OPENING SESSION
President Larry Jennings opened the 66th Annual FFAM Convention by ringing the bell on Friday, May 6, 2022, at the Knights of Columbus in Washington, Missouri.
The Honor Guard posted the colors.
President Jennings led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Convention Chairman Matt Frankenberg welcomed attendees to the convention.
Past President Ken Hoover presented the Nominating Committee slate for the 2022 FFAM officer and director elections. Positions for election are District 2 Director, District 6 Director, District 8 Director, District 12 Director, and the unexpired term of the 1st Vice-President.
The following individuals are seeking election for those respective positions: Greg Wright, District 2; Gary Berendzen, District 6; Robert Francis, District 12. There are no nominations for District 8. Rob Erdel and Charlie Peel, 1st Vice-Present.
Guest Speaker Rogers Fire Department Chief Tom Jenkins gave a welcoming address to the attendees.
Matt Frankenberg made final announcements.
President Jennings closed the opening session at 6:45 p.m.
AWARDS BANQUET
Convention Chairman Matt Frankenberg welcomed everyone to the awards banquet on May 7, 2022, at the Knights of Columbus in Washington, Missouri.
Reverend Fr. Michael Boehm, Chaplain, Washington Volunteer Fire Company, gave the invocation followed by the meal.
Keynote speaker Florissant Valley Fire Protection District Chief Jason Hoevelmann presented a program.
Convention Chairman Matt Frankenberg presented the parade awards.
Contest Committee Chair Gary Berendzen announced the 2022 convention contest winners.
Firefighter Division Challenge
2 Person Hose Coupling
1st Washington; 2nd Little Dixie #1; 3rd Little Dixie #2.
Replace a Section of Hose
1st Southern Stone #1; 2nd Little Dixie #1; 3rd Washington.
Extending a Line
1st Little Dixie #2; 2nd Washington; 3rd Southern Stone #1.
Water Barrel Fight
1st Little Dixie #2; 2nd Little Dixie #1; 3rd Southern Stone #2.
Bucket Brigade
1st Little Dixie #2; 2nd Little Dixie #1; 3rd Southern Stone #1.
Overall
Little Dixie #2.
Visiting firefighters from Germany also participated in the firefighter challenge competing against each other and other departments.
Scholarship Committee
Scholarship Committee members Terry Plumb and Ed Daugherty presented the 2022 scholarship recipients.
High School
Makayla Bohart, Southern Holt FPD; Kaylin Cotton, Southern Holt FPD; Shelby Kennemore, Little Dixie FPD; Cecilia Thomas, Cole Camp Rural FPD.
Continuing Education
Lucas Pilgrim, Fort Osage FPD.
Fire Prevention Committee
Fire Prevention Committee Chair Andrew Caldwell announced the 2022 poster contest award winners.
Special Needs Division
1st Place, Skyler Blankenship, Little Dixie FPD. 2nd Place, Evie Sexton, Little Dixie FPD.
1st and 2nd Grade Division
1st Place, Molly Riegel, Union FPD. 2nd Place, Hannah Shiflett, Galt Rural FD. 3rd Place, Ellenie Jasper, Washington FD
3rd and 4th Grade Division
1st Place, Zachary Artinger, Washington FD. 2nd Place, Michael Rada, Washington FD. 3rd Place, Marissa Gildehaus, Union FPD
5th and 6th Grade Division
1st Place, Katie Warmbrodt, New Haven Berger FPD. 2nd Place, Lydia Richardson, Washington FD. 3rd Place, Braelyn Frankenberg, Washington FD.
Award Committee
Award Committee members Joe Vaughn and Charlie Peel presented several awards as follows:
Life Saving Award
Joe Auffert, Chris Wilbanks, Tim Dailey, Wesley Hendricks, Christel Cantrell, Joey Smith, Howell County Rural FD #1.
Life Saving Award
Joe Auffert, Chris Wilbanks, Tim Dailey, Christel Cantrell, Terry King, Howell County Rural FD #1.
Meritorious Award
Joe Auffert, Chris Wilbanks, Tim Dailey, Christel Cantrell, Daniel Dennis, Joey Smith, Howell County Rural FD #1.
Award for Valor
Todd Deornellis, Little Dixie FPD.
Fire Fighter of the Year
Roger Cope, Martinsburg Area FPD.
Phil Sayer Lifetime Achievement Award
Retired Chief Steve Paulsell, Boone County FPD.
Matt Frankenberg gave closing remarks. The banquet was followed by the dance.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
President Jennings called the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to order at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, May 8, 2022, at the Knights of Columbus in Washington, MO.
Roll Call of Board of Directors and other officials
Officers
President Larry Jennings, Johnson County FPD; First Vice President Rob Erdel, Little Dixie FPD; Second Vice President Grant Oetting, Higginsville FPD; Secretary-Treasurer Jaime Miller, Johnson County FPD #2; Sergeant-at-Arms Rex Reynolds, Southern FPD of Holt County.
Directors
District 1, Terry Wynne, Galt FPD; District 2, Greg Wright, Shelbina FD; District 3, Larry Jones, Madison West Monroe FPD; District 4, Joe Vaughn, Pleasant Hill FPD; District 5, Terry Plumb, Southern Stone FPD; District 6, Gary Berendzen, Cole County FPD; District 7, RB Brown, Union FPD; District 9, Kurt Wilbanks, West Plains FD; District 10, Greg Brown, Eureka FPD; District 11, Billy Smith, North Central Carroll Co FPD; District 14, Rick Dozier, Southern FPD of Holt County.
Assistant Directors
District 1, Janet Cain, Shoal Creek FPD; District 3, Josh Loyd, Martinsburg Area FPD; District 3, Charlie Peel, Southeastern Randolph FPD; District 4, Jonathan Evans, Lincoln FD; District 5, Shelby Honea, Southern Stone FPD; District 7, Andrew Caldwell, Boles FPD; District 10, Harriett Vaucher, Eureka FPD; District 14, Glen Dittmar, Dearborn Area FPD. District 14, Emily Sweet, Gower FPD.
Others
Past President Ken Hoover, Little Dixie FPD.
Guests
Tim Bean, Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Gail Hagans, University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute; Keith Smith, Warrenton FPD; Brian Zinanni, Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team; Donald Wilmeshor, Union FPD, Brian Smiley, Galt FPD; Lachrissa Smith, Tim Rosenburg, North Central Carroll Co FPD; Roger Meyers, Kylie Frerking, Concordia FD; Don Hahne, Matt Frankenberg, Mike Holtmmeier, Don Peters, Jim Frankenberg, Mark Skornia, Tim Frankenberg, Washington Vol FD; Rob Schrage, Jefferson R7 FPD; Richard Voss, Beauford Leslie FPD; Jim Casey, Sidney Casey, Boles FPD; Alan Altis, Patriot Public Safety; David Miller, Johnson County FPD2, Kegan Wilson, Johnson County FPD; Ed Daugherty, Chillicothe FD; Ronnie Fields, Paris Rural FP; Kyler Oliver, Sky Oliver, Rosendale FD.
Agenda
President Jennings asked for additions to the agenda. Gary Berendzen moved to accept the agenda as presented. Terry Plumb seconded the motion and all approved.
Sergeant-at-Arms Rex Reynolds conducted a delegate roll call.
Minutes
President Jennings asked for corrections or additions to the February 13, 2022, board meeting minutes. Rick Dozier moved to accept the minutes as presented. Ken Hoover seconded the motion and all approved.
Financial Report
President Jennings asked for a review of the January – March 2022 financial report. RB Brown moved to accept the financial report as presented. Gary Berendzen seconded the motion and all approved.
Report of Officers and Special Guest(s):
Gail Hagans with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute reported that Summer Fire School is in May and there is still time to sign-up if you would like to take classes. They have had a busy spring. The Division of Fire Safety has been sponsoring a lot of classes. They do still have a director opening that has been posted.
State Fire Marshal Tim Bean with the Division of Fire Safety thanked those who attended Fire Fighters Day at the Capitol. It was well attended. He stressed the importance of people getting to know their local legislators. We want to be united in our message.
Due to other donations, the meals at firefighter day were covered so the FFAM’s $1,000 donation to the event was used for the 1st female fighter symposium that was held last week. He advised that the industry has work to do when it comes to females in the fire service.
This is the last week of the legislative session. The budget went to the Governor on Friday. We did get $200k in firefighter training funding as well as the work comp funding. $2,000 work comp reimbursement is available to non-tax-based departments.
Bean gave a shout-out to the funeral assistance team for their continued work.
President Jennings also noted that everyone needs to be mindful of their colleagues and mental health awareness. There are lots of resources for the fire service available.
Correspondence
Secretary Miller reported that a thank you had been received from the Kisner family regarding their recent loss.
Walter Dreyer, a firefighter paramedic with Robertson FPD passed away recently and asked for memorial contributions be made to the FFAM. $180 was received.
Unfinished Business
There is no unfinished business.
Election
Sergeant-at-Arms Reynolds advised there are 51 delegates of which 16 are officers.
Rob Erdel and Charlie Peel, both seeking the election of the unexpired term of the 1st Vice-President, addressed the audience.
Closed ballots were cast for the 1st Vice-Present position. Sergeant-at-Arms Reynolds collected the ballots for the tally.
Gary Berendzen moved to appoint Greg Wright as the District 2 Director. Billy Smith seconded the motion and all approved. Terry Plumb moved to appoint Gary Berendzen as the District 6 Director. Greg Wright seconded the motion and all approved.
Gary Berendzen moved to appoint Robert Francis as the District 12 Director. Larry Jones seconded the motion and all approved.
New Business
President Jennings advised that Terry Plumb has requested the appointment of Dylan Honea of the Southern Stone FPD to District 5 Assistant Director. Charlie Peel moved to accept the appointment. Billy Smith seconded the motion and all approved.
RB Brown brought a special financial request to the board. The female sleeping quarters at the state fair fire station will not accommodate the number of females who are attending the fair each year. The committee would like to request $13,500 for the purchase of a 14×20 building to attach to the main building to provide additional sleeping space for the females.
This would provide additional space for 8-10 females. Discussion followed. Billy Smith moved to approve the one-time $13,500 purchase of the building. Terry Plumb seconded the motion, and all approved.
RB Brown requested a one-time approval of $1,000 to purchase a special 60th anniversary token for those serving at the State Fair Fire Department this year. Charlie Peel moved to moved to allow the State Fair Committee a one-time $1,000 for the purchase of a special 60th-anniversary token. Ronnie Fields seconded the motion and all approved.
Election
Sergeant-at-Arms Rex Reynolds advised the 1st Vice-President election was a tie. However, the number of ballots cast did not match the number of delegates counted during roll call. A second roll call was conducted.
President Jennings opened discussion regarding the June meeting since it will be so close to the convention. RB Brown moved that we do not hold a June meeting. Rick Dozier seconded the motion and all approved.
Kurt Ploch opened a discussion regarding the need to recognize the Phil Sayer award winners each year. Kurt Ploch moved that FFAM get a Phil Sayer statue and add names each year for those that are presented with the award. Greg Brown seconded the motion and all approved. The Award Committee will research and get an estimate and bring it back to the board.
Committee Reports
Awards Committee
Charlie Peel thanked those that submitted nominations this year. Very few were received. The next deadline for submissions is February 28.
Budget Committee
No report was given.
Bylaws Committee
No report was given.
Chaplain Committee
Secretary Miller reported on behalf of David Hedrick that the SEMA Missouri Disaster Chaplain Program conducted a WebEx meeting on May 2. The group continues to work on developing procedures and linkages with other response agencies and organizations. The state Mutual Aid Committee is looking at adding Fire Chaplains to the resource list of available mutual aid resources to departments when needed. Once again this is in the discussion phase, but is a step forward for providing this additional resource to Missouri’s Fire Service in a major emergency. Fire Service Chaplains that have an interest in the Disaster Chaplain Program may contact Chaplain Floyd Ferguson at faf0844@gmail.com or by phone at 816-261-1900.
Contest Committee
Gary Berendzen encouraged more teams to participate in the contest next year. They had a couple of issues with the generator and microphone. Those will be getting fixed.
Election
Due to the tie in the 1st Vice-President election, both candidates were given a topic to address with the audience. A second ballot was cast. Sergeant-at-Arms Reynolds collected the ballots for the tally.
Convention Committee
Josh Loyd reported that there is no host committee yet for 2023. He is asking for 30 additional days to find a host department. If no department elects to host the convention, it will fall to the FFAM.
Election
Sergeant-at-Arms advised that Charlie Peel is the winner of the 1st Vice-President election.
Education Committee
Kurt Wilbanks reported that Winter Fire School and Summer Fire School scholarships were both offered with no one applying. The committee will be changing the way the process is done. The committee sponsored the board class that was held Friday of the convention and will be working with the State Fair Committee for classes during the fair.
Fire Prevention Committee
Andrew Caldwell thanked everyone who participated in the poster contest. The winners will receive prize money and be invited to the state fair.
Legislative Committee
Greg Brown reported that legislators are trying to take on local issues to affect the whole state which is getting things slowed down. There is one week left in the session. $3 billion in federal money came in. $10 million has been allocated to fire protection agencies but no other details are available.
If you don’t know your local legislators, you are encouraged to meet them. It is important and does help. Congressional map redistricting may end up in court.
The Fire Education Commission did not approve the Firefighter 1 standard as it was a 2001 standard. A vendor is working on a basic class. They want to be using the most current standards when teaching these classes.
The Firefighter Critical Illness Pool started covering firefighters on May 1. Agencies may buy-in for coverage of firefighters with 5+ years of service.
Work compensation won’t cover cancer. Mffcip.org explains everything and will be offering education around the state. They are also looking to see if mental illness might eventually be added to the pool.
Membership Committee
Grant Oetting reported that active member numbers are down. He would love to hear ideas on how to promote membership. He also has several more conferences that FFAM will be attending this year.
Nomination Committee
No report was given.
NVFC Committee
Keith Smith reported that NVFC is the beneficiary of $10 million in grants to promote volunteers. The behavioral health-share the load is receiving over 100 calls per month. The suicide hotline is more active than in the past. 2022 NVFC meeting will be hosted in North Carolina. 2023 will be hosted in New York and 2024 in Kansas City. Individuals are encouraged to join NVFC for $18 per year. There are lots of training resources available for members.
Scholarship Committee
Charlie Peel reported that 4 high school and 1 continuing education scholarships were awarded. The next deadline is February 28.
State Fair Committee
RB Brown reported that the 60th-anniversary dinner for past and present members will be on Saturday, August 13 at 5:00 pm. Work weekends will be June 24-26, July 29-31, and August 5-7.
Terry Plumb was presented with a helmet in appreciation for his service as fire chief.
Website Committee
No report was given.
Newsletter
The deadline for the next newsletter will be the morning of June 24.
Historian Report
Contact Theresa Cox if you have items to donate.
Fire Funeral Team report
Brian Zinanni reported that the team assisted in 6 LODD and 14 non-LODD this year. December 31, 2023, the public safety officers’ federal benefit for LODD will be approximately $285k.
EMS Funeral Team report
Greg Wright reported the team has had 2 call-outs and 2 pending since the last meeting. The EMS conference will be October 14-16 in Lake Ozark. Dr. Barry Young will be the guest speaker. Online registration is available.
Foundation report
Keith Smith reported they will recognize 8 LODD and 63 non-LODD at the memorial service. There is some construction around the city building but it shouldn’t be a problem. The rain site is the Auxvasse school. Chief Donna Lake, KCFD, will be the keynote speaker.
The foundation’s online store is up and running. MOFirefighterMemorial.myshopify.com. Braden Gorman with Kirkwood assisted with the site.
WSK Architects are working on the final draws for the interior of the museum. The group is still working on fundraising efforts. A $10,000 grant was received from Centralia State Farm Agent Nancy Baca.
1st Vice-President Rob Erdel presented Washington Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Frankenberg with a 2022 convention resolution.
The Honor Guard retired the colors. Charlie Peel moved to adjourn the meeting. Greg Brown seconded the motion and all approved. President Jennings adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m.
FFAM
