Message to our members from International

Dear Member:

It is indeed a privilege to serve you as part of a dedicated staff at our headquarters in Crofton, Maryland. Through e-mail, we can now share information about how we are working to serve you. Speaking for our entire staff I know we all appreciate the interaction and gain a greater understanding of the needs of our membership through communication. We look forward to sharing important and interesting information about the IAAI. We hope you find this information useful and helpful. Thank you for your interest and support of the best fraternal organization in the world.

Call for Papers
George Codding, Chair of the Annual Training Conference (ATC) seminars for 2009 has requested a Call for Papers. The request will be advertised in the October Fire and Arson Investigator Magazine. Interested members are encouraged to submit their thoughts or inquires to 2009ATC@firearson.com.

2007 Committees
Thomas J. Fee, President has announced the Associations Committees for 2007. The Committee’s are listed at our web site http://www.firearson.com/committees/infra.asp. They provide opportunities for our members to get involved. Congratulations to the new appointees and thank you to our veteran committee members.

Seminar Notes
The recent Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) seminar was conducted in Arlington, Texas. Seminar presenters included Ken Finley, Vice President and many others.

The Kansas Chapter held a Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction seminar this year in Topeka, Kansas.

Plans are being developed for a Youth Fire Setters seminar in Nevada. The training is designed to serve the needs of experienced fire investigators and law enforcement officers. It includes a multi-disciplinary team of prosecutorial, law enforcement and fire investigators as instructors.

South Padre Island, Texas will host a Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction seminar this November.

Vehicle fires will be the seminar topic for a New York Chapter seminar planned for the coming months.

All Chapters are strongly encouraged to support the Associations mission of improving the professional development of fire and explosion investigators by being the global resource for fire investigation training, technology and research.

Is your Chapter interested in co-hosting one of these types of seminars? Chapters should contact Deborah Alvarez, Training Coordinator about working with the IAAI in bringing an IAAI sponsored training seminar to your community.

Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
Immediate Past President R. Kirk Hankins serves as Chair of the CFI Review Committee. He and others work throughout the year to enhance the level of professionalism among our membership. One of its annual goals is to update the program including the continual maintenance, testing and evaluation. Almost 10,000 contact hours for this highly recognized professional designation have been achieved this year. The statistics also indicate an increasing interest in the Scientific Method.

IAAI on Capitol Hill
Steve Austin, Governmental Liaison for our Association insured our participation and involvement in number activities on Capitol Hill. IAAI staff attend a “Fire Side Chat” sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute, was part of a panel that provided a briefing to Congressional Staffers on fire service legislative issues for the 110th Congress. The agenda included Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations, Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSOB), and the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. We were represented at the swearing-in ceremony for Gregory Cade. The former Virginia Beach, Virgina fire chief now serves as Deputy United States Fire Administrator. The ceremony was conducted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.

The IAAI also provided comment at a Press Conference on the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) also known as the Hometown Heroes Act. Hal Bruno, Chairman of the National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation served as emcee of the event sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chief’s. The program featured a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The event urged immediate implementation of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. Senator Leahy (Vermont) and several members of Congress including Reichert (Washington), Etheridge (North Carolina), and Bachus (Alabama) along with other public safety organizations and members of surviving families from Georgia, Texas and Kentucky implored the Department of Justice to honor our government’s commitment the families of our fallen heroes.

Fraternally,

Ronald D. Blackwell
Interim Executive Director