Dear Brothers & Sisters:

As many of you know, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  In 2007, fire fighters across America led by IAFF members raised over $25,500,000 to aid in the fight against neuromuscular disease. 

Many of you had the opportunity to attend one of last year’s “New York IAFF/MDA Boot Camp” meetings at the Turning Stone Casino and the Thayer Hotel in West Point.  These two meetings helped launch another record campaign for MDA in New York State in 2007, raising over $460,000! 

We’ve decided this year to combine the two meetings into one large conference on Monday, April 28 at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.  This will give us an opportunity to bring everyone together from across the state to recognize those outstanding achievements, share experiences and generate new ideas for the 2008 campaign.  Here’s the schedule:

• 11:00am – 12:00pm                    Registration

• 12:30pm – 1:30pm                     Luncheon

• 1:30pm – 4:00pm                       Boot Camp Meeting

• 4:00pm – 6:00pm                       Hospitality Suite Cocktails

• 6:00pm – 7:30pm                       Dinner

• 7:30pm – 10:00pm**                  Evening function at the Casino

**Overnight accommodations, all meals on Monday, April 28 and breakfast on Tuesday morning will be provided at the Turning Stone Casino for all attendees.

All New York State locals are invited to attend and can send two representatives from your department.  Please choose your representatives wisely; they will be responsible for gathering information and ideas from the meeting which can be brought back to your departments to help enhance your efforts for MDA in 2008. 

Simply fill out the enclosed registration form and fax, mail or email it to MDA’s Regional office in Albany.  Your local MDA staff representative will be following up with you to ensure receipt of this invitation and to confirm your attendance in the coming weeks.

Thank you in advance for your attendance and congratulations on another record campaign for MDA in 2007.  I am looking forward to even greater success in 2008.

Fraternally,

Charles Morello, President