Promote, Unify, Represent and Educate the Fire Service of Texas |
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Another SFFMA conference is in the books! And it was a good one. More than 420 attendees joined together in McAllen, Texas, for a week of training, business meetings, the memorial service, Taste of the Valley, Hospitality Night, Firefighter of the Year & EMS Responder of the Year, the golf tournament and visiting with our many vendors in the main hall.
The Firefighter Gauntlet exhibition was a huge success! Lots of participants and so much fun showing off the many skills of volunteer firefighters.
Read on to see a summary of the conference elements and some awesome pics.
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I hope this writing finds everyone safely back home and rested after the 147th SFFMA Training Conference and Convention in McAllen, Texas. I applaud the Rio Grande Valley Firemans' and Fire Marshals' Association for putting on a remarkable convention for us. I understand the "Taste of the Valley" was really good. I wish I could have attended it, as well as the training classes presented.
As most of you know, I experienced a heart attack around 5:50 a.m. on Friday, June 9, in my hotel room. I was taken to South Texas Heart Hospital by McAllen Fire Department ambulance...and within 13 minutes was in the CATH LAB receiving two stints. I spent the next three days in the CICU and was released Monday afternoon with strict orders from the cardiologists, executive board members, spouses of executive board members, and strangers to take it easy and rest and not to talk. The latter was easier said than done because people know I can talk...and talk...and talk. It really bummed me out because I had a good bit of information I wanted to tell the general assembly, but my recovery was priority and the cardiologists did not feel good about me talking for an extended period of time.
When I was elected to the board, what I hoped to assist in was getting a shorter conference and a more centralized area for hosting the conference, which is what membership specifically told me all across the state. As I move into the Presidents Chair, I am excited that amendments passed by the voting delegates have paved the way for these desires to come to fruition.
I want the membership to know their Executive Board has been working hard to do whatever we can to move this association forward. Significant changes are in store beginning in 2024 in San Marcos, Texas, with it tentatively being a four-day conference starting on Thursday and ending on Sunday. In 2025, we will have the same format in Frisco, and again in 2026 in Waco. With these host cities being centrally located in the state and along the I-35 corridor, we can now really measure if this will increase attendance due to less travel time and shorter stay in hotels. Only time will tell.
In closing, I am about serving you, the membership. I am all about total transparency...what I know, I want the membership to know. If I, or any Executive Board member can be of service to you, please reach out to us. I look forward to the coming year. Thank all of you for what you do for your department, city, county, and the SFFMA.
God bless each of you,
Donny Boggs
SFFMA Executive Board
President 2023 - 2024
979-220-0141
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During the final business meeting of the conference, your new SFFMA Executive Board members were sworn into office:
President - Donald Boggs*
1st Vice President - Billy Tidwell
2nd Vice President - Mark Wobus
3rd Vice President - RJ Thomas
4th Vice President - Alexander Smith, Jr.
Mascot - Hunter Tidwell
Immediate Past President - Chuck Richardson
Secretary - Brent Allen
Assistant Secretary Mike Richter
Parliamentarian Rayford Gibson
*We are so grateful Brother Don is out of the hospital and on the mend! Congrats to everyone! Welcome newbies. We look forward to working alongside you to guide this association into the future.
Photo credit: Latresha Allen
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Past President Richard Van Winkle (l) and Immediate Past President Chuck Richardson (r) |
1st Vice President - Billy Tidwell
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3rd Vice President - RJ Thomas |
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2nd Vice President - Mark Wobus |
4th Vice President - Alexander Smith, Jr. |
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Mascot Hunter Tidwell and parents Billy and Brandy Tidwell
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Richard and Pam Van Winkle |
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Imm. Past President Chuck Richardson with the Past President's Plaque
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This year we honored 11 volunteer firefighters who gave their lives in service to others.
ABBOTT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Dan Wright April 14, 2023
ALVARADO FIRE DEPARTMENT
Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Paul Bemis January 25, 2023
ALVIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Captain Charles Dwayne Krampota September 23, 2022
COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Nahit Atif Oral March 9, 2023
DALHART FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief Curtis Brown October 4, 2022
Brendan Torres October 4, 2022
GALVESTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Andrew Jefferies February 7, 2023
GROESBECK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Richard Hemel May 9, 2023
MAXWELL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Johnathan Coco June 20, 2022
Hunter Coco June 20, 2022
WEST VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Edward Hykel March 17, 2023
These Line of Duty Deaths remind us all that being a firefighter is dangerous, but we do it for our communities and to help others.
We also honored the lives of 105 volunteer firefighters and auxiliary members in non-line of duty deaths.
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Auxiliary Members
1998 Past President Sandra Crouch - December 15, 2022
ALVIN
Joan Kathleen Dyson..........April 1, 2022
Elizabeth Grigsby Reimer..........April 15, 2023
EL CAMPO
Betty Corbett..........September 30, 2022
RICHMOND
Katherine “Kay” Scopel..........April 27, 2022
ROBY
Velma Thomson..........April 8, 2023
ROTAN
Patsy Kelly – Midwest District Aux. Past President..........February 14, 2023
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Send us your photos and videos! |
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We want to continue sharing our “A Day in the Life” photo series on Facebook and to do that, we need you. The pics and videos you share help us tell the story of being a volunteer firefighter in Texas. Send us photos showing the faces and actions of your VFD members doing what they do, whether it’s on a real scene, during training, at an event/fundraiser, during a school safety presentation or anything else that shows your community what you do. This is an important story to tell. But we can’t tell it without your help! |
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Conference Survey
SFFMA wants to hear from you! How was this year’s conference? Take the brief survey to help us improve the event in 2024. This conference is for our members and guests, so we want it to be what you want.
Use this link to share your feedback – we promise we are listening!
NOTE: The board already voted to decrease the number of days beginning with the 2024 conference in San Marcos. It will run Thursday through Sunday.
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In addition to elevating the chairs of existing executive board members, electing new 3rd and 4th vice presidents and mascot, and selecting a 2026 conference venue, voting delegates also considered several proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws. Check out the proposed amendments, election results and the revised SFFMA Constitution and By-Laws. A huge thank-you to everyone who traveled to McAllen to help decide these important matters of association business!
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Though still in exhibition form, this event was wildly popular with the conference attendees. Thanks
to Chad Reswik with Edgecliff Village Volunteer Fire Department for all his work to make this happen!
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Poster Contest Winners
Thanks to the Poster Committee for all the time and effort that goes into making that a reality. The 2023 winners are:
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1st Place - High School Division |
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2nd Place - High School Division |
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3rd Place - High School Division |
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1st Place - Jr. High Division |
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2nd Place - Jr. High Division |
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3rd Place - Jr. High Division |
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1st Place - Middle Division |
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2nd Place - Middle Division |
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3rd Place - Middle Division |
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1st Place - Intermediate Division |
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2nd Place - Intermediate Division |
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3rd Place - Intermediate Division |
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1st Place - Primary Division |
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2nd Place - Primary Division |
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3rd Place - Primary Division |
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1st Place - Kindergarten Division |
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2nd Place - Kindergarten Division |
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3rd Place - Kindergarten Division |
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Firefighter of the Year and EMS Responder of the Year Awards |
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And this year's EMS Responder of the Year is Dave Bellows with Hartley Fire & EMS. Congrats to them both! Our thanks and appreciation to Casco Industries, Inc. for their generous donation of the FFOY trophy. SFFMA donated the Eagle trophy.
Chief Ballew and EMS Bellows each received checks for $3,000. Thanks to VFIS of Texas for the FFOY breakfast and the very generous cash prizes. We appreciate you!
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It was a wild ride early Sunday morning when 11 drivers showed up at the McAllen Convention Center to show their stuff in the SFFMA Driving Contest. Using a course created by the Truck Driving Committee, each driver navigated the route with skill and precision while aiming to beat other drivers’ times to the finish line.
Coming in with the fastest time was our First-Place winner, Keith E. Tate of Flint-Gresham VFD, at 2:08.80.
In Second Place was Bradley Hill of UCESD #1 with a time of 2:28.04.
Our Third-Place winner was Alvin Fail of Cameron with a run time of 2:37.09.
Excellent job, gentlemen!
Great driving was seen all around, but the stopwatch rules the route. Kudos to all who participated!
This year’s Truck Driving Committee consisted of Michael Richter, of Needville, Chairman; Dennis Gage of Overton, Alvin Fail of Cameron, Kenny Bickerstaff of Santa Fe, and George Castillo of Alamo. We were assisted this year by Reese Fail.
Special thanks to the committee and helpers who arrived at 6:30 a.m. to set up the course. Shout out to the Rio Grande Valley and the firefighters of McAllen Fire Department for providing the traffic cones and barrels and to Mission Fire Department for providing the fire truck. We greatly appreciate your help to make this event a success!
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Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for our annual photo contest!
Best in Show and First Place in Fire-Related Acts (pictured here) was won by Xavier Garcia of Pleasanton.
Second Place in Fire-Related Acts was won by Billy Dalmolin of Alvin VFD.
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First and Second Place in Education and Public Safety was won by Christopher Bashford of Wichita West VFD (below).
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Amber and Bradley Hill hanging out with Kris Hester at the Taste of the Valley. |
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Twinsies! Lt. Chad Reswik with Edgecliff Village VFD shows off his cool sun hat while next to a young’in with an equally cool hat. |
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The lovely ladies from VFIS smiling for the camera at the Taste of the Valley. |
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And here are a batch of random photos from Taste of the Valley - what a fun night! Thanks to all the fire departments that came out to cook delicious food and offer cool drinks on a hot night. |
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Monday’s Hospitality Night was a blast! Thanks to everyone who catered and served delicious treats and drinks! |
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Did you know there are several benefits to members of SFFMA? One of them is membership with SAVVIK Buying Group! SAVVIK has hundreds of vendors that offers discounts for items as big as ambulances to electronics, and from equipment to travel and entertainment! Get your account set up with SAVVIK and start reaping the benefits of membership with SFFMA!
Also, if you haven't seen our upgraded portal yet, what are you waiting for? Check it out! The new portal is much easier to navigate, and you can find what you want quickly and efficiently.
Here are some things you can do on the new portal:
- Renew or add new memberships
- Verify membership and certification info.
- Find individuals or departments.
- Verify SFFMA-issued certifications.
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New NVFC First Vice Chair
SFFMA's own Dallas Renfrew was elected as First Vice Chair of the NVFC Executive Committee at their spring conference held in Arlington, Virginia.
In 2000, Dallas served as president of the SFFMA and represents the organization on the NVFC board as a director for Texas and now 1st Vice Chair.
Dallas works for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service/Emergency Services Training Institute (TEEX/ESTI) as a fire service instructor and the extension program training coordinator.
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The First Responder Helpline is Here When You Need It
Emergency responders and their families face many challenges, and these can affect their well-being. While many departments offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to help their members deal with work-life issues, such services may not be available for volunteer firefighters and EMS providers. Recognizing this service gap, the NVFC partnered with Provident to offer a solution tailored to the distinct needs of our members: The First Responder Helpline. Read article.
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VFIS In-Person Trainings
VFIS has several upcoming in-person trainings around Texas in July and September. Classes include:
- Emergency Vehicle Driver Training - Instructor Level
- Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Operation - Instructor Level
- Emergency Service UTV/ATV Safety Program Training - Instructor Level
- Traffic Incident Management (TIM)
- Emergency Services Trailer Operations and Safety Program
The class minimum is 10 and the maximum is 25.
Please contact us if you are interested in hosting your own in-person training class.
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Culture in the Fire Service Survey
Daniel Kistner, a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, is conducting research on culture in the fire service and respectfully requests your assistance in completing this anonymous questionnaire. It will take approx. 10-15 minutes to complete with the goal of understanding better firefighter identity and fire service organizational culture related to decision-making. Please note, some questions may require you to recall personal experiences that you may consider difficult or traumatic. Thank you in advance for your assistance and please contact him with questions. Follow this link to Take the Survey
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
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CHEMTREC Offers 10,000 Grant to Enhance Hazmat Preparedness/Response |
CHEMTREC® is the world’s leading source of 24/7 call center support and information during hazardous materials incidents. For over 50 years, our engagement with emergency responders around the world has been the engine that drives our success. In light of that relationship, CHEMTREC has partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to award $10,000 each to four volunteer fire departments in the U.S. that are also members of the NVFC. The awards are intended to help the fire departments enhance their response capabilities and increase local preparedness to respond to and prepare for hazardous materials incidents. Apply Now
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Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention, 1st Edition
Written by Don Porth and in partnership with the National Fire Academy (NFA) and Vision 20/20, the first edition of Fire Protection Publication’s Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention will equip interventionists and program managers with the tools needed to create, implement, and evaluate a Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention program. The first six chapters of the book are for the interventionist while the last two chapters speak directly to the program manager.
The manual successfully meets the job performance requirements of NFPA 1030, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Prevention Program Positions.
The manual also has an accompanying instructor curriculum USB. Find both on our website today!
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Questions about SFFMA? We’ve got answers! |
We occasionally get questions about the organization, so we’re sharing them - and the answers - here.
Where does the money go? Budget
What types of grant programs are available for my department? Grants
Have questions about SFFMA or the benefits of being a member? Let us know! Send an email to Membership and we will help you by answering your question then sharing it in the monthly newsletter. Because if you have questions, we're sure others do, too!
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