FEPA Announces “Caring Community” Section of Website

President’sMessage

PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ASSOCIATION

Serving Emergency Preparedness in Florida Since 1956

WINTER 2012

Anne M. Miller, President

continued on page 3continued on page 4

This newsletter marks the approach of the end of the FEPA membership year, and

is my last opportunity to share my thoughts with you in this format as your FEPA President! I have one final venue after this, the 2013 Annual Meeting and Work Session. This event not only represents our As-sociation’s premier venue for train-ing and professional development, it brings the election of a new slate of FEPA Elected Officers and the introduction of the FEPA 2013 Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and

liaisons. While I will save my formal “good-byes” for the FEPA Annual Meeting, I want to thank everyone who has served and supported FEPA and assisted me during my tenure.

Several deadlines are fast ap-proaching and many are highlighted in this final edition of the FEPA Alert for 2012. The deadline to submit nominations for your FEPA Elected Officers of President-Elect, Secre-tary and Treasurer is December 28, 2012. FEPA’s election process is spe-cifically designed to be transparent and highly inclusive – with all regular

FEPA members eligible to nominate and elect their leaders. Please be involved with this process! The future of this organization depends on those you select to serve your organization. FEPA needs leader-ship that will continue the devotion, enthusiasm and passion for FEPA possessed by the current leadership team. Nominate! Get nominated! I understand that our fundamental spirit of collaboration and coopera-tion has resulted in past elections with a slate of officers who run without opposition. Please remem-ber organizations are best served by a competitive process; one that is motivated by the drive and desire of its nominated candidates to serve. If you have an interest in serving, please do not politely bow out to avoid competition.

Another deadline that is ex-tremely important and will be upon us quickly is the deadline to nominate individuals and organiza-tions under the FEPA 2013 Awards Program cycle. This deadline is December 14, 2012, to allow for review of nominations by the FEPA Awards Committee. There has been a tremendous amount of excep-tional work in the emergency man-agement community over the past year, please take the time to nomi-nate your colleagues, co-workers and those who support your local programs. Recognizing exemplary contributions and commitments is an extremely rewarding experi-ence that we have an opportunity to share each year.

Over the past several years, FEPA has enhanced existing programs and partnerships and undertaken

At the suggestion of several long-standing FEPA members, the Asso-ciation has established a “Caring Community” section of the FEPA website. As stated on the website “The FEPA Caring Community is about FEPA mem-bers helping FEPA members. We all work and live in a stress-filled world and have experiences that, when shared, may be helpful to others within our community.” The Caring Community section allows FEPA members to share personal experiences, struggles and successes with events that affect our lives both personally and professionally. As a community, emergency man-agers are trained and skilled in helping others through difficult life experi-ences as a result of disasters and emergencies; however, when unexpected events re-shape our lives we are often not fully prepared to contend with their consequences.

The Caring Community is a members-only page that allows you to

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officials and an Opening Session Keynote address. Thursday morn-ing, January 31, 2013 brings the popular FEPA Awards Ceremony to honor those who have made signifi-cant contributions to the emergency management community as well as to recognize emergency managers who have achieved professional development milestones as FEPA Academy graduates, recipients of one of FEPA’s Certification designa-tions or as recognized FEPA/Division of Emergency Management instruc-tors. Thursday morning’s schedule concludes with General Session presentations.

Wednesday and Thursday afternoons are focused on work-shop and roundtable presentations and discussions on a wide range of pertinent topics and issues. Social events are planned for Wednesday and Thursday evenings to allow Annual Meeting participants to network and learn from each other in a more relaxed environment. Friday morning’s session includes the installation of the 2013 FEPA Of-ficers and Closing presentations and remarks.

The FEPA 2013 Annual Meeting will be conducted at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando Florida and the

FEPA 2013 Annual Meeting and Work Session

Rosen Plaza serves as the host hotel. Hotel reservations should be made by December 28, 2012 by calling the Rosen Plaza directly at 407-966-9700 and asking for the FEPA rate of $145. This rate includes on-site parking and in-room internet access.

Please complete the 2013 FEPA Annual Meeting Registration Form to reserve you place at FEPA’s premier annual event. All registra-tions received by December 14, 2012 receive a $50 discount on the reg-istration fee. Once you register for the Annual Meeting your will receive an email regarding your Training Course selection preferences. We ask that all participants pre-register for Training Courses; however, pre-registering for workshop offerings is not required.

Please finalize your plans today to attend the FEPA 2013 Annual Meeting and Work Session. The 2013 event is sure to be one of the best ever!

The FEPA 2013 Annual Meeting and Work Session is January 28 to February 1, 2013 in Orlando Florida and your FEPA Annual Meeting Program Committee has been work-ing diligently to assemble a quality line up of Training, Workshop and General Session topics and presen-tations! Keeping with tradition, the Annual Meeting will start with two full days of training sessions presented on Monday and Tuesday, January 28th and 29th. Scheduled training includes three Advanced Profession Series Courses: Rapid As-sessment Workshop, Mass Fatalities and Local Volunteer and Donations Management. Also included in the training schedule is a unique Cyber Resiliency Course that includes an exercise component and a “Caring for Elders in Disaster” training as a fol-low up to the project’s introductory presentation at the FEPA Mid-Year Work Session.

Wednesday morning, January 30, 2013 will begin with the FEPA Annual Membership Business Meet-ing and Election of the 2013 slate of FEPA Officers. This will be followed by the Wednesday Opening General Session with welcoming remarks from the FEPA President, local emergency managers and elected

January 28 to February 1, 2013Orlando, Florida

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President’s Message continued

The members of the FEPA Board

of Directors have pledged their full

support for continuation of the FEPA

Basic Academy!

new projects and programs. These have been extremely well received by FEPA members and, in fact, many came at the suggestion of FEPA members. As most of you know, FEPA conducted the 2012 Basic Emergency Management Academy at the Escambia County EOC without financial support from the Division of Emergency Management (DEM). The academy and its revised for-mat were extremely well received by Academy cadets and presenters alike and the 2013 Basic Academy, fully supported by FEPA, will take place in March in St. Lucie County. Please let me resolve any confusion regarding DEM’s introduction of an Emergency Management Foun-dations program of instruction. The Division’s course does not replace the FEPA Basic Academy and does not include the unique FEPA Academy format and method of instruction. The members of the FEPA Board of Directors have pledged their full support for continuation of the FEPA Basic Academy!

In a cooperative agreement between DEM and the Northeast Florida Regional Council, FEPA completed the development of recommended curriculum for a Florida specific County Emergency Management Director/Key Staff Course. The course represents a long-standing interest of the Association and FEPA looks forward to partnering with the Division for course evaluation and delivery. FEPA’s website continues to be enhanced and now includes a new section “FEPA Caring Community” that is highlighted in this newsletter. The section allows FEPA members an avenue to express mutual concern and support for the variety of life’s issues, twists and turns, both professional and personnel, that affect all of us. At the 2013 Annual Meeting, time will be set aside for a FEPA Caucus of County Emergency Management Pro-gram Directors. FEPA is strong because of the breadth and diversity of its membership, but the Association is often called on to be the advocate and collective voice of Florida’s county emergency management programs. The caucus will provide for a more structured method to share information on issues directly affecting county programs.

As is fitting as we approach the end of the FEPA fis-

cal year, the current Executive Committee will meet in December to review expenditures and costs related to the wide variety of FEPA programs and services to help ensure the financial viability of the Association into the future. Let me assure you, FEPA’s finances are sound and your leadership team has been a conscientious stew-ard of the Association’s resources. Despite this diligence, over the past several years, FEPA has not been immune to the effects that the current economy has had on the agencies, organizations and companies that make up our membership base. The December meeting will allow the Executive group to focus on FEPA’s financial picture and offer assistance to the incoming Board of Directors in developing and executing the 2013 FEPA budget.

FEPA, as are many professional associations, remains at a critical juncture. The opportunity and pledge to provide a broad array of quality services to our members, both under formal programs and informally through our network of technical experts, are why we exist and should not be diminished. Building services helps build membership – building membership brings resources to provide services. I am proud to be a member and officer of FEPA and I am confident in our future.

I look forward to seeing each of you in January in Orlando. Let’s make 2013 the best FEPA year ever!

I am FEPA!

● Master Planning● Facility Hardening● Architectural Design● Construction Administration

● Funding Strategies● Grant Writing● Spatial Needs Analysis● Site Planning

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Emergency Communications & Operations CenterHernando County, Florida

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Chaplain’sChatBy Roger Hagan

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share your experiences, thoughts, stories and lessons learned to help others in our community. It is designed to be a place of mutual help and support, a place to realize that you are not alone in whatever struggle you are facing, a place where your professional friends and colleagues can offer assistance, advice or serve as a sounding board. You have the option of identifying yourself on the site or entering information anonymously. If you wish to allow FEPA members to contact you for information or questions or to provide support, please provide your contact information in your posting.

As a professional Association we ask that you keep your com-ments on topic and be respectful of others. After logging in, FEPA members can access the “Caring Community” through the Caring Community icon under the Members Only Section of the FEPA Home Page www.fepa.org. We thank you for your support of the FEPA family.

f you listen to National Public Radio (NPR) you are probably familiar with one of my favorites programs, “Car Talk” whose closing lines begin with the phrase, “Well you have wasted another perfectly good hour listening to us…” Looking back over my calendars and files I am beginning to get ready to archive, I sometimes ask myself that same question regarding the year not the hour.

Time is only relevant to man – to the fi-nite. Time has no significance to the eternal.

With the eternal there is nothing to measure against or by. So not being infinite and real-izing I am allotted just so many hours, days, weeks, months, years, it becomes incumbent upon me to make the best of each one. I am afraid I must confess I probably don’t always do that. In just a few weeks I along with countless others will make our New Year’s Resolutions. Among them I am sure some of us will resolve to make the best of everyday. Just below that one I think I will resolve to keep the previous resolution longer than any of the others.

As Thanksgiving, a truly American Holi-day, passes I want to make a list of the things I am thankful for. I will do that and not bur-den you with it here but suffice it to say the list will be longer than ever and you will be on it. When Christmas approaches and families draw near and the year comes to an end my prayer for FEPA and its members is that we are satisfied with those things behind and are ready to reach forward to those things ahead.

The FEPA Annual Meeting will be upon us soon. Another opportunity for transition. May our new leadership be blessed with the wisdom and vision needed to carry us forward. In I Timothy 2: 1-2 the Apostle Paul said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, sup-plications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” In keeping with my resolution to make the best of everyday I believe praying for our President, our Governor, our Commis-sioners, our FEPA leadership will be a good effort.

In closing let me again offer myself as your servant. As FEPA Chaplain I want to

be available to you when you need me – if you need me. I have spoken to our incoming Presi-dent regarding my approaching retirement (December 31 is the target date). My FPEM certifi-cation is good through 2015. I intend to stay active at least that long. If I am able to recertify then I will continue to be active. I do, however, recognize the office as a Presidential appointment. President-Elect Ron Mills has asked me to serve next year to which I am overjoyed to do.

Best wishes for the best holi-days ever. Looking forward to seeing you at the Annual Meet-ing in Orlando in January.

“Caring Community” continued

 

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FEPA membership and leadership were well represented at the two October sessions of the Division of Emergency Management’s (DEM’s) Current Issues in Emergency Man-agement (CIEM). The first CIEM was conducted October 9 -11, 2012 and was followed by a second offering October 23-25, 2012. Both sessions were hosted at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tal-lahassee, Florida. The first day of each event included General Session topics with FEPA’s membership ser-vices and program updates presen-tation closing the Tuesday afternoon session of each CIEM. Each Tuesday evening, FEPA sponsored a reception to offer CIEM participants an oppor-tunity to continue their discussion of issues and network in a more infor-mal setting.

Most of the Wednesday format of the CIEM sessions was devoted to break out sessions including topics from DEM’s functional Bureaus of Preparedness, Response and Re-

 covery as well as a session focused on information management. DEM Director Bryan Koon held a “Direc-tor to Director” meeting with county emergency management program leaders each Wednesday afternoon. For CIEM participants not attend-ing the Director meeting, DEM staff held open office hours to meet local emergency management program staff and discuss issues and proj-ects one on one. Thursday of CIEM returned participants to the SEOC for General Session topics ranging from mass care to finance and grants.

FEPA President, Anne M. Miller, represented the Association at the DEM Emergency Management Advisory Working Group meeting convened by Director Koon during the Wednesday lunch break of CIEM Session 2. The Director discussed recent DEM initiatives and priorities for the 2013 Legislative Session. Advisory group members had an open discussion on the purpose of the group and the types of issues

that should be brought before them for consideration and input.

FEPA’s Board of Directors met immediately following the close of the second CIEM session to conduct FEPA business and continue to refine FEPA programs and member services. Board members discussed plans for the upcoming FEPA 2013 Annual Meeting and the opening of the FEPA Election and Awards cycles for 2013. The Board also received Committee, Liaison and Area Re-ports and updates on the wide range of policy and issue areas that the Association continues to be involved with throughout the year.

The two DEM CIEM sessions pro-vided an excellent opportunity for FEPA members to not only hear re-ports and updates from the Division but also to understand how FEPA’s information sharing and advocacy efforts help to promote an enhanced statewide emergency management system.

FEPA Participates in

Current Issues in Emergency Management Sessions

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The nomination period for the 2013 FEPA Awards Program is officially open. Nomina-

tions for award recipients in seven categories will be accepted through December 14, 2012. Please submit all award nominations via email to erainey@fepa.org.

The FEPA Awards Committee is chaired by FEPA Secretary, Mary Blakeney. FEPA Governors from each of the Association’s seven geograph-ic areas serve as Awards Committee members. Once the nomination period has ended, information on the nominees and their accomplish-ments will be forwarded to the Awards Committee for consideration and selection.

Award recipients will be honored at the Annual FEPA Awards Ceremo-ny held in conjunction with the 2013 Annual Meeting and Work Session in

Orlando Florida. Please take time to recognize the many

achievements, accomplish-ments and contributions of

your colleagues and the individuals, agencies and organizations that support emergency management programs throughout the year.

The seven award cat-egories with their corre-sponding descriptions are listed below. Award nomi-nation forms and details for the 2013 Awards cycle are available on the Homepage

of the FEPA website www.fepa.org.

Distinguished Service AwardTo long standing members of FEPA upon their retirement

Chad Reed - Emergency Management Professional of the Year Award To any Emergency Management Professional who has distinguished them-selves in the field of Emergency Management in the State of Florida

Legislative Achievement AwardTo a local or state Legislator for outstanding leadership in sponsoring legisla-tion which improves Emergency Management in the State of Florida

Volunteer AwardTo an individual or organization, from the volunteer sector, that has contrib-uted greatly to the efforts of Emergency Management

Corporate AwardTo an individual or organization, from the private sector, that has made a sub-stantial contribution to Emergency Management

Media AwardTo an individual or organization of the news media for outstanding efforts to educate and inform the public about Emergency Management

Gary Arnold AwardTo an individual for dedicated, unselfish and enthusiastic service to improving the Emergency Management Community

FEPA Announces Annual Awards Cycle

SAVE THE DATEFEPA 2013 Annual Meeting

and Work SessionJanuary 28 – February 1, 2013

Rosen Plaza HotelOrlando Florida

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Sandy’s Response from Tampa Bayby Tom Iovino – Pinellas County

A late season hurricane hitting a densely-populated area, driv-ing a large storm surge ashore

- sounds like a nightmare scenario for the Tampa Bay region - but you are looking in the wrong part of the country.

Hurricane Sandy plowed ashore in the New York City metropoli-tan area on October 29, 2012 as a Category 1 hurricane, transitioning to a non-tropical storm just before making landfall. It brought a tremen-dous storm surge to areas like the Rockaways, Coney Island and Staten Island.

Shortly after the storm passed, the stark reality was evident - this was no ordinary response. The city and state of New York put in a request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) for teams from around the country. And, did they ever respond - Louisiana, California, Maine, Arizona and other states were well repre-sented in different aspects of the recovery effort. Our Tampa Bay area task team - comprised of members from Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and Citrus counties - was paired with a crew out of the city of Boston. Together with the New York City team in the logistics center in Brooklyn, we con-tinued the massive task of supplying the impacted areas of the country’s largest city.

Since we arrived on November 9th, it was clearly evident that the crew from New York City needed some relief. Nearly two weeks had passed since they started opera-tions, and many had been working daily 12-hour shifts, and returning home to cold, powerless houses and apartments. We were able to staff both the daytime and overnight shifts, allowing the tired staff an opportunity to take a few days off to recharge.

One of the greatest challenges we faced was how to help in the city that never sleeps. One of the staff commented that the response was

kind of like a mechanic trying to fix an engine that was running with someone’s foot on the accelerator. Trying to move massive generators on large tractor trailers through the normally congested streets of a crowded city was just one of the many challenges that had to be surmounted.

Members of the team were also deployed to conduct welfare checks in the hardest hit neighborhoods on Staten Island. Working out of cars and box trucks, they helped coordi-nate the work of relief organizations and National Guard troops as they went door to door in the cold weath-er to ensure that everyone was getting the supplies and informa-tion they needed. The destruction was massive, and the stories of the survivors were heartbreaking.

While the public’s interest has now shifted to other items, it is important to remember that the recovery effort from this event will take years and will require a great deal of forethought to build a more disaster-resistant community.

A blog documenting the day-by-day events of the deployment can be found at pinellasem.tumblr.com

Region 4 Task Force Members Deployed to Hurricane Sandy

Judith Tear Citrus CountyDoug Blackwell Pinellas CountyTom Iovino Pinellas CountyDoug Meyer Pinellas CountyGeorge Merceron Pasco CountyPete McNally Polk CountyPaul Womble Polk CountyBilly Abernathy Polk CountyGreg Lingren Pasco CountyTimothy Reardon Pasco CountyFloyd Wilson Pasco CountyJeremy Edwards Pasco CountyPatricia Lowther City of New Port RitcheyAndrew Fossa Pasco County

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TCertification Corner

he Certification Commission has continued to work hard in 2012 to ensure that FEPA has a program that hon-ors its purpose: enhancing professionalism and building partnerships in Florida emergency management. A new application was implemented; the “How to Submit a Suc-cessful Application Workshop” continues to be offered at the FEPA Annual Meeting and Work Session and the Gov-ernor’s Hurricane Conference; a new brochure is available to promote the Certification Program and the Commission is making strides toward electronic submission of certifi-cation applications. All of this while continuing to review Certification applications objectively and with integrity.

The Commission typically reviews an average of fifty (50) or more applications each year. This year we have received less than 20 so far and the deadline to be considered for the Class of 2013 is December 1, 2012. If you are one of the 45 individuals up for re-certification and your complete application is not received in the FEPA office by the deadline, your certification will expire as of the FEPA Annual Awards Ceremony, Thursday, January 31, 2013. After December 1, 2012, you will be required to submit a new certification application along with the full application fee of $50.

Among the 45 renewals due this year are three (3) Florida Emergency Management Volunteer (FEMV) certifications. This is a newer certification and the Com-mission has been working diligently to get the word out

about this valuable certification for volunteers. The FEMV certification recognizes the volunteer partners of the emergency management community who have demonstrated a dedicated effort to their local or state comprehensive emergency management program within the State of Florida.

In an effort to encourage volunteers to seek the FEMV certification, the FEPA Certification Commission voted unanimously at the 2012 FEPA Mid-Year Work Ses-sion, to recommend a reduction in the application fee for the FEMV from $50 to $25. This recommendation was approved by the FEPA Board of Directors at their Octo-ber 2012 meeting. As always, FEPA Membership is not a requirement for FEMV certification. If you are a volunteer or know someone that is, check out the application to see if you/they meet the criteria and SUBMIT.

A listing of current Certification Commissioners is available under the Certification Section of the FEPA web site www.fepa.org. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance preparing your application, you are encouraged to work with a certification mentor. Your mentor will help you through the process to ensure con-sistency and accuracy. Once the application is submitted the mentoring process ends. If you utilize a certification mentor, you are asked to note it on your application.

On behalf of the FEPA Certification Commission’s thirty-four (34) members we wish you all a Happy and Safe Holiday Season.

FEPA Participates in IAEM’s State Association Meeting

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) held its Annual Conference and Expo October 26 to November 1, 2012 in Orlando Florida. As part of the proceedings, IAEM conducts a meeting of state emergency management associations to share issues, ideas and best practices. This year’s meeting was

held on Sunday, October 26, 2012 with Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) President Anne M. Miller and Executive Director Eve Rainey in attendance. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon also attended the State Association meeting.

The open meeting forum encouraged an exchange of information and best practices from meeting at-tendees on issues of mutual interest. Topics discussed included how to effectively work with state and federal elected officials, how state emergency management agencies can support state associations and their pro-grams and current issues related to funding, potential grant reform initiatives and grants management. Florida provided input on the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funding and balancing the use of the funds for state operations versus funding for local emergency management programs. Many state association representatives offered insights into their relationships with their state level program counterparts and shared success stories of mutual support.

All present noted the continued support in Congress for EMPG funding, but agreed that emergency manag-ers must continue to demonstrate how the funds are used to sustain programs and make tangible enhance-ments. All agreed that the 2012 elections offers an exceptional opportunity to meet with newly elected or recently re-elected state and federal legislators to continue to educate them on the numerous and varied responsibilities of local emergency management programs and the vital role they play in community prepared-ness and safety.

Participation in IAEM’s annual meeting of state associations offers FEPA unique insights into the issues and concerns faced by local emergency managers and their professional organizations in other parts of the nation. Though the priority that each issue may take in each state may vary, the fundamental concerns are remarkably similar and sharing insights and strategies is extremely valuable.

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In accordance with the FEPA By-Laws, all FEPA mem-bership dues are based on the calendar year and expire on December 31. There are four categories of FEPA membership and dues levels, Regular Membership - $75 per year, Student Membership - $25 per year, Corporate Membership - $800.00 per year and Institutional Mem-bership - $1200.00 per year.

To be eligible for the student membership category, an individual must be pursuing an emergency manage-ment related course of study at a higher education institution and must not be employed in the emergency management field. The Corporate Membership category allows FEPA’s numerous private sector partners an op-portunity to support FEPA programs and projects. Each Corporate Membership includes two regular member-ships for company representatives and access to ameni-ties such as FEPA newsletter advertisement, pre-selec-tion of Exhibit Space at the FEPA Annual Meeting and exposure as a FEPA supporter at all Association meet-ings, sessions, publications and events. The Institutional Membership category is open to all institutions, agencies or organizations that choose to partner with FEPA. Cur-rently the Florida Division of Emergency Management is FEPA’s only member under the Institutional category. Regular Membership is available to a broad range of individuals with an interest in emergency management and is required to seek FEPA Certification or serve as a member of the FEPA Board of Directors.

Several membership renewal options are available. Members can renew their dues on line through the Pay Pal payment system; pay by check or by credit or purchas-ing card. All members are asked to complete and return the appropriate 2013 FEPA Membership Renewal Form for their membership category with payment. This helps to ensure that the Association has the most current and

accurate membership information available at the time of dues renewal. Membership application and renewal forms are available on the Home Page of the FEPA web-site www.fepa.org.

FEPA thanks all its members for their continued support and participation in FEPA’s many activities and programs. Renewal reminder emails will be arriving in your inbox soon. Renew your membership today and encourage your contacts and colleagues who are not yet FEPA members to join the Association and enjoy the full benefits of FEPA membership.

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

The Florida EmergencyPreparedness Association, Inc.

400 Capital Circle, SESuite 18-263

Tallahassee, FL 32301850/274-1835

email: fepa@fepa.org

Eve RaineyExecutive Director

“Serving Emergency Preparedness in Florida Since 1956”

FEPA400 Capital Circle SESuite 18-263Tallahassee, FL 32301

FORWARDING & ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Serving Emergency Preparedness in Florida Since 1956

FEPA Opens Nomination Period for Elected Officers 2013

Consistent with the FEPA By-Laws, the Nomination Period for the 2013 slate of FEPA Elected Officers was opened on Thursday November 1, 2012. Announced to the membership through the FEPA Area Governors,

the nomination period will remain open through December 28, 2012 and nomi-nations will be accepted for the elected positions of President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. The 2013 election of officers will be conducted in conjunction with the FEPA Annual Membership Meeting held during the Annual Meeting and Work Session. Also, at the membership meeting each odd-numbered FEPA Area will caucus to select an Area Governor and Alternate Area Governor to serve a two year term from 2013-2015.

To be eligible for a FEPA elected office, a candidate must be a regular FEPA member in good standing, hold a certification under FEPA’s Certification Pro-gram and be able to commit to the time to perform the prescribed duties of the office. At the time of nomination, all potential officers must also submit a letter in support of their candidacy from their supervisors.

FEPA Past-President Jerry Smith serves as the Chair of the FEPA Nominat-ing Committee and all nominations for elected officers should be directed to Mr. Smith through FEPA Executive Director Eve Rainey at erainey@fepa.org. Nominees who are interested in becoming candidates for office must submit a letter stating candidacy, a brief resume and as stated above, a letter from the candidate’s immediate supervisor supporting the time and travel necessary to satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of the office. These documents are due to the FEPA Executive Director at least 30 days prior to the Annual Membership meeting.

Details on the duties and responsibilities of each of the FEPA Elected Of-ficers as well as the nomination and election processes are available on the Home Page of the FEPA website www.fepa.org. Please strongly consider sup-porting your Association by serving as an elected officer.