1 Vote Keeps NVFC Alive in Maryland......

[hwoods]

Anything to add to this discussion? Any of your folks have any thoughts on this? Thanx, Stay Safe....

[Bones42]

No good news. Out of 30-40 members, 1 knew what NVFC was and only because he is as active as I with his reading and training. He did not have much to say about them other than knowing what it was. Still researching on my end....

[1835Wayne]

I am a recent new member of the NVFC and I have a question. Why haven't I recieved any info from them? I know they cashed my check two months ago,but I have yet to recieve any word from them!

I think we should try to adjust the focus of the current orginazation, and if that doesn't work, then start a new one.

[ChiefReason]

Wayne:
I am sure that there is a logical explanation for the lapse. The first thing that comes to my mind is the "service after the sale" bit. How's your service after the sale, Wayne? I am sure that they will send you a survey card to fill out, so your comments can be ignored.
I'm not going to get into my thoughts here. Go to the "other" site and I may have something there on it, but what you allude to is typical of our national organizations.
Your "voice" that you just paid them for is obviously not being heard! And that is a point that I touched on in an earlier post.
But I won't stoop to say " I told you so."
Woodsy; let's take this on through the IACOJ.
CR

[hwoods]

I'm Back. The snow around here is melting and life is returning to normal(?) Anyway, everyone has seen the stories on the home page here about the "Delay" in the grant application window. I will be emailing appropriate members of the House and Senate to ask for the program to move forward immediately. I will be doing so in the name of the North American Volunteer Firefighters Association. Art, Jay, Bryan, John, - we're rollin' Stay Safe....

[coldfront]

Just what the volunteer fire service needs another national group to send our fifty dollars to yearly .Love the name North America volunteer fire whatever.One question can we buy tee-shirts.Hope this newest national group can save us poor souls.How about you come down to kentucky and fry fish.The Fire Service loves to bitch about in action.Good Luck.

[mcunning]

This just in from:
Craig Sharman
Director of Government Relations
National Volunteer Fire Council

As you have probably heard by now, there has been discussion that the
Department of Homeland Security is considering shifting a substantial
amount of funding out of the FY 2003 FIRE Grant program funding that
was allocated by Congress into other "First Responder " programs for
terrorism response.

The fire service groups in Washington met yesterday (Wed.) with the
staff of our key allies in Congress, including Reps. Walsh, Pascrell,
Edwards, Weldon, Boehlert, Nick Smith, and Sen. McCain to discuss the issue. Congressman Jim Walsh himself stopped in on the meeting to fill us in on what he knew about the situation.

Mr. Walsh, whose leadership as Chairman of the VA, HUD Appropriations
Subcommittee was critical in increasing the program funding to $750
million, said he felt that the Administration did not have the
authority to shift these funds without Congressional approval. He is scheduled to talk to Mitch Daniel, Director of OMB today about the issue.

Everyone at the meeting agreed that instead of jumping the gun, we hold our fire until we get the complete story from FEMA and the Dept. of Homeland Security.

I am now hearing this morning that the entire $750 million will be
spent on FIRE Act grants, there would be no diversion to any other program, and the temporary delay in processing grant requests would be lifted on Monday. It appears that there may have been a proposal floated but it was rejected, possibly because of the quick response of our allies on Capitol Hill.

Again nothing is confirmed and I will follow up as soon as I know
more.

Craig Sharman

Below is my request for information from NVFC

Craig,
Where does the NVFC stand on the delay and possible re-assignment of
the Fire Act Grant dollars?
I am ready to light up the phones and email to my congressional reps,
but not sure if that is needed.
What is the NVFC stanse on this important issue ????

Thanks,
Malcolm Cunningham - Chief
Hardin Fire Protection District
Hardin, MO
mcunning@kumc.edu

[ChiefReason]

coldfront:
If I give you twice the inaction for half the money, would you join?
And besides; what's wrong with another organization who offers a different perspective and speaks to the needs of the smaller, volunteer departments?
One of the problems with the NVFC is that they promote their agenda full time. I think that they have forgotten that, as volunteers, we have another full time job that won't allow us to leave our jobs and attend meetings, conventions, workshops, etc. Everything we do has to be done after hours or on weekends. Our state has fashioned our entire volunteer training program around this key element.
Maybe that's why there aren't alot of departments ACTIVE in the organization. NVFC is having meetings when everyone else is at work.
And when the largest volunteer departments are getting the key positions in the organization, the small guys are getting left behind or the organization isn't as "vocal".
Now, I know that the NVFC is saying that "volunteers are volunteers" but the reality is that Wayne County or German Township is going to get an ear long before a department my size will ever be heard.
That's just my opinion and I also recognize that in years past, the NVFC has been out front leading the charge for the volunteers.
But, as the old saying goes, "what have you done for me lately"?
Perhaps, they need to survey the 55% of the departments in this country. They may find themselves falling short of their mission.
And it's the "North American Volunteer Firefighters Association"; a name that I recommended to our leader.
CR

[hwoods]

I'm not really sure what coldfront was getting at. No one is looking for $50.00 from anywhere, nor do we want much else except support for America's Volunteer Firefighters. The part about frying fish??? No Clue. Bitching? Sure, like every other Firefighter that I've ever met. And, most importantly, THANK YOU to Chief Cunningham. You have a question, you ask it. In your case, you got an answer. That's what this is all about, getting answers. I have sent some emails regarding the delay with the program, and I have heard back from some of our elected representatives. As the matter seems to have been resolved, and things are moving again, I'll be watching quietly. Someone tries to mess with it again, we'll be back on the offense again. We're NOT going away, and we're not going to be quiet. We deserve better, and we're going after it. The program needs to be changed in a big way, and we don't plan on resting until changes are made. Period. Stay Safe.,...

[MikeF25]

woods,

I backed your idea on page 1, and I still do.

I am offering any help I can give.

[Bones42]

hwoods and ChiefReason, a while back I said I wanted to do some research on my own to better educate myself on NVFC. I'm done..."what have you done for me lately"? is the best I came up with. Sign me up for NAVFA.

[hwoods]

I'm up to my ears with some issues in the Maryland legislature that deal with Fire/Rescue funding and operations (they want to mandate, but not pay for, physicals for firefighters, for one item. There are others)And as soon as I get a few minutes I'll get out an update on what's up with the NAVFA. Thanks and Stay safe....