At the Executive Board meeting July 17th in College Station I announced this would be my last year as Secretary for the SFFMA. The up-coming Corpus Christi convention will be my 9th convention as Secretary. I have enjoyed each and every year I have served as Secretary but I feel it is time to step down and let someone else experience that privilege.
There are so many people to thank. I hesitate to name any names for fear that I will forget someone. However I must thank my wife Pam. Over the past nine years I have dragged her all over the state of Texas. From Pecos to San Augustine, from Amarillo to McAllen and many places between, we covered a lot of miles. We stayed many nights on the road, sometimes not in the best of hotels. She has traveled with me and never complained. Well there was that one time she got all mad coming from Ballinger to McAllen because I didn’t stop to eat at Red Lobster. But that is a story better left untold. In all seriousness Pam has been a great supporter and I truly thank her for that support.
I want to thank all the members of the SFFMA for the hospitality shown me and Pam at the different meetings we attended. We always felt welcome and enjoyed every minute we spent with you.
I want to wish my successor, whomever that might be, the best of luck. I know you will receive the support and help of the Executive Board and the staff at the Austin office as well as the rest of the membership.
May God bless each and every one of you and I will see you down the road.
Richard Van Winkle
SFFMA Secretary
Promote, Unify, Represent, and Educate the Fire Service of Texas