    The 2009 Convention was held last week in Alden, New York with President Leo Grenier presiding. The convention was quite successful with many firefighters in attendance. There were 2 business sessions, one Thursday and one Friday mornings. Afternoons and evenings were used for seminars and training exercises. Of course, socializing was on going throughout the convention!

    All of the Officers were re-elected with the two Vice-presidents stepping up the chairs. Only one name was submitted for 2nd Vice-president who was elected by the body at Thursday's regular session. His name is Gerald Gehrig who is a firefighter from Mount Morris, Livingston County.

    As your Trustee, I attended the annual audit of all books, which were found in superb shape, the business meetings and the Awards Ceremony, of which I am in charge of. As a result, I could not attend the Memorial Service which was held just before the awards as they were in 2 different locations. I had the privilege of awarding the Barnard Fire Department the 2009 Heroism Award for a multi victim fire in 2008.

    I am sorry that many of our County members could not attend this year. Tent City was smaller, RVs were more plentiful. There were 4 Departments from Monroe County who had spaces for convention, Churchville, Chili, West Brighton and Henrietta.

    The main business of interest concerning us is the Solicitation of donations. Western is starting the second year of a 3 year contract with our solicitor. This contract allows him to call his preferred list the same as last year, so individuals will be contacted the same as last year. All individuals have to do is ask to be removed from this list when contacted if they do not want to contribute and to stop being called. The Committee will review and okay the script that will be used by his operators. If problems arise, contact me or Robert Walker, the Budget and Program Book Chair, if we don't know about the problem, we can't fix it. Bob would like to know when Counties wish the solicitor to stay out of their area so they can have their own campaigns. Send a letter to him so he has it on file.

    Next year the Convention will be in Shawnee, New York. Niagara County just west of Lockport. The last quarterly this year is September 6 in Alden, and the Testimonial Dinner will be September 26. I will have more info on this in August.

    I thank the President for my appointment and will continue to work for Monroe County at the Western meetings.

Ken Fuller