Applications due on or before March 5, 2010
for the Carl Parsell Scholarship
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Message from the DirectorLayoffs are tough. Nobody likes them, especially when it’s the firefighter being laid off. What makes it especially difficult to understand is when the reason for the layoff is due to the fiscal mismanagement of the city council. For example: when times were good, an Employer chose not to fund a pension. This went against the advice of its own management team, as well as the Pension Board and the Union. Now, when times are tough and dollars are scarce, the Employer is facing a half-million dollar contribution to the pension fund. This large figure is not because of a generous pension formula. It is because of the Employer’s failure to pay as you go in the past. Now the Employer is talking about layoffs of public safety personnel because of their own previous sins. Because they ignored paying the bill, their obligation has unnecessarily increased. The Employer failed to be responsible, and the employees have to pay the price; not to mention the safety of the citizenry is placed at risk. MAFF stands committed to the safety of the firefighters, whether it’s on the job every day, or in your retirement. Please keep us informed of any inappropriate financial moves by your own department and Employer. MAFF will do everything possible to ensure that the Employer complies with the terms and conditions of your labor agreement. Fred Timpner, Executive Director, MAFF. |
Lighthouse Uniform Company
Dear Mr. Timpner, Greetings from the Lighthouse Uniform Company. I am contacting you relative to your position as Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Firefighters. I wanted to broach the subject of the new LODD Resource Program the Lighthouse Uniform Company has put together and see if you see enough value to help make it available to the membership of your organization. There are no cost, no obligation and hopefully no one will ever use it. |
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First Responders Activate New Propane Support Team Michigan’s propane industry is a safe industry, however, accidents can happen. That is why the Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA) created the Propane Emergency Response Network (PERN). PERN takes out the guesswork of handling a propane emergency in your area. The MPGA teamed up with first responders and law enforcement officers to provide immediate expertise on handling propane emergencies, in addition to working under the authority of the incident commander. PERN supports firefighters, state police, local sheriffs, and Hazmat officials. Here’s how to activate PERN. |
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The Biggest Losers in the Proposed Budget Cuts:Police/Fire, Public Educations The recent proposed cuts implemented by the Michigan Senate slash funds for critical services such as police and fire. Public education has not been spared and proposed cuts threaten the quality of education for Michigan's children. We need statesmen, not politicians, at this critical time. Michigan cannot cut its way to a balanced budget without further jeopardizing the public safety of the citizens of Michigan. Since 9-11, Michigan has lost over 2500 law enforcement officers. What are needed are new solutions for revenue. Predictions are that in 2010 there may be no money for revenue sharing for education as well as local units of government. Further cuts will be forthcoming unless tax reform is addresses by the legislators. |
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Give Congressman Gary Peters Credit.
Original Sponsor of BillReauthorization of the assistance to Firefighters grant program Administrative Costs - Maximum of three percent of appropriated funds for administrative costs Remaining 97% to be distributed accordingly - Combination Fire Department - 25%
- Career Fire Departments - 25%
- Volunteer Fire Departments - 25%
- Others - 25%
- 10% minimum - Prevention/Firefighter Safety/Research (includes Centers of Excellence)
- 2% maximum - Volunteer non-fire service EMS and Rescue
- 2% maximum - Fire Service Training Academies
- 10% - competitive between Volunteer, Career, and Combination departments
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Newer Cars Safer, But Rescues More Difficult TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Capt. Clint Roberts makes his living cutting accident victims out of hideously mangled vehicles, but even he could hardly believe it when two people in a 2007 midsize car survived a head-on crash with a full-sized pickup last year.
The Ford Fusion’s reinforced steel construction probably saved the lives of the 18-year-old driver and his 16-year-old passenger. But Roberts said it gave his Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crew fits as they tried to free them last November. Because hydraulic cutters couldn’t shear the roof posts, rescue workers had to turn to heavy-duty electric saws, replacing blade after blade as they dulled on the rugged material. “It was just beating the snot out of the tools,” adding minutes and delaying medical treatment, Roberts said. |
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