President's Update

Thanks to everyone for attending this year's conference in La Crosse. Bringing Wisconsin's fire chiefs together is important for many reasons. It is critical for us to discuss issues significant to our jobs and operations. It's what makes us good leaders. Gathering information and having the opportunity to discuss it with our peers gives us the ability to go home and provide for our fire fighters and our communities more effectively.

Thanks to everyone who attended, participated in the sessions, and made it a great learning experience for everyone. If you were unable to attend, I hope that you will plan to attend next year's conference.

It was a great conference thanks to everyone who contributed to the planning and execution of the event. We have a cross section of chiefs on the conference committee who did a great job of getting together a nice variety of speakers. Thank you to the committee! Thanks also to our business management team SAMI. Everyone at SAMI worked hard setting up programs, working with the hotels and conference center, and assisting session presenters to put the conference together.

Thanks also to Chief Gregg Cleveland, his wife Kay, and the La Crosse Fire Department. All of them worked to represent us in La Crosse the last year and a half as the conference was being organized. They attended meetings, made phone calls, organized programs, and attended to numerous other major and minor details prior to and throughout the conference.

Chief Jack Running served as treasurer the last three years after a year off and seven years prior on the board including a term as president. Ten years on the board is a tremendous commitment and service to the WSFCA as well as Wisconsin's fire service. Thanks Jack.

Chief Brad Liggett is now our Past President. It's tough to express the gratitude we owe Brad for his effort. I don't know that anyone could do a better job of keeping the greater good of all of Wisconsin's fire departments in mind. Brad worked incredibly hard to understand the issues and make decisions with absolutely all of us in mind. He was always professional and always nice. His heart was truly in the job. I have a tough act to follow. Thanks Brad!

Since the conference, we have met with the Department of Commerce to address several issues relative to training, inspections, and prevention. We also had a meeting with the Fire and EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition to address items we need to prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

Looking forward, we will continue to look for ways to improve the association's service to you. We'll be busy with legislative items, training opportunities, and safety concerns. If you have a suggestion or concern, please contact me or anyone on the board.

As I said at the banquet Saturday evening, the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association Conference is truly a unique experience. I hope that you learned something to take home to make your community safer, and you more effective as a leader. Just as importantly, I hope that you took the opportunity to make new friends, and really enjoy the old ones.

Please be safe and take care of yourself,

Jack Baus
President, Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs' Association
715-232-2414
jbaus@menomonie-wi.gov