This morning began with registration at the IAFF convention. The exhibit hall provided to be helpful in finding new programs, products, and activities.

Check out Project heroes : http://www.firehouse.com/news/2005/ppe.html. The gear was created by Total Fire Group. This gear is wild. The turnout gear fully encapsulates the firefighter. The exhausted breath returns to the turnout gear to positively pressurize it and cool the firefighter. There are several other design notes. Check out the link above for more information.

We also saw a group from www.firefightercancersupport.com. I will report more on this site and what they have to offer in the future. Check them out, if you know anyone battling cancer pass the word along.

We aren’t sure if the convention hall will have internet access. If it does, I will update this site and the Local 1132 site regularly.

The IAFF Media Awards were published today and Local1132.org received second place for the Affiliate website award. RoanokeFire.com got a little mention as well. It is good to see all the hard work on the website paying off. The awards for Affiliate website were as follows:

1st Place – Toronto Firefighters Local 3888: www.torontofirefighters.org
2nd Place – Roanoke Fire Fighters Local 1132: www.local1132.org
Honorable Mention – California Professional Firefighters: www.cpf.org
Honorable Mention – Hamtramck, MI Local 750: www.hamtramckfirefighters.com

Reminder that the Golf Tournament is coming up on June 9th. If you would like to play let Tina O’Brien or myself know. If you would like to sponsor the tournament let us know. This year there will be shirts for all the players. The image above is what will be on the shirts. The shirts will be tan with blue lettering. Come on out and support the MDA, meet some firefighters, drink some beer, have some fun, eat some bbq, drink some beer, win some great door prizes, and did I mention drink some beer.

The Roanoke Firefighters started off the season on the wrong foot this year. We played Automotive Specialists and the score was A lot to A little. The firefighters being the ones who scored a little. I made my debut on the Softball field, having not played baseball or anything that resembles it since about the 5th grade, and my Dad was coaching. Yeah I know, most of you think that 5th grade was only last year. Ha Ha. Actually I spent 7th-post High School playing Lacrosse.

I played catcher in the game tonight, tagged one out coming home, and caught a fly. I guess that is pretty eventful. At the plate I had two singles and popped out.

Travis “I got it” Meador played outfield next to Matt Wheeling, they were certainly busy. The bloopers reel will be ready soon. Seriously, it was a good time, and we all had a lot of fun.

Roanoke Fire Fighters Local 1132:

Mark McConnel, David Bowers, and Granger Macfarlane have been endorsed by Roanoke Fire Fighters Association Local 1132 for Roanoke City Council Elections 2006 [Endorsement letter below].

Keeping Roanoke Safe

Roanoke has reached a political crossroad, and this year’s election will decide the path we take. On one side we have a system where Elected Officials dictate the direction of the city, with little or no direction from the citizens. The other side leads us towards a system where the people have a say in their future, through their Elected Officials.

The Roanoke Fire Fighters Association feels that the Citizens of Roanoke should have more say in the decisions that affect their City. However for this to occur, it will require a change in City Councils philosophy. Our City Council can no longer make decisions without regard for the Citizens that elected them to their Council Seat. They must realize that they are the voice of the Citizens and have a responsibility to carry out the wishes of the Citizens.

We recently sat down and spoke with Council Candidates. We tried to identify Candidates that had the strength to give the City back to its Residents. We tried to find Candidates that were serious about getting involved in the business of the City. We must have Candidates that will question the decisions of our City Government and are passionate enough to ensure that the best interest of the Citizens be considered.

We sought Candidates who truly understand the phrase “Our employees are our greatest asset” A phrase found in the City’s mission and vision statements. At a time when health care cost are soaring, employee’s salaries are well below state average, employee morale at an all time low, retaliation toward employees a common occurrence and many other employee benefits being cut, we need Candidates who truly understand the relationship between the efforts of the City’s workforce and the success of the City. We sought Candidates that were capable of not only breaking down the old system but were also capable of building a solid foundation for a new system… a system based on respect. Respect for the Citizens as well as the employees of this great City.

The quality of all of the Candidates made our task of identifying our endorsements very difficult, but we were able to identify the Candidates that we know possess the skills necessary to take our City Government into a new era… An era that will bring about not only financial responsibility, but one that will also restore the faith of the Citizens in the administration of the City.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, we are asking you to join the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association in supporting Mark McConnel, David Bowers and Granger Macfarlane for City Council.

Together we can change how Roanoke governs. Together we can give the tough choices that Roanoke faces back to the Citizens of Roanoke. We urge you to cast your vote for these candidates on May 2nd.

Rodney A. Jordan
President
Roanoke Fire Fighters Association

I am a proud International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) member as well as a member of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) and the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association (RFFA). As an IAFF member we are entitled to displaying the IAFF Sticker on our vehicles. This is a symbol of Pride and Brotherhood. I travel a lot by Interstate and I enjoy seeing other stickers out there. I have read of Brothers/Sisters being assisted by other IAFF members in a time of need all because the sticker in the window.

Any IAFF member is able to get these stickers. As a Sec./Treas. of my Local (1132) I know that each year we are sent the typical red IAFF stickers. If we want we can purchase customized IAFF stickers through OregonFire.com. But you have to have proof of IAFF membership to order, either by letterhead or by your Local’s Check.

Unfortunately there are people out there who see the sticker as a possible way of getting out of a speeding ticket, etc. These people will go through great lengths to get a hold of an IAFF Sticker to display in their window. Currently there is a sticker going for $25 on Ebay, View the Item. You can view similar IAFF items for sale on Ebay HERE.

As an IAFF member you are doing yourself an injustice to sell IAFF logo items on Ebay or elsewhere unless you can guarantee that the buyer is an IAFF member. It is obvious to me that if someone is bidding $25 on Ebay for an IAFF sticker then that person is not an IAFF member, because an IAFF member can get them for free through their local.

In the South the name given to somebody who might use the IAFF Sticker without being an IAFF member might be a “Scab” a “Squirrel” or “Tick”, in the north they might call them a “Mutt” or “Pimp”.

Whatever you call them, they are definitely Wanna-Be’s.

That is right. You can now own your very own merchandise from the Roanoke Firefighters Blog. Currently there are a handful of items. Check them out and let me know what you think. I will be adding to the store soon. Look for new items, new images and new designs. I would love to design from your ideas as well. Let me know what you want. Some ideas are kids shirts, firefighters wife shirt, etc. You will just have to keep an eye out. I will keep you all posted when new merchandise is available. I began the store several months ago, but I am only now promoting it. It was one of those things that I was going to put on my list of things to do. You can view the store at www.cafepress.com/roanokefire . There is also a link on the right hand sidebar “Buy Roanoke Firefighters Merchandise”.

FYI: I will not be using the Roanoke Fire-EMS logo or that of the IAFF, RFFA, or VPFF. All of my work will be original. I will be unveiling the newest T-shirt Tuesday hopefully – which is an idea from one of my readers (although they don’t know it yet).

Seriously, if there is a design you want to purchase, let me know. It is a mere formality to design it and have it available for everyone to purchase.
This is the image used on the shirts so far. Like I said, this is a work in progress. If you all have been paying attention, this was the first banner for the Blog. Look for it in the future.

So take a peak and let me know what you think.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

I think I have finally decided to get my own domain for this site here. Look for the new domain name in the following days/weeks. I think that it is only right I take this small step.

I would love to hear what you all think the domain name should be. Unfortunately Roanokefirefighters.com is taken already.

You guys ask me what the IAFF does for you. You guys ask me where the money goes. You guys ask me who Harold Schaitberger is (The IAFF General President). Here is an article written in the Congressional Quarterly on Mr. Schaitberger and etc. Pay attention.

VPFF Information Network:

Fire Fighters’ Union Chief Wields Political Power To Benefit First-Responders

By Eileen Sullivan, CQ Staff

When American Airlines flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, Harold Schaitberger was not thinking about interoperable communications or how federal disaster response should be structured. When he felt the reverberations of the plane’s impact in his New York Avenue office, he said, “I knew instinctively where our members were.”

As president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Schaitberger represents one of the strongest symbols of the 9/11 attacks — the first-responders who put their lives on the line every day. On that particular day, Schaitberger lost 343 of his members.

Under Schaitberger’s leadership, the IAFF has evolved into an effective political force, wielding both power and influence in the post-9/11 world.

The IAFF was among the first to support the concept of creating a Department of Homeland Security. And since 2001, firefighters have received $2.1 billion in federal grant dollars, according to DHS. Schaitberger (pronounced Shate-berger) continues to fight for more first responder funding, interoperable communications systems and for federal funds to be distributed based on risk of a terrorist attack or disaster rather than population. (Read More)