To All Arizona Fire Officers

PRESS RELEASE

(originally disseminated July 2005)

To All Arizona Fire Officers, Relevant Government Officials, and Media Outlets:

The Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona (AFFA) ratified a name change in its annual conference June 2005. Currently the AFFA is in the final stages of the process of changing its name to Volunteer Fire Fighters of Arizona (VFFA). This name change will help the AFFA be better identified with specifically those whom it serves: the volunteer in the fire service.

This is a general information letter regarding the Volunteer Fire Fighters of Arizona (formerly Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona-AFFA), its organization, purpose, and future.

Over forty years ago, several fire department officials from around the state of Arizona got together and formed an organization to help fire fighters around the state receive equipment, training, and camaraderie. Since then, the Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona has accomplished this.

Through the efforts of the organization hundreds of fire fighters have received scholarships to the Arizona State Fire School and various other training schools including at the AFFA’s annual conference.

Through the efforts of the organization, departments all over the state have been able to acquire both new and used equipment for training and on the job use.

Furthermore, through the efforts of the organization, many children have been sponsored to attend the Arizona Foundation for Burns and Trauma’s Camp Courage, a summer camp for adolescent burn victims.

The Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona sits as the representative for Arizona on the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). As the liaison between Arizona’s volunteer fire fighters and federal legislators, the AFFA has been instrumental in fighting for the rights of those volunteers.

The AFFA also sits on the board of the Arizona Fire Services Institute (AFSI) as the Arizona volunteer fire fighters representative to the governor. The AFSI consists of delegations from the following groups: Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona, Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Arizona Fire Districts Association, and Arizona Metro Chiefs Association.

The AFFA is able to do many of these munificent deeds largely in part to its fund raising activities. Much of the fundraising is done through telemarketing efforts. To do this, the AFFA has contracted with a telemarketing firm, Civic Development Group (CDG). The AFFA also accepts unsolicited donations and contributions from generous individuals all over the state.

To be clear, the following is a list of the activities that the AFFA performs with those monies received from fundraising and contributions:

- Every year the AFFA grants scholarships to 10-12 individuals for Arizona State Fire School.

- The AFFA has donated several thousand dollars over the past few years to help sponsor the Arizona State Wildland Fire Academy.

- New and used equipment has been acquired and distributed over the years to the benefit of fire fighters all over the state.

- Yearly the AFFA sponsors two kids to attend Arizona Foundation for Burns and Trauma’s Camp Courage.

- The general welfare of the organization

In recent years, the AFFA has come under fire from certain groups and individuals who are either misinformed and/or malicious. This letter’s purpose is to serve as a reference for any future questions regarding the Volunteer Fire Fighters of Arizona (VFFA), and the Associated Fire Fighters of Arizona (AFFA). Should a circumstance arise that would necessitate referencing this document and the information contained is not satisfactory, please feel free to contact us.

Remember no matter where your residence is in the state of Arizona, at some point in your travels your emergency needs will be met by a volunteer fire fighter.

Sincerely,

Chris Murphy

President

PO Box 774 - Thatcher, AZ 85552

(520) 235 - 0189 or (520) 235 - 7443