It's Time To Take A Stand. Join Me?

[hwoods]

Everone knows Sept 11 is a little over a month away, that's not much time. BUT, Can we fill Washington DC with Firefighters and Apparatus on that day, demanding that our elected officials have the guts to sit down with us and create a sensible funding plan?? I'm game to try, it beats sitting around doing nothing. Stay Safe....

[leadlo]

Just recieved this today, might be able to make a difference now!
Sent Friday, August 1, 2003 1:22 pm
Subject IAFC Alert - E-mail the White House


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------










IAFC Action Call - addendum
For Immediate Release
Contact: IAFC Government Relations

703/273-0911





Email Instructions to

Contact White House Regarding FIRE Act



Fairfax, Va., Friday, August 1, 2003… The IAFC has just become aware of a special link on the official White House Web site that apparently can receive incoming e-mails to the President regarding input on the FIRE Act.



We believe that this e-mail option may represent an excellent additional way to alert the Administration as to the fire service position on this critical issue, and we highly recommend that all IAFC members consider sending both an e-mail message and the formal letter which was requested in last Wednesday’s alert. (Visit www.iafc.org to see the original alert and letter.)



To send an electronic message to the President via e-mail, please print out this message.

Then follow these steps:

Go to the Internet and enter the URL: www.whitehouse.gov/webmail
Click “continue ” at the bottom of the page
Follow step #1, a drop down menu, and select “I want to send a differing opinion on..”
Step #2 will already show “ ECONOMY ” in the left window. Select “ FY 2004 BUDGET” from the right-hand window.
Click “continue”
Fill in your contact information and click “continue”
A large blank screen will pop up for you to write your message. Either paste your letter in the screen or write a new note of your own.
Be sure to add the words "SAVE THE FIRE ACT" in big, bold letters at the top of your letter to make it stand out from other budget issues
Click “continue” to finish and send.


Of note:

Up until approximately 6:00 pm last evening, there was an actual link on this web site that was dedicated to receiving 'FIRE ACT' comments as a subsection of the "Economy" comments to the President. For some unknown reason, the link has since been removed and has not been replaced, thus requiring that we address our comments to the general "Budget" category and highlight the subject ourselves.



Thank you for your assistance and your support.



- 30 -

[ChiefReason]

Count me in!

Harve:
It's been awhile.
I could sense the frustration in your post.
We have been working hard here in Illinois to become less reliant on our Federal government for funding for our state's fire departments. I guess I should say "emergency preparedness". And I guess that it's a good thing, because to date, Illinois has received grants for one engine and one brush truck after 8 rounds of FIRE Act.
I am like you in that, if the Feds are going to WASTE our tax dollars, it might as well find its way back to our fire departments where it will be used for necessary services.
I am frustrated by the billions of dollars that are wasted each year and then we have to COMPETE for funding.
There HAS to be a better way. We just haven't found it yet.
I'm with ya!
CR

[distchief60b]

hwoods.....I hear your frustrations as does Chief Reason. I wish I could be there and proudly ride into town with you. My work schedule wont permit it, but I am willing to do something from a distance. I have sent my comments to the EMAIL address.

[ff7134]

Much like Capt. Stan, I will not be able to attend but I will be sending an email to the link here soon.

[distchief60b]

Formatted Response

I sent in my comments.....However, I inadvertantly left "corporate responsibilty" highlighted.

Despite the fact that not one word in my comments mentioned corporate responsibility and despite the fact that the response I got came from the President's Ranch in Texas.......not one word addressed my concerns about the "Fire Act"

The entire response was what seemed to be a "canned" formatted response.

I re-sent the comments today to the proper category....but I suspect that I will receive another canned response that is sent out relating to budget cuts.

No one is listening....

[leadlo]

Capt: I bet I got the same canned response you did. Problem is the email is for "economic" issues, not specific to the fire act. From what I understand the fire act email address was deleted.

[Ratchet]

I would like to join you in DC, but unfortunately I'm unable to. I will be sending an e-mail tonight though.

I was thinking, when you go to DC, since not all of us can join you, why don't we start one of those online petitions that we can all sign and voice our opinions on? That way, even if you can only show up with a few hundred Firefighters, you'll still have thousands more "there" as well.

Here's one petition site I've found: http://www.ipetitions.com/index.html

I don't know how good/bad it is, but I'll look around a bit more.