Introduction
The holiday season is in full swing and the winter weather continues to offer opportunities to shovel snow and limit the accessibility to many structures in our protection area.  Fortunately, there have not been a significant number of calls related to the winter weather.  A search and rescue incident in the latter part of the month highlights the need for members to be prepared by wearing visible and warm, protective clothing and diligent in the maintenance of all equipment to ensure functionality when responding during hazardous weather. 

Personnel

• The Department received notification from Paramedic Robert Hupp that he will be returning to North Flight in Traverse City.  We appreciate his contribution to Glen Lake EMS these past several months.  His resignation is effective January 2nd.  John Dodson will be taking Robert’s shift rotation until a replacement can be found.  
• Firefighter-EMT Lee Laskey has also advised that he will be leaving effective the week of January 7th to accept a position with the Traverse City Fire Department as a Firefighter-Paramedic.  Lee’s shift position will be filled by Doug Lake who currently works Monday and Wednesday shifts each week.  Using the recently established hiring list, Doug’s vacant shift has been offered to Pete Stern.  It is anticipated that Pete will begin as a day shift employee in mid-January, and will have the Monday/Wednesday rotation following completion of his orientation. 

Training

• One formal training session was held in December.  At this session members completed a competency check sheet for the use of the new cardiac monitor/defibrillators as AED’s.  This session was attended by 13 people, however the competency activity was completed by six additional staff members during the next several days that followed.  This competency check-off will be completed by all staff as each can arrange to review the device.
• Steve and Kim Ward have agreed to plan and assist with carrying out training sessions for 2008.  Steve Ward has agreed to be listed with the State of Michigan as the Training Officer for the Department.  Training nights will continue to be the first Wednesday and the second to last Monday of each month, with the primary focus of the Wednesday sessions being EMS and the Monday sessions, fire. 

Administration

• Significant staff time was spent on data retrieval and summary to provide clear substantiation for reimbursement for services within the National Park this past summer.  Because daily logs are maintained and records are kept relative to our responses, a very comprehensive set of itemized invoices have been forwarded to the Township Board for review and forwarding to the County Board of Commissioners in the form of a request for additional PILT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) funds. 
• Several staff members have been entering and transferring data to the FireHouse software program that will be used exclusively for record-keeping and data management.  This program is also used for inventory control and payroll.  Duty logs will now be written within this software program.  Training to use Firehouse will be offered at the first training session in January.  
• Staff members continue to lay groundwork for an ISO review, hopefully within 2008.  This process requires testing equipment, as well as the production of an enormous amount of data and supportive information that is being retrieved from the Firehouse program as well as paper records from past years. 
• E-mail addresses are now set up for all personnel.  The generic address is yourname@glenlakefire.com.  The log-in is the same as for the station’s’ computers.  The easiest way to access your mail is through the internet:  glenlakefire.com/webmail. 

Apparatus

• Following a routine oil change, Tanker 321 received a safety inspection.  During this inspection a leaking seal in the right-rear axle was identified and replaced. 
• Valve extensions have been placed on the rear duals of 391.

Facilities

• The building’s water softener has been inspected and its salt utilization adjusted due to excessive use of salt and reports of salty tasting water.  Water users should advise Dave Grattopp if they note any additional issues related to this.  
• A soda machine has been installed along the west end of the apparatus bay.  Steve Hooper installed the outlet for the machine.  Soda (Pepsi products) costs 50 cents per can and water will be available beginning in January.  Doug Lake did the majority of work to arrange for the machine.  Eric Dubord will be ensuring it is stocked and will address any “lost coin” issues. 
• Along with the season comes the need to be diligent in washing down the bay floors to prevent deterioration from road salt.  The drains have also accumulated a fair amount of sand, which has been addressed on at least two occasions during the month of December. 
• Early in the month, the auto-reverse on three of the apparatus bay doors was found to be not working.  These doors have been adjusted by Garage Door Services. 

Equipment

• Ryan Deering has taken the lead on a project to enable the hoisting of hose for the purpose of allowing it to dry after cleaning.  This will be an ongoing effort until all the bugs are worked out. 

Acknowledgements Received

• Donations received from the following individuals in the name of Gilbert Warnes:
• Sandy and Bob Foole
• Jenny Olson
• Elizabeth Ann Sutherland
• Bruce Lichliter
• Columbia Community Unit #4
• Michigan Community Blood Centers
• Hawaiian Village Association

• Donations received from the following in the name of Bill Olson
• Kingsley School and Friends of Matt Olson and Randy Heite
• Michael Lynam

• A tin of holiday chocolates was received from Mr. and Mrs. John McCormick.  This gift is being enjoyed by all. 

• A donation to the Department from Nelson Steel Products, Inc. has been received.

• Holiday cards were received from the following individuals/businesses:
• East Jordan Iron Works, Inc
• Elmer’s
• The Kaweek, Burke, Laansma families (our neighbors to the west)
• Bill, Jan and Keith Davis
• Leelanau County Sheriff’s office
• Patrick (Ranger 3) and Wendy
• Rickard and Associates, PC
• Renewed Performance, Inc.
• Glen Lake School Staff
• CPR Connection
• Radio North

Submitted by:

John A. Dodson
Chief of the Department