IFB Meeting Minutes, August 2007

President Rodger Birchfield called the meeting of the Indianapolis Fire Buffs to order at 1935 on August 15, 2007. Nine members were present; four members were excused. There were no guests.

A moment of silence was observed to honor deceased members and local firefighters. The Pledge of Allegiance followed.

A motion to approve the minutes of the July 2007 meeting was made by David Chambers. The motion was approved.

The Treasurer was not present, so the Treasurer’s report for July 2007 was made by Ed McMichael. A motion to approve the Treasurer’s report was made by Jerry Traub. The motion was approved.

MAIL: SPAAMFAA mailing, Silver Trumpet.

TURNOUT: Jerry Traub reported the National Executive Board decided against a mass printed copy production and mailing of Turnout. It will remain available free of charge on-line. Jim Williamson will continue to print magazines as needed through his sources for those wishing to purchase Turnout individually. There will be a convention special coming out soon.

APPARATUS: Dennis Chambers reported he has done some electrical work on the Ford. He also said he would try to be at the America Remembers event on 9/11 with the apparatus.

Jul 21 – 17 W. Thompson, box alarm for working residence. Ron Cunningham responded at 1427 and served 8 firefighters with water. Secured at 1500.

Jul 21 – 3374 Station Street, structure collapse – car into a house. Responded to by Mary Morgan and Ed McMichael at 2053. 25 firefighters were served with Gatorade and water. Secured at 2247.

Jul 23 – 2002 High Eagle Trail, Speedway, second alarm for a working apartment (Speedway FD, IFD, Wayne Twp). About 45 firefighters were served Gatorade and water by Gene Morris and Ed McMichael. Dispatched at 2156; secured at 0020.

Jul 25 – 1346 Kappes, box alarm plus extra companies for three working residences. Gene Morris, Tod Parker, and Ed McMichael responded at 0215, serving water, Gatorade, and snacks to 45-50 firefighters and 4 civilians. Secured at 0442.

Jul 27 – 8660 Garonne, box alarm plus extra companies for working apartment fire (IFD, Fishers, Lawrence Twp). Responded to by Tod Parker and Ed McMichael at 0353, serving Gatorade, water, and snacks to about 40 firefighters and two civilians. Secured at 0622.

Aug 1 – 3761 S. State Street, Box alarm for apartment fire. Ron Cunningham responded at 1958, but was disregarded in route at 2025.

Aug 4 – 7231 Warrior Trail (Pike Twp), Box alarm plus extra companies for a working apartment fire (IFD, Pike Twp). Tod Parker and Ed McMichael responded, serving 35-40 firefighters with Gatorade, water, and snacks. Run from 0423 to 0535.

Aug 4 – 1125 E. Bradbury, Box alarm for working double residence fire. Gatorade and water were served to about 30 firefighters. Response at 2344 by Ed McMichael.

Aug 11 – 400 Stop 11 Road, Hazmat response for a chemical spill (Perry Twp., IFD, Wayne Twp.). Response by Ralph Mullis, serving water, snacks, and Gatorade to about 30 firefighters. Response times: 1100-1300. 90+ degree day.

Aug 14 – 2510 E. Stop 10 Road, second alarm for double residence fire (Perry Twp., Franklin Twp.). Responded to at 1958 by Ron Cunningham. About 48 firefighters and two civilians were served Gatorade and water. Secured at 2120.

Since our last meeting, Chief Nicoson discussed the enhanced rehab program with Mike Reeves at Local 416. He obtained a list with several retirees who were interested in assisting. The Club presented the program to six retirees at a dinner meeting, and all six agreed to help. “Chief” Van Sant “volunteered” to head up the retirees group. The plan is to get them involved as soon as we have one of the RSU vehicles up and running.

The current status of RSU’s: the City is dragging their feet on agreeing to provide vehicle insurance for our Club. Chief Nicoson is doing everything he can to resolve the matter, but he indicated that a final decision of turning the vehicles over to the Club, with the Club then responsible for their own insurance might happen.

There was a brief discussion of our four options:

1. Get information on our own insurance coverage and take possession of the vehicles;

2. Re-title the vehicles to the Salvation Army and have them insure them;

3. Discuss matter with State Fire Marshall about State ownership/insurance – we run;

4. Drop getting the vehicles and continue runs as we were before.

5. Have RSU operators become $1/year employees of the City.

For lack of total information, this matter was tabled until our next meeting until our options can be explored.

It is interesting to note that one of the retirees made a run during the extremely hot weather spell (see August 11 above) while several members were away at the National Convention. Thanks, Ralph, for your help!

WEBSITE: (www.indianapolisfirebuffs.org) Dennis Chambers reported canteen runs and minutes are now on-line and will be updated monthly. Jack Finney has emailed an article about the history of the Club to Dennis, and that is now in the process of becoming part of the website as well. Anyone having any suggestions for additional pages should email Dennis.

THE “REAL” STATION 12: Dave Babcock reported the Latino firefighter group, who had been planning to stay at the station while here for some training, will not be using Station 12. The back door remains the same.

Jerry Traub said plans for the raffle are underway, although with the convention, not much has happened yet. Sale dates will be as announced at the last meeting and as printed below. As usual, the raffle will kick off at the Retirees’ Dinner. Each person in attendance that evening will receive one free raffle ticket. Of course, additional tickets are available for purchase as well. Last year’s first prize winner was a free ticket.

Betty Riggenbach, the long-time Office Manager for Local 416, is retiring. In recognition and thanks for all the assistance she gave our Club, Jerry Traub made a motion to send a card and gift certificate to Betty. The motion passed.

Mark Burke presented information on the next CERT training class, to be held the four Saturdays in September, starting Sept. 1. Contact Debbie Fletcher, Marion County Emergency Management office, 317-327-7501 for more information. There is also a monthly meeting at Georges Restaurant, 71^st and Binford Blvd., on the first Tuesday of each month. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with an informational meeting afterwards (about 7 p.m.).

Mark Burke also updated the membership with the status of Matt Wood’s health. He continues to recover from a recent surgery, and Mark reports Matt is hoping to be at a meeting in the near future.

Rodger Birchfield noted that the latest recruit class graduates on August 16. They will start shifts the next day.

Jerry Traub reported on the recently ended IFBA National Convention, which was held in Boston (Cambridge), MA. The convention was attended by Jerry Traub, Jim Williamson, and Ed McMichael from our Club.

The highlight of the Convention, at least for our group, was the naming of Jerry Traub as the Fire Buff of the Year. Jerry was presented with a pewter engraved speaking trumpet during a standing ovation at the banquet. This is the first member of our Club to be so recognized. Congratulations, Jerry!

(Back to Jerry’s report): Overall, it was an interesting convention, and it was well executed. Attendees were treated to many apparatus displays, including some very unusual vehicles, like a brush truck (converted from a 5 ton military truck), and several “basket” trucks used to service the still existing and functional street alarm boxes. Please see the Turnout special for pictures.

As far as business, there is a study underway to realign the regions within IFBA. Currently, there are 11 regions, but many have only a few clubs, so combining some may be in the offing. The Executive Board met and the annual Business Meeting of the IFBA was held. John Degenhardt of the Extra Alarm Assoc. of the Twin Cities, MN was installed as the national president.

Jerry was presented with a congratulatory cake (with ice cream) in honor of his award, so he hurriedly made a motion to adjourn at 2116. The motion was approved.

NEXT BREAKFAST – 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, Station 7 A-Shift
NEXT MEETING – 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, Station 7 A-Shift

Indianapolis, Indiana 46220 Fire Buff of the Year