Fire Chiefs' Council of Suffolk County, N.Y.

COUNCIL NEWS:
THE COUNCIL REGRETS TO REPORT THAT FATHER DAN HARRIS, CHAPLIN TO THE HAMPTON BAYS FD AND THIS COUNCIL HAS ANSWERED HIS LAST ALARM. WE REMEMBER HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE FIRE COMMUNITY AND EXTEND OUR DEEP CONDOLENCES. FIREMATIC SERVICES ARE SCHEDULED FOR 7:30PM ON MODAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 AT HAMPTON BAYS STATION 1 ON 106 PONQUOGUE AVENUE, HAMPTON BAYS.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 13, 2012 AT HOLBROOK FD. THESE MEETINGS PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CHIEFS ON CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING THE FIRE SERVICE IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK STATE AND NATIONWIDE, SO PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND!!!!

YOUR 2012 OFFICERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

PRESIDENT ANTHONY LAFERRERA NORTH BABYLON FD

1ST VICE-PRESIDENT JOHN CARNEY BRENTWOOD FD

2ND VICE-PRESIDENT JOSEPH D'ALESSANDRO DIX HILLS FD

SGT AT ARMS SCOTT THEBOLD MIDDLE ISLAND FD

TREASURER JOHN UREVICH RIVERHEAD FD

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY JAY EGAN SELDEN FD

RECORDING SECRETARY JOHN (CHIP) BANCROFT WESTHAMPTON BEACH FD

As we continue to address the major challanges for the Suffolk County Volunteer Fire Service, we need everyones support. We still need to ensure the proper funding and legislative support to maintain our dedicated and outstanding service to the communities we serve.

Legislation at the federal, state and county level will be critical and we will need your organizations to convince your respective legislators to support our needs. We have established a coordinated agenda with the other major organizations - Fire Districts, FASNY, etc., to address all the issues.

Our new slate of officers will need everyone's support to meet the challanges facing the fire service this coming year. They will be making their way around the county attending the various township chiefs council meetings to update you on the issues facing the fire service and listening to your ideas and opinions. If you would like them to attend a specific meeting please do not hesitate to call. If you are interested in hosting a meeting in 2012 please contact anyone of the officers.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NYS CHIEFS, NYS DISTRICTS AND FASNY THIS YEAR TO HAVE A STRONGER VOICE WITH BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATURES ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE FIRE SERVICE - SUCH AS: THE ROPE BILL, VEEB FUNDING, VEHICLE SAFETY, HEALTH INSURANCE, 2% MONIES, SAFER & AFG PROGRAMS, BROADBAND FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION.

A COPY OF THE NYS 2012 "UNITED ISSUES OF CONCERN" IS AVAILABLE UNDER LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES SECTION

THE CFSI SYMPOSIUM AND DINNER NEXT YEAR IN WASHINGTON DC IS ON MAY 2 & 3, 2012. WE WILL BE TRYING TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE TREASURY NEXT YEAR SO GET YOUR RESERVATIONS IN EARLY. CONTACT RON BARZ OR BOB HOLLEY FOR INFORMATION.

THIS YEAR'S TRIP WAS A GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE PLACING OF THE WREATH AT THE "TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER" AND OUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, PETER KING IS BEING HONORED AS "CFSI LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR". YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE PICTURES IN FIRE NEWS WHO DID A GREAT JOB WITH COVERAGE OF THE EVENT. WE HAD FIRE SERVICE REPRESENTATION FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND FROM ALL THE MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS. U.S. REPRESENTATIVES FROM NASSAU, SUFFOLK, WESTCHESTER AND OTHER COUNTIES ATTENDED OUR LEGISLATIVE MEETING AT THE CANNON OFFICE BUILDING TO DISCUSS OUR CRITICAL FIRE SERVICE ISSUES.

All Departments!!! Don't forget to ensure "ALL" our volunteers and their family members are registered voters. The only way we get our voices heard is to let our legislators know what we need and that we are VOTING!!!
ACCESS FOLLOWING WEBSITE FOR REGISTRATION FORM: www.firefightersvote.com

Our annual spring scholarship seminar is on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 7:00PM at Brookhaven National Labs. This year's information and Registration Form on Seminar will shortly be available for download from the Registration Form link on this page. PLAN TO ATTEND THIS OUTSTANDING TRAINING THIS YEAR AND HELP FUND OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM!!!!!

We give out three scholarships. Two(2) to graduating high school seniors and one(1) to an active volunteer firefighter or EMS member. The scholarship applications are available for download from this web site under the Registration Forms link. If you need an application or have any questions, please contact Chief Anthony LaFerrera at 631-484-7917 or Chief Greg Anderson at 516-241-1985.

FIRE FIGHTER'S AND EMS RESPONDERS CANCER SUPPORT NETWORK:

A new network service is available to support those firfighters and their families that have been diagnosed with any type of cancer. The website is www.firefightercancersupport.org. You can also contact the NY Regional Director Anthony Cruz at 631-495-4222, email missle75@aol.com or Ron Barz at 516-318-7794, email ronald1943@aol.com.

COUNCIL STORE:
SUFFOLK COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS COUNCIL LAPEL PINS - $5.00 EACH
1995 SUFFOLK COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS COUNCIL WILDFIRE PINS - $5.00
SUFFOLK COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS COUNCIL CAR STICKERS - $2.00

THESE ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT EVERY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM MAILED TO YOU PLEASE EMAIL PAST PRESIDENT GREG ANDERSON AT gregandr@optonline.net.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Chiefs who are interested in getting information on buildings in their respective areas from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) can log on to web site www.isomitigation.com and go to the Fire Chiefs Online section and apply for a user ID and password. This site can help chiefs do preplans of buildings.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Please see the "Articles" page for depts looking for equipment.
If you have spare equipment that you are looking to get rid of or are in need of equipment, please contact Craig Zitek, 631 831-8842, to put it on our web page.

FIREMATIC SERVICES: If you have an chief or past chief pass away please contact a member of the executive board(DIRECTORY page)as soon as possible, so that we may have a representative attend the service. INFO NEEDED: Date, Time, Location of Firematic service; Proper spelling of Departed Chief's Name; and Religious affilliation.

We need all Chiefs to attend their local Chiefs Council meetings and the County Chiefs meeting in order to remain current with the issues affecting the Fire Service.

We would also like to welcome any Chiefs that may have been recently elected, please check the schedules for both the County and Township Chiefs Councils meetings and try to attend. Remember the Associations and Councils are only as good as the input and participation they receive from its members.