SPAAMFAA Annual Meeting & 
Winter Convention and the 
Old Dominion Historical Fire Society
2003 Annual Meeting, Richmond, VA 

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2003 SPAAMFAA Annual Meeting and Winter Convention 
& the ODHFS Annual Meeting

The ODHFS was proud to host the 2003 SPAAMFAA Annual Meeting & Winter Convention  
February 12-15, 2003 at the Sheraton West Hotel, Richmond, VA 

There were various activities during the week including Civil War Tours, Williamsburg Shopping Tour, a Firematic Tour in the Richmond area including stops at the Virginia Air & Space Museum, Richmond Fire Training Center, Henrico Fire Dept. and the Aerialscope Shops. An article in the Richmond Times Dispatch on Saturday February 22, 2003 confirms that we just got our tour of the Aerialscope plant in the nick of time. The article reports that the plant will be closed by May, and the operations moved to Wisconsin where the parent company, Seagrave Fire Apparatus is located. On Friday night everyone enjoyed a barbeque dinner at the Henrico County Public Safety Training Center and Tommy Herman gave a slide presentation on the History of Oren Fire Trucks which were manufactured in Virginia. SPAAMFAA Webmaster Paul Romano also gave a presentation on muster and antique apparatus safety. Our thanks to the Henrico Fire Department for their hospitality and especially to Fire Chief Ron Mastin who gave welcoming remarks, Fire Chaplain Rick Jenkins who gave the invocation and the Henrico Fire Color Guard who handled the flag ceremony.  

As we planned for inclement weather, a number of antique rigs were on display for several days in the hotel parking garage where they were kept dry and protected. Videos and photo albums were displayed throughout the week in the Hospitality Room in the hotel.    

The Annual Meeting of the ODHFS was held Saturday, February 15, 2003 at the Sheraton West. For the second year in a row, our annual meeting coincided with a snow storm.  Despite the inclement weather (snow, rain and some sleet all day!), there was a decent showing of members and visitors. 2003 ODHFS officers were inducted including Tommy Herman - President; Richard Cohren - Vice President; Mike Dubus - Treasurer; Joe Bunting - Secretary; and Regional Directors Sid Brewbaker, Steve Hall, Bill Jones, Peter West and our new Eastern Region Director Frank Hoppes. Our meeting was followed by the SPAAMFAA banquet at 6pm. Guests enjoyed a chicken or fish dinner. A full program followed the meal with NYC Fire Patrolman Tony Emanuele speaking about his experience on 9-11, SPAAMFAA guest speakers, the Bob White Memorial Award presentation, the 3rd Annual "Founders Awards", and the SPAAMFAA Convention Raffle with an assortment of prizes. 

Our main guest speaker was Tony Emanuele, a Fire Patrolman with NYC Fire Patrol # 2, who gave us a slide show and overview of his experience at the World Trade Center on 9-11-01. Following Tony's presentation, Tommy Herman introduced outgoing SPAAMFAA President Ed Peterson who gave his annual report with help from his officers. Barbara Connors, SPAAMFAA Membership Secretary presented the annual "Tom Buckle Award" for the most new SPAAMFAA members for the year to Tommy Herman for the Virginia Chapter. The Virginia Chapter has won this award for 5 of the last 6 years! Many expressed their thanks to the ODHFS for hosting the Winter Meeting & Convention. Ed Peterson presented a ceremonial gavel to incoming SPAAMFAA President Ray Pitts. The folks from St. Louis gave us a preview of the 2003 Annual Summer Meeting scheduled for June 28, 2003. Finally, the "Mouse Plaque" was passed along to the St. Louis Chapter as it continues its journey.  

ODHFS Awards were presented to a number of our members. Founders Award's for outstanding service to the ODHFS Regions were presented to Mike Dubus (Central Region), George Gander (Western Region), Hugh Whitlow (Southwest Region)  and Clyde Clark (Northern Region). Congratulations to Jack Sullivan the 2003 Bob White Memorial Award winner for outstanding service to the ODHFS throughout the year. 

Bill Jones, Central Region Director, did an excellent job of coordinating the committee that planned SPAAMFAA Annual Winter Meeting and Convention and was recognized for his tireless efforts to make things run smoothly. "Sidekick" Mike Dubus was also recognized for his constant support and assistance. For her patience in living with Bill for the past year, and for her assistance with planning the meeting, Mary Ellen Jones was also recognized and both received some nice gifts of appreciation from the ODHFS. 

As the banquet was underway Saturday night, a low pressure weather system moved into Virginia and began dropping sleet and snow in the Richmond area. By the end of the banquet there was about 1" - 2" of frozen "stuff" on the ground making travel slippery.  Over the next 24 hours, the storm increased in intensity dumping about 4" of "wintry mix" and eventually moved out of the area Monday, leaving a number of SPAAMFAA members stranded at the hotel. The same storm system left almost 24" of snow in Maryland and Washington DC, and was moving into the New England area Monday afternoon. Members made the best of the situation, and the hotel was very accommodating by allowing the group to retain the hospitality room. At one point it was reported that a hand held hose reel was seen being pulled by a group of members to the front of the hotel for a photo op and snow ball fight. More on that (and photos) later !