F.F.A.M.

Meeting Minutes – July 2017

President Kenneth Hoover called the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to order at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, June 4, 2017, at the Missouri State Fair Fire Department in Sedalia, Missouri.

Roll Call of Board of Directors and other officials:

Officers

President Kenneth Hoover, Little Dixie FPD; First Vice President Larry Jennings, Johnson County FPD; Second Vice President Grant Oetting, Higginsville FPD; Secretary Treasurer Jaime Miller, Johnson County FPD.

Directors

District 1, Terry Wynne, Galt FPD; District 2, Greg Wright, Shelbina FD; District 3, Larry Jones, Madison West Monroe FPD; District 6, Gary Berendzen, Cole County FPD; District 11, Monty Thompson, Kearney FPD; District 14, Rick Dozier, Southern FPD of Holt Co.

Assistant Directors

District 3, Steve Gentry, Little Dixie FPD; District 10, Greg Brown, Eureka FPD.

Others

Past President Keith Smith, Warrenton FPD; Historian Kay Asher, Wentzville FPD.

Guests

Tim Bean, Missouri Division of Fire Safety; David Hedrick, MU FRTI; Joe Jennings, Larry Eggen, Blake Rasmussen, Johnson County FPD; Harriett Vaucher, Eureka FPD; Timothy Mattox, North Central Carroll FPD; Doc Kritzer, Memorial Foundation.

Agenda

President Hoover asked for additions to the agenda. Rick Dozier moved to accept the agenda as presented. Terry Wynne seconded the motion and all approved.

Minutes

President Hoover advised that the 2017 convention meeting minutes are set for approval at the 2018 convention.

Financial Report

President Hoover asked for a review of the April 2017 financial reports. Rick Dozier moved to accept the financial reports as presented. Larry Jones seconded the motion and all approved.

Report of Officers and Special Guest(s)

Director David Hedrick with MU FRTI advised that there are 270 enrolled for Summer Fire School June 7-11. There are still spots open for anyone wanting to still register. The courses will be held at Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City. There will also be rescue boat operations on the river.

Hedrick advised he enjoyed the memorial services this year and thanks to everyone who assisted in making the event a success. He also expressed sympathy to the family of Jesse Ketchum and the Memphis Scotland Co. Fire Department.

MU FRTI fiscal year ends June 30. There have been 541 classes taught and there are 68 more scheduled before the fiscal year end. University funding cuts will affect MU FRTI with a 12% cut in general operations.

A state-wide training survey was sent out on behalf of the advisory council. They are finalizing the results and will have them out by the end of June.

State Fire Marshal Tim Bean with the Division of Fire Safety expressed his thanks to the 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents for taking on their new roles. He expressed thanks to the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team for a great job on assisting in Memphis on the recent LODD.

Work comp legislation was passed and is waiting on a signature from Governor Greitens. A $1 million grant will be used to assist non-tax funded departments with obtaining funds for work comp insurance.

There have been a few promotions within the Division. Steve Grass is the new Deputy Chief of Investigations and Jason Dunn is now the Regional Chief of Investigations. Dennis Kleigh has retired and Scott Stoneberger is now the Fire Investigation Supervisor.

The Division is still working on a fire fighter standard/certification and they would like to see legislation on setting standards for a fire fighters in Missouri. A survey was sent out to gather standards and opinions across the state. They are still working on ways to present this across the state.

Correspondence

No correspondence was received.

Unfinished Business

Kevin Dusheke, District Sales Coordinator with Aflac, was present to again discuss offering Aflac benefits to FFAM members which would allow members the group discounted rate. Discussion followed. Rick Dozier moved to offer Aflac as a member benefit. Greg Wright seconded the motion and all approved.

President Hoover advised that work is proceeding on replacing the roof at the State Fair Fire Department building and any mold will be remediated once the roof is replaced after a mold study is conducted.

Discussion was held on the fire service history book being created by Bill Westhoff that was approved at the April business meeting. Discussion was held on the storing, packing and shipping of the books once they become available for sale. The Board advised the creation of the book will need to be placed on hold for now until the logistics of storage and sales can be worked out.

New Business

Secretary Miller advised that the year one grant audit has been completed. FEMA only found one deficiency regarding the FFAM not having an official purchasing resolution. Miller advised that she and 1st Vice President Jennings had worked on a resolution, which was presented, and discussed. Terry Wynne moved to accept the purchasing resolution. Monty Thompson seconded the motion and all approved.

Committee Reports

Awards Committee

No report was given.

Budget Committee

Larry Jennings advised that committee budget requests are due by the August meeting.

Bylaws Committee

No report was given.

Chaplain Committee

David Hedrick reported that Missouri Fire Chaplain Corp annual meeting/training will be on Sept. 18-19 in Arnold, MO. This was rescheduled from May due to flooding.

Contest Committee

No report was given.

Convention Committee

No report was received from Chillicothe. Monty Thompson advised that they are pursing Branson as a possible location for a future convention. Southern Stone FPD is not interested in hosting however Terry Plumb is working with the local departments regarding the topic. 2017 committee chairman Larry Jennings advised that the committee has re-payed the $2,000 initial loan back to FFAM and is currently working on the final numbers.

Education Committee

No report was given.

Fire Prevention Committee

No report was given.

Legislative Committee

Greg Brown reported that the regular legislative session has concluded and there has been one extra session so far. Firefighter training funding is still approximately $900,000. A $45 base increase on ambulance transport has passed.

Membership Committee

Grant Oetting reported the following membership counts: 437 Directors/Councilman; 267 Retired; 16 Associate; 11 Sustaining; 18 Corporate, 340 Departments; 6306 Active; 10 Educational; 42 Juniors.

Nomination Committee

No report was given.

NVFC Committee

Keith Smith reported the National Cancer Symposium will be in Phoenix in September. He also reminded everyone to get a detailed health check-up.

Scholarship Committee

President Hoover advised that Grant Oetting has been removed from the committee and Larry Eggen is now the chairman of the committee.

State Fair Committee

Monty Thompson reported that work weekends will be July 8 and July 22 pending the roof completion.

Website Committee

No report was given.

Newsletter

The deadline for the next newsletter will be July 1.

Historian report

Kay Asher reported that they are working on packing things in her basement and getting them moved to Kingdom City.

Funeral Team report

Harriett Vaucher reported that 12 members of the team assisted with the LODD in Memphis. There will be a golf tournament fundraiser for the team and the NFFF on June 26 at Old Hickory in St. Peters.

Foundation report

Keith Smith reported that the Foundation has now revised the plans and design of the Museum. Discussion was held on the FFAM pledge of $100,000. Terry Wynne moved that the Foundation must spend down their existing funds to $25,000 prior to utilizing FFAM funds. Installments for the funds will be made up to $100,000, in the event that the full amount isn’t needed. Larry Jones seconded the motion and all approved.

The annual memorial service was held May 20-21 Kingdom City. Over 300 were in attendance on Sunday. 4 LODD were recognized and 38 non-LODD. They will go back 3 years to recognized those lost as there needs to be a set time limit. Bricks however can be purchased by anyone at any time. He also has order forms for DVD’s for anyone interested.

Grant Oetting moved to adjourn the meeting. Monty Thompson seconded the motion and all approved.

President Hoover adjourned the meeting at 10:55 a.m.

Jaime Miller,
Secretary
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri