Mark Your Calendars for the Coming Months!

Many events are planned for the coming months that may be of interest to you. Please mark your calendars.

16th Annual Old Fort Fire Department
Carolina Children's Charity Golf Tournament
Legend Oaks Plantation on Thursday, February 25th, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

3rd Annual Charleston 9 Remembrance Family Picnic
Brittlebank Park on Sunday, June 6th, 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PICNIC HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM THE 13th to the 6th!

2nd Annual Charleston 9 5K " Run for the Nine"
Marion Square on Sunday, June 20th, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Team Car Featured on Marion, Virginia Fire Department Website!

As you have read here recently, our Team has recently acquired an old Fire Chief's car that once belonged to the Marion, Virginia Fire Dept. "Big Red" will be used in our public outreach programs of the Team. Visit the MFD website by clicking on the above caption. Thanks to our friends in the MFD for the mention!

Something to Think About........

As we begin the New Year, think about what you may want to accomplish in the coming months. Whether it’s to get in better shape, improve your financial status, get a promotion at work, be a better husband, wife, father or mother or simply improving your attitude and outlook, begin by assessing where you are now. In looking at those goals myself, I am reminded of lessons learned from my former Chief at North Charleston District Fire Department, Billy Hendricks. Chief Hendricks is a quiet, non-assuming man who always looks for the best in people. He taught us many things, far removed from our regular firefighting duties. He taught us to work hard and to be proud of our accomplishments, to face adversity with an open mind, and to always remain humble, for we only get our turn at this for a short time. I would like to share some of the following things I learned from him with you now:

It is not necessarily important what you bring to the table, but instead, what you leave behind.

We cannot always control the events or happenings in our lives, but we can control how we react to them. Never lose sight of that thought!

If you are troubled about something, put it aside until the next day, if possible, as a good night’s sleep will normally improve your outlook.

If I might add a few of my own thoughts, please consider the following:

Regardless of your rank or number of years on the job, reach out to others around you and share your experience and training. Each of you has something to offer.

Our department has a great number of new folks that are working to find their places in the organization. Be a mentor and offer them your support and constructive criticism. Remember, we were all new at this once in our lives. Think about your personal experiences then and who affected your life in a positive way.

We all believe, or believed, in our careers, that we did it better than anyone else, but in reality, you guys and girls are doing it much better, and much safer than we did, and the ones who come after you will hopefully be safer and more prepared because of your contributions.

And lastly, take ownership in your future and your department as you continue to move ahead!

Team Now on Facebook!

FaceBook has become a popular medium to network with friends and family and we have started a FaceBook page for our Team to keep in touch with our firefighters, their families and our friends.  Please visit our page by typing in Charleston Firefighter Support Team in the FaceBook search box and join us as a fan. www.facebook.com/

Happy New Year to All!

May each of you have a safe and properous New Year!

The Charleston Firefighter Support Team

Support Team to Present Workshop for All CFD Wives and Fiancees'!

The mission of the Charleston Firefighter Support Team is very straightforward. We are dedicated to the emotional health and well-being of the firefighters and families of the Charleston Fire Department. Though the Support Team came into existence in response to the tragic fire on June 18, 2007 our mission goes well beyond helping those impacted by that night. There is growing awareness nationally of the need to provide access to counseling for all firefighters and their family members and our team has an opportunity to lead the way in this important endeavor. We want you to know that you are, as a family member of a Charleston firefighter, an integral part of the Support Team being effective in our mission.

While many CFD family members have been a part of our formal program, it is our goal for the New Year to reach out to each and every person in the CFD family. A part of that effort will be to present our Behavioral Health Workshop to all wives and fiancées of our firefighters. There are specific stressors unique to the fire service that can have an impact on marriages and relationships. This workshop will focus on the issues facing you as the spouse, or future spouse, of a firefighter.

Subjects will include stress, grief, anxiety, bereavement, alcohol or substance abuse, and communications with special emphasis on children and couples’ relationships. One of the main objectives of this program is to open a dialogue with you to seek your input on how we may improve our services to assist you, your children, and your firefighter in the future.

Come and join us for this very important workshop. We look forward to seeing you there! Refreshments will be served.

Please R.S.V.P. Gerald Mishoe at gerald @scfirefighters.org or by calling (843) 609-8300 so that we can prepare for the appropriate number of participants.

When: Saturday, January 16, 2010

Where: Salvation Army Conference Center

2135 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC

Time: 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Special thanks to the CFD Wives' Club for sponsoring this very important and worthwhile workshop.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!