Dennis Ahrens, President 5-11 Club, Inc Jim P O Box 8511 - Chicago, Illinois 60680 www5-11clubchicagoorg Mitidiero, Vice-President MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 2016 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING The General Membership meeting was held at the Quinn Fire Academy, located at 558 W DeKoven Street, on Wednesday August 24th and was called to order at 7:50pm by President Ahrens with Twenty-three Regular Members and one guest, member John Wong's daughter Charlotte Wong, present The minutes of the July General Membership Meeting were presented to the membership for review Motion made by Mike Penchar and seconded by Bill Kuenstle to approve the minutes as written Motion carried Treasurer Paige Van Vorst reported the treasury is solvent Expenses included supplies for Support Service Unit #1, the Fire Buffs of Illinois profit share from the June Fire Truck Rally/Swap Meet at the QFA, rental locker fee from U-Store-It self-storage facility for storage of club supplies, gas for Support Unit #3 and food purchased for CFD personnel battling a 2-11 Alarm fire at 3033 East 106th St Income included Red Box Fund contributions Motion made by Mike Penchar and seconded by Bill Schreiber to approve the report Motion carried The following bills were presented to the membership for reimbursement: Harold Klein presented bills for five cases of Gatorade for Support Service Unit #1 and copies of the July meeting minutes; President Ahrens presented a bill covering copies of the newly amended club bylaws and pocket portfolios for each copy; Mike Kerr presented a bill covering snack bar supplies for Support Service Units 1 and 2 Motion made by Bill Schreiber and seconded by Steve White to pay the bills Motion carried Club Officers and the Board of Directors met prior to the general membership meeting and discussed the following: Chicago Fire Commissioner Santiago has granted the club permission to relocate Support Service Unit #3, and unit supplies, from Engine Co 80's quarters to the CFD Special Operations building at 3950 S Honore The move should take place in the near future; President Ahrens displayed a newly designed club polo shirt which will be discussed at future meetings for membership approval; Personnel changes in the oversight of the Support Service Units; A club debit card for Support Service Unit #3 and revision of uniform policies for Support Service Unit members; Gary Altwasser presented/demonstrated a folding bench for the Support Service Units which can be utilized at fire scenes for fire fighter rehab Motion made by Mike Penchar and seconded by John Divita to purchase the bench for the Support Service Units Motion carried Corresponding Secretary Mike Penchar reported the club received a letter from the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation re the purchase of an ad in their ad book for their annual Gold Star Families Reception/Candlelight Vigil on September 13 Motion made by Bob Johnson and seconded by Mike Kerr for the club to purchase a 1/4 page advertisement Motion carried Also, the Signal 22 Canteen Association in Trenton, New Jersey is celebrating its 75th year of service and is publishing a commemorative ad book Motion made by John Divita and seconded by Steve White to purchase a 1/2 page advertisement Motion carried; Lastly, the 17th Annual Greater Milwaukee Fire/Police Expo, commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks, will take place on Saturday, September 10 at the Milwaukee Area Technical College in Oak Creek, Wi Activities Committee Chairmen Dennis Ahrens/Jim Mitidiero reported nothing special in the immediate future Apparatus Maintenance Committee Chairman Gary Altwasser reported that Support Service Unit #3 is still experiencing mechanical issues and will return to Interstate Emergency Vehicles in Joliet for additional repairs President Ahrens has granted Gary approval to attend board meetings re Support Unit issues Archive Committee Chairman Chuck Bleck was unable to attend the meeting "Organized for Persons Interested in the Chicago Fire Department and Welfare of its Personnel"
Minutes of the August 2016 General Membership Meeting Cont'd Badge Committee Chairman Jim Mitidiero was unable to attend the meeting CFD/Fire Buffs of Illinois Liaison Jack Connors reported the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago will have an Open House/Mini Fire Truck Display on Saturday August 27 at 5218 S Western Avenue from 10am to 2pm IFBA Committee Chairmen Dennis Ahrens/Jim Mitidiero reported the IFBA Convention was held August 16-20 at the Double Tree Hotel in New Orleans President Ahrens was the club delegate and Mike Penchar the alternate President Ahrens was elected as the VP of Region 6 and was also elected by the board to be the 1st VP of the IFBA Meeting highlights included the following; Jerry Traub of Indianapolis, Indiana is the new IFBA President; The Website of the Year Award will be renamed the Social Media Award which will include club website, social media, club newsletter and Facebook/Twitter; The creation of a new Chairman of the Board position, headed by Paul Schaetzle, for long range planning; Executive VP Bill Mokros will remain in place for another two years; FF Gerard Mahoney of Cambridge, Massachusetts received the FF of the Year Award as well as the Henry Wilwers Award; Future conventions are planned for Indianapolis, Indiana (3 day convention) in 2017, Racine, Wisconsin in 2018 and Montreal, Canada in 2019 Membership Committee Chairman Mike Penchar had no news to report Publicity Chairman Mike Penchar had no news to report at this time Support Service Unit Committee Chairman Gary Altwasser/Bill Kuenstle reported that Support Service Unit #1 will be scheduled for winter maintenance in the near future The following revisions have been made to oversight of the Support Service Units: Gary Altwasser is the Unit and Maintenance Supervisor; Bill Kuenstle is the Assistant Unit Supervisor; Jim Mitidiero will oversee Communications; Bob Johnson is the Coordinator and Harold Klein the Assistant of Support Service Unit #1; Sid Smith is the Coordinator and Andrew Holmes the Assistant of Support Service Unit #2; Mike Kerr is the Unit and Supply Coordinator and Bill Claessons the Assistant of Support Service Unit #3 All support service unit members are required to wear proper and clean attire when responding with the units When visiting the club website please click on one or two of the ads as each click will help to support the 5-11 Club s mission Welfare Committee Chairman Russell Harmon had no news to report Unfinished Business: President Ahrens handed out copies of the newly revised/rewritten club bylaws, which include club policies and protocols, to members present Members should review them as a vote of acceptance/approval will be taken at the September meeting Recently member Andrew Holmes donated a few hundred cases of bottled water to the club which has been stored in a rental locker at a south side self storage facility Support Service Units 1 and 2 will assist Andrew in relocating the supply to a storeroom at the CFD'S Special Operations Building at 3950 S Honore Also, members who make an Amazon purchase are reminded to use smileamazoncom and select the 5-11 Club from the list of non-profit charitable organizations as Amazon will donate 5% of the eligible purchase price back to the club New Business: Gary Altwasser has been conversing with Schiller Park FD officials re the donation of their 2001 Freightliner Ambulance once they take delivery of a new ambulance in the near future In an act of good will Gary suggested that Support Service Unit #1 respond to incidents when a rehab unit is needed/requested by their department Motion made by Mike Penchar and seconded by Bill Kuenstle to approve the suggestion Motion carried A motion was made by Bob Johnson and seconded by Brian Klippell recommending that a uniform committee be formed to review/revise uniform codes for support unit members Motion carried Newer club members inquired about receiving identification cards and the club has been requested to provide a support unit to serve refreshments at the Quinn Fire Academy on October 11 prior to the annual FF/Paramedic Awards Ceremony at City Hall Gary Altwasser will be sending emails out informing club members of the login procedures to the members page on the club website Announcements: 1 The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago's Open House/Mini Fire Truck Display will be on Saturday, August 27 at the museum located at 5218 S Western Avenue from 10am to 2pm
Minutes of the August 2016 General Membership Meeting Cont'd Announcements Cont'd: 2 The next General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28 at the Quinn Fire Academy located at 558 W DeKoven Street Board of Directors meeting at 6:30PM followed by the General Membership Meeting at 7:30PM Members contributed to the club Red Box Fund and $2700 was collected Moment of silence was observed for a speedy recovery to member Chuck Bleck after recently incurring a broken ankle and member Jim Liston recovering from a serious illness Motion to adjourn the meeting made by John Divita and seconded by Cindy Shlaustas Motion carried Meeting adjourned at 9:14pm Respectfully Submitted, Harold Klein Recording Secretary, 5-11 Club, INC