Promote, Unify, Represent and Educate the Fire Service of Texas |
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SFFMA 2021 Business Conference and Memorial Service |
The SFFMA 2021 Business Conference and Memorial Service is coming up soon! June 25 – 27, 2021 at the Overton Hotel in Lubbock, TX. Details can be found on our home page.
If you haven't registered already, please remember to do so here so that we can get a good count of attendees for room use and catering requirements.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there!
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Certification Workshops
If the recent pandemic has had any silver lining, it was the opportunity to reevaluate business practices that may have stagnated. A prime example is how the Certification Board now holds Certification Workshops online via Zoom. Where previously a Zone Representative may travel an hour just to have two or three attendees, but with Zoom workshops no one is required to travel and we’re getting 20+ attendees at each workshop.
To attend one of the Zoom workshops, check the Workshop Calendar on the website and enroll. We currently have a workshop scheduled for Sunday, June 20, at 4 p.m. Austin staff sends out the Zoom call link to the e-mail addresses provided on the day before the meeting.
Certification Board Vacancies
There are currently two vacancies on the Certification Board. Zone 15 (Wintergarden District) and Zone 17 (western side of Permian Basin District) are currently unrepresented in decisions made by the Board.
To appoint a prospective new board member, the District must submit their name and resume in writing to the President (Tim Smith) and Executive Director (Tim Rutland) of the SFFMA. The president of the SFFMA fills vacancies due to unexpired terms caused by any reason.
To serve as a Certification Board Zone Representative, individuals must meet all of the following requirements:
- reside in the Zone to be represented, and be active in that District;
- be an active, retired or honorary life member of a regularly organized volunteer or combination fire department that holds current membership in the SFFMA;
- maintain a current individual membership in the SFFMA;
- have at least eight (8) years of experience with a recognized fire department or combination of recognized fire departments;
- hold at least an SFFMA Firefighter I certification;
- meet the instructional criteria for Certification Coordinator; and
- attend a majority of meetings each year.
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First Responder Safety Training for Electric Vehicles (EVs) |
More electric vehicles (EVs) are on the road today than ever before. To help first responders prepare for incidents involving EVs, the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition (DFWCC) is offering a FREE, one-hour webinar that will inform participants about how to:
- Properly and safely identify, assess, and approach an electric drive vehicle
- Identify potential hazards of working with an EV
This safety training is presented by Chris Womack, Captain with the Indianapolis Fire Department where he has been for almost 24 years. During this time, he has served as a Lieutenant on an Engine and as part of the Fire Administration in the Special Ops Division as the Rescue Coordinator. Capt. Womock not only presents NAFTC’s rigorously vetted safety information, he shares his personal stories and insights about dealing with advanced technology vehicles in a way that is meaningful to other first responders like himself.
Date: June 15, 2021
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm (CST)
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Vote Ben Kennedy for Chaplain |
STATE FIREMEN’S AND FIRE MARSHALS’ ASSOCIATION CHAPLAIN
I am running for the position of Chaplain to continue serving you and the firefighters of Texas. I look forward to continue serving you on the Executive Board as your Chaplain. I appreciate your support for the past 20 years and ask for CONTINUED SUPPORT AND VOTE in Lubbock this June.
- 39 Years in the Fire Service
- Chaplain Permian Basin Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association
- President Permian Basin Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association
- 20 Years Chaplain State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association
- Chaplain Central Texas Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association
- President Central Texas Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association
- Assistant Fire Marshal Madison County
- Retired Regional Training Manager TEEX after 29 yeas
YOUR SUPPORT AND VOTE IN LUBBOCK WILL BE APPRECIATED.
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Registration Now Open for the 2021 NVFC Recruitment & Retention Experience
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will host its inaugural Recruitment and Retention Experience on September 17-18, 2021, in Cleveland, OH. This interactive educational and networking conference is open to all volunteer firefighters and EMS providers nationwide, with sessions targeted toward department leadership and recruitment officers. Register now as space is limited. View the full agenda here.
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Apply for NVFC Scholarship to Columbia Southern University’s Online Degree Program
Two NVFC members will each receive a scholarship for up to 60 credit hours towards one online degree program
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Columbia Southern University (CSU) are partnering for the 13th year to support volunteer responders by offering two scholarships to NVFC members to help them further their education in the fire and emergency services. Each scholarship will cover up to 60 credit hours towards one online degree program. Apply now!
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NVFC Members Can Enter to Win an MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet
MSA and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are working together to provide the most innovative and up-to-date technology to help first responders improve their health and safety. Through June 30, NVFC members can enter to win a personalized MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet.
To be eligible to enter, applicants must be an active U.S. volunteer firefighter and a member of the NVFC; learn about member benefits and join here. This is the second of three entry periods to win an XF1 helmet throughout the year. One recipient will be randomly selected after each entry period. More information here.
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CHEMTREC HELP Award to Help Support Hazmat Incident Preparedness
NVFC and CHEMTREC® are pleased to announce that in honor of CHEMTREC’s 50th anniversary, five U.S. volunteer fire departments will each receive $10,000 through the 2021 CHEMTREC® HELP (Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness) Awards.
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I Am Your Local Volunteer Firefighter |
A volunteer firefighter from North Carolina shares the ups and downs of a day in the life of a volunteer
Today was one of the worst work days I have had in a while.
I clocked in just in time because my dog threw up on the stairs and my kids were arguing over who was wearing whose socks. Seems as though I need to label them or just tell the school they need to wear flip flops. We had an increase in filing and processing of claims, some of which lacked all the required documentation to begin. Then trying to track everything down made it even worse. I received a phone call from my mortgage company saying they hadn’t received my annual tax re-computation from the county, so I had to run home and send them a copy. All in all, I couldn’t wait to just get home and relax.
I got home, cooked dinner, kids doing homework, dog walked – and then began homework myself. I had been procrastinating for a few days. Since we still have some property damage from Hurricane Florence, we have been doing some repairs to the house, and it’s just taken so long. Trying to find someone who would reliably show up has been difficult. And two nights out of the week, I am at the firehouse training or helping out, one kid has sports and the other is in Girl Scouts. I will finish my homework one day.
I decided it was one of those nights to go to bed early. I needed to get some rest because the weekend was coming, and I promised the kids we were going to the beach – thank god for this North Carolina weather.
I got into bed and watched an episode of Law & Order; somehow Jack McCoy relieves my stress.
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Some of our firefighters are missing the mark – a lot!
Chief Goldfeder weighs in on how to deal with underperforming firefighters who can cramp the style of the entire crew
shift, whether it's overtime or whether it's a
new person assigned to your shift,
Duration 4:34
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New from Jones and Bartlett:
Since 1971, Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured has advanced how EMS education is delivered to help train exceptional EMS professionals around the globe. Fifty years later, the Twelfth Edition is now the most comprehensive, innovative EMT educational solution ever developed.
Based on the National EMS Education Standards and endorsed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Emergency Medical Responder: Your First Response in Emergency Care, Seventh Edition clearly and concisely covers every competency required of students embarking on this vital EMS role.
Visit our online store for all the latest training materials to find deals on HAIX boots and to see SFFMA logoed merchandise!
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