Oct 26… We are happy to announce the winners of the 2011 Symposium scholarships, as follows:
Firefighter/EMT Amanda K. Gingell of the Harrisville (RI) Fire Department and Fire Chief John R. Nixon, Antioch (IL) Fire Department are the winners of the VCOS-sponsored scholarship to attend the Symposium in the Sun. Of twenty-five applications submitted, Firefighter Gingell and Chief Nixon did the best job of demonstrating to the judges that they would make good use of the training, education and networking opportunities
Fire Chief David DeRoller of the Sea Breeze (NY) Fire District has been selected as the recipient of the Emerging Leader Scholarship, sponsored by the Gasaway Consulting Group, LLC. There were seventeen applicants for the Emerging Leader Scholarship this year.
On October 5, 2011, Chief Timothy S. Wall, representing the IAFC’s Volunteer & Combination Section, traveled to Capitol Hill to provide support during the hearings before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and offer the Section’s endorsement of Chief Ernest Mitchell to be appointed by President Obama as the next U.S. Fire Administrator. The Committee is expected to vote on Chief Mitchell’s nomination soon, after which it will be considered by the full Senate.
Photo from right to left: Chief Adam Thiel (Alexandria, Va.), IAFC President & Chairman of the Board Al Gillespie (North Las Vegas, Nev.); Senator Joe Lieberman (Conn.); Chief Ernest Mitchell (Cerritos, Calif.); Chief Timothy S. Wall (Wallingford, Conn.) at nomination hearings for Chief Mitchell before U.S. Senate Committee.
Sept. 30… Join Chief Jim Grady and Chief Dan Eggleston on October 20 for another high-quality VCOS Webinar from the Officer Development Series titled “Mentoring with Confidence.” Space is limited so register for your spot now! For details on this webinar, access the VCOS Webinar page.
Sept. 30… In a letter addressed to the Honorable Joseph Lieberman and the Honorable Susan Collins, committee chair and ranking member respectively of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the members of the VCOS Board of Directors have formally endorsed Chief Ernest Mitchell to become the next United States Fire Administrator. The board encourages all VCOS members to send your own letters in support of Chief Mitchell’s nomination; he is superbly qualified for this position.
The three officers of the VCOS Board of Directors have been selected by the members of the board, as follows: Chief Timothy S. Wall as Chair, Chief David B. Fulmer as Vice-Chair, and Chief Joseph E. Florentino as Secretary/Treasurer. All terms of office run through August 2012. Congratulations to these officers!
Sept 12… Congratulations to Chief Richard T. Haase, who was selected by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) Board of Directors to serve as the representative for volunteer departments on the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). Chief Haase has replaced Chief Tim Holman, who completed his term of office. Chief Haase is the Emergency Response/Security Team Leader and Fire Chief for the ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery in Roxana, IL. Chief Haase also served as the Volunteer Chief for the Staunton Fire Protection District, Staunton, IL since 1996 and has been a member of the department since 1983. (Read CPSE Press Release)
President Al Gillespie administering the oath of office to (from left to right): Chief Dave Fulmer, Chief Dan Eggleston, Chief Jim Wilson
Aug 25… Congratulations to Chief David B. Fulmer, CFO, of the West Licking (OH) Joint Fire District, Chief Dan Eggleston, EFO, of the Albemarle (VA) County Department of Fire Rescue, and Chief Jim L. Wilson, EFO, of the Mariposa (CA) County Fire Department, all of whom were sworn in as VCOS board members for 3-year terms through 2014 at the VCOS Section Meeting at Fire-Rescue International on August 24 by President Al Gillespie. (Photo by Chuck Fazio Media)
Aug 25… Congratulations to Fire Chief Sheri R. Bemis, CFO, of Oxford (MA) Fire-EMS for her selection as the winner of the 2011 VCOS/TargetSafety Training Officer Recognition Award. Chief Bemis was selected for her strong commitment to departmental training. The award was presented on August 25, 2011 at the VCOS annual meeting at Fire-Rescue International by Mr. Jon Kostyzak, TargetSafety’s Director of Sales. (photo by Chuck Fazio Media)
Chief Dan Eggleston and Chief Joe Florentino, VCOS board members, present the scholarship check to Battalion Chief Robert Talburt at the VCOS Section Meeting
Aug 25… Fire Chief Dennis Covey of Malabar (FL) Fire Rescue and Battalion Chief Robert Talburt of the Logan-Rogersville (MO) Fire Protection District were the winners of the VCOS FRI $1500 scholarships on the basis of their write-ups for how their education at Fire-Rescue International would enhance their professional development and permit them to bring the education back for the betterment of their departments.
Chief Covey was not able to attend FRI due to the threat that Hurricane Irene posed to his community; he will receive his check at Symposium in the Sun. Congratulations to Chief Talburt and Chief Covey!
July 9… It’s hard to wrap your head around the far-reaching devastation inflicted on land, lives and livelihoods caused by this year’s wildfires and drought. Since January, more than 11,000 blazes fueled by a drought and tinderbox conditions all across Texas have burned more than 3 million acres of Lone star land and destroyed more than 1,300 structures.
But it’s the men and women of Texas’ volunteer fire departments who earned heroes’ recognition for their valiant efforts on the front lines of these blazes. And these volunteers are also people and organizations that desperately — and quite deservingly — now need our help. For details on how you can help, please read the full article and donate through the special website which has been set up.
