FireWire E-Newsletter, First Edition

March 4, 2013

»» This E-Newsletter was sent to our membership email list on Monday, March 4. If you are member of the Association and did not receive it, you can do two things: 1. Check your spam filter to see if it is blocking us 2. Check with your database administrator and make sure we have your correct email address. Thanks! FireWire E-Newsletter - FIRST EDITION! The Association strives daily to communicate with our 17,500 members. It is a challenging opportunity, and we do this so you may be armed with vital, current, and relevant information which you may use frequently and consider a resource. The most efficient way is through electronic means; it is inexpensive and fast. This newsletter is the first in that pathway. You have received this because your department has provided us your email address through our online membership database. We need every firefighter's email address. Forward this note to your brother and sister firefighters. Encourage them to check our website and make sure we have their email address. Doing so will ensure we are connected and can get you quick effective information. We look forward to hearing form you and offering you great content. Be safe. Insurance Services and Member Benefits SCFIS introduces a host of online resource readily accessible for you today! We are here to bring what you, the membership, asked for. Free, quick and easy online quotes for your many insurance needs. We have educational material to help guide you in decision making and other tools to help you find a solution. Check us out on the web at www.insurance.scfirefighters.org. Member decals have been mailed to the departments that have paid their membership dues. If you have not received them, please give us a call. Legislative Day We are working hard for our Legislative Day this Wednesday March 6^th. We encourage everyone to participate. If you are not sure about escorting a Senator or a House of Representative member, we encourage you to still come and see what it is all about. This year we will meet on the statehouse grounds at 10:00 am under the white tent. We will have a brief meeting to discuss some exciting things that are going on at the Association along with what to expect for the day. We will then dismiss everyone to the chambers to meet and greet your Senate or House of Representative member. Then you will escort them back down to the white tent for lunch. This year’s focus is on US&R Funding. We are excited to have our US&R team members there that day to show US&R displays. Attire for the day is department uniform. We hope to see everyone there.

Your fire department must be actively involved in politics. You will fall short and fall behind if you are not. You are part of government. Get your elected government leaders into your fire station. At the state level, you can find some of the issues we are following for you HERE. This webpage is updated weekly.

Higher Education Survey The Association and Greenville Technical College are endeavoring to assess the needs and desires of our state's firefighters as to Bachelor's Degree programs in state for fire service programs. Please take this short survey to aid in our direction in providing higher education for the South Carolina fire service. Training Opportunities and Events There are several upcoming training opportunities and special events we thought you should know about. For the latest information or to submit your own posting, check out this webpage.

Foundation "Help us help our own." We can now take Foundation donations online through our store. If you are planning a fund raiser, would you consider donating the proceeds to the Foundation? Thank you for your support! You can learn more about the foundation HERE. (The Foundation has 501(c)3 status, so all donations are tax-deductible.)