International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division 2015

International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division 2015 Annual Report Submitted by your SW Division Board of Directors

2014 - 2015 Board of Directors PRESIDENT 1 st VICE-PRESIDENT District Chief Richard Parker Harvey Vol. Fire Company #2, La. (504) 239 -5630 rparker 630@bellsouth. net Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz Dona Ana County Fire & ES Las Cruces, NM (575)647 -7921 rmonsivaiz@donaanacounty. org 2 nd VICE-PRESIDENT IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Fire Chief Tom Bradley Stillwater Fire Department (405)-740 -8308 tbradley@stillwater. org Fire Chief George Glenn Texas A&M (TEEX) (501) 529 -0824 George. Glenn@teex. tamu. edu IAFC INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR SECRETARY - TREASURER Fire Chief Richard Boudreaux West Baton Rouge Fire District 3 (La. ) (225)-346 -5676 rboudreaux@portallen. org Fire Chief Roy Robichaux Belle Chasse FD (La) (504) 394 -4070 rrobichaux@plaqueminesparish. com

2014 - 2015 Board of Directors Arkansas State VP Louisiana State VP Fire Chief Shauwn Howell Pine Bluff Fire & ES (Ark. ) (870) 730 -2048 shauwnhowell@cityofpinebluff. com Fire Chief Robert Beniot Lafayette FD (La. ) (337) 291 -8700 rpbeniot@Lafayette. LA. gov New Mexico State VP Oklahoma State VP Fire Chief Dennis Pacheco NASA Fire Department White Sands Test Facility (575) 524 -5217 dennis. b. pacheco@nasa. gov Fire Chief James Fullingim Norman FD (OK) (405) 742 -8308 jamesfullinim 2@normanok. gov Texas State VP Exhibit Chairman Fire Chief Jack Collier Harker Heights FD (Tx. ) (254) 699 -2688 jcollier@ci. harker-heights. tx. us Fire Chief Donald Bock (Retired) Jefferson Parish FD (La. ) (504) 450 -8756 dbock 1@cox. net

President’s Report District Fire Chief Richard Parker Harvey Vol. Fire Co. #2, La. Greetings to All SW-Division Members, I want to start by saying it is an honor to serve as the President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division. I would like to congratulate the International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division Board of Directors on the job they have doing over the past year. We have continued to work very hard at building the relationships between our great association and all five state associations, along with improving member benefits while increasing membership. I want to also congratulate International Association of Fire Chiefs 2014 -2015 President Chief Keith Bryant and his Board on a Job well done. I also want to wish International Association of Fire Chiefs 2015 – 2016 President Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr and her Board the best of luck on their term in office. I need to give a special congratulation to Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr who is also the first female to be elected President, Chief Keith Bryant, and Chief Tom Jenkins all of whom are members of the Southwestern Division. This is a great example of how the Southwestern Division members get involved with making leading the Fire Service and helping shape it into what it is today. I would like to congratulate Chief Adam Klein on a successful term as the President of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association. I would like to thank the Board of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association for extending an open invitation to Secretary Robichaux, IAFC Director Rick Boudreaux, Louisiana State Vice – President Robert Benoit and myself to attend all of their Board meetings again this past year and allowing us to set up the SWFCA booth in the exhibit area. I would also like to congratulate them on a great conference in June, which was also the first time ever having a joint conference between the Louisiana Fire Chiefs and the Louisiana Firefighters. I also want to congratulate Chief Robert Benoit from the City of Lafayette Fire Department on being elected again at our International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division state meeting during the Louisiana Fire Chief’s Association Conference to serve as the International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division Louisiana State Vice - President.

President’s Report District Fire Chief Richard Parker Harvey Vol. Fire Co. #2, La. Your International Association of Fire Chiefs Southwestern Division Board of Directors has been busy laying the ground work for hiring an Executive Director / Executive assistant. We have narrowed the applicant field down and are presently conducting interviews. This is just one example of how we are working on improving member benefits while increasing membership. I look forward to seeing everyone at what is shaping up to be another great Southwestern Division Conference at the Best Western Landmark in Metairie Louisiana this year; the dates are October 7 – 10, 2015. The theme of this year’s Conference is The Past, Present, and Future of the Fire Service. Some of the topics we will be discussing this year are: The State of the United States Fire Administration: United States Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell Jr. Assistant Chief Clay OKC Fire Department and NIST State Fire Training Directors round table: State Directors from the five states from the Southwest Division Leadership development: Chief Tom Jenkins Rogers Arkansas In closing I want to thank the members from the Southwestern Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for electing me to serve them again for another year as your President. Richard A. Parker Jr. – President IAFC - Southwestern Division

A. Franklin Deuble Jr Memorial Scholarship The SWD-IAFC awards a college scholarship the A. Franklin Deuble Jr Memorial Scholarship twice yearly. It was established in the memory of the late A. Franklin (Frank) Deuble, Jr. , a Past President of the Southwestern. It was established to honor his work and dedication to the SWD-IAFC. SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA ELIGIBILITY 1) Applicant must be a child or grandchild of an active member, associate member, or active life member of the SWD-IAFC. 2) Minimum a 3. 0 GPA upon completion of senior year in a high school, or previous college term. 3) Good moral character as attested by the letters of recommendation. 4) Two letters of recommendation must be submitted with the scholarship application of which at least one letter must be from a faculty member from the last school attended. 5) Applicant must submit an essay of at least one hundred-fifty words on how this scholarship will help fulfill their educational and career goals (see application). 6) Scholarship recipients will be required to develop a report (due to be received by the SWD-IAFC no later than sixty (60) days after the close of the Semester or Term) indicating benefits received from the A. Frank Deuble, Jr. Scholarship award. Scholarship applications and/or information is available on the website or contact the secretary.

International Director Fire Chief Rick Boudreaux West Baton Rouge Fire District 3, La. Serving the membership of the Southwestern Division is a great honor and I thank you for the privilege that you the members have bestowed upon me. I am committed to providing exemplary service to the membership of the Southwestern Association of Fire Chiefs, as together we meet the challenges facing today’s fire and emergency service. The Southwestern Division is comprised of a very large and diverse geographic area with a wide range of emergency service organizations providing services to millions of customers. Our strength is in our membership; with members representing volunteer, combination, and career departments ranging in size from extremely rural through major metropolitan departments, we have a vast array of knowledge and experience to draw upon to guide our profession now and into the future. The wealth of talent within the Southwestern Division is evidenced by the current leadership of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Immediate Past President Keith Bryant of Oklahoma City Fire Department, President Rhoda Mae Kerr of Austin Fire Department, and Second Vice President Tom Jenkins of Rogers Fire Department are all proud members of the Southwestern Division. Additionally, dozens of other extremely talented chief and company officers represent the division on a variety of boards, committees, and task forces. These men and women constantly exhibit passion and commitment to both the fire service and this association. The input and participation of our members is vital for the success of your association; opportunities range from elected office, to active participation on a variety of working groups, to simply sharing your experiences with other through networking opportunities such as conferences or the IAFC blog known as Knowledge. Net at http: //knowledge. iafc. org/home. The Southwestern Association of Fire Chiefs is a strong, vibrant, and growing organization with 1101 members and 95 lifetime members which represents an over eleven percent increase in membership in the past four years. Despite healthy membership statistics and many of our members in leadership roles, the division is still challenged to remain relevant to the modern chief officer. We must constantly evolve to meet the needs of members and to identify how a new generation of fire officer wants to connect with their peers, receive information, and participate in your association. We also strive to develop mutually beneficial relationships with the various state fire chief organizations by identifying partnership opportunities and actively participating with state associations’ boards and conferences. In addition, as mentioned earlier, the division is very active in the governance and providing expertise to the IAFC which further provides opportunities for our members to actively participate in the betterment of the fire service.

International Director Fire Chief Rick Boudreaux West Baton Rouge Fire District 3, La. I was fortunate to participate in several key activities this past year which gave me the opportunity to better voice the needs and concerns of the members of the Southwestern Divisions. The IAFC selected me to serve at the AFG/SAFER Criteria Development meeting; this group of fire service leaders representing the nine major fire service organizations reviews and develops the specific criteria by which the AFG and SAFER grants are reviewed and administered. Another opportunity to advocate for the Southwestern Division members was realized through the bi-annual IAFC Strategic Direction Development meeting. The strategic plan maintains the core components of LEAD, EDUCATE, and SERVE but allowed input and identified how these goals can better meet member needs. A copy of the IAFC 2015 -2016 Strategic Direction can be downloaded at http: //www. iafc. org/About/content. cfm? Item. Number=7038. The Southwestern Division in association with state chief associations and the IAFC continues to tackle the tough issues of the fire service. There are numerous pressing, even wicked issues facing the fire service and your association has not and will not shy away from addressing solutions to these items. Just a few of these issues are: Diversity in the Fire Service- The fire service continues to trail the military and other public safety disciplines in the area of diversity, especially gender diversity. Recently, the IAFC in conjunction with the Department of Labor participated in a panel discussion at the White House on diversity in emergency services. Patient Protection Affordable Care Act- the PPACA will have significant implications for fire based EMS; the IAFC has convened a committee to address these implications and develop recommendations to position the fire service for success. We have also hosted webinars published articles on this subject to answer the hundreds of questions generated by our members. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles- UAV’s show great promise in fire service applications especially in the enhancement of situational awareness for large scenes. Unfortunately, navigating the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration for licensing, training, and so on, can be overwhelming for fire service leaders. The IAFC has created a task force to study the issues surrounding UAV’s to help guide the members to successful implementation of this new technology.

International Director Fire Chief Rick Boudreaux West Baton Rouge Fire District 3, La. The leadership of the Southwestern Association of Fire Chiefs along with the leadership and staff of the IAFC works hard every day to service the members of the Southwestern Division. These dedicated fire service professionals are committed to the success of our association and to the success of our members. It is our goal to develop programs and services that are beneficial to the fire service, our member departments, and to the professional development and benefit of our individual members. It is a pleasure and one of the great highlights of my career to represent you and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges in the coming years. If I can be of assistance to you or your department please feel free to contact me. Rick Boudreaux – International Director IAFC – Southwestern Division

1 st Vice President’s Report Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz Dona Ana County, NM. Greetings to all: I will begin with saying thank you to the membership for allowing and entrusting me to serve you as your 1 st Vice President of the Southwestern Division of the International Association Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Every year it has been a rewarding and humbling experience. Thank you again, for this opportunity to represent you. Some communities across our five states are still experiencing budget problems and seeking new ways to overcome response and staffing issues. However, there appears to be some light shining in the economy. We are starting to see some vendors more willing to participate in our conferences and new ones exploring to come in. Our membership in the Southwestern has also increased this year. This is a good challenge for us as your Board in providing you with better networking opportunities, information that will assist you to do your jobs and first class educational programs. Last year, I informed you that the Southwestern was exploring the idea of hiring an Executive Director in order to assist our organization with funding opportunities and expanded service to our membership. Well, the Board set some salary funding aside, interviews were conducted and a recommendation was made. However, during our Board meeting at FRI, the Board decided that you would be better served if we hired a “pay for service” individual (she comes highly recommended) to assist us with some of the gaps, while continuing to explore the Executive Director position. My hope is that you will soon experience the benefits. In moving forward, I am still committed to finding ways that will offer opportunities in education, networking and scholarships opportunities for all of our members. I pledge that my focus will continue to be about how the Southwestern Division can better serve its members.

1 st Vice President’s Report Fire Marshal Robert Monsivaiz Dona Ana County, NM. Developing Fire Officer Leaders is critical to establish priorities for our future. This year’s 2015 Southwestern Conference will be a joint conference with the Louisiana Fire Chief’s Association. The conference will provide topics about leadership, training issues and new fire behavior research information. Don’t miss this great upcoming conference in Metairie, Louisiana for great educational opportunities as well as lots of networking. Thank you for the privilege to serve your organization as the 1 st Vice President. Hope to see you in Louisiana at the conference. Robert Monsivaiz – 1 st Vice President IAFC-Southwestern Division

2 nd Vice President’s Report Fire Chief Tom Bradley Stillwater, OK. Greetings All, The Southwest Division has been busy in attendance of Fri Rescue International conference in Atlanta this past week. I enjoyed visiting with many of our members who attended the Division Lunch. During the conference one of our members, Chief Tom Jenkins from Rogers Arkansas was sworn in as Third Vice-President of the IAFC and Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr of Austin, Texas was made the President and CEO with Chief Bryant becoming the past president. This is quite amazing considering they all are from the Southwest. On October 7 -10, I invite you to attend the Southwest Division Conference in Metairie La. President Parker has worked diligently to ensure that this conference will meet your expectations. I hope each of you will consider having your spouse attend and enjoy the partners program tailored for them. As you begin to plan for educational opportunities for the next year, your division has partnered with the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association to hold a joint educational conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This conference will include a Golf retreat, a business meeting with elections and vendor show with all the latest and greatest items for the fire service education program. This conference will end with a banquet featuring food and fun; please plan now to attend. My most sincere appreciation to Chief Kelly Sawyer and the Oklahoma Chief Executive board for allowing us to be a part of this excellent program. Congratulations to James Fullingim who was elected as the Oklahoma Vice President of the SWD of the IAFC. James has worked hard for this organization and has served on the board previously as President and Vice President. His experience and knowledge has been a great asset.

2 nd Vice President’s Report Fire Chief Tom Bradley Stillwater, OK. Over the course of the last few years, the Board has explored the idea of employing a Director to assist with communication to the membership, to assist in the development of conferences, and seek additional funding from untapped venues. The board has authorized the Secretary/Treasurer Roy Robichaux to employ an individual on a limited basis to provide additional assistance. As a closing comment, I would encourage all members who desire to serve on committees for the IAFC or representing the IAFC to other organizations; please inform your state vice-president and let him know that you have an interest in an appointment. Many times we are asked with little notice and a very short suspense time to nominate a member to sit on a committee; having your name in advance will assist in your nomination. Tom Bradley – 2 nd Vice President IAFC-Southwestern Division

Arkansas State V. P. ’s Report; Chief Shauwn Howell Pine Bluff Fire Department The past year has been active for Arkansas' fire services. Since the last conference, the Arkansas Association of Fire Chiefs has again been active in many projects affecting the fire service. Fire Chief Tom Jenkins of Rogers Arkansas was elected 2015 IAFC 2 nd Vice President. We continue to deal with several legislative issues regarding firefighter benefits and safety concerns at the state capitol. Each year we work to address multiple bills filed that may affect firefighters and fire department operations. Arkansas is no stranger to natural disasters, this year Southeast Arkansas experienced server flooding damaging large amounts of farm land residential property. These towns will spend months of rebuilding their cities. There has been several different Emergency Response Teams that have responded to provide technical search and rescue functions. We also have begun utilizing our statewide fire mutual aid system and continue to grow the system. The plan was adopted by the AAFC at its 2010 convention and has been used for firefighter funeral coverage and a wildland fire. Our annual convention was held again in Hot Springs, June 24 -28, 2015 Working with state emergency management, the AAFC is working to obtain federal funding to train and equip two state USAR teams, the first being in NW Arkansas and the second in central Arkansas. The hope is that if funding can be obtained, additional state USAR teams can be developed. The state has lagged behind in its ability to provide type II USAR response capabilities. We look forward to a productive and active year in 2016. Shauwn Howell – Arkansas VP IAFC - Southwestern Division

Louisiana State V. P. ’s Report; Fire Chief Robert Benoit Lafayette Fire Department Greetings to my fellow comrades in the fire service, As your representative in the Southwestern Division of Fire Chiefs, it is a both a privilege and an honor to continue representing the fire service leaders throughout the State of Louisiana. 2015 turned out to be another busy and exciting year for departments across our state. With several new assignments, I was very busy traveling across the state and division participating on boards and commissions. Our year started off with an outstanding conference in Dallas during Fire Rescue International 2014 where we were installed by the President and Chairman of the board of the International Association of Fire Chief ( IAFC), Chief G. Keith Bryant. The board held its first meeting in Harvey, Louisiana on February 7, 2015 under the leadership of President Richard Parker, Jr. We discussed the possibility of hiring an executive director to assist the board with running the affairs of the division. The task was assigned to State VPs’ Jack Collier, and Robert P. Benoit along with , Exhibit Chair Donald Bock and Secretary Treasurer Roy Robichaux Jr. We also discussed plans to host the Southwestern Education Conference in conjunction with the Louisiana State Fire Chiefs fall education Symposium in October of 2015, in Metairie LA. I continued to attend the quarterly meetings of the Louisiana Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) which is chaired by Christopher Guilbeaux, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and was also appointed to serve on the Broadband Subcommittee, chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Adam White, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Both organizations are assisting with the implementation of Louisiana First. Net under the authority of Colonel Michael Edmonson, Superintendent of Louisiana State Police, who is the State single point of contact (SPOC) for Louisiana.

Louisiana State V. P. ’s Report; Fire Chief Robert Benoit Lafayette Fire Department On February 28, 2015, the Constitution Bylaws and Resolution Committee (CBR) met at IAFC Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. Due to a very bad snow storm, I was stranded in the Airport in Dallas and did not get to the meeting on time. The agenda consisted of the following items. 1. Reviewed FLSS CBL update 2. Discuss International Membership 3. Review Southeastern Division bylaw changes 4. Discuss policy items to take out of CBL 5. Review resolution honoring Chief Bryant 6. Discuss Chief Bryant’s by-law changes. 7. Reviewed Company Officer Leadership Section Bylaws In 2010, the IAFC requested that its legal counsel conduct a review of its constitution and bylaws. Counsel recommended changes to ensure compliance with New York state law (the IAFC is incorporated in New York). The recommendations were reviewed extensively by the Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions (CBR) Committee over the past four years. In the course of that review, the CBR agreed to some changes; others it believed were not warranted. A copy of the constitution and bylaws showing the proposed changes recommended by the CBR and is available at www. iafc. org/cbr The recommendations with certain amendments on the floor were voted on by the membership in attendance at FRI 2015 in Atlanta. I also attended the convention in Atlanta and was in attendance for the CBR committee meeting held at the conference on August 26 th. After serving two 3 year terms on the board for a total of 6 years, which is the maximum anyone can serve on committees, I was replaced by an outstanding member of our division, Fire Chief Melvin Wheat, who was also in attendance and will do a great job representing our division. On May 18, 2015 I was appointed to the IAFC’s Human Relations Committee, by IAFC President and Chairman of the Board, Chief Bryant and have been meeting via conference calls. At FRI I had the opportunity to attend my first meeting where I was able to meet the committee members. I am looking forward to working with this committee to help improve the relationship between the IAFC and the membership. Thank you Chief Bryant for considering me for this committee.

Louisiana State V. P. ’s Report; Fire Chief Robert Benoit Lafayette Fire Department On June 16, -20, 2015, I attended the Louisiana State Fire Chiefs/Louisiana Fireman’s Joint Conference in Marksville Louisiana, which was very successful. With the significant changes on the horizon for the fire rating, both organizations did a phenomenal job of merging the two associations together that presented valuable information to all in attendance. Congratulations to Chiefs Kenny Hunt and Adam Kline on a job well done. I was also re-elected at this conference to serve as VP for the Southwestern t Division next year and want to express my sincere thanks to everyone for their support. Fire Rescue International was held August 24 - 29, 2015 in Atlanta GA. , and very well attended. The various workshops offered all in attendance the opportunity to network with peers while learning valuable information to improve leadership skills. The Southwestern Division Luncheon was held on Thursday at noon, August 27 th which included a packed house. The executive board of the IAFC addressed the membership with positive remarks about how we in the Southwestern do an outstanding job in representing the association, which is something that the whole state can be proud of. We also made a decision during a board meeting at FRI to utilize the assistance of Lisa Davis who works with other divisions instead of hiring an executive director, a significant cost savings to the association. This year is not over yet. We still have one more important date which is our Annual Southwestern Fire Chief’s Conference being held October 7 -10 2015 in Metairie, Louisiana, hosted by our own President, Chief Richard Parker Jr. Please plan to attend and support President Parker. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your VP and I look forward to seeing you in Metairie. Robert P Benoit – Louisiana VP IAFC – Southwestern Division

New Mexico V. P. ’s Report; Fire Chief Dennis Pacheco NASA/WSTF Fire Department Greetings from the Desert Southwest! It has been quiet year in the SWD with a lot going on in the background. We have had two Board meetings since the beginning of the year and have covered a lot of info during the those meetings. Your Board has been working hard to continue to be as progressive as possible. We had a great turnout at the SWD luncheon held in Atlanta with the main topic of that meeting making a decision on the Executive Director position for the SWD. This has been an ongoing topic for years now and we were finally meeting with the final candidates selected from the interview panel. After a long discussion it was determined that the best direction for our Division to take was to seek out assistance from the Director of the Southeastern Division to help move us forward. The decision to take that route was unanimous and Lisa Moatts has agreed to help us until a Director that is best suited for our Division can be selected. She has hit the ground running and has already opened up Social Media sites for the SWD and will soon be redesigning the website. Those are just the start of the positive changes taking place. Chief Bryant has completed his term as the IAFC President with Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr taking the helm at the 2015 FRI in Atlanta. Chief Kerr is the first female President in the history of the IAFC. We should be proud of their accomplishments as Both Chief’s are members of the SWD. And finally, my thanks to the NM membership for allowing me to continue to serve them on the SWD Board. At the 2015 NMFCA Conference I was again voted in to represent NM for another year. I am grateful to the NM Fire Chief’s Association for the continued support they have shown the SWD. I know budget constraints make it hard for NM Chief’s to travel but I do hope to see some of you at the 2015 SWD Conference in Metairie, Louisiana. Thanks for all you do for the Fire Service and please…. Stay Safe. Dennis Pacheco, State Vice President – New Mexico IAFC Southwestern Division

Oklahoma V. P. ’s Report Fire Chief James Fullingim Norman Fire Department Greetings, Stillwater Fire Chief Tom Bradley will soon be installed as the 1 st Vice President of the Southwestern Division and has been actively preparing for the 2016 conference in Oklahoma. This educational conference will be co-hosted with the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA) in Oklahoma City April 5 -9, 2016. OFCA president Kellie Sawyer and Chief Bradley will ensure a wide variety of quality speakers as well as a vendor’s show, golf tournament and outer networking events. Please make your plans early to attend this educational conference. The Southwestern Division gives two (2) $500 educational scholarships annually to deserving students. The student must be a child or grandchild of a SWD-IAFC member-in-good-standing to apply. If your child or grandchild qualifies, please go to the SWD-IAFC website and download an application. One of the greatest benefits to our organization is the networking opportunities. No matter the issue, opportunity, challenge or problem you may be facing, the chances are there is someone in our organization that has some insight or experience. The Southwestern Division can be the avenue to get you in contact with others that may be able to assist. Please join us at our conference October 5 -10, 2015 in Metairie, La. President Richard Parker and Secretary Robichaux are planning an outstanding conference that has a good blend of educational and entertainment events on the agenda. This will be a great opportunity for you to get involved. If I can ever be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me. Best regards, James Fullingim - Oklahoma VP IAFC-Southwestern Division

Texas V. P. ’s Report. ; Fire Chief Jack Collier Harker-Heights Fire Department Wildfires in Texas are on the increase, due to heavy growth during spring and early summer coupled with extreme dry conditions in late summer. Charles Addington, Fire Chief/Mayor/MD of Wolforth Volunteer Fire Department in north Texas near Lubbock, selected as Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year at FRI by Pierce Manufacturing. Chief Addington is perhaps, the busiest person around. Mayor of the City, Fire Chief, rancher, and physician in charge of the emergency department at Lubbock Hospital. What a contribution he makes! Rhoda Mae Kerr, Fire Chief of Austin, TX, sworn in as the first ever female President and CEO of the IAFC. She has shattered many “glass ceilings”, but none as important as this. We are proud of Chief Kerr, and look forward to a great year of progress under her leadership. We are also proud of outgoing IAFC President Keith Bryant of Oklahoma City. Thank you sir for all you have done to represent the Southwest Division and the IAFC. Job well done sir! Jack Collier, Texas VP IAFC – Southwestern Division

IAFC-SWD Strategic Plan Goal # 1: “To LEAD” Goal # 2: “To EDUCATE” To LEAD by being the preeminent voice and advocate for the fire and emergency services on SW regional policy and in government. To EDUCATE current and future fire and emergency services leaders by providing training, education and professional development opportunities. STRATEGIES Improve involvement of SWD between IAFC and State Chief’s organizations. – Work with IAFC to improve relations with Division and State Organizations. – Ensure state VP’s elected at state mtgs. – Encourage each state chief’s assn. to include the SWD State VP as liaison org. , maybe ex-official member of state BOD. Continue to advocate current legislative priorities/issues. – Serve as a conduit for national issues. Serve as a resource for local/state legislative issues. Continue to support the Educational Committee with development and implementation of higher education during annual conferences. – Explore requirements for accrediting education. – Solicit the schools of higher learning to offer education opportunities at the Annual Conference. – Make a connection with all five states so that training held in one state will be accepted in all five states. Support and advocate for training and development of current company officers desiring to serve as future chief officers. – Research and determine the feasibility of providing an educational component to the fire service organizations within the division. – Serve as an educational resource for existing state professional development programs.

IAFC-SWD Strategic Plan Goal # 3: “To SERVE” Goal # 4: “To SUPPORT” To SERVE by providing services and products of value to our membership, affiliates and partners. To SUPPORT IAFC & SWD membership, affiliates and partners by providing services and products of valve. STRATEGIES Fulfill the organizations financial responsibility by creating and developing additional revenue streams to support programs and initiatives. – Increase IAFC membership. – Research and implement new programs to increase Division income. – Maintain fiscal responsibility by monitoring and controlling expenditures. Support the IAFC in developing resources to assist fire and emergency leaders who are confronted with challenges that exceed their resources to manage. – Increase SW Division participation on IAFC activities and committees. Support membership by facilitating IAFC resources. – Identify requirements and promote IAFC available resources. STRATEGIES To improve Communications with SW Division membership. – Investigate mass emailing techniques. – Promote Daily Dispatcher and explore options for posting information. – Enhancements to the website. Seeks ways to provide our membership with additional services and resources to enhance the valve of membership. – Implement mechanisms to continuously seek out, evaluate and respond to feedback from membership. – Increase membership participation in SW Division committees and business.

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Fire – Rescue GPO: The SWD-IAFC participates in a national Fire-Rescue Group Purchasing Organization (Fire-Rescue GPO) wherein a portion of the money that is spent with the Fire-Rescue GPO is returned to the SWD-IAFC. The SWD-IAFC will also be sharing a portion of the monetary returns with the various state fire organizations which the Board deems best represents the chief fire officers and the state’s fire services within the state. The goals of Fire-Rescue GPO are: • • • Increase the buying power of SWD-IAFC members through volume purchasing and the simplification of the purchasing process thereby reducing internal costs. Increasing membership in the SWD-IAFC. Provide revenue enhancement opportunities to the SWD-IAFC and State Organizations. Facilitate the negotiating power of consolidated buyers to provide choice, cost savings, and a network of resources to IAFC members. For more information, visit their website at www. firerescue-gpo. com.