WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!

The annual Colorado Fire Fighters Academy was started in 1987 and continues to be a consolidated effort between San Juan Basin Technical College and the area municipal and rural fire departments. The objective of the academy is to provide quality training in a rural setting for all levels of the fire service. The pre-conference workshops and academy courses stimulate enthusiastic learning and interaction for students and faculty. There is a wide variety of in-class and hands-on classes offered during the academy. Instructors come from all over the country to present their specialties. Students gain from the knowledge that these specialists have to offer.

We are currently seeking corporate sponsors to assist us in sharing the cost of bringing in these quality instructors. This year’s line-up of headliners includes Chief Dennis Rubin, Chief Ronnie Coleman, Chief Ron Kanterman, Chief Daniel B.C. Gardiner, Mr. Jeff Dyar, and EMS Chief Norm Rooker. Other regional instructors will be providing training in Live Fire Attack, Flashover Simulator, SCBA Maze, Rookie Track, LPG Firefighting, and more.

Over the past 21 years the CFFA Committee has been lucky in the fact that we did not have to pay instructors, covering their expenses and a trip to Colorado was enough to attract some of the fire services top-rated speakers years ago. Over the last few years the committee has relied upon local area instructors, as most of the “name” instructors now charge for their services. In order for the committee to bring in nationally recognized fire service experts, we have to explore alternative financing practices to keep the program viable.

We are looking for you to share the cost of bringing these dynamic speakers to join us this year in Telluride, CO. In order to accomplish this year’s goal, the CFFA Committee has established the following levels of giving. Rookie Sponsor = $25 to $499; Working Fire Sponsor = $500 to $999; 1st Alarm Sponsor = $1000 to $1499; 2nd Alarm Sponsor = $1500 to $1999; 3rd Alarm Sponsor = $2000 to $2499; and 4th Alarm Sponsor = $2500 to $3000.

Your sponsorship has the potential of benefiting hundreds of firefighters from Colorado’s rural and volunteer protected communities. If we attempted to pass the cost associated with bringing in these instructors on to the students, the registration fees would be cost prohibitive to most of our audience departments. The needs of these rural emergency responders are critical in terms of training, technology, apparatus, equipment and resources compared to any other segment of America’s Fire Service.

What can you gain from providing a sponsorship? Advertising at the academy, announcing your sponsorship when your speaker is introduced, and placing a link on our web site are a few of the tangible items that we can offer. We also hope that your recognition in our fire service communities and the opportunity for some great public relations would entice you as well.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you think you would be interested in assisting us in our mission this year, please make your check out to San Juan Basin Technical College - CFFA and mail it to 33057 Highway 160 Mancos, CO 81328. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Tom Aurnhammer at (970) 759-8755 or Lisa Valdez at (970) 529-7126.