River Falls First Responders,
Inc.
Business Meeting
6:15 p.m.
Present: J. Covelli, D. Gedatus, M. Waters, C. Clement, T. Heineman, V. Nygaard, D. Dartch, D. Keatley, S. Nygaard, V. Nygaard, D. Johnson, M. Ward, S. Ward, Z. Ward, D. Wilkens, M. Milder, J. Powell, J. Raehsler, K. Ebben, J. Parsons, C. Passe, D. Passe, J. Anderson, T. Schreiner, K. Schoettle, K. Christensen, B. Christensen, R. Beadles, S. Poellinger, T. Sorenson
Excused: J. Rixmann, S.
Wolfe, K. Bennett
Unexcused: E. Varga
Approval of previous
meeting minutes: Motion made by D.
Dartch to accept minutes as written; second by S. Nygaard. Motion
carries unanimously.
Welcome
to the new First Responders who graduated; hats were distributed. Mary Waters was introduced as the person to
contact in regards to any apparel items that can be purchased.
Item 2: Treasurer’s Report
As
of December 11, 2002, there is $1,085 in our checking account.
Item 3: Administrative Directors Report
¨ The Appreciation Banquet has
not yet been finalized, but it will be held toward the end of January. As First Responders, we are invited, but will
need to pay for the cost of the dinner.
Details will be forwarded as soon as they are available.
¨ A reminder that pagers are
sensitive and will not receive a page if kept in the cold outdoors or near
electrical equipment (i.e., computers).
Item 4: Medical Director
Dr.
Greg Goblirsch is the River Falls Area Ambulance medical director. He was invited to the meeting and introduced
as such. The medical director oversees
the ambulance and First Responder protocols.
Item 5: President’s Report
¨
The First Responder books that the recent class used were returned to
their respective owners. If a current
responder is taking the EMT class, they left the book with a responder who did
not have one.
¨
Due to limited call activity, discussion about having training twice a
month was discussed. There will be
future discussion in regards to this.
¨
A 6-month equipment checklist
was distributed for those already in the field.
Please fill out the checklist and turn it in to Joe’s mailbox so that
all equipment carried in your vest is accounted for and that you are fully
stocked going into the field. These
equipment checks will be held in December and June of each year.
¨
An updated personnel roster was distributed to all responders.
¨
Mantoux shots for those who needed them were offered and if you have
not had the Hep B vaccine, a waiver form was distributed to be signed. These will need to be completed by December
18th and turned in.
¨
The confirmation of the By-Law changes discussed at the November
meeting were discussed:
¨
Training reimbursement if leaving RF FRs within two years of start in
the field.
¨
Captains included in the board of directors
¨
Creating a personnel committee comprised of the executive board and
captain for the respective town area
¨
A motion was made by V. Nygaard to accept the By-Law changes as
discussed; seconded by M. Waters. Motion carries unanimously.
¨
RF FRs leadership succession planning was discussed with the positions
of president and vice president. The
premise of this is to have the vice president position voted on every
year. The vice president would
automatically move to the president’s position in the proceeding year. There was a recommendation by D. Dartsch to
have it stay the way it is with president and vice president voted on in
alternating years for each position, but with the understanding the out going
president would stay on for 90-days to assist the new president. A motion was made to entertain a change of
succession planning by D. Johnson; seconded by M. Milder. Motion
carries unanimously. This will be up
for further discussion at a future meeting.
¨
The team discussed the establishment of a Member Recognition
Program. This would include recognizing
those First Responders who go above and beyond the call of duty and recognizing
them for their efforts. One suggestion
was to have the respective township donate $50 along with $50 from the First
Responder Organization to be given to the First Responder. M. Waters, V. Nygaard and D. Gedatus will
head up this committee.
¨
A Fundraising Committee was established and they held a meeting on
December 4, 2002. This committee is
comprised of the following First Responders:
J. Raehsler, C. Clement, K. Ebben, J. Anderson, R. Beadles, J. Powell
and D. Gedatus. The committee appointed
J. Parsons as the chairperson.
¨
The current fund-raisers being held are a Timberwolves game and candy
bar sales. Information on the game is
posted at the bay and is emailed to everyone; there are still 10 boxes of candy
bars left and will need to be sold. A
suggestion was made to set up a table at either Shopko or Econofoods in the
future to sell them.
¨
Future fund-raisers that were discussed are: Valentine Flowers (J. Anderson will contact
Gertens); T-shirts/sweatshirts (tabled); Krispy Kremes (J. Parsons will contact
B. Christensen about doing another sale); Golf tournament (J. Raehsler and C.
Clement will be working with Kilkarney about setting up a tournament).
¨
Writing grants was also discussed with grants being sent out to local
developers and other businesses.
¨
The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 5:30 p.m. The committee requests that if attending,
please bring a couple of #10 envelopes and stamps along with some company names
and addresses.
¨
The “Inland Marine Coverage Off Premise” AED insurance and establishing
a committee and the State EMS Office Required First Responder Pending Licensure
Change was tabled until a future meeting.
Item 6: Vice President’s Report
¨ There is an upcoming 8th Grade girl’s basketball tournament and they have asked the First Responders be present to help with first aid. A sign-up sheet was passed around for those interested in attending this as a First Responder.
¨
The Tri-County meeting will be hosted by
¨ A reminder that it is important to bring your FR equipment like radios and oxygen into the house with you and to not leave it in your car in the cold weather.
Item 7: Secretary’s Report
None
Item 8: Captain’s Report
Clifton: None
Kinnickinnic/Pleasant
Valley: Welcome to all new First Responders! We are looking forward to working
together. The AED’s have been placed –
one with S. Nygaard and one with D. Gedatus.
When one is not available to respond to calls, the AED will be placed
with someone who is able to respond.
River
Falls: Welcome to all new First Responders!
Troy: Welcome to all new First Responders! A sheet was passed out to all Troy Responders
so that C. Clement would have an idea of that would be available at any given
time of the day,.
Item 9: Open Discussion
¨ J. Raehsler has been working
with Fleet Farm in regards to jumpsuits for First Responders to purchase. These jumpsuits cost $25.99 for sizes under
46 and $29.99 for sizes larger than 46.
If you are interested in purchasing a jumpsuit, you can go to the
service desk and tell them that you are with the RF First Responders and they
will size you and help you with purchasing a jumpsuit. If you provide them with our WI sales tax
exempt number you will not pay tax estimated at $2.00. Keep your purchase receipt and give to J.
Covelli for possible future reimbursement.
¨ A reminder that there will
be Haz Mat training on Wednesday, December 18, 2002 from 6 p.m. to
Item 10: Next Meeting
The
next meeting will be Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Valerie
Nygaard