NEAFC 32nd Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION O~F FIRE CHIEFS
We have written to every major editor in the United States, and we have
called them personally and talked to them about who the fire service is, who
the Chiefs are, what they represent, hoping to head off such articles like the
Henderson article, in the Woman’s Home Companion for April.
We had started our program long before that. Chief Thomas had seen
this coming for some time, and worked on it immediately. And, we have had
such results as the Readers’ Digest asking us who should write for them, and
what kind of articles should be published.
Parents’ Magazine contacted us last year, asking if we couldn’t do articles
for them.
I bring these matters up, and there are many, many more, to show the
kind of activity, the kind of thinking, that the New England Association,.
through President Thomas, has contributed to the International Association of
Fire Chiefs.
Where I have been in here as an outsider of the fire service, I like to think
of myself as a kind of person who can bring to the other people who can do
the job, something, who can create action, who can get things started.
I should like to say, here and now, that if, at any time, I ever step out of
line, every time we do anything which isn’t exactly the way the New England
Association would like it, we would certainly more than appreciate hearing
from you, and about your problems.
I should like to close on a lighter vein. The next time any one from
the New England Division says they can’t afford to pay the dues of the International
or the New England, I can remember, as I look around here at this
plush hotel, the types of automobiles you fellows drive, so that I am going
to be very, very hard on most of you!
Thank you very much! (Applause.)
PRESIDENT FORT~: Thank you, Chief Thomas and Mr. Gerletti.
Before we proceed with the Memorial Exercises, I want to announce that
immediately after this session, the New England Division of the International
will have a meeting here.
We are next going to have the Response to the Addresses of Welcome, by
Chief John F. Adams of Milford, Massachusetts. (Applause.)
CHIEF JOHN F. ADAMS Of Milford, Massachusetts: Mr. President, Reverend
Mr. Fitzsimmons, Father Collins, Reverend Mr. Lewis, Mayor Butler, City
Manager Violette, President Thomas of the International, Distinguished Guests,
Members of the New England Association, their wives and their friends and
guests. We convene here today for the 32nd Annual Conference of our Association,
and, as I observe this splendid gathering here before me, and as I peruse
the program providing the topics and the arrangements for this occasion, I can
only make but one observation, and it is this: That we, the present day members
of the Fire Services are equally as engulfed and as enthusiastic about pursuing
further knowledge and education of our chosen work, as were our predecessors,
at the first Conference of this organization, which was held in
Bridgeport, in 1923.
It is true that the topics provided for consideration and discussion here
today will differ considerably from those discussed in 1923; however, it must
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