2014 Wrap-up: KZOO, Detroit, Tampa, South Dakota, Indy, Chicago, Baltimore, Raleigh, and Emmitsburg

2014 was a great year! I certainly hope that all of you feel the same way. Being the editor of a popular fire blog, I get to know a lot of people…therefore I know that for some of you 2014 was a tough year. Throughout the year, I read about many seeking employment, battling injuries and cancers, grieving the deaths of loved ones, and other trials and tribulations we face in life.

That being said, I know there was a lot of joy in 2014…Many of you found employment, moved to a better volunteer dept., met personal goals, welcomed children into the world, got married, and many other joyous occasions.

February

Matt Schimmel photo

KZOO FOOLS Bash. Matt Schimmel photo

KZOO FOOLS: This year started out with a bang. In February, Willie and I headed out to Kalamazoo for the KZOO FOOLS Winter Seminar speaking with firefighters about Professional Wellness, Motivating Firefighters, Improving Morale, and a little bit about Social Media. We had a blast with the guys up there. The KZOO FOOLS do a great job of making you feel like family. We enjoyed our time with everyone at the FOOLS Bash as well. Did I mention it snowed? Yeah…a lot…it WAS after-all the Winter Seminar (come to find out, they don’t even have a Summer Seminar).  Our Brothers Kevin Thompson and Matt Schimmel were great hosts and got us everywhere we needed to be…including to Detroit. They drove us. If we had drove ourselves, they still wouldn’t have found the bodies. Thanks guys! Read about our time in KZOO here! 

Detroit: From KZOO, we headed to Detroit in support of the Detroit Firefighters. Through a fundraising effort, firefighters and supporters converged on Detroit to drop off much needed equipment to Detroit’s Bravest. Jeremy Mullins was a great host in Detroit and showing us around a dozen firehouses. Willie and I enjoyed the trip with great friends Bob Gard and Andrew Catron. Kevin and Matt were there as well along with a couple dozen great people from across the US. The crew coming from KZOO missed the first day in Detroit, but we made up for it.

March

Tampa 2: In March, I headed down to Tampa, FL. I might have seen the beach, but I didn’t have time to get near it. The trip was short and the time was hectic. I was there with some of the most devoted firefighters from across the Nation in hopes of re-evaluating what was created in Tampa 10 years prior. Tampa 2 was the name of the conference and I was a mere wall-flower serving a separate purpose. I may have been seen a little bit, but I was not heard from. What is important is that you review the report from Tampa 2 (.pdf is here). Read about what went on at Tampa 2 here.

We got to see the Hostetler family again in Aberdeen. Great people!

We got to see the Hostetler family again in Aberdeen. Great people!

April

South Dakota: In April, Willie and I headed out to South Dakota for a class on Social Media and Generational Diversity at the 2014 South Dakota State Fire School. This was our second trip to South Dakota and we were blessed to find out that many of the great firefighters who we met on our trip across SD the year prior made the trip to Aberdeen for the fire school…or maybe just to drink Moscow Mule’s with us. I will tell you that these guys are top notch. We even bumped into John Salka in the airport and Chip Everett, a KZOO brother, spoke at the conference as well.

FDIC: Right after getting back from South Dakota, we headed out to Indianapolis for another great time at FDIC. This year, we turned it up throwing a huge party along with others. The Firefighter Turnout was a great time. Catron, Gard, and Schimmel were with us most of the week along with Preston Wiley from the Valley of the FOOLS.

We enjoyed seeing so many people throughout the week and the positive vibe given off from firefighters across the Country. Some of the guys who always stick out are Welch, Brotherton, Sons of the Flag, Michael Smith, Paul Hasenmeier, Bill Carey, Naum, First Arriving Crew, Glove Crafters Crew, Black Diamond Fire Crew, Demers Crew, Phenix Leather Crew, MJFD crew, Oak Ridge crew, Jodi Monroe, Statter and Guise, Fire Cam Crew, NY Crew, the Owens Brothers, RJ Beam, and many more!

Read these posts to see what all happened at FDIC this year!

Me and my wife with Lori and Dan Mercer

Me and my wife with Lori and Dan Mercer at Flame Fest 2014

July

Flame Fest: July was a busy month! My wife and I headed out to Chicago for Flame Fest 2014.

Flame Fest was such a great vacation/marriage retreat getaway. I was great getting some couple time and to enjoy everything that Lori and her crew at Firefighter Wife put together for this amazing weekend. We really had a great time hanging out with so many great couples who we continue to communicate with across the US. Oh, and you bet we saw John Salka there presenting. Read more about our time at Flame Fest here: Don’t Read This…Share it with your Firefighter Wife or Girlfriend

If you are interested in Flame Fest 2015 click here!

Firehouse Expo: Then, Willie and I headed up to Baltimore for Firehouse Expo. My wife and kids joined us soon after and we ended up hanging out with the Mercer family from Firefighterwife.com.

Firehouse Expo was kinda dead this year. If you ask Willie and I, they need to bring us in to help revamp the event. We have watched it dwindle down to hardly anything. Such a shame.

We did have a blast at the FOOLS Brotherhood Bash in Little Italy. That is a very enjoyable down to earth party. I think what makes it so fun is the fact that you don’t have to yell to speak with each other.

SAFRE: Right after Firehouse Expo, Willie and I headed down to Raleigh for the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo (SAFRE). Our intention was to go down and really have a great time with brothers from across NC. Our biggest goal was to do well in the BBQ Throwdown. We didn’t…but we did have a blast. So many great firefighters from across NC helped us, stopped by to say hello, drank a beer with us, and just showed us a great time. The guys from Davie FD,  Lake Norman FD, and Mooresville FD were right their by our sides helping out (Neel Brawley, Chad Furr, Chris Thompson, Justin Cagle, Mike Manning, Jason and Jesse Shotwell).

The FOOLS Brotherhood Bash was off the hook and the parade was a lot of fun as well. We even got to hang out with Harkey, Legeros, and Wilson! You can’t beat that! Read about the trip here: SAFRE Wrap-Up and a Top Ten List You Don’t Want to Miss!

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L-R: Bill Carey, Rhett Fleitz, Tim McCloskey, Doug Walton, Dave Statter, Jack Wilson, Willie Wines Jr. (Mike Legeros took the picture)

Memorial Weekend: The last trip of the year was the somber one. Each year, Willie and I are blessed with the opportunity to help out at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, MD. Read about this years Weekend here: 2014 NFFF Memorial Weekend. 107 Firefighters Added to the Memorial

 

That is a wrap on the travels of the year. Along with all of that, my family also traveled to the following locations for one reason or another: Alexandria, Lexington, Monticello, New York, Niantic, Raleigh, Richmond, Atlantic City, Huntington, DC, and Winston-Salem.

Yeah, we travel a little bit. When possible, I like taking in a firehouse here and there.

Cheers to 2015 being that much better!

Rhett Fleitz
– The Fire Critic