Thanks to all that came out to shop with the kids at the shopping spree. Thanks also to all of the individuals and groups that donated funds to allow the shopping spree to happen. Jerry Click works on this every year and does a great job coordinating and making this one of the most recognizable and beneficial activities we do as an association. Thank you Jerry for all your work and dedication. A big thank you to Grace Smart, DDS and Guns and Hoses for making contributions anually that have touched many lives through this event.

One of the goals of GFFA is to make sure that our members are as safe as they can possibly be in an inherently dangerous profession. The most critical component of firefighter safety is adequate staffing levels. The other goals that GFFA seeks to assure is that GFD acquires the most state of the art equipment and technology to help us perform our job safer and more efficiently, to provide the best level of protection for Garland’s citizens.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!!!

Congrats to Chief Les Stephens as he will head to San Marcus Fire Department in August. Les has been a vital part of the GFFA throughout his career with Garland. Les has served many positions in the Association and will be sorely missed in the operation of the Association. We wish you all the luck and look forward to seeing you in 2011 at the TSAFF convention.

We also want to congratulate Chief Danny Kistner as he heads to Lufkin Fire Department. 

Congrats to Battalion Chief Peele, Lt. Paul Henley and D/E Jason Brooks as well on their promotions!

The first GFFA/ Taco Casa scholarship was awarded this week. We had around 10 applicants. Greg Fowler of Taco Casa and Todd Peele along with the scholarship committee went through the applications and selected this year's winner. VP Eric Brown presented the scholarship last week at the students award presentation at his school. Thanks to Eric for filling in and covering since the presentation was on C shift. Thanks to Taco Casa for donating the money that was used to fund the scholarship.

Thanks to all that showed up for the Habitat work day. We had a good turn out, and from the sounds of things, there were more than enough people. We will try to organize this type event again this year, so if you could not make it this time you will have other opportunities. Thanks again for volunteering your time to better the community we serve. The FOP is working with the Garland City Press to get an article about the event in the paper, so pick one up and read what they have to say. 

House Approves Doubling SAFER Funding

July 1, 2009 – The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a Homeland Security Appropriation bill that doubles funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The bill calls for spending $420 million on the program, which provides grants to help communities hire fire fighters. The bill also provides funding for a variety of other fire service programs, including $390 million for the Assistance Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, commonly known as FIRE Act grants.

“As municipalities continue to struggle to fund fire department budgets, it is more important than ever that the federal government shoulder its share of the public safety burden,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “I applaud the House for recognizing the importance of the SAFER program, and for providing the resources we need to protect our members.”

The SAFER appropriation is especially significant in light of a new law that expands the use of SAFER grants. Language contained in a supplemental appropriation bill, which has been signed into law by President Obama, will allow fire departments to use SAFER funds to rehire fire fighters who were laid off and restore cuts made to staffing as a result of the financial crisis, in addition to providing grants to grow fire departments.

Before giving final approval to the legislation, the House overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would have cut funding for the SAFER and FIRE Act grant programs by a vote of 113-318. The amendment, offered by Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), would have reduced funding for the FIRE Act and SAFER program by $210 million.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where a similar funding bill has already won approval in the Appropriations Committee. The full Senate is likely to act on the spending bill within the next few weeks. Both the House and Senate have made it a priority to fund President Obama’s request for doubling the SAFER budget.
 

Do these name mean anything to you?  Should they?  You bet they should.  I do not know what the environment was like at the city or the fire department in 1958.  Some of you think I do, but I was only 4 years old at the time.  I know it took courage to put your name on this document. This is where it all started.

Lester Pelton, Cecil Nelson, Jack Abernathy, Thomas Cook, E.L. (Whistle) Hayes, Rudolf Garcia, Herbert (Fuzzy) Owens, Vernon Poor, Herbert Twyford, George Miller, J.W. Nelson, Bob Burkhart, Wilson Wright, George Melaun, Roy Schrick, John Rushing, Terry Harris, Owen (Bud) Bickel, Ted Cornelius, Calvin Herrin, D. R. (Shorty) Williams, E. J. (Buddy) Boren...

These are the names on the "Certificate of Affiliation" that chartered the Garland Fire Fighters Association, Local 1293 on January 18, 1958.  13 of these 24 members were here when I joined the GFFA.

Thanks to David Gott, Vice President and former President, who took our charter and had it very nicely matted and framed.  David presented it at the last association meeting.  I offered to reimburse him the cost, but David said he wanted it to be a gift to the GFFA from him to show his appreciation for what this organization has done for past, present, and future fire fighters in Garland.

Thanks David. 

Stop by and view this document for your self.  It is indeed a big part of our history.