Welcome to the new year and greetings from your Foundation Board of Directors. I outlined the recent change of treasurer in the memorial article. We continue to focus on the two key areas of fundraising for interior finishing (Phase-II) and wrapping up exterior projects from Phase-I. While minor ones have found their way into procrastinating a final conclusion. We are hopeful, that by the time you are reading this article our all underground guttering with retention basin and grade level dirt work has been completed. This will leave final landscaping, some additional sidewalks, and the two aprons in front of the glass overhead doors to finish up. Cold weather will likely delay these last three until spring.
We are working very hard at various traditional and some unconventional outside of the box ideas with fundraising to finish the interior. A sub-committee was formed to recraft recognition and naming rights depending on the level of giving. I hope to be able to release this in the next newsletter. We have not forgotten commitments with “Foot-in-the-Door” which added to the donations used in phase one of the construction. Folks, please do not assume we have all the answers or a corner on all great ideas when it comes to fundraising. If you have something you feel could assist, please reach out to a foundation member. My contact information is Keith Smith, 314-709-0760, or keith.smith@warrenton-fire.org.
We are blessed in having so many of your boards involved in numerous areas of the Missouri Fire Service while still finding the time to work on foundation business, events, and special projects. I have not been very responsible in keeping these folks fully introduced to you and communicated their activities both inside and outside of the Foundation.
That has been easily overlooked because not one of the members has any interest in being recognized for anything. Full disclosure they prefer to serve very quietly with this work out of public view. Their core values place all focus toward recognizing and honoring those who have served, whether it was a short time or a lifetime in the Missouri Fire Service and passed. Starting with this article, I will devote one short paragraph either in the museum or memorial article through the remainder of 2021 introducing you to some of your Foundation members. Volunteers who work so very hard but quietly just out of view.
Two people have largely taken care of the museum and memorial grounds this past year totally on their own. They are Greg Wright and Doc Kritzer. Greg is the FFAM Director of District 2, State Commander of the Missouri EMS Funeral Assistance Team, Missouri State Fair Fire Department, and approaching 40-years as a Volunteer Firefighter with 36-years as an EMT. Greg just took over as Treasurer of the Foundation. Doc is responsible for all engraving and the management of those names which is done as a true labor of love. Doc is a retired Callaway County Commissioner having served 12-years, worked in Cost/Accounting for 35-years, was a Volunteer Firefighter for 25-years, and loves sports, especially playing softball.
You do not have to be on the Foundation Board to assist with any one of our numerous projects. If you would be interested in just a few hours at a time and date of your choice, please contact us. That wraps it up for now. Thank you for reviewing this update regarding your state museum project.
FFAM
