Sunday, May 21, 2006-
12:30pm
1 Coyote Trail
Hosted by: Alice Fire
Department
Prepared by Danielle
Gibson, Secretary/Treasurer 052206
Officers in attendance:
Mark Lubianski, 2nd Vice President
John Wilson, 3rd Vice President
Danny Cox, 4th Vice President
Danielle Gibson, Secretary/Treasurer
Carsten Meyer, Chaplain
Delegates in
attendance:
Member Departments in attendance (# represents delegates, firefighters, and guests):
Alice (19), Annaville (3), Beeville (1), Bishop (3), Falfurrias (6), Fulton (1), Ingleside (7), Kingsville (10), Odem (2), Orange Grove (18), Premont (2), Refugio (1), Rockport (1), Sinton (1)
I.
Call to Order- Meeting called to order by Lubianski at
12:35 pm with opening statement of thanks to the City of
II. Invocation- By Carsten Meyer, Chaplain.
III.
Welcome and Response- Lubianski welcomed Judge Arnold
Saenz,
IV.
Roll Call and Minutes- The above listed members were
present during roll call. Barry Fuhrken
made a motion to accept the minutes with the two revisions presented. The motion was seconded by
V. Financial Report- The current financial statement was explained noting the beginning balance reflects the cashiers check from the previous secretary when he closed the account. Bills were explained. RJ Thomas made motion to accept the treasurer’s report, second by Orange Grove and motion carried.
VI.
Introductions and Guest Speaker- Wilson welcomed Thomas
as the guest speaker to discuss Regional Mutual Aid and Response. Three hand outs were given to delegates:
Texas Interoperability Channel Plan, Illinois Statewide Mutual Aid Planning and
Reference Guide, and discussion draft of proposed mutual aid legislation. Thomas announced that on July 14-15 in Live
Oak County (Three Rivers), there will be an Incident Command Table Top and
Functional Exercise with an interoperability component. Additional discussion was had regarding level four interoperability and the location of the
available communications trailers.
Following the presentation, Bryan Rickert with
the Carthage FD took a moment to speak to the membership. Rickert will be
running for SFFMA 4th Vice President during the state convention in
VII.
State Officers Report- Kent Watts, Executive Board
SFFMA, gave an update of state affairs including the District laptops, new
website, and Info Fire online. He noted
that E-Commerce is still offline but hopefully will be fixed in the near
future. Additionally, Chris Barron moved
into the now retired Helen Johnson’s position as Executive Director. The state has partnered with Interstate
Batteries to raise funds for the Districts, 30% of online orders will go
directly to the state to be redistributed to the Districts. The yearly memorial will now be biannual in
conjunction with the legislator’s fish fry in
VIII. Committee Reports
a. Constitution & By-Laws Committee- Cox stated that his appointment to the state committee is still pending but should be taken care of soon. Additionally under new business, there will be a first reading of a proposed amendment.
b. Certification- Fuhrken reminded those individuals that have provisional coordination certificates are required to retake the certification workshop every year. Also, coordinators need the class every two years and all Chiefs are encouraged to attend every three.
c. Finance/Audit-
Thomas reported that the state committee recently met in
d. Firefighter of the Year- Gillian Hurlburt addressed the packet that was set out for the delegates. She would like to get the committee together about twice a year. If anybody is interested, please get with her after the meeting.
e. Memorial- Meyer stated that the secretary currently in charge of the Burial Association would like to be relieved of his duties. If anybody is interested in the position to please get with the Board after the meeting
f. Poster- Valerie Fuhrken presented the winners from this years District poster contest. See the attachment for full list of winners.
g. Pumper Race- Cox stated that the District is still lacking a chairman and if anybody is interested in the position to please get with him. Also, Alice FD donated $100 to the 6-man race and $50 to the 3-man race. The captains meeting will be immediately following this meeting
h. Sergeant at Arms- Tommy Sanchez stated there was nothing to report at this time.
i. TFLAG- Fuhrken stated that since this is an off year for legislation, it has not been busy. There will be a Texas Fire Consortium forming from many of the states fire organizations.
IX. Old Business- Wilson reminded the membership about the upcoming National Incident Management System (NIMS) deadlines that were discussed by Marty Martinez at the last meeting.
X. New Business- Danny Cox, 4th Vice President
a. Constitution revision- Cox read the first reading of a possible bylaw change.
b. Five Year Plan- Wilson presented to the membership a few
goals that have been discussed by the officers but is seeking recommendations
from the membership to add to or remove from the current list. The executive board is trying to provide to
the members what is needed and expected.
Input from the membership is needed in the process. The following goals were presented by
1. Revitalize the District Organization- includes corrected organizational issues by the Executive Board and improving communications with members to include mailings, website, and list serve.
2. Increase Membership Participation- includes enhancing benefits of membership and addressing generational issues within the fire service structure.
3. Increase Training Opportunities- includes working with member departments to offer training and develop cooperative partnerships for additional training.
Suggestions were offered by the membership to include:
4. Award ribbons/trophies to poster contest winners
5. Make the officers more accessible by providing contact information- business cards
6. Make the meetings more family oriented- children’s activities and auxiliary
7. Collect lessons learned from convention host center to develop and a planning binder to include guidelines, supplies, vendors
8. Provide protocols/SOP sharing for member departments to enhance planning
c. Training Program- Lubianski gave an update on available District sponsored training. Annaville FD will host a quarterly training. Two basic level courses will be at their fire field and two advanced level will be at the RTFC commissioned field. The next advanced course will be June 24. These courses are approved for reimbursement by the Texas Forest Service. Training prerequisites for the RTFC courses will be strictly enforced. If there is any fire department that needs help with training, please get with a member of the board.
XI. Announcements
a. Thomas
announced that
b. Gibson reminded the membership that District patches are available for $1. Get with her after the meeting if interested.
c. Thomas announced a fund raiser to shave Vic Enspares beard. Thomas made motion that the South Central District should NOT support Vic Enspares having his beard shaved. Motion did not carry in support of the beard being shaved. Additionally, notice was given to the membership that the Panther got loose in Annaville.
d. Meyer announced that Halo-Flights guardian program is free to all first responders for the first year.
e. Don Pullin announced that those firefighters going to Texas A&M this year will be riding the bus, no personal vehicles will be allowed at the fields. Wednesday night’s exhibit has been canceled this year. The new building should be finished by July of next year.
XII. Next Meeting- Kingsville announced that they will host the fall convention in October. Orange Grove will host the 2007 spring convention.
XIII. Adjourn to Memorial Service- Thomas made motion to adjourn meeting. Motion carries.