With the 25th Anniversary of the Iowa Firefighters Memorial quickly approaching on June 9, the City of Coralville is going to do some renovations on the Visitors Center at the site. They will be installing new porcelain tile, adding lighting to the display cases, and putting in new interior doors. On the outside, the original concrete benches have slowly deteriorated or been damaged so they are installing new, larger bench pads and new black strap benches to match the benches along the interior walkways. The brick memorial walkway is also being extended to the south. In order to accomplish these projects, the Iowa Firefighters Memorial Visitors Center will be closed May 15 through June 7. The memorial grounds will remain open to the public during this time.
BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT CONVENTION!!
The Iowa Firefighter Association PAC is taking reservations for a limited supply of bottled vodka made by The Foundry especially for Iowa Firefighters. Each year, the outgoing IFA Presidents Fire Department will be featured on the label commemorating Iowa Firefighters. The 2019 bottle features the Garrison Fire Department and commemorates the 140th anniversary of the Iowa Firefighters Association. The back label lists all former IFA Presidents to honor their service in our state.
DEADLINE FOR ORDERING WILL BE JUNE 9, 2019 THE MEMORIAL MEETING IN CORALVILLE
Convention Drill Rules as approved at the Mid-Year Meeting of the IFA April 13th 2019
2. Participants must be regularly appointed active members of the Fire Department they represent according to the records of the IFA and must be members of the Iowa Firefighters Association. EXCEPTION OF DRILL #10 (Water application Drill) IFA members are allowed to assemble a team consisting of members from multiple departments with the #1 person and #2 person being members of the represented department.
7. Starters will have full authority on starting drills. Starting ahead of the gun the second time shall disqualify the participant. All starters are to use the same cadence “Judges ready, Timers ready, Contestants ready, One, Two (Bang)”
8. The Judges shall impose penalties as provided in the Rules prescribed for each Drill and shall have the power to disqualify a team for improper conduct. The agreement by any two of the Judges shall constitute a decision. Decisions by the Judges shall be deemed final when the next team is on the line. A judge’s decision may be overturned by the consensus of all officials assigned to that drill. Any team contesting a judge’s ruling after the next team is on the line will be disqualified from that event.
19. All nozzle connections and coupling connections must show at least three (3) full threads or hand tight, at start or finish of drill, or both where required *WITH EXCEPTION OF DRILL #3. For consistency, the same judge shall check both valves for tightness on drill #3.
EXPLANATION OF “three full threads or hand tight”: Couplings having more than three threads must be connected by at least three full threads. Couplings having less than three full threads must be connected hand tight. No quick couplers allowed.
22. Several drills may be run at the same time. If a firefighter or firefighters are participating in another drill being run, ample time will be given them to finish that drill before being up for next drill. However, in the event that there are no teams waiting, any available team may compete.
Convention Drill Training Rules
5 THE HITCHING POST – ONE FIREFIGHTER
OBJECT: Tie three knots as fast as you can.
Contestant starts the event by hitting a remote stopwatch on/off switch and ends the time by hitting the same switch. A judge also times the event for a backup. Contestant ties – bowline knot around post, Clove Hitch around post, and Figure Eight on a bight.
RULES: Association rope must be used; contestant must kneel in front of hitching post. Rope must be laid out length wise in a straight line with the middle of rope in front of contestant. Knots can be tied in any order; contestant cannot touch rope while touching start/stop button.
Judging, Penalties and Disqualifications: Knot should be tight enough that there are no open loops within the knot itself. If a standard marble (5/8 cat-eye) can fall through a loop within the knot itself the contestant receives a one second penalty. Contestant is disqualified for failing any of the three knots. If the rope has to be manipulated to make the knot look right, it is not considered to be tied correctly. The tail of the rope can be either in or out of the loop for bowline knot. Association equipment shall be used consisting of: One Hitching Post 32” x 32” made of 2 ¼ pipe. One 7/16 Kernmantle Rope 14 feet long (PMI Static E-Z Bend), One remote button to stop watch (used for start and stop timer)
SUBJECT This informational memo explains an update to administrative rule chapters 761—401, Special Registration Plate. In 2018, we were approached by the Iowa Firefighter’s Association with a request to revise the application process for a firefighter license plate to allow the application to be submitted without requiring original or notarized signatures.
SUMMARY Prior to this rule change, an application for a firefighter license plate was required to contain the original notarized signatures of the fire chief and another fire officer certifying that the applicant is a current or retired member of the fire department. However, the department recognized after consultation with the Iowa Firefighter’s Association that the requirement that the signatures be original and notarized can be an administrative burden, especially for very large fire departments with a large number of applicants or for smaller departments that may not always have a notary public available. Removing the requirement that the signature on the application be original and notarized does not in any way diminish the authenticity of the application, and the application is still being signed and certified by the chief and another fire officer.
The administrative rule amendments are effective for applications processed on or after April 17, 2019.
LINK TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/aco/arc/4344C.pdf
CURRENT The application for a firefighter license plate is required to contain the original, notarized signatures of the fire chief and fire officer.
NEW For all applications processed on or after April 17, 2019, the rules will no longer require the firefighter license plate application to contain the original, notarized signatures of the fire chief and fire officer. BUSINESS IMPACT As of April 17, 2019, you may accept and process firefighter license plate applications even if the application does not contain the original, notarized signatures of the fire chief and fire officer.
Washington National (formerly Conseco Insurance) is excited to be partnering with the IFA to offer voluntary supplemental insurance to its membership and their families. Through this partnership, the IFA is making these very affordable policies available to their membership at low group rates. A Washington National agent will be visiting you at your fire stations to explain how these policies get you cash when you need it most.
As studies have shown, firefighters face a higher risk of cancer and heart disease than the general public they selflessly serve. Recently, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the #1 killer of firefighters (heart attacks are still the #1 on-duty killer). As you know, due to the conditions and environments of fighting fires, firefighters have a much higher exposure (breathing and absorption) to cancer causing agents. In fact, firefighters are at 2x greater risk of testicular cancer. The physical exertion and stress related to fighting fires also puts them at a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes. And just by the nature of what firefighters are asked to do, they have higher risks of accidental injuries. Washington National recognizes these risks and offers great policies that protects you 24/7/365, even when you are not fighting fires. These policies help with the financial burdens associated with the high out-of-pocket expenses that occurs with battling a critical illness (like cancer and heart disease) or an accident. That way you and your family can focus on what’s most important… getting better!
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Iowa Firefighter’s Memorial, Washington National is making a $1 donation to IFA for each firefighter that sits down individually to learn more about this partnership and helpful policies offered. Your local fire department will receive a $2 donation for each.
We have already met with over a dozen different fire departments throughout Iowa and the firefighters are seeing great value in these policies. Washington National agents look forward to working with all association members. We will be reaching out to local fire chiefs to arrange convenient meeting times at your fire stations. As the coordinator, please contact me directly at 319-883-1121 or terry.beek@pmagent.net to learn more individually or to schedule your department. Washington National is excited to participate in IFA events and activities. We look forward to meeting each of you.
Sincerely,
Terry J. Beek
Regional Manager, Performance Matters Associates, Inc.
If you need help, reach out. The Fire/EMS Helpline is available at 1-888-731-FIRE (3473) for any firefighter, EMS provider, or family member facing a behavioral health issue. It is free and confidential to call. Learn more here:
The IFA is working hard to try and collect important data about the effects of this profession. The National Cancer Institute in partnership with University of Iowa is collecting data about cancer clusters in our state. They have not conducted an “occupational” report and are most interested in helping us achieve data based on occupation instead of location.
Below you will find a form of information we need to send them in order to get a good report of the occupational hazards of firefighting.
ALL THIS DATA WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
You should try to capture all your active firefighters as well as any retired or deceased members.
Enrollment is now open for the new IFA Rewards App!!
Earn $100’s in rewards for yourself and the IFA just by making your everyday purchases and paying through the app!
You can earn cash back for yourself on things you purchase every day and a percentage will go back to the association to help keep membership costs low.
The links below list retailers that currently accept the app for payment as well as information for 2 great contests – one for members referring their friends, and one for departments that have the most number of apps signed up under their name!!!
The Iowa Firefighters Association is now accepting applications for the 2018 Iowa Firefighters Association Scholarship.
This scholarship is in the amount of $500 and will be awarded to a high-school or college student wishing to pursue educational commitment in the field of fire science.
The applicant must submit an application and an essay of 500 words or less about their goals, community service, hobbies and why he or she wants to receive a degree in fire science, to the IFA Board of Directors by the application deadline. The applicant must be planning to attend an accredited Iowa college to obtain a degree in Fire Science.
The application process will remain open from October 1st to December 15th. Scholarships will be paid to the student when they complete the first semester with a 3.00 GPA or better. The student shall submit the proof of the GPA to the Executive Director of the IFA. The check would be made out to the student for the scholarship to be used for tuition, books, housing, or whatever the student needs.
The IFA Board of Directors would be responsible for choosing the winning applicant at the January work session. The winner will be announced at the Annual Mid-Year meeting.
