F.F.A.M.

Meeting Minutes – September 2022

President Larry Jennings called the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri to order at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, August 7, 2022, at the Missouri State Fair Fire Department in Sedalia, MO.The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call of Board of Directors and other officials

Officers
President Larry Jennings, Johnson County FPD; First Vice President Charlie Peel, Southeastern Randolph FPD; Secretary-Treasurer Jaime Miller, Johnson County FPD #2.

Directors
District 1, Terry Wynne, Galt FPD; Greg Wright, Shelbina FD; District 3, Larry Jones, Madison West Monroe 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 (V), West Plains FD; District 11, Billy Smith, North Central Carroll Co FPD; District 12, Rob Francis, Fruitland Area FPD; District 14, Rick Dozier, Southern FPD of Holt County.

Assistant Directors
District 3, Josh Loyd, Martinsburg Area FPD; District 4, Jonathan Evans (V), Lincoln FD; District 5, Dylan Honea, Southern Stone FPD; District 5, Shelby Honea, Southern Stone FPD; District 7, Andrew Caldwell, Boles FPD; District 10, Harriett Vaucher, Eureka FPD; District 11, Kris White, Mayview FPD

Others
Past President Ken Hoover, Little Dixie FPD.
 
Guests
Tim Bean, Eric Hartman, Missouri Division of Fire Safety; Gail Hagans, David Hedrick, University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute; Larry Eggen, Johnson County FPD; Keith Smith, Warrenton FPD; Chase Greeninges, Jake Stephens, Eureka FPD; Ed Daugherty, Chillicothe FD; Holden Peel, Northeast R-4 FPD; Brian Zinanni, Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team; Roy Pennington, Emma Smith, Pettis Co. Ambulance; Roger Meyers, Concordia FPD; Michael Fugate, Eastern Randolph FPD; Rick Johnson, Knob Noster FD; Elizabeth Althoff – Missouri Lagers.
 
*(V) denotes Virtual Attendance
 
Agenda
President Jennings asked for additions to the agenda. Rick Dozer moved to accept the agenda as presented. Gary Berendzen seconded the motion and all approved.
 
Minutes
No minutes were presented. The 2022 convention minutes will be presented at the 2023 convention.
 
Financial Report
President Jennings asked for a review of the April – June 2022 financial report. Terry Wynne moved to accept the financial report presented. RB Brown 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 a new fiscal year began July 1. They are in the second round of interviews for a new director. The Missouri Emergency Services Instructor Conference will be held in November and the Fire Service Leadership Enhancement Program is being updated. More information will be out soon.

State Fire Marshal Tim Bean with the Missouri Division of Fire Safety reported that they ended the year well financially. State certification testing has increased by more than 600. 

The worker’s compensation grant has been appropriated in the budget moving forward. There is CARES act money that has been allocated for public safety but no direction for the funds. They are working on a possible grant process. Emails will be sent when information becomes available. 

The Missouri Firefighters Memorial Stair Climb will be on October 22 in Jefferson City. All proceeds will go to Supporting Heroes.

Eric Hartman reported that fire department registration is at 94%. There are approximately 50 departments unregistered. Departments can complete the process over the phone if they are unable to complete it online.

45 departments have been approved for the $2k worker’s compensation grant. Contact him if you are a non-taxed-based department that would like to apply

He and Fire Marshal Bean have been trying to attend as many county-level chief’s meetings as possible. If you have an upcoming meeting, let him know.

Correspondence
Nothing reported.

Old Business
RB Brown reported that the 14×20 building that will be used for temporary female housing has been purchased and installed. They are working with the state regarding the challenges of the existing building and the possibility of a new building. Funding is needed for a new building so talk with your local legislators and educate them on the facilities and future needs. 

New Business
President Jennings advised that the Legislative Committee is recommending the appointment of Tim Frankenberg to the committee. Rick Dozier moved to appoint Tim Frankenberg to the Legislative Committee. Gary Berendzen seconded the motion and all approved.

President Jennings advised that Joe Jennings has resigned from the Awards Committee. He is recommending the appointment of Joe Vaughn as Chairman of the Awards Committee. Greg Wright moved to appoint Joe Vaughn as Chairman of the Awards Committee. Terry Plumb seconded the motion and all approved.

President Jennings advised that he is removing Charlie Peel as District 3 Assistant Director due to his appointment as the 1st Vice President. He is recommending the appointment of Rob Erdel to District 3 Assistant Director. Greg Wright moved to appoint Rob Erdel as District 3 Assistant Director. Billy Smith 2nd the motion and all approved.

President Jennings advised that RB Brown will be removed as Chairman of the Prevention Committee. He is recommending Andrew Caldwell be appointed to the committee as the new chairman. 

Gary Berendzen moved to appoint Andrew Caldwell as Chairman of the Prevention Committee. Terry Wynne seconded the motion and all approved.

Elizabeth Althoff with Missouri Lagers reported that they are in the information-gathering stage to determine the need and desire for a volunteer retirement plan. Lagers will be emailing a survey in approximately four weeks to their participating fire protection districts. They are asking that this survey be distributed to all fire departments so they can gather as much information as possible. Lagers will then analyze the results of the survey to determine if/how to move forward. They see a gap in volunteer benefits and want to help fill that gap. 

Myrrhanda Jones with The Fortitude Program presented information via Zoom on their partnership with IAFF and Advanced Recovery Systems for a residential treatment program for first responders. The center is located in Groveport, OH. They also have a 24/7 call center staffed by former first responders. The program is for substance abuse, PTSD, trauma, mental health, etc. The call center can be reached at 844-754-0129 for anyone needing help.

Discussion was held on moving the October meeting due to a possible scheduling conflict with a MOPERC training on October 2 at the State Fair Fire Department. Rick Dozier moved to move the October board meeting to October 9. Terry Wynne seconded the motion and all approved.

Discussion was held on the No Cost Membership Program that was approved in 2021 with a review after one year. Larry Jones moved to proceed with the No Cost Membership Program for 2023. Gary Berendzen seconded the motion and all approved.

Committee Reports

Awards Committee
Charlie Peel reported that 50 departments applied for the department grant. 6 departments were awarded the grant.

Budget Committee
Charlie Peel advised that budget requests are due by September 15. They need to be line item budgets. 

Bylaws Committee
No report given.

Chaplain Committee
David Hedrick reported that the SEMA Missouri Disaster Chaplain Program deployed two Chaplains to the Amtrak train derailment in Mendon, MO on June 27, 2022, who worked with the state and local responders. Currently, the team is on standby if needed for a response to flooding in the state.

The National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation will be moving the National Fallen Fire Fighters Weekend to May 2023. This year will be October 8-9, 2022, and next year will be May 6-7, 2023. After this, the memorial will continue to be held in May each year.

Federation of Fire Chaplains’ founder and former Executive Director Ed Stauffer passed away June 25, 2022. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Federation. The Federation of Fire Chaplains Annual Conference will be October 16-20, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. Pre-Conference training October 15-16, 2022. More information is available on the FFC website at ffc.wildapricot.org

The Missouri Fire Chaplains Corp Annual Conference and Training is scheduled for September 12-13, 2022. Rock Community FPD in Arnold, MO, will be hosting the training conference. More information should be sent out shortly. Scholarships to cover the conference fee are available for those in need. Contact Chaplain Ed Hatcher at 618-207-9487.

Contest Committee
Gary Berendzen reported that he is working with Hodges Trophies on the possibility of refacing the plaques that were purchased this year but not used. The contest and convention committees will be working together to decide if they will continue to purchase trophies/plaques ahead of time if we don’t have teams participating. 

Convention Committee
Josh Loyd reported that the committee is working on guidelines and updates and will be meeting with the contest committee to eliminate redundancies.

There is no host department for 2023 so FFAM will be hosting. Discussion followed and the committee has received a recommendation to host at the Oasis Hotel in Springfield with a date TBD. Rick Dozier moved that FFAM to host the 2023 convention at the Oasis Hotel in Springfield. Terry Wynne seconded the motion and all approved.

Education Committee
Kurt Wilbanks reported that no one accepted the Winter Fire School or Summer Fire School scholarships. The committee is discussing what to do with the remaining budgeted funds

Fire Prevention Committee
Andrew Caldwell reported that four poster winners will be attending the fair this year. Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15, and the theme is Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape

Legislative Committee
Tim Bean reported that the legislative session is over. They are working on language change to incorporate more departments in the worker’s compensation grant.

The cancer pool is in place, and they are looking at a bill as well for funding those that can’t afford to buy into the pool.

Reach out to Greg Brown if there is a particular topic you would like to see addressed with the legislation.

Membership Committee
Jaime Miller reported the following membership counts: 521 Directors/Councilman; 407 Retired; 15 Associate; 14 Sustaining; 29 Corporate, 343 Fire Departments; 6295 Active; 1 Educational Entity; 4 Educational Active; 112 Juniors; 8 EMS Department, 156 EMS individuals; 0 911 Entity; 0 911 individuals. 

Nomination Committee
No report given.

NVFC Committee
Keith Smith reported the fall meeting is in ten weeks. NVFC is focused on individual membership and grants. More information will be provided in the next magazine.

Scholarship Committee
Larry Eggen reported four high school and one continuing education scholarship were awarded.

State Fair Committee
RB Brown reported that equipment will be coming in this week and they will be in service beginning Wednesday at 18:00. Saturday will be the 60th-anniversary dinner for all past and present state fair firefighters.

Website Committee
No report was given.

Magazine
Jaime Miller reported that the next magazine deadline will be August 24. 

Historian report
Theresa Cox advised that she is still accepting donations for the museum.

Fire Funeral Team report
Brian Zinanni reported that the team has responded to 8 LODD and 21 non-LODD this year. There is proposed legislation declaring PTSD and suicide as LODD with federal presumptions. He is following this and will provide more information if it becomes available. 

EMS Funeral Team report
Greg Wright reported the team has had three call-outs since the last meeting. 1 LODD and 2 non-LODD. The team participated in laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier on July 22. Indiana has requested assistance with setting up its team.

The annual conference is scheduled for October 14-16, 2022, at the lake and they will have a national honor guard academy. 
Foundation report
Keith Smith reported that a preliminary design has been done for the interior of the building. The architects are working pro-bono. The design is now going to a general contractor for a cost analysis.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has moved their memorial services to May so Missouri will move their services to the fall moving forward so as not to conflict with the national service.
The company store is now available online to purchase memorial/museum merchandise and they are working on designing a challenge coin. 

Ken Hoover asked that departments continue helping with raising funds to complete the interior of the museum. It is close to being complete and is an honor to those who have served. 

Charlie Peel reported that the State Fair BBQ team will be competing in the Missouri Fire Service Charity BBA Smoke-Out in Columbia on September 17. Funds raised will be donated to the museum project. 


President Jennings adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.