PDF: MSFA Weekly Report week ending 9.9.22

MSFA Name Change: The name change survey has been disseminated by Taskforce
Chair Teresa Crisman and will be available until October 15th. It asks several questions
regarding the proposed name changes and why the proposals failed. We ask that those
who receive the survey to reply in a timely manner as we continue discussions on how
we move forward into 2023. The Taskforce is working diligently to collect the survey
data and the feedback generated by the membership and has received close to 70
responses so far.

To be clear, and taking into account the sensitivity and importance of this initiative, it is
important to allow the taskforce to complete its work. President Kurtz asks that member
Departments and Associations be patient with the process and not create negativity
around what should be a positive endeavor.

As a reminder, President Kurtz has asked that NO NAME CHANGE PROPOSALS BE
SUBMITTED until after January 1, 2023.

REMINDER: Maryland Fire–Rescue Services Memorial Foundation 16th Annual
Gala:

When: Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 6pm–10pm
Where: Singerly Fire Company, 300 Newark Avenue Elkton, MD
Cost: $50.00pp

Anyone interested in attending, please contact Rosa Maher at 301–300–4615 for tickets.
Anyone interested in donating a silent auction item, contact Sharon Owen at 410–991–
8370.

Please support the Foundation in their mission to honor our fallen brothers and sisters.
The next meeting of the Foundation will be Wednesday, September 7th at 6 pm at the
West Annapolis VFC at 7pm. New members are always welcome!

The 2022 Federation of Fire Chaplain’s Conference application is available for those
who wish to attend. It will be held October 15–20 in Atlanta, Georgia. Through SAFER
grant funding, the MSFA and MFCA can reimburse up to five attendees each and there
are a few slots available at this time. Please reach out to Chief Chaplain John Long at
pray@msfa.org for an application.

Mental Health Training: If your department would like to host a mental health
awareness presentation, please reach out to Teresa Crisman at tacrisman@hotmail.com
or PP Dave Lewis at dlewis533@comcast.net for content that is appropriate for your
members.

MSFA Committee Notices:
The Scholarship Committee Chair has sent out important information regarding
upcoming meeting dates. If you are on this committee and have not received these dates,
please reach out to Lynn Hawkins at ehawkins@firehero.org.
The Cancer Committee has announced its 2023 Walk of Hope in Annapolis which will be
held on Sunday, April 23, 2023. They hope to have an excellent turn out again next
spring!

The Ways and Means Committee reminds all departments that the 2023 Convention
$10,000 Raffle tickets have been distributed to all Executive Committee members. Please
be sure to contact them to get your tickets!

If any Committee wishes to share information via this weekly report, please submit it to
Executive Director Kate Loveless at KLoveless@msfa.org by the Wednesday of each
week for Friday distribution. If you are interested in being on an MSFA committee,
please visit the MSFA website and submit the following interest form:
https://www.msfa.org/committees/interest–form/

If your department has an upcoming event, please post the information to the MSFA
Information Sharing page on Facebook. The page grows each week and it is a useful tool
to help advertise your events. You can also share important information and milestones
on the MSFA website by submitting an announcement form online at
https://www.msfa.org/about/news/announcements/submit–announcement/

988: Please be aware and spread the word regarding the recent launch of the Maryland
Department of Health National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; 988. For more information
visit:
https://health.maryland.gov/newsroom/Pages/Maryland–Department–of–Health–launches–
988,–the–new–National–Suicide–&–Crisis–Lifeline.aspx

If you have any questions, please reach out to your county Executive Committee
members: