2015

Fire departments represented by Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) are hosting events throughout September and October in honor of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10, 2015.

Fire Prevention Week is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which Oct. 9 falls to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The fire began on Oct. 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on Oct. 9, 1871.

This year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire prevention week theme is "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep; Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm."

An online questionnaire distributed by NFPA showed that less than half (42 percent) of approximately 36,000 respondents did not know that a smoke alarm should be installed in each bedroom of the home. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code®, requires a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

Local Fire Prevention public events include:

• Augusta Charter Township Fire Department Open House
Time: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.
Location: 10985 Whittaker Rd., Whittaker, MI 48190
Contact: www.augustatownship.org, click on Fire Department Brochure
Fire trucks and Huron Valley Ambulance on display, a smoke house where adults and children can learn fire safety, and spray the fire hose and knock down a pretend fire. The kids will be entertained by Andy the Ambulance, a mechanical remote control ambulance, and Augusta Township Fire Pup. There will be free food and drink, literature and coloring books, and raffles for gift cards and other items donated by community businesses.

• Chelsea Area Fire Authority Open House
Time: Noon - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015.
Location: 200 W. Middle St.
Contact: (734) 475-8755 or http://www.cafa6.org/

• Kids Safety Day @ Home Depot
With Flint Township Fire Department
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015.
Location: 4380 W. Corunna Rd., Flint, MI 48532
Contact: (810) 732-4413.

• Fire Prevention Day with Flint Township Fire Department
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.
Location: Bristol Road Church of Christ, 1315 W. Bristol Rd., Flint, MI 48507
Contact: (810) 732-4413.

• Free Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors through Flint Township Fire Department
Grant from Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission CDBG Program
Of note: One per household in designated CDBG area while supplies last. Picture ID is required.
Time: 1-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday
Location: 5331 Reuben St.
Contact: (810) 732-4413.

• Green Oak Township Fire Department Open House
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.
Location: 9384 Whitmore Lake Rd.
Contact: (810) 231-3663.

• Macomb Township Fire Department Open House
Time: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.
Location: Macomb Township Fire Department Station 3, 47711 North Ave.
Contact: (586) 677-1262.
The event will include station tours and blood pressure checks. Live demonstrations will include use of fire extinguishers, firefighters rescuing victims, vehicle extrication with the Jaws of Life and fire safety for children.

• Milford Fire Department Open House
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015.
Location: 325 W. Huron
Contact: (248) 684-2335.
The event will feature an extrication demonstration with the Jaws of Life, tours of the station, trucks on display, fire safety materials, and free popcorn, cider and doughnuts.

• New Baltimore Fire Department Annual Pancake Breakfast
Time: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015.
Location: Fire Department Hall at 36535 Green St.
Contact: (586) 725-0990.
Breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Guests are asked to make a donation, which will be given to charities such as American Cancer Society, local burn camps and the Lions Club. The event will feature fire truck displays and many fire safety materials including tips for safely storing items in garages and around heaters and furnaces. There will be a 50/50 raffle and activities for children. New Baltimore Fire Dept. Association t-shirts are for sale to support local charities.

• Northfield Township Police & Fire Open House
Time: 1–4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.
Location: 8350 Main St., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
Contact: (734) 449-2385.

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CONTRACT

“They got 3 percent a year in wage increases, so 9 percent overall. Their increase in Longevity was 2 percent per year, which was pretty big,” said MAFF Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “Any special call outs, like HAZMAT were paid at double time.”

Contract Duration: 3-year agreement, effective 4-1-15 to 3-31-18.
Wage Increases:

• 3% wage increase each year of the contract for 9% total.
• Fire Officers annual salaries increase by $100 each year of the contract.

Retirement: Add language for proration of Longevity.
Longevity increases by 2% as follows:

• 5 to 10 years 4%
• 11 to 15 years 6%
• 16 or more years 8%

Fringe Benefits: Add Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as Holidays. All Holiday Pay hours will be compensated at double time. Add Fire Fighters responding to a Specialized County Team Rescue Activation Call (i.e. HAZMAT, Tech or Water Rescue) shall be paid double time their regular hourly rate of pay for all time spent on the activations.
Manning & Safety: All posted assignments (public education events) shall indicate if the assignment is paid or unpaid. Special Duty Assignment is defined as any assignment that is above or beyond the normal duties of a Paid-On-Call Fire Fighter. Job Postings language for all openings including: promotions, transfers, special team assignments, special duty assignments, mentor assignments or any other Fire Fighter job opportunities, should be posted for 30 days and the postings shall contain the requirements and qualifications for the posted position.
Bargaining Team: Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor with Association President Dave Music.

All Local Executive Board Members and Local Stewards are encouraged to attend a series of Grievance Seminars being held on Fridays at the MAFF Office. The Seminars, being conducted by MAFF Executive Director Fred Timpner, will provide valuable information on key grievance issues.

Seminars on Aug. 21 and Oct. 30, 2015 will focus on contract interpretation. Discipline will be discussed at the Seminars on Sept. 25 and Nov. 20, 2015. Each Seminar begins at 10 a.m. and lunch will be served. Details can be found on the website Calendar.

These Seminars are limited to 12 persons on a first-come basis. Please contact Julie Palmquist at (248) 304-8806, ext. 231 as soon as possible to make reservations.

Scholarship winner has impressive resume, personality

By Jennifer Foley, MAFF Editor

Carl Parsell Scholarship winner Marisa Reiss took challenging honors courses while attending Dakota High School, but that didn’t stop her from volunteering her time with various organizations and working with special needs students.

The daughter of Michigan Association of Police (MAP) member William Reiss, a City of St. Clair Shores Police Sergeant, was awarded the $2,500 scholarship for the 2015-16 school year. Marisa, who graduated with a 3.56 GPA from Dakota High, will be attending Michigan State University to major in Biology/Pre Med.

Marisa was in the National Honor Society, on the honor roll all four years, and enrolled in various Advanced Placement classes. She was in Dakota’s Medical Careers Program and employed as a secretary with Macomb Intermediate School District at Glen H. Peters School for special needs students.

“Through my medical internship at Dakota, I have the opportunity to work at Glen H. Peters School ... for mentally and physically disabled students,” Marisa wrote on her application. “This scholarship will provide much needed assistance to achieve my degree in the medical careers program.”

A Macomb Township resident, Marisa has 80 plus hours of community service, has participated in Dakota’s Varsity Dance Team for three years, and was awarded multiple MAC Red Academic Awards for athletics. She volunteers with St. Clair Shores Cops for Kids, which provides financial assistance to less fortunate families in St. Clair Shores throughout the year, serving 85 families with 300 children over the Christmas holiday. She also volunteers through the National Honor Society and at St. Malachy Catholic Church Summer Festival each year, which fundraises to assist the parish community.

“Marisa has earned her academic success, while taking many challenging, rigorous courses such as Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, AP Biology and AP Psychology. Marisa’s resume is impressive, and equally as impressive is her personality,” wrote Dakota High School Principal Paul Sibley in a letter of recommendation. “Marisa is the type of person that will make an institution better, create a more positive work place, and will represent everyone in her life well.”

Scholarship awarded to school leader

By Jennifer Foley, MAFF Editor

Chad Quick’s proven leadership ability coupled with academic achievements and volunteer work helped him become one of two $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund winners for the 2015-16 school year.

The son of Michigan Association of Public Employees (MAPE) member Chris Quick, City of Novi Lead Mechanic, Chad graduated with a 3.95 GPA from Detroit Catholic Central High School. He will be attending University of Notre Dame to major in Civil Engineering.

Chad was a Student Council Member, Senior Class Treasurer, Kairos Retreat Leader, JV Soccer Captain of the high school team and member of the National Honor Society. He received the Gabriel Richard Academic Award, President’s Award for Educational Excellence, A.P. Scholar Award and Catholic League All-Academic in 2014. Chad’s soccer team was district champions in 2013 and Catholic League Champions. He was awarded All-District, All-Region and All-State Honorable Mention for soccer. Chad was involved in Club Soccer, track and field, basketball and Art Club.

A United States Soccer Federation Grade 8 Certified Referee, Chad volunteers as a Parish Usher at Our Lady of Victory in Northville and served in the Boy Scouts as a Troop Guide and Life Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also participated in the Peanut Butter and Jelly Outreach, preparing food and collecting clothing for the needy. Chad built a 24-foot pole barn at Maybury State Park in Northville for his Eagle Scout project.

“I have been so active in my school and community, especially in pursuing my Eagle Rank, that I have been unable to work during the year to earn money for college,” Chad wrote in his application. “The Carl Parsell Scholarship would help me afford the University of Notre Dame. Earning a degree in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame would enable me to build municipal, domestic and environmental structure to enrich my community in the future.”

Chad, a Plymouth resident, also received an Army R.O.T.C. Scholarship.

The Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 in memory of the law enforcement union movement pioneer. Parsell spent an unparalleled career thinking about the welfare of the employees he represented, always taking effective actions to constantly improve their economic status, working conditions, and future. The scholarship continues his legacy of improving the lives and futures of others, through education. Scholarships are awarded each year to Michigan family members of MAP, MAPE and MAFF union members. Funds for this year’s recipients were derived from the 25th Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing, held June 11,, 2015.