Need volunteers for Hall of Flame
Greeting Fellow Firefighters here we go into the summer season as we see an influx of family and community events. Let’s keep it safe and enjoy the Iowa weather. As I sit down to write this, the 30th Annual Memorial Weekend is coming up. I hope you will take the opportunity to honor our fallen by visiting the memorial site in Coralville.
As mentioned, in the June article 1st Vice Mike Kime and I traveled to DC to the NVFC’s Spring Conference where we networked with other states. We had some very interesting and informative meetings with our Iowa Representatives. I sure appreciate Senator Grassley, Senator Ernst, Congressman Feenstra, Congresswoman Hinson, and Congressman Nunn for taking time out of their busy day to hear our concerns for the future of fire service in Iowa and the Nation. The programs we discussed were; continuing the importance of the Safer Grant, AFG program and the OSHA proposed changes that would have a devasting effect on the Iowa volunteer service. As I mention the OSHA changes; NVFC informed us the revised changes will be coming out some time in the future. So to prepare for a response on the changes NVFC has created an outline of a letter that can be distributed to our state services so they can tell their story and outline and how it will affect their communities. This is extremely important to report on, as history shows that we have very little time to respond to these types of changes. Please create your response letters as soon as you can so they are ready when called for!
I along with several other board members were fortunate to have attended the signing of the JR Firefighter bill that was introduced by Jimmy Mitchell from Fredericksburg IA, that passed legislation this year. I would like to Thank Jimmy for the suggestion; I really appreciate ideas from membership that help us in our mission to strengthen our emergency services protecting our communities. We also held our Golf outing in Waverly IA it was a good day and very successful event I like to Thank all the participants and sponsors.
I also want to put out an invitation to all that we need volunteers to support the booth, if you volunteer, you will receive a ticket for a day at the fair and a t-shirt. Please contact Ashley Whitson at alhockman@gmail.com to get a time so you can help us in educating the families of our state.
As the year progresses, I need to get ready for Convention in Manchester. Judges and Drill officials are needed for the convention drills; if you have an interest in helping with this please send me a message to kbrix@iafireassn.orggiving me your name and phone number and if you had a specific drill you would like to help with, and I will see what I can do. Thanks in advance as you support this is how we can pull off the drills smoothly.
As I close, I would like to encourage you to talk and listen to each other as we need to stay strong physically and mentally to provide outstanding service to protect our communities. So please take care of each other, if you have a concern for someone talk and listen to them and point it out to your department leadership, as we are strongest when we take care of our brothers and sisters in the service.
Kent Brix
IFA President