As every president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) eventually must, it’s time I bid farewell as my year comes to an end. It seems impossible that an entire year has gone by!
I wish to thank all the members of the IAFC for the support they have given me over the past few years. Membership is what drives any association; without great members, we would not have the great organization the IAFC has become. Members, I hope you stay involved and active with the IAFC.
The IAFC staff is the finest I’ve ever worked with and seems to get better as time goes on. Everything I’ve asked them to do, they’ve done-most of it before I realized. Staff, I want to personally thank each one of you for all the assistance you gave me this past year. You kept me on task!
Important Groups
In addition, there are several groups I must recognize.
The board of directors has worked very hard for the membership. I certainly appreciate the assistance and support they gave me. Most significantly, the board stepped up to the plate when our executive director resigned last fall. Thank you for your help in finding a new director. As board members, you’ve made the difficult decisions that every organization must make.
The executive committee of the board of directors has also supported and guided me throughout the year. Thank you, each of you, for the work you have done. We made difficult decisions and at times, faced controversy with the outcomes. Even so, we accomplished a lot throughout the year.
Our committees continue to work hard for the IAFC. To all the members of these committees, I ask that you continue with the great work you do. This organization depends on committee support.
We’ve also seen significant output by our different sections:
- The EMS Section produced important position papers and provided financial support for my “10,000 Steps” campaign;
- The Safety, Health and Survival Section earned a seat on the board;
- The Metro Section worked tirelessly on the FIRE Act grant this spring;
- The Fire and Life Safety Section fueled the fight on the issue of residential sprinklers. Although we did not win the battle, we left a mark, and everyone knows we are serious about sprinklers in all residential properties; and
- The Volunteer and Combination Officers Section produced three important position papers on issues affecting the volunteer and combi service.
Special Individual Thanks
Finally, my thanks would not be complete without naming a few individuals for the outstanding job they have done:
- Mark Light, for filling in as the interim executive director of the IAFC. You stepped up and performed a great service for the organization without knowing you were going to become the executive director. I certainly see some great things coming for the IAFC with Mark at its helm.
- Nancy Weaver, Christine Booth and Elena Slavinsky, for helping me get where I needed to be at the correct time, and most importantly, at the proper meeting!
- Jen Ashley and her crew for making me look good in all the articles, press releases, interviews and alerts that were released throughout the year.
- Michelle Biersner and her crew for all the hard work they did planning and running the different conferences the IAFC sponsored throughout the year.
I also must thank those who sent me “atta boys” throughout the year. These letters were much appreciated, especially when we had to make difficult decisions.
As I write, I think of even more people to thank, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten others. If I didn’t name you specifically, please know that I appreciate what you accomplished throughout my term as president.
Passing the Torch
As I took over last year, I made a promise: “I want to turn the IAFC over to Steve Westermann [first vice president] at the end of my term in as good of shape as it is now, or better.”
In my eyes, this organization continues to improve. Our new executive director has an excellent action plan for the organization. We continue to be on the “Hill” discussing our issues with Congress, which has provided us the opportunity to visit the White House numerous times. One issue we’ve discussed is the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB), on which we have worked for a number of months. Our organization also has been asked to perform numerous tasks for the federal government. Much of the detail of what we have been doing may be found in the August 15 issue of On Scene, which features “What the IAFC Does for You.”
I am proud to hand the IAFC reins off to Steve Westermann. I know Steve will work to make the organization better next year than it is today. After all, he’s used to covering for me-just ask him about my first scheduled meeting as president, where he had to stand in for me, because I was in New York for the “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign.
Steve will do a great job in the coming year as your president, and Kelvin Cochran will serve well as Steve’s first vice-president. I would like to thank Kelvin and Past President Bill Killen for their assistance throughout this past year and for filling in for me at a couple of events. The presidents worked very well together and that makes a difference in any organization.
Highs & Lows
The year had some great highlights, but we also faced some troubling times. As I write this article, I’m on my way to Charleston, S.C., to assist the South Carolina group in planning the memorial for the “Charleston 9,” the firefighters who perished in the warehouse fire. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the lost firefighters, the members of the Charleston Fire Department and of course to Chief Rusty Thomas, along with his officers, for their great loss. Events such as these underscore how dangerous our profession can be and how precious life really is to all. I pray that the healing continues and my thoughts and prayers go out to them.
The passing of a great hazmat guru in late May was another sad time for our organization. John Eversole of the Chicago Fire Department was always there to help the IAFC hazmat committee. He held his “court” all the way to the end. John’s legend will carry on for many years to come because of his passion. He made sure our firefighters were properly trained and that Congress was aware of hazardous materials-related events and needs.
As I close out my final presidential article, I want to thank those who read my page each month. I hope you enjoyed reading it and that you followed some of the health tips so that a year later, you’re living a healthier lifestyle.
Finally, I look forward to seeing everyone at Fire-Rescue International this month. Atlanta has gone all out to make your stay a fun one; the aquarium alone is worth the trip!
See ya in Atlanta!
