May 23, 2023, Minutes

Download the pdf file of the May 23, 2023, Minutes.

Northwest Georgia Fire Chiefs Association

Meeting Minutes
May 23, 2023
Location: Rome, Georgia
Host:  Rome Fire Department
Scribe:  T. Prather, Secretary

10:02 AM                            Meeting Called to Order – Darrell Mitchell

  • Chief Mitchell – introduced Sherrell Wellham Photography who spoke to the association about photography for the fire service, law enforcement, military, EMS etc.
  • Chief Mitchell – Announced that the executive board had met and will provide information near the end of the meeting.

Committees

GSFA – Jason Amerson

  • Announced Gary Clark could not make the meeting.
  • Provided report that no fire service legislation made it to crossover day.
  • Provided report that GSFA will continue efforts to improve HB 451-PTSD Bill that remains in committee for next year.
  • Gave report on the sprinkler bill, HB 574, and that Joseph Gullet from the 19th district became the sponsor of the bill that is in committee for next yar.
  • Gave report on HB 503 that was introduced but also remains in committee that addresses tax deductible donations to fire departments.
  • Gave report on HB 124 – Fire Department transport bill that did not make it to a vote. This will would authorized FD to transport if EMS transport is not available.
  • Announced the call for papers to present at the joint conference in August.
  • Announced submission for annual awards are open and solicits recommendations.
  • Announced that the GSFA has two $1000 fire department grants and six $500 scholarships for education. Please submit anyone interested.
  • Announced priority now given to recruitment.
  • Announced they are working on getting district meetings going again.
  • Reported they are working on up-grading the GSFA web-site.
  • Cowart emphasized submitting your personnel for the annual awards.

GAFC – Chief Marcus Warren

  • Efforts are now underway to enhance the pipeline training.
  • Reminder of the Fire Safety Symposium at GPSTC June 5 – 9.
  • Chief Lee Kirkland will be hosting a Firefighter Training Conference on Saturday, June 10 in Vidalia, GA. Information can be found on the GAFC Facebook page.
  • Reminder of the Joint Conference in August held in Augusta. Be on the look-out for more information coming soon.
  • Announced that the SE Chiefs will be holding their conference in Cobb County next year in July 2024.

GPSTC – Ronnie Cowart

  • Reminder of the Fire Safety Symposium in June 2023
  • Reminder again that they are seeking presenters for the joint conference.
  • Reported that there are now online courses for CRR.
  • Other online courses available
    • Fire Origin for Company Officers
    • Decision Making for Company Officers
    • Executive Skills Courses
    • Health & Safety Manager
    • PICO
  • Reported that the Volunteer Initiative Training is going well.
  • Haz Mat Tech Training coming to Rome.

Pension Fund – Luther

  • Reported 2036 retirees.
  • 630 last ten years
  • Joint Survivor Option – 3631
  • Please contact them with any questions.

GSAR – Chief Mills

  • Still reaching out to department for updates
  • Recruit school will be starting in July.
  • Grant Items acquired – shoring equipment. Emphasized that there was no trailer acquired with the grant this time.  They will be asking for a trailer this year for trench rescue.

Training Group – Chief P. Little & Chief Saylors initiated the conversation and idea to establish an Officer Training Group within the association.  They are seeking to meet to discuss organizing prior to the July meeting. More will be reported.

Chief Darrell Mitchell – General

  • Gave the report that Josh, with LOSS EVALUATOR, is doing a great job with updating the NWGFCA web-site.
  • Working on highlighting the host department each meeting month. Chief C. Davis entered the idea that we should also consider highlighting departments that do not host meetings.
  • Josh spoke up and announced that he could use some photos from any of our departments to place on the web-site.
  • Reported that we need to update the list of our sustaining members.
  • Discussion was initiated by Chief Chad Davis regarding creating a “fillable” scholarship form.
  • Discussion regarding establishing a training tab on the web site.
  • Announced that the web-site will be a “working progress”.
  • Discussed hosting meeting locations and the preference of swapping it up. The next meeting would be July 25 in Cherokee County.  The September meeting will be in Fannin County.
  • Cowart announced that the new Braswell Fire Department has been formed in Paulding County.
  • Cowart also brought into discussion the idea of bringing fun back into the fire service and referenced things like Fire Musters etc. Looking for leaders to step up.
  • Announced that meeting raffles was approved by the executive board and that will begin today.
  • Chief T. Mills announced they (Calhoun) would host the November 28, 2023 meeting.
  • R, Cowart spoke mentioned that we need to be supporting our vendors.
  • Chief D. Mitchell asked for a motion to officially create a Training Section for NWGFCA. A motion was received, seconded, and approved by the association.
  • Chief B. Sutton presented a motion to allow Honorary Member Larry McEntyre, seconded and approved.
  • Chief D. Mitchell emphasized inviting any new chiefs in our area.
  • Chief D. Mitchell solicited a motion to approve 4 scholarships for this year. The motion was received, seconded, and approved by the association.

 

VENDORS

Loss Evaluator – Josh Lundmark

  • Gave brief explanation of Loss Evaluator
  • E. Restoration representative spoke more on Loss Evaluator.

Sherri Welham Photography

  • Followed up and asked which departments have already been photographed and welcomes the opportunity to for her company to do so.

NEXT MEETING – July 25, 2023 Cherokee County  

Motion to Adjourn meeting, seconded and approved 11:40 AM. 
Tim Prather