What a beautiful fall season so far. It could stay like this until Christmas. Cool, crisp air in the mornings and the brilliant colors of the fall foliage remind us of the changing of the life cycles of Mother Nature.
This is a very busy time of the year for many of us, Fire Prevention Week is just ending, deer season is just beginning, Halloween in just a few days, Thanksgiving quickly arriving, and then the Christmas holidays wrapping up the year. If that does not fill up your calendar, I don’t know what would.
Also, Chief Larry Jennings from the Johnson County Fire Protection District is heading up the 2017 convention committee that the FFAM State Fair Fire and Rescue Department is hosting. Please become involved in this great work. The convention is only great if all of us work to make it great. I am looking forward to an excellent convention to be held on the Missouri State Fair Grounds in 2017.
FFAM annual dues will be sent out soon if not already. All membership renewals are due January 1. Secretary/Treasurer Jaime Miller has included in the notices a list of membership benefits. FFAM offers the largest amount of benefits, more than any other state fire organization, all for $7.50 a year and $2.50 of that amount goes to the Fire Fighters Memorial in Kingdom City. FFAM Board of Directors continue to look for additional benefits for its members. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact your district director.
The FFAM directors are currently working on the 2017 budget and I want to remind all directors and committees that your request for funding is currently due to 1st Vice-President, Chief Tim Bean, of the West Plains Fire Department. We will be voting on the 2017 proposed budget at the December 4, 2016 board meeting in Sedalia at 9:00 a.m. at the fire station.
Other items that are due for submission soon are the nominations for awards and scholarships. You can find the applications on the FFAM website or in upcoming newsletters. Please take the time to nominate deserving individuals for these important awards. These are just a few of the excellent benefits I was talking about earlier.
I would like to remind all committee chairpersons, to please meet and discuss your assignments and then forward to me the results of your meetings. I encourage all FFAM members, if you have input, please contact the appropriate committees or director with your thoughts, and opinions. This will insure statewide participation and fairness to all our members. If you experience any difficulties, please contact me. FFAM’s success depends on the efficiency of the committees.
Being this edition of the newsletter will be the holiday edition, I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. All of us have so many things to be thankful for. May joy and happiness follow you all the days of your life!
If there is anything you need from FFAM, please do not hesitate to contact one of the officers or directors. We are here to serve.
God Speed,
Kenneth Hoover
President
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
FFAM
