Art Zern's Comments

YOu have some great pics. there is one black and white of what could be a recruit class Pic 47 ; That wouldn't happen to be your recruit class would it? :)

Maybe Wisconsin has it right - state law that you cannot fire a fire chief. Unfortunately that can work for or against the cause.
Leadership is the answer to so many problems we face, this one included, but unfortunately the term as gone by the wayside due to overuse. I wish I had the answer Art but please know I feel your pain and have for many years, including my years as union president. We have 4-person companies here but every once in awhle someone will pipe up with the idea of reducing staffing to 3 and putting more trucks on the street as the answer to some of our response issues. I always tell them my stories of working in Urbana on 3-person companies, sometimes 2 if the city did not want to overextend overtime funds due to end of the year fiscal "crisis." You cannot be effective with a 3-person force even removing firefighting from the mix. Imagine a MVA response on the expressway with so many safety issues to consider and control. Yes, we are running more EMS and less fire, so frame the discussion in terms of EMS response if that is what gets the point across. We still need 4, period.
Okay, now you have me ranting and I need to get back to work. Be safe everyone and stay the course.

Art, I just added a blog, Residential Search; Complacency and Priorities that you can find on my page. Give it a look if you have some time. Take care and stay safe.

Art,
I served on Danville. Got my start up in Blue Island.

Also, great logo there. May I have permission to copy that?

HI Art! I think we've met... I am/was an adjunct field inst. for the U of I. Did a couple of Fire Colleges and worked for Buck in TIC and Chief Brady in 1st Arriving C.O. Things are good and I would love to get back out to Champaign some time.
Take care and be safe

Chief, thanks for the kind words and understanding on my situtation. I look forward to many great discussions and learning from you int he future!

Art,
I was referring to "Jerry McGuire"... you had me at hello. LOL. Roseville is NE suburb of Detroit. If you're familiar with the area, 13 mile rd and Gratiot area

Hey Art,
Thanks for the invite. Florida is great, and it is a new position. Having fun but still miss my friends from IL. Thanks for setting up the FSI group as it helps me stay in touch with my friends back home. Take care, and stay safe, Rich

Hey Chief, thanks for the add...
Stay in touch

Thanks Art. That means a lot. I look forward to the posts in this thread.

Hane a great holiday.
Joe

You guys have hi rises right? How are you on that stuff?

Art, next time you decide to don your hoosier shoes give me a yell. I am a fireman in South Bend, not to far from middlebury at all. I am always down for a good brew/cup o'java/lunch/etc... I am also up in your area pretty often, my in-laws live in geneva.

Chief,

Thanks for your comment. I aggree, Mac and EE are too solid Brothers. I have had the honor and priviledge to see them speak twice back east. Motivational Speakers doesn't even begin to describe what they do. I look forward to actually "meeting you in the future. Are you going to FDIC or The FOOLS convention next year? If so, I'll see ya there.

Be safe Brother,

E

Thanks, Chief!

I got your e-mail and I'll call you soon.

there's no business like truck business
truckies make the best chiefs

hi art
welcome to the page
some great pics
stay safe out there
aa

Thanks Mike, a little old and a little new.

Art