Deceased

Oklahoma City Linda G. Goodgion Deceased

Oklahoma City Kinley M. Purcell Deceased

Ponca City Sandra J. Martin Deceased

Seiling Lora Louthan Deceased

Spencer Paul C. Judkins Jr. Deceased

Stroud Dorothy L. McFarland Deceased

Tulsa Peggy G. Steele Deceased

Union City Patricia A. Everett Deceased

Waukomis Billie M. Roades Deceased

Wellston Donna S. Rackley Deceased

$5,000.00 DEATH BENEFIT:

Ardmore Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home On Behalf Of Joseph C. Phillips

Capron Marshall Funeral Home On Behalf Of Daryl D. Schwerdtfeger

Coalgate Brown’s Funeral Service On Behalf Of Richard D. Traylor

Coweta Velma L. Swarer, Widow Of Jasper L. Swarer

Durant Sherry A. Herron, Widow Of Don L. Herron

Frederick Jackson Funeral Home On Behalf Of Melvin C. Newman

Grayson Wendy Tucker, Widow Of Raymond Tucker

Hastings Dudley Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ronnie E. Bohot

Hollis Mary H. Howard, Widow Of Alfred T. Howard

Idabel Doris B. Elmore, Widow Of Curtis D. Elmore

Mcalester Bishop Funeral Service On Behalf Of Paul M. Lalli

Muskogee Cornerstone Funeral Home On Behalf Of Vernon L. McLemore

OKC Affordable Cremation Serivce On Behalf Of Kinley M. Purcell

OKC Temple & Sons Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ralph A. Davison

Picher Paul Thomas Funeral Home On Behalf Of Ernest Freeman Sr.

Tulsa Luginbuel Funeral Home On Behalf Of David C. Dayringer

Tulsa Mowery Funeral Service On Behalf Of Edward S. Sunday

Tuttle Susan Turner, Widow Of Scotty J. Turner

Warner Mabel C. Mcbee, Widow Of Raymond C. McBee

Webbers Fall Corberstone Funeral Home On Behalf Of Eual W. Cox

Yukon Peggy Schroeder, Widow Of Curtis D. Schroeder

APPLICATION FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE FOR CONTINUATION:

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

04/01/2023

Bartlesville Cheryl A. Ford, Widow Of Bobby L. Ford

Bartlesville Elizabeth A. McGee, Widow Of Johnny R. McGee

Bethel Acres Darlene F. Sullivan, Widow Of Robert A. Sullivan

Billings Vicki Waggoner, Widow Of Wilfred Waggoner

Capron Elizabeth Schwerdtfeger, Widow Of Daryl Schwerdtfeger

Comanche Melinda J. Newton, Widow Of George E. Newton

Coweta Thelma J. Greene, Widow Of James E. Greene

Glencoe Joyce Choplin, Widow Of Jim Choplin

Hastings Belinda Bohot, Widow Of Ronnie E. Bohot

Hobart Loretta Maggard, Widow Of Jackie R. Maggard

Muskogee Rochelle McLemore, Widow Of Vernon McLemore

Oilton Phyllis A. Alsip, Widow Of Jack L. Alsip

Okarche Margaret J. Biller, Widow Of Paul J. Biller

Ponca City Christine Brown, Widow Of Larry D. Brown

04/01/2023 Tulsa Linda M. Faulkenberry, Widow Of Peter C. Faulkenberry

04/01/2023 Tulsa Linda Kendrick, Widow Of Bobby J. Kendrick Sr.

04/01/2023 Tulsa Delores J. Lewis, Widow Of Kirk P. Lewis

04/01/2023 Vici Carole Turner, Widow Of Gary Turner

04/01/2023

Webbers Falls Regina F. Cox, Widow Of Eual W. Cox

APPLICATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE PENSION SYSTEM:

Coweta Michael Lenihan

Coweta Nikolas Moler

Cromwell Austin Galven

Cushing Isaac Cagle

Cushing Clayton Perceful

Durant Colton Ledford

Durant Austin Tomson

Grove Matthew Bush

Guthrie Caelan T. Groce

Harrah Webb Campbell

Harrah Ronnie Quinn

Idabel Loren Bumgarner

Lawton Kynel Daniels

Lawton Jesse Dodson

Lawton John Emmons

Lawton Callum B. Hill

Lawton Kobe Houseman

Lawton Elijah Hoyt

Lawton Cheyenne Lee

Mcalester Michael Lizik

Mustang Ashton S. Houser

Nicoma Park Nathan Taylor

Northwest Rogers Cheyenne Lee

Madill Devin McLaughlin

Miami Lloyd Johnson

Perry Seth M. Dean

Pryor Zachariah Gipson

Skiatook Travis Hinds

Skiatook Patrick Meyers

Tonkawa Tobyn Snow

Tulsa Patrick Calip

Wewoka Ayden Spencer

APPLICATION FOR SERVICE PENSION:

APPLICATION FOR VESTED BENEFIT:

REFUND

CHECOTAH FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Chief: Greg Carmack

Joined OSFA: 1913

Number of Volunteers: 16

ISO Rating: 4

Population: 3,800

Sq. Miles Covered: 7 (city limits)

Calls Per Year: 125 (average)

Number of Stations: 1

Number of Engines: 3

Number of Brushpumpers: 1

Number of Ladders: 1

Pictured at right is probably the oldest known bunker coat in Oklahoma.

It is estimated to be close to 100 years old.

It is property of the Checotah FD.

BY GREG ROBERTS Ret. Norman FD

R-1 2007 Ford/Chief F&S 18 HP/200 pump/300 tank

E-1 2018 E-One 1500 pump/780 tank

E-5 2001 International/Pierce 1250 pump/1000 tank

Old E-1 1987 Pierce 1250 pump/750 tank

L-1 2005 Seagrave 2000 pump/500 tank/75’ ladder

Checotah FD circa 1912

101st OFCA CONFERENCE

OFCA Members: 57

Ladies Auxiliary: 25 Conference Guests: 75

On April 12, the weather was beautiful for the OFCA Golf Tournament. A total of 18 teams competed, and all the winners donated their prize money back to the association!

On April 13, business meetings began. Featured keynote speaker was Major General Darrell Guthrie (Retired US Army).

That evening, banquet attendees enjoyed music and entertainment from the NY NY Dueling Pianos.

The J. Ray Pence Leadership Award was presented to Midwest City Fire Chief Bert Norton. And the night ended with a conga line led by the OSFA Board.

On April 14, everybody got down to business and elected Stillwater Fire Chief Terry Essary as OFCA 3rd Vice President.

Also, nine resolutions were passed in an effort to update the OFCA Constitution and By-Laws.

April

12-14, 2023 in Lawton

Total Attendance: 157 Cities/Towns Represented: 30 Companies & Vendors Displaying: 40

Richard Kelley: OFCA President’s Report

Greetings Brothers and Sisters!

This year, James Heap has done an outstanding job as the OFCA President.

I want to thank him for his dedication to the Oklahoma Fire Service. I appreciate the passion he has displayed to improve our proud and noble profession.

At the 2023 Chiefs Conference in Lawton, James outlined his goal to lead from the top as he strives to work in collaboration with our fire service partners to create a standard for the fire chiefs in Oklahoma.

I would also like to thank James, his wife Bridget, the Frederick Fire Department and the Lawton Fire Department for an outstanding OFCA Conference. Great work, Chief Heap!

As I begin my term as OFCA President, I first would like to thank everyone involved in the OFCA for this humbling opportunity. I do not take this obligation lightly, as I will strive to make a positive difference.

Every day, I am blessed to work for such an incredible fire department that is filled with outstanding firefighters who serve our community at a high level. They are the reason I am here, and it’s their dedication and commitment to excellence that in-

spires me to give back to the Oklahoma Fire Service.

This year, my goal is to work with our collaborative partners at the OSFA, ORFA, OSU-FST, OEM, PFFO, OML and others to move our organizations forward.

We need to focus on levels of funding for firefighter training to assure our firefighters have the capabilities to serve their communities.

We need to improve our response from the State to large, widespread, catastrophic events that are outside the capabilities of the local jurisdictions.

We also need to focus on assuring the firefighters coming behind us have the same programs, benefits and opportunities that we have been afforded during our career.

Our profession is not what it is today because of happenstance. It is where we are today through the efforts of the giants before us. And as President, I want to honor their service by working hard to make improvements.

If we all focus on the majority of the areas we agree upon instead of the few areas we do not, we will accomplish great things in our future.

In closing, I want to thank Greg Herbster, Moore Fire Chief, for his service on the OFCA Board.

Greg is an outstanding leader in the fire service who did wonderful things during his tenure on the board. More importantly, he is a great person and someone I am proud to call friend.

Until next time, strive for excellence because Leaders are not born, they are made.

Craig Carruth: OFCA 1st Vice President’s Report

Happy spring everyone!

I hope everyone is starting this spring season off well.

First off, I want to thank Chief Herbster for his guidance and leadership during the time he has spent on the board.

Secondly, I would like to congratulate Chief Heap and the Frederick Fire Department, along with the Lawton Fire Department, on a job well done.

It takes a ton of work, support and help to put on a conference of that magnitude, and it was noticed.

The 101st OFCA Conference was a very enjoyable event and well attended. I can’t wait to see what Chief Kelley has in store for the 102nd Conference.

On behalf of the Legislative Committee, I would like to take this time to thank everyone for there support of the proposed OFCA Constitution and By-Laws resolutions. I believe these changes are

necessary for the organization to remain current, stay relevant and to continue moving in a positive direction.

I have taken a tremendous amount away from this organization, and I believe in its purpose. The members of this organization are what brings value to being part of it. I continue to grow personally and professionally from the time spent visiting with the members of this organization.

I find it a tremendous honor to serve the organization, and I would like to encourage those who are not members to become members and for those who are members and not active, to become active.

You may think you have nothing to offer anyone, but that could not be farther from the truth.

Being a leader of any organization invokes responsibility and challenge. We need peers around us to have needed conversations, challenge us, inspire us and move us.

It is this type of interaction we need in order for us to make positive changes in ourselves and our organizations. I can tell you without a doubt, this organization has the membership to do just that.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Association, please reach out to your board members to see how we can better serve you.

On a more operational note, like I stated earlier, spring has been in full swing and with the changing of seasons it is crucial that we remind ourselves and our organizations of some of the seasonal precautions.

If you have not already, please review your severe weather policies and procedures, as we have already experienced severe weather this spring.

Also, now is the time to review heat emergency recognition and treatment, fireworks safety, and self care while working in extreme weather situations and the importance of staying hydrated.

Stay Safe!

Terry Essary: OFCA 3rd Vice President’s Report

Hi everyone! I want to start off by saying how thankful I am to serve as your 3rd Vice President! This is an incredible honor.

I became an OFCA member about 10 years ago after promoting to Battalion Chief, and the first event that I attended was the Winter Workshop. Although I don’t remember the exact details of the event, I do remember how energized, and humble I felt being surrounded by so many people that were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about leadership in the fire service.

I can honestly say it changed the trajectory of my career, and amplified the service I provide my department and my community. It is extremely refreshing to network with and befriend others who share the same challenges and love for the job. I can’t imagine not being a part of this amazing organization.

I know you’re all probably asking why I wanted to run for the board. Well, it really comes down to a couple of things.

First, I want to help further the mission of building positive working relationships between all firefighters in our state.

Also, I am passionate about honoring the great traditions of our profession as well as moving boldly into the future by embracing and intertwining knowledge, science, and experience into how we lead, train, and operate on the fire ground.

I’m 49 years old. I went to high school in Stratford, and attended East Central University where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in criminology.

I started as a volunteer firefighter for Stratford Fire Department in 1994, and began my career with Stillwater Fire in 1997.

I have risen through the ranks and was a Battalion Chief before becoming Fire Chief in January of 2021.

I have had the opportunity to serve as a medic for the Stillwater Police Department’s Special Operations Team. I completed

the first cohort of Oklahoma Executive Fire Officer, and I am currently a member on the OSFA Legislative Committee.

I always knew that I wanted to be a first responder, but it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to become a volunteer for Stratford Fire Department that I knew I wanted to fully commit to the Fire Service. That opportunity ignited my passion for firefighting.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to serve as a firefighter for over 28 years, and I can honestly say that my passion burns every bit as bright now as it did then.

I love the Oklahoma Fire Service for a multitude of reasons, but one that really stands out is the relentless dedication that our men and women show every single day as they protect and serve the people in their communities.

It doesn’t matter if it’s an all-volunteer department or a 1,000 person career department, we all have a heart to serve our communities and leave our profession better than we found it.

I have so many highlights in my career that it’s really hard to choose, but I would have to say that becoming Fire Chief is number one. It is the greatest honor of my career to represent the amazing men and women of Stillwater Fire Department. It is also very humbling to become Chief of a department that has such a rich history in the Fire Service.

Even though we all have our share of challenges, it is an exciting time to be a leader in the fire service. We have an almost endless supply of quality information and training opportunities through podcasts, YouTube videos, the Fire Safety Research Institute and other forms of free and easily accessible content that we often take for granted.

I am extremely excited to start working as your 3rd Vice President, and I want you to know that it’s a great honor to be able to represent you, and work side by side with each of you as we boldly lead our fire service into the future.

Mustang FD

Michael Baker: OFCA 2nd Vice President’s Report

The OFCA Conference has just wrapped up, and I hope everyone had a great time!

Now “Past President” James Heap hosted a great event with superb entertainment and one of the largest vendor areas I can recall.

On a personal note, a thank you to President Heap for making my first year on the OFCA Board a great experience. His leadership and mentorship will forever be appreciated. I look forward to working with the new OFCA Board under Chief Kelley’s leadership and welcome the new 3rd Vice President Chief Terry Essary from Stillwater Fire to the team.

As the new OFCA 2nd Vice President, I want to remind you that January is only nine months away and I am looking forward to the 2024 OFCA Winter Workshop the week of January 24th in Stillwater.

I am already compiling a list of updates to the agenda based on your feedback and that of the other board members. I am also gathering an updated list of vendors and coordinating some new ones, as well.

Finally, if you have educational content that you would like to share, or want to see a specific program, send me an email. Mark your calendar for the Winter Workshop. We are looking forward to seeing you!

My takeaway from my first year on the board is that Oklahoma fire service leadership does not always originate within the larger departments across the state. Small departments play a big role in developing our fire service leaders and influence the direction of all departments in many ways.

I am excited to stand with Chief Heap in his Past President year project of improving the standards for Fire Chiefs across our state.

Within the Tulsa Fire Department, my command staff and I have committed to improving our own leadership development.

One of the things I have noticed is that firefighters often “wait” to prepare themselves for promotion. Let me explain the best I can. From my view, it appears that from day one we have our new firefighters “wait” for instruction/orders. As a new firefighter, order-based action is important for everyone’s safety, but over time, the culture of wait may be hindering their career development. Additionally, our whole job is based on waiting. We report for duty, check out gear and wait for a response.

My point is, we need to start the discussion about self-preparation early and remind our firefighters that they must be prepared for the role they desire within the fire service.

If you want to be a Captain or even the Fire Chief, our members must know the path and the education that is required for success. Sometimes, incredible firefighters find themselves unable to respond to the call for leadership.

As Chief Officers, we must start with a simple conversation to our firefighters encouraging them to be ready for leadership and then provide opportunities for staff development if we expect our profession to prosper.

The busy months are upon us with the State Fire School and the OSFA Convention. Be safe and keep learning.

Kent Lagaly: OFCA Executive Director’s Report

Greetings! As most of you are aware, we just finished up with our annual conference. Chief Heap and the Frederick Fire Department, with help from Chief Williams and his staff at Lawton, did an outstanding job, and I know that all who attended appreciate their hard work. If you were not able to make it to Lawton, you missed a great program. I hope you will be able to come to OKC next year.

At the conference, the membership was presented with several constitutional resolutions for consideration. All the resolutions pertained to the Constitution and By-Laws of this organization. The resolutions submitted by the legislative committee were in an effort to “modernize” the way this organization and executive board conducts business in an ever-changing society.

Our hope was that these changes and additions would allow us to serve all of you in a more efficient manner. All the resolutions were approved unanimously by those present and will take effect on July 1, 2023. Raegan and I are going to work hard to have all these changes made and the new version of the Constitution and By-Laws posted on the website by July 1.

When you can look at the Constitution and By-Laws, I want you to notice that the Motto and Purpose DID NOT change.

For over 100 years this has not changed, and for good reason. No matter what the changes are in our society, the men and women who started the OFCA knew exactly what the Fire Service and citizens of Oklahoma needed -- an organization that would help Chief Officers grow professionally and personally and allow them to better serve the citizens of Oklahoma. If you’re not familiar with what the Motto and Purpose are, I will save you the time of looking on the website:

The motto of this association is : “We serve to provide professional leadership concerning fire and life safety for the citizens of the Great State of Oklahoma.”

The purpose of this Association is to improve fire department administration, fire prevention, fire suppression and fire services delivery throughout the State of Oklahoma by providing educational, networking, coordination and support opportunities to its members.

In recognition of unity and professionalism, the Association aspires to respect the individual perspectives of the membership in a manner that encourages open and honest communication in a professional and ethical manner.

It’s no different now than it was over 100 years ago. We are all faced with a variety of challenges as chief officers. Each day it seems as if we are dealing with a new issue within our department. One of the most important things I have discovered is that although these “issues” may be new to me, chances are, some other chief officer has had a similar challenge in the past. The benefit this organization provides us to network with others who can share information and their personal experiences is the key to being a successful chief officer.

In closing, I want to challenge each of you to reach out to someone who may not understand the purpose of this organization and encourage them to not only join the OFCA but more important, engage and participate. I promise that it will help them become better Chief Officers.

Until next time, be safe.

Ret. El Reno FD

Frederick FD

James Heap: OFCA Past President’s Report

Greetings Oklahoma Fire Service!

For those of you that were able to make it to the OFCA Conference in Lawton, I hope you enjoyed it.

I had a great time and enjoyed visiting and networking with friends and peers. Thank you for attending, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped with the conference. First, thanks go out to the Lawton Fire Department Honor Guard, Oklahoma Fire Pipes and Drums, Lance Whitson and Charley Sheffield of Frederick Fire, and Chief Richard Kelley for the wonderful memorial service.

Thank you to Jimmy Gaither and Justin Green from Frederick Fire and Nolan Berry from Lawton Fire for their help with the golf tournament.

I appreciate the words Tommase Howard spoke each morning as he led us in prayer. I want to thank all the other members of Frederick Fire Department for their continued support over the past few years.

I want to thank my wife Bridget and my kids for their support and help at the conference. Bridget was a little upset with me when I informed her she was going to have to talk in front of the attendees. She was more uncomfortable doing it than I was but did a job.

Carrie and Sandi at the Apache Hotel were great to work with and were very accommodating to our needs. They made

the planning process go smoothly and made sure all the I’s were dotted and the T’s were crossed. Thank you to them for all their hard work.

I need to thank Chief Greg Herbster for his service to the OFCA as a board member and for his leadership and mentorship. I treasure the friendship we have developed over the past few years. You, sir, are a great asset to the Oklahoma Fire Service.

I also want to welcome Chief Terry Essary from Stillwater Fire Department to the board as the new 3rd Vice President. Terry brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the board, and I know he will be a great addition. I look forward to working with him.

I look forward to working with President Richard Kelley as he leads the OFCA this year. Chief Kelley will continue to represent this association in a manner that is positive for the Oklahoma Fire Service. He is a great person and leader, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with him. Thank you, Chief Kelley, for your support over the last few years.

As I said at the conference, none of this would be able to happen without Raegan Layne and Kent Lagaly.

Kent guided me through the process and helped tremendously, but Raegan did all the work. We appreciate OSFA for allowing her to work with us, as she does an amazing job. Thanks, Raegan and Kent, for everything you do.

I have been told by many that they enjoyed the entertainment. I had a good time, as well, even though I had to be part of the entertainment. I thought the

dueling pianos were a lot of fun and they kept the audience engaged.

Lastly, as I mentioned in my President’s Report during the business meeting, I am dedicating my time now to working with stakeholders of the fire service to develop a minimum standard and new chief training for fire chiefs in Oklahoma.

It is my belief that when we get this standard in place, lives will be saved and injuries will be prevented.

I look forward to taking on this challenge and hope that all of you can see that this needs to be done. Once fire chiefs are trained and meet the standard, they should lead by example and encourage the members of their departments to do the same.

I know this will be a trying task as we will have a lot of objectives to work through. With the leadership of the stakeholders, I know we will eventually be able to define what an Oklahoma fire chief is and have a method and funding to develop the fire chiefs of Oklahoma. Thank you to everyone for your support while serving as your President. I have been truly humbled to serve you. It is truly an honor to serve on the OFCA Board.

If you ever need to communicate with any of the board members, don’t hesitate to contact us. Until next time, stay safe!

2023-24 OFCA Executive Board

OFCA PRESIDENT Richard Kelley richard.kelley@okc.gov

1ST VICE PRESIDENT Craig Carruth ccarruth@cityofmustang.org

2ND VICE PRESIDENT Michael Baker mbaker@cityoftulsa.org

3RD VICE PRESIDENT Terry Essary terry.essary@stillwater.org

OFCA PAST PRESIDENT James Heap jrheap@pldi.net

OFCA DIRECTOR Kent Lagaly klagaly901@gmail.com