Friday, February 17, 2012 Special Seminars for Firefighters and EMS responders Special Seminars for Firefighters and EMS responders Saturday March 10, 2012 On Saturday, March 10, 2012, the Firemen's Legislative Federation will host two special seminars of interest to area Fire and EMS responders. The first seminar "Cancer Presumption/Workers Compensation and You" is presented by Mike Dryden, an Attorney specializing in Workers Compensation at the law firm of Willig, Williams, and Davidson. He has been heavily involved in assisting emergency responders and the PA Fire and Emergency Services Institute in understanding the protections now afforded them and their families by this new legislation. The second seminar is entitled "State Charitable Solicitation Statues, Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!" This seminar will assist Fire and EMS organization leaders understand the requirements to register with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations and the severe penalties for failure to register as required. It is presented by Karl Emerson, attorney with Montgomery McCracken who previously served as the Director of the PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations. Both of these seminars are being offered at no cost to Emergency Responders as part of the quarterly meeting of the Firemen's Legislative Federation of Pennsylvania being held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Camp Hill, PA. The Seminars will begin at 10:00AM on Saturday, March 10, 2012 in the "Governor B" meeting room located in the main hotel. A free breakfast buffet for attendees will be available before the seminars beginning at 9:00 AM in the hotel's dining room. No pre-registration is required.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Tell the Senate to Pass Fire Grants Reauthorization! Take Action! Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have filed an amendment to legislation that is scheduled to be considered by the U.S. Senate later this week that would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) strongly supports reauthorizing AFG and SAFER and on Tuesday, along with other national fire service organizations, called on the Senate to pass the Lieberman-Collins amendment. Contact your U.S. Senators TODAY and tell them to support the Lieberman-Collins amendment to S. 1813 to reauthorize AFG and SAFER.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 FY 2011 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM
Friday, February 3, 2012 Delaware County Fire Police Hosting Pennsylvania Fire Police Association 65th Convention 2012 ************** When: Saturday, 5/19 (Dinner, Entertainment) and Sunday, 5/20 (Memorial Service – noon, Meeting – 1:00 and Dinner following) Where: Aston Beechwood Fire Company Donation: $15 per ticket ************** Tickets are available from Bob Owsiany (delegate) or at our County meetings in February, March and April.
Thursday, January 26, 2012 FY 2011 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Federal Fire Grants Getting Grantsby Jerry BrantAsk Congress not to cut fire funding in 2012We need to tell our federal legislators that foundation laid by Commission on Fire Prevention and Control needs to be supported rather than destroyed By Jerry Brant As 2011 ended, we marked the 40th anniversary of one of the most influential pieces of legislation involving the nation's fire service. In 1971, the United States Congress appropriated funding to establish the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. Up to this point, subjects such as fire suppression, fire prevention and related topics were perceived not to be a national problem but a local issue. After two years of work, the Commission released its report entitled "America Burning." The report was groundbreaking for its time. It called for a national fire academy, the development and enforcement of uniform building codes and the establishment of a national fire administration, along with other initiatives. The report estimated that 12,000 people were dying annually as the result of fires in this nation. "America Burning" also recommended that more emphasis be placed on fire prevention, increased training of fire service personnel and educating the public about fire safety. In 1987, the USFA convened a workshop to examine the changes that had taken place as a result of the Commission's recommendations and to develop plans for the fire service that would take us into the 21st century. In 1999, President Clinton appointed a panel "to reexamine the evolving role of the fire services in the safety and sustainability of today's American communities." The commission's report reached two major conclusions: 1. "The frequency and severity of fires in America is a result of our nation's failure to adequately apply and fund known loss reduction strategies. The primary responsibility for fire prevention, suppression and action on other hazards dealt with by the fire services properly rests with state and local government. Nevertheless, a substantial role exists for the federal government in funding and technical support." 2. The panel's chair, George K. Bernstein, stated, "Until the USFA is empowered by funding and staffing to truly become the leader in our nation's firefighting efforts, unless the fire services are adequately funded, and unless local communities enforce known fire preventive and suppression measures, the establishment of this commission and its efforts to develop recommendations will have been an exercise in futility." The reason I have given you this historical information is because it appears that the current congressional leadership is about to diverge from this four-decade-old policy. Recently the U.S. House and Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Plan. The 2012 spending plan lowers the amount of funding for the AFG and SAFER programs to $337.5 million. This is a collective reduction of $135 million from FY 2011, when both programs were funded at $405 million. The USFA is cut by $1.5 million, and the program's budget is now more than 40 percent less than it was in 2002. Congress further reduced the amount available to other Homeland Security Initiatives, including Urban Areas Security Initiative, the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Citizen Corps. These programs were cut by nearly 50 percent from their 2011 funding levels. We have made substantial progress in the fire service in America since the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control first issued its report. Civilian fire deaths have decreased by 66 percent, and firefighter fatalities have dropped from 157 to 87 in 2010. At the same time, the number of calls answered by our nation's firefighters has continued to increase. Now a fire call is received every 1.18 seconds in our country. Also, the number of firefighters answering these alarms has been drastically reduced. In particular, the number of volunteer firefighters in this country has dropped by 10 percent in the past 25 years. During that same time, the average age of volunteer firefighters has increased dramatically. In 2009, the percentage of volunteer firefighters over the age of 50 was 21.8 percent; this is nearly double the amount it was just 12 years earlier. The fire service in America needs to respond to related cuts in the federal budget, and we need to do it quickly. In the time it took you to read this article, fire departments in our nation responded to nearly 200 alarms. We need to tell our federal legislators that the foundation laid by the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control needs to be supported and built upon rather than destroyed. We need to tell them that programs like AFG, SAFER and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are working and now is not the time to take steps backward. About the authorJerry Brant is a Senior Grant Consultant and Grant Writer with FireGrantsHelp and EMSGrantsHelp. He has 40 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter in rural west central Pennsylvania. He is a life member of the Hope Fire Company of Northern Cambria, where he served as chief for 15 years. He is currently an active member of the Patton Fire Company #1. For 20 years, Jerry was employed as the executive director and then president of a small non-profit community development corporation. Jerry has successfully written more than $52 million in grant applications and proposals. Jerry can be reached at Jerry.Brant@FireGrantsHelp.com.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Fellow Emergency Responders, PA's Fire & EMS Grant Reauthorization NEEDS your support!!! PA's Fire and EMS Providers Support HB955 Take Action! Fire and EMS Grant Support is Absolutely Necessary "This program has been successful at helping countless volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance organizations over the years, and I am happy to ensure its continuation," said Barrar. "It was a bi-partisan effort to expand the program to cover municipal fire companies. Both volunteer and municipal firefighters are risking everything to protect the lives and property of Pennsylvania citizens. By expanding this program to include municipal fire departments, we may be able to keep more firefighters on duty in Pennsylvania." HB955 would extend the VFCVASGP, which is set to expire on June 30, 2012, through the end of June 2016. With the amendment approved today by the committee, the total available funding in future years would increase from $25 million to $40 million. Funding for the program does not come from the state's General Fund, but is distributed from the State Gaming Fund. During the meeting, Barrar was questioned about how the increase would impact gaming revenue distributions to the Property Tax Relief Fund. "Funding for our emergency services is vital," said Barrar. "Along with the value added to our communities and properties from having a trained and reliable fire and ambulance service, volunteer fire companies save Pennsylvania taxpayers $6 billion annually. In addition to coming through when the fire alarm sounds or the 9-1-1 call is made, volunteers are hard at work in our communities with their efforts to educate the public about fire prevention and respond to non-emergency calls. This grant program will truly have a positive impact on the many emergency response efforts of our fire and ambulance organizations across the Commonwealth." Information about the grant program and Barrar's other legislative priorities is available at SteveBarrar.com. He also posts updates at Facebook.com/RepBarrar.
Saturday, January 14, 2012 Get your HAM Radio License ………. Join the world’s first global wireless “Social Network” Meet people from all walks of life and from around the world. Learn everything you need to know to pass the FCC exam for Your very own Technician Class Amateur Radio License. When: Saturdays – 10 AM to 1 PM – February 4, 11, 18 & 25 Where: Boscov’s - Granite Run Mall – Boscov’s Campus of Courses This course is accredited by the American Radio Relay League [ ARRL] And sponsored by the Marple- Newtown Amateur Radio Club [ MNARC] The course fee is $ 20 – ARRL study materials are included. For your convenience we will schedule an FCC Exam for February 25th at 1 PM n Standard FCC Exam Fee of $ 15 is Extra ARRL accredited instructor, Vic Tenaglia , N3IO, Holds numerous Amateur and Commercial Radio Licenses Pre- registration Required by Saturday January 28, 2012 : To Register or for more information Contact : Vic Tenaglia , N3IO n3io@arrl.net Phone - 610- 291 – 1626 Or Walter Faust , N3FXR walterfaust@comcast.net Phone – 610- 622- 2200
Monday, November 28, 2011 First Annual Training Road Trip The Delaware County Fireman’s Association and the Delaware County Board of Fire and Life Safety have arranged a one day Command Training class at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute’s Incident Command Simulation Center located at the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute College Park Maryland. Learn how to prepare you and your department for all emergencies, and practice via computer simulation. “The Incident Command Simulation Center is comprised of multiple rooms where role playing students “respond” and see only a portion of the incident as in a real situation. Each room is equipped with training aids and a large screen onto which pictures of that portion of the incident are portrayed. Using portable radios, ICS forms, maps, floor plans, and other tools, the students practice skills critical to managing emergencies.” “Stimulating, thought-provoking, and challenging, the scenarios re-create the stress of real world incidents without the risk. Modern software and other technologies allow the student to experience situations that require size-up, analysis, communications, resource allocation, and documentation.” The program limited to one chief officer from 15 Delaware County Departments. Candidates must document completion of NIMS 100, 700, 800 and 200 courses. Letters of request along with documentation, contact address, phone number e-mail address, and Department name should be addressed to the Delaware County Fireman’s Association 1600 Calcon Hook Road Sharon Hill, PA 19079 Attn. ICSC Committee. Letters must be received no later than January 01, 2012. The Fireman’s Association will cover all expenses including transportation, meals and lodging. The tentative schedule is to depart the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center at 08:00 hrs on February 11, 2012. We will stop for brunch and arrive at the College Park Fire Department between 12:00 and 13:00hrs. Afternoon activities may include tours of various Price Georges County Fire Department Facilities, the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the University of Maryland’s College of Fire Protection Engineering. Lodging will be provided by the College Park Fire Department. There may be limited opportunities to ride along to selected alarms. Any Question Please Free to call me 4849046322 Alonzo Reed Delaware County Fireman’s Association Board of Directors Chairman
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 George A. Humphries | Visit Guest Book George A. Humphries, 91 Machinist George A. Humphries, 91, died Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, Quarryville, PA. Born and raised in Colwyn, Mr. Humphries was a longtime resident of Swarthmore before moving to Quarryville. He retired from Rose Tool and Die in Sharon Hill where he was employed as a machinist for many years. His memberships included Swarthmore United Methodist Church, Colwyn Fire Company, Swarthmore Fire Company where he was a Past Chief and he was a lifetime member of the Delaware County Firemans Association. Mr. Humphries was an avid Philadelphia sports fan who enjoyed following the Flyers, Eagles and Phillies. He was also a faithful supporter of the Ridley High School Football Team. He also enjoyed vacations with his family at the beach. Son of the late Walter and Theresa Archibald Humphries; he was the husband of the late Helen Connolly Humphries and Florence Haskins Humphries; also predeceased by sister Helen Scanlan. Survivors: His brother Joseph Humphries of Zephryrhills, FL; many nieces and nephews. Funeral Service 12 Noon on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Marvil Funeral Home, 1110 Main St., Darby, PA. Calling in the funeral home after 11 AM. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Collingdale. Online Condolences: www.marvilfuneralhome.com
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