Blackhawk Firefighters Association E-Letter

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The Next BFFA Meeting is 7 pm - February 16, 2006 at the
Aston Fire Department 704 Main Street , Aston , IL.

Amboy Fire Department Extrication School is in the need of vehicle donations for our auto extrication school, please contact Jeff Bryant at (815) 857-2000 or (815) 994-6184, jeff725@insightbb.com

50/50 Drawing will be April 8 at the Amboy extrication.

Training: (Reminder: Post your upcomming training or department events on the BFFA website at BFFA Calendar at www.bffa.net then click the Calendar and then click the Submit an Event button and fill out and submit the online form, or go to

http://www.bffa.net/submitevent.html )

February 23, 2006 - NFPA 1971-2006 Update PPE Seminar:

E & B Fire and Safety, Inc. is hosting a free seminar on the "NEW" NFPA changes to the 1971 standard on protective clothing. This seminar will cover the new changes including the updated thermal protective performance requirements and total heat loss requirements, addition of the Drag Rescue Device, and many other new updates and changes. This seminar will aid departments writing PPE grant proposals in 2006. The class is being presented by Chris Moelker, Globe/Cairns Regional Manager. Please R.S.V.P. to our office at (815) 857-2000 by February 17th because seating is limited to the first 30 people per session. This workshop will be held at 243 E. Main in Amboy, IL, at the E & B Fire and Safety, Inc. Store.

February 25, 2006 - Grain Bin Rescue - 8 CEU Hours

Sublette Fire Department will be hosting a Grain Bin Rescue. More details will be mailed out soon and posted on the BFFA website.

March 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, and 18th 2006 - First Responder Class
Tampico Ambulance Service will be offering a First Responder Class to begin on Friday March 10th 2006 at 1800 till 2200 and then on Sat-Sun. March 11th and 12th from 0900 till 1700, Then again on March 18th and 19th from 0900 till 1700. The fee is $150.00 to OSF for class plus your books. If you have any members that would like to participate please contact either Terry Pratt of OSF NIEMS or Sheri Fetrow @ Tampico Ambulance Service (815)-438-2082 or E-Mail. Prior CPR would be helpful.

For more information contact: Sheri Fetrow Co-Coordinator TRFPD Tampico Ambulance Service Email: tampicoems@thewisp.net

April 06, 2006 7pm - Weather Spotter Training

E & B Fire and Safety, Inc. is hosting a Weather Spotter Class. For more information visit the BFFA training Calendar at www.bffa.net then click the Calendar Button.

April 08, 2006 - Amboy Extrication Symposium - 6th Annual Conference.

Classes offered: 1. Basic Search & Rescue, 2. Emergency Incident Rehab, 3. Extrication with tools of all sorts, 4. Heavy Rescue Extrication, 5. Confined Space and Trench Rescue, 6. BTLS Access - Hand Tools & Patient Packaging, 7. Basic Hand Tools for Extrication, 8. Utilization of Airbags, 9. TNT - Hydraulic Tools, 10. New Car Construction I, 11. New Car Construction II, 12. Hybrid Vehicle Extrication I, 13. Hybrid Awareness and Safety, 14. Basic SCBA Course, 15. Trauma in Review - Lifeline HSC, 16. Rural Farm Extrication, 17. Champion - Hydraulic Tools, 18. RescQTek - Hydraulic Tools, 19. American Genesis - Hydraulic Tools, 20. Hurst - Hydraulic Tools, 21. NIMS Compliance up to year 2006, 22. Tactical EMS. All classes are 8 hours. Registration and Payment for classes are due by March 15, 2006. No cancellations after March 15, 2006. The cost is $40 for BFFA members and $60 for Non-BFFA members. ($25 returned post course to BFFA members.)

For the registration form go to www.bffa.net and click on the Amboy Extrication Symposium Button, or go to:

http://bffa.net/training/AmboyFPDSymposium06.pdf
For more information Jeff Bryant at (815) 857-2000 or (815) 994-6184, jeff725@insightbb.com

January Meeting Minutes: Go to www.bffa.net and click on the Meeting Minutes Button or go to:

http://www.bffa.net/minutes.html

January 19, 2006 Minutes - OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center - Lifeline Helicopter

President Hank Robinson called meeting to order at 19:12. BFFA welcome given by Karen Daub, RN – Lifeline Helicopter. Held pledge and moment of silence.

Motion to waive reading of minutes by Randy Philhower, second by Dean Ege. Treasurers Report by Mike Stoffa. Motion to accept report and pay bills by Dean Ege.

Mike Stoffa suggested that we change the way that we handle CD interest. Currently that interest is automatically deposited into the checking account. Mike and Hank suggested that we have the CD interested reinvested into the CD to help it grow. Motion to put CD interest back into CD by Frank Stenzel, Second by Dean Ege.

501c – We are waiting for paperwork to be returned by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Once we get the paperwork we will file the 501c.

2006-2007 member dues statements enclosed with this months mailing. We had many departments that never paid their dues last year for 2005 - 2006, some of those departments sent people to the BFFA conference and paid the discounted BFFA member rate. A few departments have missed dues payments for the last two years in a row. BFFA uses member dues to sponsor training ranging from the Amboy extrication to many other BFFA sponsored training events. We need dues to provide this service.

Please double check to see if your department has paid last year’s 2005-2006 dues.

Committee Reports:
Training: Sublette will host Grain bin rescue on Feb 25th. There will be 8 ceu hours for this class. Amboy extrication is on April 8, 2006. Frank Stenzel says that they need more cars for this and anyone that has or knows of people willing to donate cars, please contact Jeff Bryant at 815-857-3700. The car does not have to run; Amboy has the ability to tow the vehicle to Amboy.

Safety: No Report
Newsletter: We are actively working on a format for a newsletter. We now have a printer that is able to print the larger 11x17 sheets of paper. We will also use this new printer to make our new format for mailing monthly minutes.

Membership: We would like to welcome Leaf River fire protection district to BFFA.

Fundraising: 50/50 raffle sales are going good and we would like to ask all members to get their tickets turned in. The drawing will be April 8 at the Amboy extrication.

Conference Committee: Jeff said that we had 140 people at the conference this year. The conference is growing in size and we need to have a larger facility for the 2007 conference. Jeff recommended that we move the 2007 conference to the Clock Tower in Rockford. They have larger meeting rooms to accommodate more people and keep the classes comfortable and not as cramped as we had this year.

Water Fight: No Report
Funeral Committee: Kevin has found someone to take charge of the BFFA Honor Guard. They would like to train leaders to lead in a train the trainer type situation. These people will train other members to take part in honor guard duties.

Website: The website has been renewed for another year. We would like encourage members to use the link on the website under calendar that says Submit an Event. Once you submit your event, it will be placed on the calendar for everyone to see. This is a great resource to get the word out on training, department fundraisers, and other department functions.

Old Business: We are still looking at Laptop and Projector costs.
New Business: BFFA Bus Trip. Dean is now starting the planning for this year’s bus trip to Springfield. Last year membership voted to make the bus trip an annual event.

Motion to adjourn the meeting by Frank Stenzel, Second by Dean Ege.
Presentation: Helicopter Safety. Lifeline gave helicopter rides to those present at end of meeting to show them what the pilot sees at night.

BFFA would like to thank Deb Lovik-Kuhlemeier RN, TNS - Trauma Program Manager, Karen Daub, RN, Lifeline Helicopter and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for hosting this months meeting; and for giving night helicopter rides to those present. Great meeting!

Thank you

James Gordon

BFFA Secretary & Webmaster

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Blackhawk Firefighters Association
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BFFA's mission is to encourage modern and improved methods of training and education for the fire and EMS services; to promote the general welfare and the cultivation of friendship of all members throughout the organization and to continue to improve the relationship of the fire and EMS services with the general public by enlightening them as to the values and the benefits of the services rendered by the members of this association.

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