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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Chief James Saletta, Huntley Fire Department From the May 2010 newsletter...
The Education Committee is in the beginning stages of developing an Older Adult Safety Program. This new program will increase safety awareness in an ever growing population. If your department has a program that you developed, we’d love to hear about it. The Education Committee is looking to expand. The Older Adult Safety Program will join IFSA’s other programs, “Bath Buddy” Bath Thermometers, Get Fired Up About Fire Safety, Home Fire and Burn Prevention Guide, Farm / Rural / Wildland Fire Safety, Newspapers in Education, State Fair, “A Sparkler Story”, In A Flash and Test Your Fire Safety Knowledge Kiosks, Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program, and Camp “I Am Me”. If you are at a Fire Department that has seen your public education budget dwindle to nothing, or if you are lucky enough to have funding, please call the IFSA and take advantage of the programs available to you at no charge. The message of fire safety must continue to be heard. It is a wonderful thing to be able to provide a new program. It is especially remarkable given the economic climate. A big “THANK YOU” goes out to our contributors, whether you have held a Boot Day, Golf Outing, or other various events or have provided a donation. It is through your kindness, compassion and recognition for the need for fire safety and prevention that we are able to continue to provide our much needed programs. This year marks an important milestone for Camp “I Am Me”. For 20 years volunteers have been coming together to hold this amazing opportunity for young burn survivors. Visitor’s Day this year is on Wednesday June 16th. I would like to invite all past campers, counselors and volunteers to come out and enjoy the day. Celebrate 20 years of Camp “I Am Me”. It’s a day that’s sure to be fun filled with many great memories and old friends. See you there! View November 2009 Archive
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mary Werderitch, IFSA Executive Director From the May 2010 newsletter...
This year’s conference once again offered a plethora of networking opportunities with the pleasant surprise that 50% of the attendees were brand new to the conference. Unrealistic as it may seem in this economy of zero budgets for prevention there is truly passionate enthusiasm for prevention. Some of the attendees even paid their own way to be there. The Illinois Fire Inspectors Association did a phenomenal job of lining up very impressive speakers, known nationally, internationally and locally. Laura Barros and Linda Brady offered a Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program refresher class the day before this conference started for 9 people. The class was extremely well received and got the conference week off to an amazing start! On Friday I gave an update on the IFSA along with Terry Ford’s update on the OFSM. After my presentation Pat Mieszala and another woman came up to me to compliment me on my presentation because of the heartfelt enthusiasm and passion mixed with humor that I was able to exhibit. I was flattered. At lunch I asked who the other woman was and found out that it was that it was Sharon Gamache, NFPA's director of High-Risk Outreach Programs. So hearing about Sharon Gamache for the last 16 years, I finally had the pleasure of meeting her. We had the “Test Your Fire Safety Knowledge” Kiosk with us at the conference. Brad McCollum from the Bloomington Fire Department made a very profound statement about being able to have the kiosk for one of their events. “It made our Department look very good.” The Alliance appreciates the generous donation from the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association to help defray our expenses to have the kiosk at the conference. World Burn Congress, October 2010 in Galveston, Texas. Annually, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance sponsors 4 adult burn survivors to attend this worthwhile conference. Please see our scholarship application in this newsletter. The Phoenix Society's holds an annual World Burn Congress which is an international conference that brings together more than 650 burn survivors, their families, care givers, burn care professionals and firefighters. It is a forum in which we encourage and facilitate the sharing of stories, provide support and increase knowledge of burn recovery. For many it is the first opportunity to meet and share with others who have experienced a burn trauma. The conference also serves as a wonderful learning experience for burn care professionals to better understand the issues that impact burn survivors' lives. Many firefighters that have attended, talk about the closure it brings for them as they witness burn survivors and their families living meaningful lives. The three days at the World Burn Congress are filled with inspirational stories of survival, courage and personal growth. Celebrate 20 Camp “I Am Me’s” 20th Anniversary IFSA Burn Camp “I Am Me” 2010 will be a grand celebration of 20 years of making a difference in the lives of the campers who attend. You will see this statement throughout this newsletter. It is certainly something we are extremely proud of. It is without question, the most rewarding week of the year for all of us, especially when campers become CITS (counselors-in training), junior counselors and finally counselors. This progression is truly a sign of giving back and paying it forward to the next generation of burn survivors. Camp is only a few short weeks away and it is our top priority. We’d like to invite each and every one of you to join us at this year’s Visitor’s Day, Wednesday, June 16th. Throughout these past 20 years, each of you in your own way has helped make a difference and you need to come celebrate with us. Older Adult Program In our President’s article, he has mentioned that the IFSA would like to proceed with developing an Older Adult Fire Safety Program. It would be appropriate at this time for me to repeat a phrase that I heard at the American Burn Association Conference: View November 2009 Archive
IFSA Membership Meeting Minutes - April 6, 2010 The Flame of Countryside, Countryside, Illinois WELCOME/INTRODUCTIONS/ROLL CALL
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Jim Saletta - The Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (JFSIP) is up and running. President Saletta encouraged attendees to become familiar with the program, contribute to and take advantage of the intervention database and report cases. - This will be the 20th Annual Burn Camp “I Am Me”, Visitor’s Day will be on June 16, 2010 all are invited. TREASURER’S REPORT – Jill Friedrichs - The Income and Expense Statement was given to all in attendance. - This year expenses were down due to no printing of the “Home Fire and Burn Prevention Guide” this fiscal year. The new format of the Newspaper In Education program saved $80,000 in expenses. This past year the IFSA participated in a billboard campaign on sparkler safety, this cost, $13,500. was allocated to Fire Safety Legislation, next year if the IFSA participates again the expense will be listed under the account Fire Safety Education. The “Too Hot for Tot/Bath Buddy” program had an expenditure of almost $25,000. and it is not expected to have that expense this coming year. - The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Board of Directors has voted to change the financial reporting of the organization from a Fiscal Year to a Calendar Year. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Mary Werderitch - Fire Prevention Week Luncheon, October 7, 2010. Ralph Webster will speak on the 16 Initiatives for Firefighter Safety. - The IFSA is involved with the 16 Initiatives for Firefighter Safety, which is a program that is trying to change the culture of the fire service. - A description was given on each Health World Kiosk. - Attendees were invited to join the IFSA at the State Fair on August 20, 2010. - The Sparkler Safety DVD and information card are available at no charge. - Vision 20/20 is an effort to standardize fire prevention nationally. COMMITTEE REPORTS Burn Camp “I Am Me” - Kathy Haage - A description of camp was given to participants. - This year a pin exchange program will be one of the featured activities at camp. A handout was available for members to take which explains the program and asks for donations of pins. Boot Day - Jill Friedrichs - This year Boot Day will be on May 7 & 8, or any day a department chooses. Reminder flyers were sent in the membership mailing and supplies can be obtained by calling the office. Special Events License Plates - Maria Piszczor - The program boosts 200 license plates and at this time there are still approximately 100 plates available. Education Dottie Ahbe and Terry Pluta Older Adult Program - Looking for volunteers to assist in the development of an older adult prevention program. Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Program (JFSIP) - Laura Barros - Laura reiterated President Saletta’s message regarding the JFSIP and believes that every child in need deserves an intervention. Legislative Report - Margaret Vaughn - The next Legislative Forum will take place in McHenry County on April 17, 2010. A handout was distributed by Margaret Vaughn to attendees regarding potential legislation. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The nominating committee prepared the following Board of Directors slate for 2010-2011: Dottie Ahbe Jim Saletta asked for nominations from the floor, there were none. John Brogan made the motion to close the nominations. Jim Werner seconded the motion. A verbal vote was taken and with a unanimous "yes" vote the nominations were closed. Dick Swanson made the motion to elect the Board of Directors under one ticket. John Brogan seconded the motion. The slate was presented to the membership and by a verbal vote the slate was approved unanimously. UPDATES/FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION - Jim Werner would like the Board of Directors to review the cost of past luncheons to determine if there is a need to increase the price of a ticket. ADJOURNMENT - Motion to adjourn made at 1:04 p.m. by Randy Werderitch, seconded by Mark Pope. Motion approved unanimously. Respectfully submitted,
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