Gord Kotow
Hello to the membership of the FIAA!
September 2009 signaled the start of my term as your President, and I will do my best to provide you with the same quality of leadership as our Past Presidents. They are a hard act to follow.
Speaking of Past Presidents, I am pleased to announce Tom Littlechild will still be working hard for the association as your Special Projects manager in the FIAA movement towards accreditation. This position was proposed and approved at the 2009 AGM in Rocky Mountain House. Tom has many meetings and conference calls ahead of him along with the full support of the association. I do not believe there is a better person suited for this task. Thanks Tom.
The Hot Wheels seminar in Rocky Mountain House held from September 17 to 19 received an impressive rating 4.55 out of 5. Keith Fowler, Bill Shaver, and Ed Rostalski provided effective presentations. Ed Rostalski, Don Rosland, Ross Shier, and Joe Towers did a great job in coordinating the seminar as usual. Thanks to all the facilitators who helped make the scenarios more realistic. Good cast of characters Don! I apologize if I have missed anyone but it is always a group effort. This is not the FIAA's first Hot Wheels seminar and will definitely not be the last. Comments from the evaluations include “recommend to others,” “will definitely come again,” and “easy to understand.” Without your evaluations, we are lost. Your feedback keeps the instructors and students moving in the same direction.
The 2009 FIAA AGM covered several items that will affect our members in the future. One item for discussion was the direction the FIAA is going with to strive for accreditation. Another is membership dues being increased due to higher operating costs. The Association presented outgoing board members Dale Babuik and Ross Shier with plaques and gifts of appreciation. Both will be missed by us all. Dale has been in charge of our quality FIAA merchandise for the last few years. Nice to see so many members sporting their FIAA apparel with pride. Ross has been our training coordinator for several years. Ross will fulfill his commitment to the April 2010 seminar and continue to be active as a Past President. Thank you Dale and Ross.
Welcome to new board directors Glenda Dales, Carl Cave, and Frank Krzanstek. I have known Glenda for many years and she makes a positive impact wherever she works. We are all looking forward to be working with the three of you. Moving up the ladder are Crystal Samborski to 1st Vice President and Linda Batt to 2nd Vice President. I was raised with two sisters; I think I can handle these two VP's! As for everyone else serving on the FIAA board, it will be a privilege to work with you during my term as President.
At our November meeting, the Board was treated to Ed Rostalski's first report as your IAAI Director. We look forward to many more of these in the future. Ed, you make us all so proud.
The FIAA will be receiving a visit from ATF Special Agent Bobby Schaal who was appointed President of the IAAI in May 2009. He and other agents will be providing instruction at the April 2010 Advanced Fire Investigation seminar. No one can afford to miss this one. I have seen the agenda - four full days of knowledge. Wayne Pawlowski and Ross Shier will keep us informed in the weeks to come. So please remember to mark April 7 to 10, 2010 in your calendars.
Congratulations to FIAA Board member Wayne Pawlowski who is now Chief of Investigations of the Edmonton Fire Department. Ross Shier is now enjoying retirement.
I am humbled by President Littlechild's article in the last edition of the Flashpoint newsletter to have my wardrobe mentioned in the same paragraph as Elvis. I was in Hawaii over Christmas, so my new line of shirts will be making appearances soon!
Keep watching our newsletter for information on submitting photos and articles. We can never have enough reading material. Thanks to our editors, Linda Batt and Joe Towers. Our website is always worth taking a look at. Keep up the good work Amanda.
The Board continues to work hard for you. If you have any questions or concerns, I urge you to contact me at chiefg@telusplanet.net.
It's in the books. The Grey Cup is over and so it's business as usual. See you in the Spring!
Gord Kotow