NCAR&EMS 2001-Nov-10 Newsletter
November 10, 2001
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving." Psalm 95:2
COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
There is one thing I need to explain about this newsletter. It is written a month in advance. Several people have asked me why no mention was made on the attack in New York and Washington, D.C. in the October newsletter. The fact is, the October newsletter was written before the attacks. We all feel deeply for the firefighters and all the individuals who lost their lives in the senseless act on September 11. We also feel sorrow when a single incident happens in North Carolina involving a rescue squad member or firefighter and they lose their life or are injured. I hope that next year or in two years we can still see all the flags and American pride that people have started showing since September 11. Call me a little old fashioned, but I would like to see a flag pole and Old Glory flying at each rescue squad and EMS building in North Carolina.
As I travel constantly, I hear of departments at odds over districts (Turf Wars). As long as there are two or more departments, this is going to happen. Sometimes the department with the best training is allowed to provide the service, but all too often the department who knows members of the city council or the Board of County Commissioners are the ones who are allowed to respond, but may not necessarily be the best qualified for the task to be performed. We in the Association cannot get involved in turf wars. These are local issues that right or wrong have to be worked out locally.
Remember to join the Brotherhood.
VICE-COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
I have been very busy since the Convention in Hickory, attending squad functions, area meetings and NCAR&EMS business meetings. Communication OR the lack of communication in our great Association concerns me. Let's look at some of the concerns that I have heard. Why don't we know what the Association offers? About the Relief Fund? About the scholarship program? About the Benevolent Brotherhood? How to enter Rescue and BLS competition? How to become a certified Rescue or BLS judge? These questions are, but a few of, the concerns I am hearing. How do we communicate, effectively, the information to our members? When mailings are sent to the squad, make sure all members are made aware of this information during a squad meeting or by posting this information on a bulletin board. Another way to communicate is to send the squad's e-mail address to Gordon Joyner at the Association office at ncarems@ncarems.org. Any individual member can also send their e-mail address and receive the same information. Gordon sends out information daily/weekly. This information is very important to me. I am fortunate to live approximately ten miles from the Association office and I see how diligently they work to be sure WE, as members, get the information needed to answer the questions.
I challenge all squad officers to share all information with the members of your squad. Questions are welcomed, and you will get an appropriate response. COMMUNICATION is the word to remember.
BROTHERHOOD OBITUARY
| NUM | NAME | SQUAD | DOD | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #722 | Ernest Clyde Black, Jr. | Moore County Rescue Unit V | 09/11/2001 | 46 |
| #723 | Leroy Clawson | Jackson County Rescue I | 09/17/2001 | ? |
| #724 | Robert B. Melton | Buncombe County Rescue | 09/18/2001 | 63 |
| #725 | James D. Bowman | Warren County Rescue | 09/27/2001 | 50 |
| #726 | Harold D. Jordan | Fleetwood Fire & Rescue | 09/30/2001 | 64 |
| #727 | Ray T. Sigmon | Newton-Conover Rescue | 10/01/2001 | 63 |
| #728 | William B. Church | Shepherds Fire & Rescue | 09/15/2001 | 83 |
Murphy-Brown to Donate $1 Million to 911 Agencies
The Murphy-Brown pork company will donate $1 million to volunteer fire and rescue departments who serve the areas in which the company operates. Due to the tragedy of September 11, Murphy-Brown wishes to honor and pay tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to making sure each of us are safe.
The Murphy-Brown company also announced its intention to establish a foundation. The foundation will serve as a long-term avenue for Murphy-Brown to support community-based initiatives in the areas in which it operates.
Applications for funding will be distributed to the volunteer fire and rescue departments through the state fire and rescue volunteer associations. An independent awards committee will review the applications and make recommendations to a board of directors.
Murphy-Brown is a livestock production subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. They are located in Warsaw, N.C.
North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center Emergency Services
Burn Endowment Fund Drive "TIP THE BUCKET" Campaign
Phase 1--- November 23, 2001: Please mark your calendars for this date and be a part of raising $2 million in one day. We hope to have an emergency services personnel standing outside every shopping mall, major store or gathering place in your local community on this day with a red bucket collecting funds for this very worthwhile project.
This is an effort of the N.C. State Firemen's Association, the N.C. Association of Rescue and EMS, N.C. Department of Insurance, OSFM, N.C. Department of Community Colleges, Regional Coordinators, N.C. Society of Fire Service Instructors, N.C. Association of Fire Chiefs, N.C. Association of Retired Fire Chiefs, N.C. Association of Professional FF, and the Greensboro Fire Department to raise $5 million dollars to fund a professorship providing salary supplements, research, technician support and scholarly activities related to studies in the broad field of burn medicine.
The Emergency Services Burn Endowment Fund will stand as a tribute to the thoughtfulness of the fire and emergency services personnel and others interested in the care of patients with thermal injury.
Phase 2--- August 2001 - August 2002: We are asking at least 1,000 fire departments and rescue squads to hold some type of fund raiser in addition to the "Tip The Bucket" and raise at least an additional $1,000 each. This will raise another $1 million. All departments or groups raising this $1,000 will receive special recognition at their 2002 conference.
If you want to go the extra mile and meet a $2,500 challenge, your department or group will be presented a special plaque at the 2002 conference and be recognized as a Gold Participant.
For those of you who wish to really take on the task and meet the requirements for Platinum Participant and raise $5,000, you will be recognized at the banquet and presented with a statue designed especially for this fund raising effort.
The goal for this phase will be an additional $1 million and funds raised should be sent to the North Carolina State Firemen's Association.
Phase 3 of the Emergency Services Burn Endowment Fund Drive will be a corporate campaign and will take off some time during 2002. The goal for this phase will be $2 million---meeting our $5 million goal.
If you need someone to come speak to your department or county association, please contact Mike Hill at 888-240-9797 to schedule one of the committee members to meet with you.