Committees -> Technical Committee

Mission

To research, recommend and represent member organizations on technical issues related to the manufacture of fire apparatus with the goal of constant improvement to product and safety for the end user. This shall be done in a manner consistent with antitrust guidelines.

Objectives

  • To consider all submitted technical issues that are of mutual concern to the member organizations
  • To research and collect pertinent data on technical issues and determine appropriate actions
  • To make recommendations to other FAMA committees or organization as a whole as to the appropriate actions they may wish to take on assigned issues

Policies and Procedures

The following list is to be a guide to assist the technical committee chairperson in performing his or her responsibilities.

Structure

  1. The technical committee chairperson is appointed by the Board of Directors. The chairperson shall select another person to serve as a co-chairperson to assist in the management of the committee’s responsibilities. This person shall also be approved by the Board of Directors. Both of these individuals shall be capable of attending the regular spring and fall meetings of the full membership to report on the activities of the technical committee.
  2. The technical committee chairperson shall be responsible for reviewing the subcommittee structure and recommending changes to the Board of Directors. The function of the subcommittees is to address technical issues that are applicable to their respective areas (i.e., pumps, chassis, etc.) and make recommendations to the full technical committee.
  3. The technical committee chairperson is responsible for recruiting and appointing the subcommittee chairpersons.

Meetings

  1. It shall be the policy of this committee to meet at least semi-annually to address and disseminate information on technical issues that are of mutual concern to the member organizations consistent with antitrust regulations. These meetings are typically best attended when held in conjunction with the FDIC since many technical committee participants are already traveling to this show. The length of the meetings shall be no more than one day to ensure good attendance.
  2. The technical committee chairperson shall prepare the agenda of the meeting based on technical issues determined by input from the Board of Directors, previous technical committee meetings and from the subcommittee chairpersons.
  3. Based on the items in the agenda, the technical committee chairperson shall determine which items should be delegated for presentation by subcommittees, experts outside of FAMA or by the chairpersons themselves.
  4. Agenda items requiring review and analysis by a subcommittee before the full technical committee meeting shall be delegated to the subcommittee chairperson.
  5. The subcommittee chairpersons shall be responsible for determining the need for additional meetings outside of the full technical committee meetings.
  6. If experts are needed to give presentations on technical issues, then the technical committee chairperson shall obtain approval from the Board of Directors to cover the experts’ expenses.
  7. FAMA’s Business Manager shall handle arrangements such as the meeting notices, location, transportation, facility requirements and other physical needs to conduct the meeting.
  8. In accordance with the Bylaws of FAMA, a quorum of twenty-five (25%) percent of the member companies is necessary for the transaction of business. The technical committee chairperson shall determine prior to the meeting whether a quorum appears possible based on the number of registered attendees.
  9. The technical committee chairperson shall call the meeting to order and confirm that a quorum has been met via the sign-in process.
  10. Minutes of the technical committee meetings shall be taken by FAMA’s Business Manager. The technical committee chairperson shall review the draft of the minutes for accuracy and submit them to the technical committee membership at the next meeting scheduled for approval.

Technical Subcommittees and Subcommittee Chairs

  • Aerial/Quint – Jim Garver (Sutphen) and John Brady (KME Fire Apparatus)
  • Ambulance – Steve Rowland (Akron Brass Company)
  • ARFF – RJ Jones (Hale Products, Inc.)
  • Body – Shelby Sutphen Chambers (Sutphen Corporation) and Wyatt Compton (Spartan Emergency Response)
  • Chassis – Chris Crowel (Cummins Inc.) and Dale Katz (E-ONE)
  • Electrical – John Doperalski (Harrison Hydra-Gen) and Peter Luhrs (Fire Research Corp.)
  • Foam – Gregg Geske (Waterous Company) and Dan Tyrrell (Fire Research Corp.)
  • Pumps & Plumbing – Wayne Hable (Darley) and Mike Sulmone (Trident Emergency Products)

Committee Chairs

Chairman
Roger Lackore – Spartan Emergency Response

Vice-Chair
Melissa Dobbs – IMMI

 

FAMA Representatives on NFPA Committees

  • 18/18A – Principal:  Gregg Geske,   Alternate:  Dan Tyrrell
  • 1150 – Principal:  Gregg Geske,   Alternate:  Dan Tyrrell
  • 1500 – Principal:  Roger Lackore,   Alternate:  Melissa Dobbs
  • 1585 – Principal:  Scott Beecher,   Alternate:  Roger Lackore
  • 1900 – Principal:  Jason Witmier,   Alternate:  Philip Gerace
  • 1900 – Ambulance – Principal:  Steve Rowland,   Alternate: David Fishman
  • 1900/ARFF – Principal:   Duane Kann