President Message

  I would like to thank the Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs for electing me President of the Association.  The Fire Chief’s Association can be a driving force in today’s changing environment for a Fire Service Officer both on a Chief Officer, Company Officer, and EMS Officer level.  Leadership training is a key to success.  My personal goal is to earn your trust and respect to take the Fire Chief’s Association and the Fire / EMS Service in Westchester to a higher level. 

  I would like to thank past President Fred Steneck for his service to the Chief’s Association and his hard work during his tenure.  Thank you Fred.

  The Officers / Board of Directors of the Chief’s Association have deliberated on how we can assist our membership and personnel of emergency services.  The Fire Service’s greatest asset is you the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Company Officer, EMS Officer.  You as a Fire / EMS leader shape your organization for the present and future.  You are the individual that is looked to for leadership, direction, guidance and most importantly fire fighter / EMS / public safety.  You are a leader both directly and indirectly.  Your actions shape your community, organization and your staff.  We as officers are faced with similar problems, but the mark of a good leader is how those problems are solved and continuity takes place.  A leader will develop their subordinates for future leadership.

  Several years ago I had the opportunity to enroll in the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program which is a four year program covering all aspects of a Chief Fire Officer.  One of the organizational aspects of the program that I took away from the training, “When an organization changes from within, the organization will flourish, when external forces change the organization, the organization ceases to exist.  Can you as a Fire / EMS Officer relate to this statement?  Are you dealing with budget, training, compliance, consolidation, recruitment and retention, staffing, operational issues to name just a few?  The list of issues will continue and never end, but your community and organization depend on you as the leader.  You wear many hats as the leader of your Fire / EMS organization.  The Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs recognizes these issues and we want to work with you, your organizations, your assistant chiefs and company officers along with EMS organizations.  Below you will find a brief outline of what we have planned to move forward

• Training / Information sessions at all up coming meetings, third Wednesday of September, November, January, March.  Tentative speakers will include the County Executive, an attorney discussing liability issues for Chief / EMS Officers and Company Officers, Strategy / Tactical issues for Cell Tower / Antenna operations / Solar Panel operations / New York State Fire Chief’s training programs to name a few.  Please join us at our meetings.  All Fire / EMS Personnel are invited
• October 16, 2011, tentative mini training seminar covering Fire / EMS subjects with guest speakers / instructors covering administrative and tactical information for Fire / EMS personnel.  On this date the Chiefs Association will have a small cook out inviting all Fire / EMS personnel to attend and be part of the training and the Chief’s organization.  Our location and training agenda will be announced in the very near future
• Leadership training seminars both mini and full day applications with recognized leadership training instructors
• Webinars for the Fire / EMS Service by Fire Instructors / Guest Speakers to bring on-line training to your computer
• Scholarship fund for a Chief Fire Officer / Assistant Chief  Fire Officer who inspires to improve his organization / community thru further training beyond Strategy and Tactics  
• Scholarship fund for a Company Officer who inspires to become a Chief Fire Officer thru further training other then Strategy & Tactics
• Bi-weekly e-mails providing information on current events / issues for Fire / EMS personnel

As a team we can work together to enhance our current / future leaders, our organizations and our communities.  Please feel free to contact us at info@wcfirechiefs.org and please feel free to take part of our organization, everyone is invited.

                                             William Barnes Jr.

                                             President