Spread the word on benefits of belonging
Greetings to all Firefighters and their families. We have just wrapped up the 147th convention of the IFA, which has been an uncommon convention as the IFA hosted the convention this year. The committee was created from the board and headed by Chuck Raska as Chair and Rob Edgar was Co-Chair. I hope all had a good time as I knew it was a lot of work to prepare for convention but when it is a successful convention the work was worth it all. This also laid out the Central Iowa Expo for a possible option in the future for the years when the Farm Progress show is in Illinois.
Other than working on convention, I have been honored to get out and present awards at Riverdale for a 50-year award and to Brighton for a 45-year award. In the first week in August, I was in Des Moines to help set up and tear down the Hall of Flame at the Iowa State Fair. We then manned the booth for two days visiting with kids and parents on fire prevention in their homes. As always it is a pleasure to teach youngsters about fire prevention.
In the last two years we have received several benefits to our association, as we travel around the state, we are finding departments that haven’t heard of these benefits. So, I would like to ask you to spread the word in your area as the Safer Grant can help departments in reimbursements of PPE for new responders that have joined their departments since December 22, 2024. We have training reimbursement for FF I testing along with training money for FF II, Instructor I-II, Officer I-II, and Driver Operator. We are also working on recruitment and retention material through the program that will be available for your departments to post at your fundraisers asking for volunteer responders. Also there have been ads pushed out on media (Facebook) that have given interest responders a portal to enter in their information in volunteering. This info is then directed to the community that the individual resides in and a contact number to the department so they can contact the volunteer and setup a meeting with them. As I say that, be aware you may receive a notice that someone one in your area is interested, please follow up.
Also, the big benefit for the younger responders is the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). Many things are yet to come out on this, but we need you to register so we can ensure everyone interest is getting all the information as it comes out. Also, we need you to get a list of members and create your department criteria so when the IEDA (sign up portal) opens your department is ready.
As I close, if you have any question on any program, please give one of the board members a call and we will answer your questions. I would also 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. As we are a brotherhood and sisterhood of the fire service, so we must support each other to stay strong. So, take care of each other, if you have a concern for someone point it out to your leadership, as we are strongest when we take care of ourselves.
Kent Brix, IFA President