It's amazing how long a year can look on a calendar, but time sure does fly by. Here we are in September, and soon the holidays will be upon us. Sooner than you would expect, we will be knee deep in 2010. Now is the time to start planning for the upcoming year. Many chapters should take this time to “Clean house” and prep for another exciting year. By doing this now, creates an easy start in January and sets the stage for your chapter. Let's look at ways we can “Clean house” to make 2010 even better than 2009.

One of the first things we need to make sure is that your membership rosters are correct as well as up to date. Making sure that correct/current spelling of names, addresses and emails are present as well as chapter rosters mimicking Internationals rosters makes January easier for all of us. This is to ensure that proper dues are assessed as well as all members are covered with our AD&D insurance policy.

How about your budget, is it correct? Do you even have a line item budget? If the answer is no, then now is the time to make this happen. Part of the responsibility that every chapter has is to create and have a budget. Some would ask why, well if you are pulling in any money, then you as a 501c3 chapter are required to have a budget. Have you registered your chapter as a 501c3 chapter? I hope the answer is yes, if not, or you are having trouble we can help but it needs to happen.

For those of you who are participating in St. Baldrick's next year now is the time to start planning this event. This is one of the charitable organizations we have chosen to stand next to. What they do for cancer research is important not just for us as firemen on the job, but also for those who have retired as well as our families. Not to mention it also gives us a good chance at seeing certain members with a shinny noggin. Along with that event we want to take time to aide another one of the charities we stand side by side which is Hero to Hero. This organization asks that we donate FD T-shirts from us to the troop's protecting our country and freedom. Now by doing both of these events at once is a no brainer and easy. Chapters can do this alone, or cluster together to really produce a big event. Another charity organization we walk with is the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. This organization asks that we help them with staffing and their returned help to us is unlimited. You can have them at your training or fundraising events, and yes you can do this all at once, but you must plan it.

Many chapters that we have spoken to are thinking about do some training next year. Effective training needs planning and now is the time to do this so you're not behind the eight ball. Also by doing this you can start throwing dates when you would like to schedule your training in hopes that we can avoid training venues from overlapping with other chapter or national events. Also by doing this creates an avenue for chapters to come together or bring specific members from other chapters to your training events such as those in Washington and Alaska or New Jersey and New England.

Speaking of venues, next April 19-24 is FDIC and September 22-26 is our convention. Planning is a need now to make sure that your schedule and finances are together. FDIC is in Indy and we are already talking with Pennwell publishing on what we are doing. I know the Indy Metro FOOLS are already getting ready for us and we don't want to let them down. The convention this year is going to be in sunny Orlando Florida, during September no less which is a great time of the year and we are making this again a time for us and our families. The time frame three days before and after the convention is being offered by the hotel to remain the same with its rates just for us. So we have time to get done what we need to do, and have time for our families for a wonderful vacation. Homme Team, Treasure Coast and Central Florida FOOLS are really working hard to make this be another great convention, and if you haven't been in a while, ask someone who has been to the last couple of conventions. They will tell you that it is the one event you need to attend to “Recharge” the old batteries.

So now you can see that by planning or cleaning house now is so important now. Starting this now is something that will take you into the New Year and keeps your chapter on task. If you have questions or need some direction the International Executive Board is always available.