HOME DAY 2006

Illinois Member Companies Supporting this Home Day Group Effort

W.S. Darley & Co., Melrose Park
Air One Equipment, Inc., South Elgin
Alexis Fire Equipment Co., Alexis
C.E. Niehoff & Company, Evanston
Federal Signal Corporation, University Park
Fire Chief Publications, Chicago
GFE Division-Akron
Groves Incorporated, McHenry
Homeland Protection Professional
Paratech Incorporated, Frankfort
Towers Fire Apparatus Co., Freeburg

Homeday 2006-Illinois

Home Day Report from Paul Darley

Dear Home Day Steering Committee,

Thank you to everyone for your hard work in helping to make our first Illinois Fire Service Home Day a success.

We had about 130 people in attendance at our Addison event, which included Congresswoman Judy Biggert and staffers from five different congressional offices. It was great to hear that Congressman Lipinski's staffer, Chris Jutton, announced that he is joining the Congressional Fire Service Caucus. We also seem to have a real advocate in staffer Gideon Bluestein from Congresswoman Melissa Bean's office who is a firefighter and has offered to help rally the other Illinois staffers next year.

Dick Jaehne reported that our Champaign event had two staffers attend, and they had an opportunity to see over 1000 students at the Illinois Fire College. Larry Walsh and Mitch Crocetti were also present at the event and made sure the voice of the Illinois Fire Service was heard. Dick Jaehne is talking about possibly having Curt Weldon to the Illinois Fire College to kick off next year. This is scheduled for Thursday, May 31 and might allow us to have Congressman Weldon available in the Chicago area on Friday, June 1. I have copied the Congressman's office on this and will follow-up.

Thanks again.

Paul Darley

Fire officials voice concerns on grants
By Henry Stuttley
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, June 02, 2006

Glen Ellyn Fire Chief Scott Raffensparger said he hopes to replace equipment so his firefighters can do their job. But his wish for coats, boots and hats could be in jeopardy.

Across the state, fire officials say they are in danger of losing federal fire grant money for equipment, training and other firefighting needs.

"We're going to have to do without, put it off or not protect the guys as we should" if the federal money doesn't come through, Raffensparger said. "It's a significant impact on the fire service."

More than 100 fire chiefs from around the Chicago suburbs gathered in Addison Thursday to talk about the funding concerns and lobby Congressional representatives.

The event's keynote speaker, Republican Congresswoman Judy Biggert of Hinsdale, said Congress authorized $1 billion for the firefighter grants. But President Bush proposed in the 2007 federal budget that only $293 million of that be given to local fire departments through federal grants.

Biggert said each department deserves the funds that have been authorized specifically for them.

"As much as we can do for you, we will," said Biggert, a member of Congressional Fire Service Caucus.

Paul Darley, co-chairman of the event, said those grants also help first responders during a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Those grants were established after the 2001 terrorist attacks and help to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

Fire officials said their main concern is that they may not get the funds they have applied for since the amount of the federal grants have decreased each year, Darley said.

He said, although the Illinois fire departments have received their fair share of the funds because of Biggert, it's crucial that they get the necessary grants to save lives.

It couldn't be more obvious. Invite someone to your home for lunch and your relationship changes — usually for the better.

This past week the Illinois Fire Service Association and members of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association and the Fire Equipment Manufacturers & Services Association invited Illinois state and federal legislators to lunch for Illinois Fire Services Home Day.

Home Day was held in two Illinois locations: one to coincide with the opening of the Illinois Fire Services Institute's college in Champaign, and another in conjunction with the bimonthly Illinois Metropolitan Fire Chiefs meeting outside Chicago.

The event is an outgrowth of the Congressional Fire Services Institute's annual Hill Day in Washington, D.C., which encourages fire chiefs to meet with their Congressional leaders prior to the annual CFSI dinner. The goal of Home Day is to help legislators and their staffers develop a better understanding of the local emergency services and create better working relationships.

At the Chicago luncheon, there were more than 110 chiefs, FEMSA and FAMA members, and legislative representatives. It was efficient, focused and over in two hours.

Cindy Williams from Federal Signal's corporate office in Illinois introduced U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.). A member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Biggert explained that with 340 members, the bipartisan caucus is the largest on the Hill and "brings together members of Congress that have a common interest — the firefighters and the mission of the firefighters and safety." The caucus meets bimonthly to discuss what legislation to propose.

Biggert offered a bit of insight on Congressional leaders. "See if you can talk to them in their home office. Don't be disappointed if you talk to the staff because they are the ones that relay to the Congressmen and -women," she said. "If you do meet in the district, they will have more time with you."

During the luncheon, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Executive Director Bob Buhs gave a presentation on the state's fire service legislative efforts and the current status of the local FIRE Grant Program funding.

Paul Darley, president of W.S. Darley in Melrose Park, Ill., was the spark in getting the partnerships for Illinois' Home Day off the ground and pulled together in less than eight weeks. The feedback from all participants was positive, and there's much anticipation for future Home Days.

The blueprint for planning a Home Day event is available to any fire department or FAMA and FEMSA members. Everything from sample invitations for legislators to an outline of key talking points is available at the FEMSA Web site. There's no excuse for you not to educate your legislators and staffers on the needs of the first responders.

One last note: While Buhs was speaking, I noticed that each of his slides included, in the lower left corner, the small word "teamwork." It was a perfect reminder of what can happen when people work together to form one voice for the fire and emergency services in Illinois. The message came home. Visit www.femsa.org for information on how to put together a Home Day in your state.

Left to right: Jim Burge: Paratech’s Vice President Sales and Marketing; Congressman Jerry Weller ® 11th Dist. Illinois: Chief James Grady, Frankfort Fire Protection District, Illinois; Peter Nielsen

Congressman Weller and Home Day guests demonstrating the Paratech AirTrack which is used for water rescue.

Congressman Weller addressing Paratech employees, staff and Home Day guests at Paratech’s manufacturing facility in Frankfort, Illinois

Paratech Incorporated celebrated Home Day on April 20, 2006. Attending guests included Congressman Jerry Weller (R) 11th District, Illinois, Debbie Minitullo, Congressman Weller’s Illinois Chief of Staff, Chief Officers of the Frankfort and Tinley Park Fire Departments, and all Paratech employees and staff.

Congressman Weller is the first recipient of FEMSA’s Fire Service Excellence Award, a member of the Fire Service Caucus on Capitol Hill and a Congressional leader for improving the U.S. Fire Service.

The highlight of our Home Day event was Congressman Weller’s speech to Paratech employees and fire service officers. Mr. Weller pledged to support the fire service grant programs and push for increased funding. He also pledged to support a federally funded FEMA task force for Illinois (Chicago area) and the establishment of a State of Illinois US&R task force network!

Following Mr. Weller's comments, he graciously took questions from the audience. Weller is a member of the House Ways & Means Committee and serves on the International Relations Committee as well. Questions from Paratech’s employees and staff focused on personal tax policies and the expansion of business opportunities with the emergency service community. We were also able to discuss export initiatives.

Overall, the Home Day event was a complete success. All of us applaud FEMSA’s Steve Lawrence and his tireless efforts promoting the Home Day concept.