May – June 2010

I would like to start this issue’s article with a moment to reflect on our service men and women we remember this Memorial Day.  It is this day, previously know as Decoration Day, that is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.  We shall never forget the sacrifice of those who served to protect our nation and her freedoms that we all enjoy.  You will likely receive this issue after Memorial Day but it is never too late to visit a grave of a service man or woman that is unkempt or forgotten and clean it up.  Or demonstrate your tribute by taking time to visit a memorial in and around your community that is there to commemorate the memory of those who gave all. 

Local 4416 was represented at the PFFUI Convention earlier this month in Indianapolis.  We are again proud to provide our members with an overview of legislative achievements and news in this issue.  Please take a moment to review the report compiled by At-large Trustee Renshaw.  Some of our biggest struggles statewide in this economic period is to preserve and maintain all that we have worked hard to achieve in our departments.  We don’t have to look far to find that local governments in and around Indiana are using this downturn as an excuse to roll back the clock on advancements in the fire service.  We also know that the recently revised SAFER Act grant program has come to service for those laid off members in Indiana including Muncie, Kokomo, and Huntington.  The IAFF at the national level worked tirelessly to see that federal rules were changed so that laid off members could return to service and add more funding to the program so departments like ours in this county can hire much needed fire fighters to maintain services to the communities we protect.

We recently received municipal financial analysis reports from the IAFF on all of the cities and towns we represent.  These reports analyze and provide us a summary of the financial conditions of our employers so that we are better able to understand the fiscal conditions we are in when we are faced with cutbacks or go to management for certain requests.  This is a valuable tool that is provided us by the IAFF at no cost. 

Now that school is out and the summer months are upon us, it is no surprise that our members are out getting the job done more frequently each day.  I know that my home department had three fires yesterday and has been out on the river for rescues a couple times already this spring.  I also hear our departments in the local on the radio responding to serious PI accidents, structure collapses and numerous EMS responses for sick and injured.  I’m reminded that we as professional responders have a great responsibility when it comes to delivering quality and competent service whenever and wherever the need takes us.  Keep up the great work that you do and do it wisely. 

In May we took time to thank our ladies in the administrative offices in each department by taking them out to enjoy our annual Administrative Assistants Day luncheon.  It is always nice to talk with these great professionals that keep our offices and payrolls running each and every day.  We owe them a great thanks and they deserve it.

I would also like to thank our partners in emergency medical care, the hospital emergency departments and staff.  In May they always take time to recognize our partnership during EMS Week.  Thank you to all of our participating hospitals for the goodies and most importantly recognition during this week.  We appreciate it. 

Local 4416 has taken a special interest and partnered to support the multi-purpose emergency responders training ground on River Road.  We are working closely with Westfield and other entities to support this vision as it becomes a much needed reality for our members.  We are working to find available funds and bringing our talent to the table to see this property become useful sooner rather than later. 

I will end by reminding everyone that elections do matter.  Local 4416 spent the first part of the year engaged in the political process as candidates ran for offices in state, county, and local offices.  From state representative to the school board, our political program was on top of each race as we vetted candidates to determine who we would endorse and support based on their record, in the case of incumbents, and based on our fire issues for the candidates.  The PAC Board spent time interviewing and then made a recommendation for endorsement at each district meeting.  In some instances, our members were out with candidates going door to door, placing signs, making donations, and working the polls on election day.  On May 4^th we had 35 of our members out working.  We made 41 endorsements in the primary and saw elected 92% of our endorsed candidates.  We have built strong relationships with elected office holders that are right on our issues and stand by us and our endorsement means something to both the officer holder and the voter.  We look forward to building stronger relationships with those that continue to serve and will work to establish relationships with those that are newly elected.  At the end of the day, elections do matter because every decision that affects you and I in this career is made by an elected or appointed office holder.  Thank you to all of you who worked or contributed in this election cycle.

Have a great month and be safe.

Fraternally,
Tony

Last year, this Local was the 4^th leading IAFF Local in the state when all of the coin and cash was counted at the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon on Labor Day weekend.  Local 4416 was recognized for our Fill-the-Boot efforts at the PFFUI convention this past May.  I mention this because it is summer and once again our members are out in the heat filling those boots for another year of fund raising to help those kids and families who struggle each day with a debilitating and often fatal neuromuscular disease. 

I certainly appreciate the efforts our MDA coordinators put in each year in our departments.  These members plan collection events, recruit members to fill the up those boots, and make sure that the donations are counted and ultimately sent to the MDA.  Our dedicated coordinators put this all together and our members are out there all for a good cause; research, medical treatments, braces, wheelchairs, and of course so kids can enjoy a week with others in the same situation at MDA camp.  We have many events going on this year in each department within the Local.  NFD at Verizon Music Center and Wal-Mart, FFD at Conner Prairie, WFD at shopping centers in Westfield, Sheridan, Jackson, and Cicero on the streets in the community filling the boot for MDA.  Please be sure to make some time and volunteer.  These kids need our help and like we do on the job, we are there to answer the call.

Last month, I jumped at the chance to travel to Bradford Woods in Martinsville to spend a few hours at the MDA summer camp.  Nearly one hundred kids took part this year for the whole week of just being a kid, despite weak and atrophied muscles, and confinement to a wheelchair.  The smiles on the faces of those kids said it all.  Scott McNamara, Adam Renshaw, Dave Robertson, and I had a great time hanging out with the kids at camp.  We watched as the staff made sure that each kid had the chance to take part in the climbing wall.  We provided the encouragement from the ground for each of those young men who took the challenge to get on the wall.  Everyone needed assistance and a little help from some ropes but when they reached the top, exhausted but at the top, the excitement and sense of accomplishment said it all.  For those whose legs no longer work, even they were able to reach the top and take in the sights of Bradford Woods from above.  We hung out and learned about what makes camp such a great time year after year.  We participated in some good old fashion wheelchair races and took a break from the heat over lunch.  As I said goodbye and WALKED back to the car to go home, I realized why we brave the heat and fill up that boot each year. 

It was also great to see some old friends at our union meetings this month.  Amy, Emily, and Tyler stopped by to say hello and to say thanks for going out and working for them through our efforts with the MDA.  We have watched these young people grow up over the years and always extend a warm welcome to them each July when they stop in at our meeting.  Sometimes it is difficult to watch these kids grow because we also see greater deterioration in their ability to stand and walk and sometimes breath.  Without a cure, we also understand the reality that there may be a time when they can’t make a visit to our meeting in July.  I think these kids are great.  Each of them has an outlook and attitude about life that just can’t be taught.  They will be out there with us at our fund raising events this summer.  Maybe because they like helping out but as Tyler tells me, because he thinks fire fighters are cool.  See you out there filling the boot and thanks for keeping this long tradition alive.

Union leadership is in the throngs of working with management on budget issues for 2011.  We will be sure to provide you with information at your scheduled district meetings throughout the summer and fall. 

With respect to legislation, we are monitoring legislation moving through D.C. concerning collective bargaining rights for all first responders.  In addition, the PFFUI is working on building the legislative agenda for the next session of the Indiana General Assembly beginning in January. 

We are gearing up for our 6^th annual Local 4416 Golf Tourney benefiting PAC.  This year’s event will be held September 8^th at Wood Wind in Westfield.  Please plan to get a foursome together and take part.  Register now. 

Local 4416 will hold our third Fire Ops 101 program for elected and appointed officials as well as members of the media.  We have found this program to be a useful tool in educating decision makers on what it takes to provide safe, efficient, and effective emergency services to a community.  We plan to hold this year’s program September 25 at the training site on River Road.  Please watch the boards in the stations as we will need member assistance to make this a great experience for all who participate in this valuable program. 

We are also planning our first ever event to bring awareness while raising funds for women’s cancers.  Local 4416 is taking part in a fire service initiative called “Care Enough to Wear Pink”.  We are working to set three days in October for all of our members to wear a specially designed duty shirt to raise awareness for cancer and testing.  In addition, we will be offer the shirts to the public with proceeds benefiting women’s cancer groups of our choosing and Fire Fighters Cancer Support Network.  I’m looking forward to a successful campaign.  Please look for more information to come.

This month the IAFF will hold the 50^th Biennial Convention.  Local 4416 is sending our delegates and carrying proxy votes for two other locals in the state.  This convention allows for the leadership to present education for local leadership as well as conduct the business of this international union.  Delegates will debate issues that are brought to the floor by resolution and set the services and agenda for the IAFF.  A full report will be provided after the convention.

In closing, I would like to welcome the three newest members to the Local, Jackson Township full time fire fighters.  With this group, all full time, paid fire fighters in Hamilton County are organized with the IAFF and PFFUI.  I look forward to working with these three newest members and extend them a warm welcome.

Have a great rest of the summer.  Stay cool and be safe.    

Fraternally,

Tony