The first quarter of the year has been full of learning and relationship opportunities for me as your Executive Director. The WFC Board hired me and I began on January 1, 2014. I learned very quickly how many moving parts there were to our WFC operation, even though I was on the WFc Board for elleven years and a Past-President it never the same as being in the position! I would be remiss if didn't thank our WFC staff and our WFC Board for their patience and diligence in this transitional time.
We Serve:
Audit: Our bylaws require occasional audits and each time there is a change in Executive Director. Our board was pleased with a very positive audit report which highlighted how important our policies, procedures, and most of all our WFC staff is when it comes to fiscal controls. This also gave us the opportunity to introduce our new Financial Committee to the inner workings of the WFC finances. The WFC Financial Committee was a direct result of the Bylaws Changes voted into effect at the 2013 WFC Conference.
Finance Workshop: It was very evident that the way the WFC Office accounts for finances is very different than Fire Departments track their finances. We have an expectation of our Financial Committee and Section Leadership to be able to interpret these reports and assure our WFC Board that the WFC is fiscally stable. To that end our book keeper presented a financial reports workshop for the Financial Committee, Section Leaders and WFC staff.
County Fire Chiefs Associations: The County Fire Chief Associations of Washington State are vital to our success. These are our "boots on the ground" and they are in the best position to tell us what they need and how we can help them constantly improve. In order for us maximize our influence as a fire serve, we need to be one Washington. To date, I have been invited and attended meetings with the Thurston County Fire Chiefs, Kittatas County Fire Chiefs, Inland Empire Fire Chiefs, North Central Washington Fire Chiefs, Grant County Fire Chiefs and Commissioners, Yakima Fire Chiefs, Mason County Fire Chiefs and Commissioners, Pierce County Fire Chiefs and Island County Fire Chiefs. If you are interested in having me attend your local Fire Chiefs Association, please reach out to me or your WFC regional representative. In conjunction with the meetings I have had the opportunity to present a four hour fire service leadership discussion at no cost to the host.
Legislative Efforts: This last session was short and disappointing. There was little accomplished other than educating others on our priorities and improving relationships. Our primary legislative lobbyist Dylan Doty has done a stellar job of being our point man and we all owe him our gratitude for furthering our legislative and administrative influence. Our legislative committee is led by Chief Allen Church who chairs our regular meetings through out the session, his keen sense of solution is another key factor for our systematic success. There are frequent contacts with the WFC office regarding this important subject and I would encourage you to call as soon as you have an issue so that we can coordinate a response.
We Educate:
Washington State Training Conference: The Training, Safety & Officers Section hosted their event in early March at the Yakima Convention Center. I had the opportunity to attend their Board meeting, assist in the conference welcome ceremonies and see their conference in action. In addition to excellent presentations, this conference allows volunteers to attend since it spans the weekend. Their success with multiple tracks, hands on training, and train the trainer opportunities sets the bar for others.
EVIP 2.1 Regional Classes: In addition to planning an annual conference, the Training, Safety & Officers Section has been coordinating dozens of classes around the state in the effort to update all EVIP Student Trainers to the WFC EVIP 2.1 curriculum. This update provided a much needed overhaul of the program, and I would like to thank Bryan Pearson, McNeil & Company, and David Dennison for their support in building this innovative program. EVIP 2.1 serves our membership by providing a low cost alternative to costly CDL licenses.
Fire Administrative Support Annual Conference: Staff recently attended the Fire Administrative Support Conference at the Heathman in Vancouver, Washington. This conference gives Administrative Support Professionals a much needed opportunity to network with others in the profession, explore challenges and solutions in an interactive forum and learn about vital subjects that will affect the way they do their jobs. This is an important conference, and please encourage your Administrative Support Staff to attend next year!
HazMat Annual Conference: The annual HazMat Section conference and the WFC annual conference were co-located this year at the Three Rivers Convention Center. This conference attracts Fire Service Leaders, Emergency Responders, Emergency Medical, Law Enforcement, Emergency Planning, Military Support, Tactical, Rescue Teams and Special Operations.
Washington State Community Paramedic Conference: The Future of Integrated Healthcare, will be held on November 4-5, 2014 in the city of Sea-Tac. The EMS Section and WFC Staff have coordinated this statewide event that includes a planning committee of all related disciplines, and experts on Community Paramedicine from around the world. This is one of the fastest moving issues we face as a fire service, and we look forward to exploring this topic with primary providers, hospital systems, home health and hospice, fire and EMS agencies, nurses, physicians, managed care, insurance and government officials.
Washington Fire Mechanics Fall Workshop, September 8-12, 2014: This five day event is being finalized by our Washington Fire Mechanics Section leadership, and will feature classes on Fire Pumps & Accessories, Aerials, Pump Testing, Brakes, EVT Training & Ford Maintenance. EVT Testing will be available on Friday. Like the Washington State Training Conference, the Fall Workshop is full of hands on training, and vital courses to keep your mechanics at the forefront of their field.
We Lead:
WFCA: The WFC continues to build a collaborative relationship with the key stakeholders including the Washington Fire Commissioners Association (WFCA). We successfully partnered with the WFCA for the 2014 Legislative Forum and the 2014 Fire Station Forum. We also held several Joint Executive Lobbyist meetings and the Executive Committees from the WFC and the WFCA met to discuss areas of mutual interest. There is so much common ground between our organizations that the more we reduce distractions the more successful we all will be!
WSCFF: The WFC continues to work closely with the Washington State Council Of Firefighters both on legislative efforts and to plan events valuable to both labor and management. One such event is the Community Paramedic Conference scheduled for this November. This is a huge issue for fire based EMS operations and we are collaborating on this area of mutual concern.
WSFFA: The Washington State Fire Fighter Association continues to collaborate with us to organize a fire service memorial on the capitol campus. We are also working closely for to support the LAST team and our annual memorial service. We've appreciated the energy and passion that the WSFFA have shown toward these projects, and look forward to continuing our work to bring a fire service memorial to the capitol campus!
WSAFM: The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals continues to show leadership in community risk reduction through codes, standards, education, engineered systems, firefighter safety. We are pleased to support this professional organization and look forward to expanding our working relationship.
State Fire Marshal’s Office: Fire Marshal Chuck Duffy and I are in constant communications because this office is perhaps the most important state agency that supports all things fire. We are fortunate to have Fire Marshal Duffy at the helm and look forward to working with him on the improvements for fire training academy, expanding regionalized fire training and funding for all-risk mobilization.
It is an honor to serve as your Executive Director, and I look forward to continuing the legacy of leadership and service that our members have become accustomed too over the past many years.
Wayne Senter
Executive Director
Washington Fire Chiefs