Kurt is coming to SE Michigan

[jhl81791123]

February 22 and 23, 2008 - Kurt Bradley of Chief Grants is coming to Waterford Township Fire Department. This event will occur just before the 2008 AFG window opens. Great time to sharpen your grant writing skills. Waterford is located in the center of Oakland County, 30 miles North of Detroit. 1 Hour from Lansing or Toledo, 2 hours from Grand Rapids. There are 2 hotels and numerous restaurants in the area.

I attended a March '07 seminar in Indiana. I learned so much and have had great followup with Kurt. I know you will gain tremendous knowledge and insight into the grant writing process.

email me: JLyman@twp.waterford.mi.us

Looking forward to seeing you there!!!

Lt. John H. Lyman

[ktb9780]

I swear John, if you guys have a blizzard, like we did at greenacres2 place last year, I am going to just roll over and die. Thankfully, my Dad lives close by in Clio so at least I have refuge if I need it!:D

[EMT377]

Hey Kurt, did I see somewhere that you are coming to Hazard, KY? If so when? I got the dreaded double DJ and would like to attend a seminar. thanks gp-ebfd

[ktb9780]

Hey Kurt, did I see somewhere that you are coming to Hazard, KY? If so when? I got the dreaded double DJ and would like to attend a seminar. thanks gp-ebfd

Yep, Jackson FD is hosting me into Hazard, KY on Oct 18-19. Here is infrmation about it: http://www.chiefsupply.com/grants/docs/20071018-19_FD_KY_Jackson.doc You can register online with a secure registration link located at https://www.chiefsupply.com/grants/miniseminar_register.asp
ANy question conatct me offline ( see profile).;)

[jhl81791123]

I swear John, if you guys have a blizzard, like we did at greenacres2 place last year, I am going to just roll over and die. Thankfully, my Dad lives close by in Clio so at least I have refuge if I need it!:D

Amazingly enough there is no snow in the forecast for that weekend. It's a miracle, an AFG miracle!

John

[ktb9780]

Amazingly enough there is no snow in the forecast for that weekend. It's a miracle, an AFG miracle!

John
SO riddle me this Mr Weatherman that can forecast out 6 months from now; how will I do in the Lotto here this week? LOL!:D

[Limeforever]

I just wish that I had bought my powerball ticket in Richmond Indiana. Earl, you wouldn't have been traveling through that area would you? I know that you have the luck of the Irish just around the bend from you. The way you get all these grants must have some luck in there.

[Greenacres2]

Nope, didn't recover a dime of last week's "voluntary tax"!! :p

earl

[jhl81791123]

Waterford still has openings for the seminar set for February 22 & 23, 2008. Please call me or register online.

Still no snow in the forecast for that time.

John Lyman

[jhl81791123]

3 calls for registration this week. Get your seats while the gettin' is good!!!

John Lyman
Waterford Twp. Fire Dept.

[ktb9780]

Pay attention MI, WI, OH, this will be a great seminar, great facility at exactly the right time.;)

[Greenacres2]

Pay attention MI, WI, OH, this will be a great seminar, great facility at exactly the right time.;)

Not only that, but John will make sure the coffee is excellent. :D

earl (inventor of "salt water coffee")

[jhl81791123]

Two more have signed up for the seminar in Waterford, MI. The dates are February 22 and 23, 2008 - Kurt Bradley of Chief Grants is coming.

This event will occur just before the 2008 AFG window opens. Great time to sharpen your grant writing skills.

Waterford is 30 minutes North of Detroit, one hour North of the Ohio border, and 3 hours from Fort Wayne, IN.

Come on. Get registered online now.

[ktb9780]

If you got that dreaded DJ yesterday, time to get off the fence and get into a seminar.;)

[jhl81791123]

Kurt,

Thinking about the Michigan seminar coming up in February, the blizzards and your travel adventures (losing luggage) - I have a Wal-Mart and Target close by for you to buy clothes.

[Greenacres2]

We give Kurt a lot of static about weather (well-deserved), but if that Michigan seminar has the kind of talent we had in LaPorte, IN (or Kelly had in Alum Banks)...there would be no harm in being locked in a room with either group of 30 people for 2 days.

In other words...Kurt and Brian are wizards but the classrooms tend to be loaded with pretty talented folks who are willing to brainstorm (even without adult beverages if necessary) and the idea exchange alone is worth taking the trip.

earl (preparing for tonight's snow without Kurt or Brian)

[ktb9780]

We give Kurt a lot of static about weather (well-deserved), but if that Michigan seminar has the kind of talent we had in LaPorte, IN (or Kelly had in Alum Banks)...there would be no harm in being locked in a room with either group of 30 people for 2 days.

In other words...Kurt and Brian are wizards but the classrooms tend to be loaded with pretty talented folks who are willing to brainstorm (even without adult beverages if necessary) and the idea exchange alone is worth taking the trip.

earl (preparing for tonight's snow without Kurt or Brian)

Yep, I am in turnaorund mode for sure. Just hit the ground from Nashville and washing and repacking for Aledo, TX tomorrow. Good luck with all that white stuff guys; my curse had finally been broken!;)

[jhl81791123]

In the last two days another 3 students have signed up for the Waterford seminar AKA the "Kurt Bradley winter excursions". We are praying for good weather. Email me or see the website

http://www.chiefsupply.com/grants/index.asp

If you got DJ'd this year then you need to come to the seminar - you will be better prepared for the grant year.

John

[jhl81791123]

Let's go you Firehouse forum users. If you need a refresher-course for grant-writing you need to come to Michigan, February 22 & 23.

Weather may be cold here, but the coffee will be hot.

Lunches and one dinner are included.

Registration is still $299, but only for a couple more weeks. I have reached the 20 student mark. Plenty of seats available.

http://www.chiefsupply.com/grants/index.asp.

Email me if you need hotel information. jlyman@twp.waterford.mi.us

[Greenacres2]

John's got good taste in coffee and food--that alone may be worth the price of admission!!

earl (Ooooh, it's salt-water toffee?? I thought they said coffee!!)

[ktb9780]

Looks like things are shaping up good for you John. Still room for another 20 or so though. Keep at it. Thsi is going to be a memorable one up there!;)

[jhl81791123]

We are less than two weeks away from the Chief Grants Seminar in Waterford, MI. We are looking forward to this event. There are still front row seats available. 26 have signed up and we would like to get to 50. Let' go MI, OH, IN and OH. We are in your backyard!

[ktb9780]

John I spent this past weekend here with some relatives visiting from your neck of the woods up there and I am lreally ooking forward to your seminar. The work you have done, door prizes, food, restaurant etc. are certaily going to make this one a great one to attend. Who knows we may even have the 08 Program Guidance available by then. Folks this is one of only two more smeinars I have left on this years schedule before 08 AFG opens; I urge you not to miss this opportunity. I know many of you are sitting on the fence waiting to hear that final round and listening for the "Fat Lady to Sing" so to speak but, don't believe for a minute that one years success, guarantees the subsequent year. Everybody can learn something new here, so come on up and and "sit a spell, take your shoes off".;)

[egmiller]

The Valley Center class has 20 students enrolled. I am looking forward to hosting the class and meeting everyone. You have just over two weeks to get your registration in. Lets go KS, MO, OK, AR and NB.

[7Stones]

I strongly urge everyone in Michigan who has not attended one of Kurt's seminars to find a way to attend the upcoming seminar in Waterford. I attended his seminar back in September in Milwaukee and it was fantastic. I left with a much better understanding of how to write a competitive grant, with a boatload of ideas for how to present our department needs, and several excellent sample narratives to refer to as I work on my own. I wrote a grant letter to Wal-Mart and they funded the entire trip!! The Chief Supply grant page has information so you can do the same. Since attending the seminar I have written six grant proposals and I am confident that their quality is measurably improved as a direct result of my time listening to Kurt. Stop wondering why you are rejected and be proactive. A lot of other people have taken advantage of grant writing seminars and you are competing with them for AFG help. How badly does your department need the equipment, training, apparatus, or staffing help you are writing into your grants? If your need is serious, we have to be serious about making every effort to get the federal support that is available. We owe it to our department members and our community to do our best. I know you will not be disappointed if you attend.

Jon

[7Stones]

Anyone from Michigan with a DJ today not considering Waterford on Feb 23-24?

Every week I look through the list of states and the grant money they have received. I am always amazed at Pennsylvania and Alabama. What makes them different? They have enthusiastically embraced grant writing as an art form. They have great grant writing seminars and they work hard to improve year after year.

Michigan is in the toilet financially. The state is out of money and many of our cities, towns, and villages are running on empty. It is time to get in the game. I am just learning how to write a competitive grant. I found Kurt's training to be really helpful. The booklet is full of excellent ideas and suggestions. The question shouldn't be "can I afford to attend the Chief grant writing seminar?" The question should be "Can you afford not to?"

Today I was DJ'd on a pre-Chief Grant Seminar proposal. Seeing that DJ in my inbox was like a punch in the gut after holding my breath for months. I am back at the computer working on next years grants and I don't want the same outcome.

I don't meant to rant and rave. I just want to see us get the help me need in the great state of Michigan. It won't happen without us being proactive and adequately equipped so our proposals can do battle with the others in the competitive peer review arena.

Jon

[ktb9780]

Jon you hit the nail on the head in being "proactive" and not reactive in nature. PA and AL have done just that and they prove it every year. It is good to know that you can do the task yourself but, with only three years left to this program, why take the chance that maybe you don't have all the know how. Learning grants is not hard and you don't need a college degree to succeed; I am living proof of that. What you do need, just like tackling any other new task in life, is the proper skill sets. Justification for the expense is as simple as looking at what you spend training money on now; do you ever get any money BACK into your budget as a result of that spending. I don't mean intrinsic "better safety, less W/C claims" etc.; I mean cold hard cash to buy equipment with that you simply did not have before.I don't know of any other training money my department ever spent, that returned money to our budget, at a rate of 100-400 times, than what they invested in sending me to be properly trained in grants. I wish I could put my own $500 bucks into the bank and return $50,000 to my account this easily; I woudldhave done it long ago.

Thanks for the acknowledgement Jon. We try very hard to turn everyone into a successful writer and it is good to know that we are being successful at it and that results are achievable. Your training will no doubt pay off soon enough.;)

[jhl81791123]

Jon,

You are so right. Our state is in a huge mess and it will continue to get worse in the near future. We to need grant money to make equipment purchases, and we need the grant training to get that money.

I was punched in the gut myself yesterday. Rejected on Vehicle Exhaust and generators for the 2nd straight year. It is a personal defeat seeing that I put my heart and soul into this one. I realize there must have been needier departments out there, but 2 years in a row. Ouch.

I hope to sharpen my own skills next week when Kurt comes to Waterford.

John Lyman

[utfd701]

John and Kurt,
You guys did a great job with the workshop last weekend. Facilities, organization and ammeneties were well planned. It was very obvious a lot of work was done to present this opportunity. And as far as the workshop content, I guess the best thing I can say is our township board is not going to know what hit them when I start asking for matching monies, my Fire Chief is already buckled in and ready for a wild ride cause as soon as I get AFG out of the way I have a multiple page project list I am going after and feel that Kurt has given me tons of ammo.

Thanks guys, GREAT JOB!

[ktb9780]

It was my pleasure and let me tell all of you who missed this just exactly what a great job John Lyman did on this. Are you kidding me, a prime rib dinner paid for at a restaurant, lunches everyday!! Wow, I was truly impressed with the hard work that Waterford did before and during this seminar and I know that Chief Storrs should be very proud of his department and the fine representation they made to all who attended.

Well, on to Wichita this weekend. Still time for you fence sitters there if you hurry! This willbe my last one for this season before AFG rolls out in full view.;)