The announcement of a LODD during FDIC in Indy is a solemn enough occasion.  To find out that the LODD is a FOOL, and more importantly, a friend, hit close to home.  The pallor that this put over the Brothers in Indy was palpable. 

FDNY Lt. Richard Nappi, 47, who was assigned to Engine 237, collapsed from heat exhaustion fighting a 3-alarm blaze in a commercial building on Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn and later died at Woodhull Hospital.

Lt. Nappi was originally from the Bronx and worked as a New York state parole officer and as a case worker for the Suffolk County (Long Island) Department of Social Services before becoming a firefighter in 1994. He served 17 years with the FDNY, and as a member of Engine 7 in lower Manhattan, was a survivor of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He was a founding member and President of the Suffolk County F.O.O.L.S. chapter, and a strong advocate for training.

Although Lt. Nappi was a devoted family man and consummate professional, he was best known by friends and family for his quick wit, sarcasm, and sense of humor. He is featured “breaking stones” in the opening scene of the famous Jules and Gedeon Naudet documentary about  September 11th.

Some ten thousand strong came to honor Rich Saturday the 21st on Long Island.  Among them were a contingent of FOOLS from all over the United States.  New England FOOLS President Rusty Ricker, Trustee Andy Biron and Past EBoard Member Jeff Ricker were among those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder to honor Rich.

It was an honor and a pleasure to stand with our Brother FOOLS and the assembled members of the FDNY and beyond who came to honor the life of such a great FOOL, great fireman, and great family man.  His loss is profound, and shall be felt throughout the Nation, by both those in and outside of the FOOLS and the Fire Service.

FDNY Lt Rich Nappi

The Claddah in Indy, an FDIC staple, put out this tribute to Nappi, along with a shot of his favorite 'poison', Grape Crush. Straight-up.

Assembled FOOLS from around the Country at Nappi's funeral with E237.

Single-day, open enrollment class:

On-Scene Training Associates and Five Star Fire Training along with the New England FOOLS proudly present:

 5 Star Extrication for the Short-Staffed Crew &  New Vehicle Technology 

Saturday, June 16th 2012 0900-1600 hrs

Cost: $85 for non-FOOLS members; $75.00 for FOOLS members.  Lunch included

Location:

Erie #4 Fire Station, 474 North St, Georgetown Mass 01833

For further information  contact President Rusty Ricker, via email President@NEFOOLS.org. 

Make checks payable to New England FOOLS Inc.

Five Star Extrication
C/o New England FOOLS
P.O. Box 109
Georgetown, MA 01833

EXTRICATION FOR THE SHORT-STAFFED CREW-

This interactive presentation addresses the difficulties faced by companies staffed by 3 or less firefighters when dealing with motor vehicle extrications. It will define a short-staffed crew. Although we do not advocate short staffing, we know this is the norm across the country. This program’s goal is to provide the target audience of chiefs, officers, and firefighters with many operational suggestions that will make an immediate positive impact on the safety of their crews and patients.

ADVANCED NEW VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY EXTRICATION-

This presentation provides the rescuer with the most up-to-date information regarding metallurgy challenges, new vehicle components, safety systems, and the newest and most successful extrication techniques. This program will provide attendees with the knowledge necessary to immediately operate more efficiently and safely at incidents involving New Vehicle Technology.

INSTRUCTORS:   Aaron Heller is a 26 year veteran of the fire service and a captain in charge of training for the Hamilton Twp. NJ Fire District #9. Capt. Heller is a NJ Level 2 instructor and fire official and EMT. He is a past chief of the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company and Chairman of the Plumsted Township Board of Fire Commissioners. Heller is an instructor with the Mercer County Fire Academy. Capt. Heller instructs at several national, regional, and local training events. Aaron is a founding member of the Jersey F.O.O.L.S chapter of the Fraternal Order Of Leatherhead Society. He is the owner of On Scene Training Associates, LLC.

Carl Haddon is the national training director for the 5 Star Training Academy sponsored by Volvo North America and serves as a deputy fire chief and fire commissioner for the North Fork Fire Department in Idaho. He is a career veteran of more than 25 years in the fire and EMS service in southern California and has served since the early 1980s as a fire/safety director for numerous racing organizations, including Penske Motorsports, NASCAR, USAC and Mickey Thompson Racing. He is a certified Level 2 fire instructor and teaches auto extrication classes across the country. Carl also does consulting work for several fire service equipment manufacturers. He is a columnist with Fire Apparatus Magazine.

Download Flier HERE: FiveStarExtricationFlier

Download Application HERE: Five Star 2012 application

$850 raised for the families of Brother’s Davies and Rice.

Congratulations to our winner, FF J Knoettner of the York Beach Maine FD.

Special thanks to Bergeron Protective Clothing, F&T Products and Power Call Sirens for making this possible.

Well that one is certainly another one for the record books.

We had two simple goals when we put together this training weekend. The first was to show through our actions and our deeds that Brotherhood is more than just a word.

The second was to show that the New England FOOLS feel that “Remember Fallen Brothers” is more than a cool internet catch phrase.  Well, with $850 to the families of our most recent fallen New England Brothers.

I think that it is safe to say that we succeeded this past weekend, on both counts!

What a TREMENDOUS showing of Brotherhood from ELEVEN different states and FIVE different FOOLS Chapters, including the Executive Board of FOOLS International.

I would like to take a moment to say thank you again to our sponosors Cutters Edge, Cairns Helmets, Firematic, Bergeron Protective Clothing, F&T Fronts, New England Marine and Industrial, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Boston Fire Gear, LW Bills, Fat Ivan Door Chock, and the Fire Store.  Support them, they supported us.

Thank you to Director Plummer and the staff at the New Hampshire Fire Academy.

Thank you to the Leadership of the New England FOOLS; Olde Mike Clark, Andy “Sippy” Biron, PJ Johnson, BarryJones, Chris Silver, James Chadbourne, Steve Perkins, and David Osgood. Not to be forgotten is the perpetual guidance of “Old” Dave Gallagher and “Lil” Mike Clarke.

Thank you to our Instructors Chief Mike Lombardo, Tony Kelleher, Doug Mitchell, Aaron Heller, Bill Hopson, Mark Gregory and Pat Nichols.

Most of all thank you to YOU, the attendees, who took time out of their busy schedules to be with us, to be Leaders in their own Departments and to learn and bring back to their Departments.

Special thanks to the PFFNH Pipes and Drums who played our opening ceremonies, and to Chuck Campbell and Keegan Ricker who provided the pipes for the Brotherhood Bash.

Most importantly, as Captain Heller said.  If you didn’t like something, tell us.  If you did like something, tell everyone.  Please.  Let them know not only what you did this past weekend, but let them know what they missed.

Remember folks, “membership really does have it’s privileges”.

The Fraternal Order of the Leatherheads Society is an organization that believes in Pride: pride in our Departments, in our stations, in our apparatus, pride in ourselves, pride in organization and our Chapter.

Our Chapter prides itself in offering world class training at a reasonable cost, providing support and resources for brothers and sisters in need, being active members in our community and preserving the traditions, camaraderie and values of the fire service.

New England FOOLS is currently conducting a membership renewal. We have not heard from some of you in quite some time understand and realize the overwhelming number of commitments we all have and hope you will still stay active in our organization.

It is important to all members that they pay their membership dues every year. Your dues are an important component of the success of our organization. We feel it is important to let you know where your dues go and the importance paying them each year. 

The International receives a onetime payment of $10. This is a processing fee that enrolls you in the international database, issues your FOOLS membership card, and enrolls you for a Death and Dismemberment Benefit your spouse, significant other or beneficiary.

The $30 annual dues payable to New England FOOLS is essential to keeping our chapter going. Your dues finance a number of programs and services throughout the year. A portion of your dues go to the International to pay for operating costs and the annual Disability and Dismemberment insurance premiums. The majority of your dues go to the Chapter. Your Chapter dues provide:

-Seed money for our training programs and other events
-Finances the up-front money for our merchandise
-Maintaining our website.
-The ability to make contributions to different firefighter charities on behalf of the Chapter
-Pays for the Chapter’s liability coverage premiums. (This is a critical component of our ability to host training events and we are one of the only FOOLS chapters nationally to have it.)
-Pays for Chapter operational cost

Being a member in good standing also entitles you to discounted rates for training, FOOLS merchandise, services and events through any FOOLS chapter.

Our Chapter’s financial self-sufficiency is critical to the success of our organization. Please take the opportunity to send in the attached renewal form or take advantage of our new website and online membership renewal located in the store section of the site.

 If you have any new or updated contact info (mailing address, email or phone numbers), change in departments, rank etc, please let us know so we may better serve you.  Complete the International’s update form, http://foolsinternational.com/update_info/new_Member_Update_Form.shtml, they will update us.

Once we have a comprehensive list of which of active members, dues notices will be forthcoming.  The choice of remaining a member is up to you.

Thank you for supporting our organization, our Chapter, our programs and your commitment to preserving the fundamental elements and traditions of the fire service. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

 Be Safe!

Respectfully,
Your New England FOOLS Executive Board

Well folks, Convention 2010 is wrapping up today.  The New England FOOLS were ably represented by Vice President PJ Johnson.  Pictured here is Kegman sitting proudly on his new base added by the New England FOOLS, delivered South by the Central Mass FOOLS as a gift from our having hosted Convention in 2009.

Welcome to NEFOOLS.org 2.0.  This website has been undertaken to streamline our online presence, in hopes of providing more frequent and varied information to the members.

Please look around, and please use the Tweet and Facebook Share buttons to publicize our content.  You can use the RSS link at the right to follow us via a newsreader if you wish.  

Suggestions and comments are always welcome; please submit them via the contact form or the Yahoo! group.