Dear Members of the NHSFA,
This year marks our 125th year in service as the New Hampshire State Firemen's Association. We were enacted by the state legislature to care for our members and their families in the event of a line of duty injury or death.
As our name stipulates “Firemen's Association”, we are no longer made of only males, women are in our ranks as firefighters. We welcome their skills and dedication and passion they bring to the fire service. Our name is there as historical significance, but we are a “firefighters association.”
The modern fire service is much different than when we began in 1899 as an association. Our history was to extinguish structures and other types of fires. Now we are “all hazards responders.” We are the first line of defense in our communities to many threats and providing for EMS, Hazmat and rescue to name a few. No matter the call, “we will respond”.
Our membership is made of “volunteer, paid on call, part time and career firefighters, Fire and EMS.” We are diverse in members of women and men in all race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and political affiliation. Yet we are united by the fundamental desire to help others in their time of need.
Our role in the association is to support our members. There are many silent dangers to face, occupational cancer, heart disease, PTSD and many other threats. As we continue to study how to treat and prevent these silent killers, vast Improvements in safety and training and equipment have been increased but we need to care for ourselves before we can care for others. Legislatively we need to make our officials aware of these dangers and how to make changes. We support all legislation to help make our jobs safer.
Recruitment and retention is a major issue in our business. Volunteer or career, we all face the same issue. No longer is there a waiting list to be a part of your local fire department. Volunteer fire houses used to be a hub of the community, no longer is that true. Many career departments are having a hard time finding qualified candidates to fill the jobs. We are looking at ways to help to recruit and retain members in our houses.
Serving as president of this association, I am proud to assist in ways and support to make our jobs as firefighters safer. As we look to the next 125 years, I hope that the accomplishments we do today help to prepare the next generation of firefighters be safer and healthier in their service.
Sincerely,
Thomas F. Green
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