E-Update Archive
October 31, 2007
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October 31, 2007 |
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This issue of the NVFC E-Update is sponsored by: In this issue:
Special Member Update: FP&S Grant Application Now Open The application period for the 2007 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program is now open. Applications must be received by November 30 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Read more. NVFC Bestows 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert T. Bettenhausen Robert T. Bettenhausen is the recipient of the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious national award, which is sponsored by Scott Health and Safety, is given annually to recognize a volunteer firefighter whose remarkable achievements in the fire service and community exemplifies outstanding performance. Bettenhausen was honored at an award ceremony on October 26, during the Fall Meeting of the NVFC’s Board of Directors. “Thank you so much for this award. I especially want to thank my family for their support throughout the years, and I am grateful they can be here tonight,” Bettenhausen told the audience, which included his wife, three sons, grandchildren, department chief, and the mayor of Tinley Park. Bettenhausen has a long and distinguished history in the volunteer fire service. He has been a member of the Tinley Park Fire Department (TPFD) in Illinois since 1952, holding positions including Assistant Chief and Chief, and is currently Chief Fire Marshal. His lifetime of service to his community, his state, and beyond truly exemplifies outstanding achievement. The standards set by Chief Bettenhausen enabled TPFD to maintain its status as an all-volunteer department in a Chicago suburb that has a population of over 55,000 people. It was Chief Bettenhausen’s vision that made it possible for TPFD to secure specialized vehicles designed for volunteer firefighters and the latest gear and rescue equipment. He was instrumental in the development of a training facility that assists in the training and emergency preparedness of the department’s firefighters and serves as the cornerstone of the 3rd District Chiefs Association/MABAS 24 Training Academy, which has graduated over 1,000 firefighters. Chief Bettenhausen’s long list of accomplishments also include the planning and oversight for the construction of four fire stations, initiating qualification for ISO ratings for the Village of Tinley Park (which is currently qualified for an ISO Rate Class 3 and is under review for a Class 2 rating), establishing a full-time Fire Prevention Bureau in Tinley Park, successfully lobbying to create Illinois laws requiring sprinkler systems in schools, and much more. His commitment and dedication to the fire service led him to be named Fire Chief Magazine’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year in 1997. Chief Bettenhausen serves on numerous local, state, and national fire commissions and panels, and is an active member on various fire service committees as well as emergency service associations. He has authored many articles and contributed to many books and manuals for the operations of volunteer fire departments. Bettenhausen’s lifetime of service has received far-reaching praise in his community and beyond. “His dedication to the fire service and to our community compare to none,” said Village of Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki. Ken Farmer of the National Emergency Training Center of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security noted that, “Chief Bettenhausen is respected by his community and is a cornerstone of Tinley Park.” In addition to his work in the fire service, Bettenhausen was a partner in Bettenhausen Hardware Company from 1945-1992. He and his wife, Colleen, have three sons. NVFC Testifies to Congress on Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act On October 17, NVFC Connecticut State Director John McAuliffe called on Congress to pass the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H.R. 943) at a hearing held jointly by two subcommittees of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. H.R. 943 would prohibit the federal government from taxing benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel by state and local units of government. “Volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel are essential to our nation’s safety and security,” said McAuliffe. “A 2004 study revealed that volunteer first responders save American taxpayers $37.2 billion per year. Without volunteer first responders, many communities simply would not be able to afford to provide firefighting and emergency medical services at all.” Over the past 20 years, the number of volunteer firefighters in the country has decreased from about 900,000 to about 800,000. To enhance retention and recruitment efforts, state and local governments have started providing volunteer first responders with benefits. The federal government taxes these benefits as income, diminishing their value and undermining their intended purpose. Additionally, federal taxation of volunteer benefits places a significant administrative burden on units of government in small communities. The services provided by volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel are vital to our nation’s safety and security. Considering the challenges of retention and recruitment, benefits are needed to preserve and increase the ranks of volunteers. The NVFC supports H.R. 943 and will work toward its passage through Congress. Read the testimony.NVFC Joins Nation in Remembering Fallen Firefighters National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg was among those honoring the firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2006 at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on October 5-7 in Emmitsburg, MD. Joining the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the U.S. Fire Administration were fire service leaders and department members from across the country as well as the families of those who fell. President George W. Bush was among the distinguished speakers at the service on Sunday, October 7. "From New York after 9/11, to New Orleans after Katrina, there were firefighters from around the country there to help. The bond between the firefighters is obviously unique; it is definitely a source of strength. And it's a reminder that the work here is a calling, not a job," Bush said. He also gave his assurance that the Hometown Heroes Act of the Public Safety Officers Benefits program will be fully implemented. “This program will be administrated the way it was intended to be administrated. That's the least we can do as we honor the families of those who have died in the line of service." Following his remarks, Bush spoke individually with each family that was being honored. Each family was presented with a flag that had flown over both the U.S. Capitol and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, a red rose, and a badge. Stittleburg assisted in presenting the flags. Read more about the 2007 Memorial Weekend. NVFC Offers New Membership Option The NVFC now offers a new membership opportunity. Beginning in 2008, if every member of a fire/EMS department joins the NVFC, the cost for each member is only $10 and the department membership fee will be waived. Each member of your department will receive the NVFC’s extraordinary benefits, including a $10,000 life insurance policy, a subscription to the NVFC’s Dispatch newsletter, access to invaluable tools and resources, and more. Take advantage of this opportunity today and reward each of your departments’ members for their hard work and dedication. Visit www.nvfc.org today to take advantage of this membership opportunity, or contact Allison Moore at nvfcoffice@nvfc.org or (202) 887-5700. Support the NVFC through the Combined Federal Campaign Federal employees have until December 15 to designate the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) as a recipient of their donations during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). To support the NVFC, indicate CFC identification # 11395 when making your pledge. Please note that this is a new number from last year’s campaign. The CFC, which is managed by the Office of CFC Operations in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace giving campaign. Its mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all. During campaign season, which runs from September 1 through December 15, federal civilian, postal, and military donors can make pledges to eligible nonprofit organizations. Money raised by the NVFC from the CFC helps support NVFC’s legislative initiatives, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program, Fire Corps, and other important programs and projects that benefit the fire and emergency medical services. Help strengthen the voice of the volunteer by designating the NVFC in your CFC giving. To learn more about the NVFC, visit www.nvfc.org. To learn more about the CFC, visit www.opm.gov/cfc. Leadership Guide For Combination Departments Now Available Leading a combination fire department is one of the greatest challenges a fire chief can face. To successfully lead this type of organization, fire chiefs and other leaders must recognize the unique difficulties inherent in combination systems and overcome them by drawing from the lessons learned by chiefs who have faced similar challenges. To address this need, Jones and Bartlett Publishers have released A Leadership Guide for Combination Fire Departments, a compilation of best practices and lessons learned through experience. It is designed to provide chief and officer level personnel with the tools necessary to lead today’s combination service department. Written by Fred C. Windisch and Fred C. Crosby of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with a Foreword by National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg, this guide provides advice on how to recognize a need to shift to a combination department, how to make the change, and how to manage a combination department. “The rate of change in the fire service is unprecedented,” said Stittleburg. “Today’s chief must be alert to the factors that signal the need for a change in the organizational structure of the fire department entrusted to his or her leadership. This book is an excellent resource for the fire chief challenged by ever-increasing demands for service and a rapidly evolving mission.” Order a copy of A Leadership Guide for Combination Fire Departments at www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733810/. Calendar of Events Below is a list of events that the NVFC will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which the NVFC would like to acknowledge. Annual Apparatus Specification and Vehicle Maintenance Symposium NVFC Spring Meeting CFSI Dinner FDIC Firehouse Expo Fire-Rescue International Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services The NVFC relies on the assistance of its corporate and association partners to be able to provide a voice for the volunteer fire and emergency services in Washington. We encourage you to look at a list of our Corporate Members and support them with your business. Join the NVFC and support the voice of the volunteer. Find out more and join online at www.nvfc.org. To be removed from the NVFC E-Update list click here. |
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