Getting started . .

Ok, we're off with this Blog.
First time ever trying to write something for immediate publication on a web site. Supposedly this is easy but for someone who started writing with a typewriter some 40 years ago, we'll just have to see how it goes.

At least I type QWERTY which is more than can be said for millions of people who are more adept at writing a Blog than I. So we'll give it a shot.

IAFC Conference and Trade Show
aka Fire-Rescue International

Next week the IAFC Trade Show will be held Friday and Saturday the 24th and 25th in Atlanta. This is the country's second-largest show and the place to see everything new in fire apparatus and emergency equipment. Our magazine will have a booth so drop by and say "Hello."

American LaFrance:

American LaFrance is still getting settled in their 450,000 sq. ft. plant in Summerville, SC just of Interstate 26, so they've set the big opening celebration for late October. Every chief who has a new ALF on order--or is contemplating a purchase--should arrange for a plant visit. Although they are still in the shakeout phase, the plant is designed to take advantage of every state-of-the-art manufacturing systems known.

E-ONE

We will know more next week as to how E-ONE is integrating the managment changes there which took place last month. However everyone who wasn't at the FDIC show in Indianapolis should visit the E-ONE booth at the IAFC show in Atlanta next week.

E-ONE has been getting a great reception to its new Quest pumper and its Urban Pumper, each of which has a lot of attractive elements. In addition, its lower-priced Tradition custom line of pumpers has an all new look that was overshadowed at FDIC by the other new lines. Check out the Tradition series at Atlanta.

Magazine Readership Survey

We just mailed 1,000 questionnaires to fire departments in every state in connection with your two-year readership survey where we look for input from YOU. The surveys were distributed according to population, so if you or your depatment gets one, please fill it out and mail it back asap.

More updates to this blog will be posted Saturday . . . in the meantime, you are welcome to participate and ask questions or tip us off to interesting developments in your area . . .
I am emailed a personal copy of everything that's posted and I want to thank the guy who said, "Hey, get on the ball. You aren't updating daily as you said you would."

Well . . . now we've started. . . --Peter