Present: Laurie Robison, Mike Kane Jr., Dave Cluff, Jim Garofalo, Jim McCarthy, Byard Peake, Nicole Smith, Kristie Borchers, Joy Mathis, Ben Cordova, Ron Tyner, Howard Rachlin, Richard Woodbury, Harry Bruell, Dave Abercrombie

Statewide relationships!
Pikes Peak Partners in Prevention—sister organization in Colorado Springs has asked permission to reprint our 5 part brochure series pretty much verbatim. They will give us credit.
Grand Junction/Glenwood Springs—working to recreate the beetle insert with locally appropriate information.

Firewise Council logo sent to Chief Mark Quick for inclusion on the mobile command center. Nicole will follow up.

Fire Council Recognition update: The state has dropped the Firewise standard program because of too much confusion between the state and national program. Does the council want to promote the national Firewise designation? Do we want to create our own sort of program? Or do we not want to get involved with designation programs? Would it be confusing with the ambassador program? Decision was made to table until next meeting.

The question came up as to what could be the benefits/recognition to the subdivision if the level 2 portions of the ambassador were attained?? Ideas include, public recognition, certificate, signage (make sure it’s dated), council assertion, media etc. Encourages ambassador volunteers to grow in that position, encourages community to get involved, encourages other subdivisions to become involved.

Homeland Security Grant Update: No news. . .could be as late as June.

BLM Grant Request—due at the end of March. $20,000 available. Projects such as demo sites, fuels reduction, fire ed, etc. . . Fire Council will apply for $5,000-10,000. If anyone is interested in helping to write the grant, contact Kristie.

Ambassadors gave brief reports on their events/activities for fire month. Falls Creek: thinning project, finish fire break, inspect fire escape roads, volunteer slash day—clearing main roads, meeting with information dissemination. Durango Hills: May have a slash day—need to work out logistics. Tripp Creek: BBQ with homeowners association to set up phone/email contact list, and address effective signage of house numbers.