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February 25, 2009
Fellow
CEMA Members:
Congratulations on a successful legislative campaign to save
the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management
and Homeland Security from being dissolved.
On
Monday, February 23, 2009
CEMA received information that Senate Democrats were
proposing to eliminate the State of Connecticut Department
of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and place
emergency management and homeland security responsibilities
within the Department of Public Safety. This erroneous
proposal was an effort to consolidate State agencies as a
cost saving measure without consideration to the impact on
federal dollars which support the State’s emergency
management infrastructure.
CEMA leadership immediately partnered with leaders from the
Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, the Connecticut Fire
Chief’s Association and the Connecticut Career Fire Chief’s
Association and took a strong position in opposition to such
a move. As a unified group of Connecticut public safety
professionals, we identified the benefits achieved by the
creation of the State Department of Emergency Management and
Homeland Security and the detriments to regionalization,
communication, first responder and citizen safety should the
agency be dissolved.
CEMA members responded to our call to action. Many members
quickly called, emailed, and wrote to their respective State
Senators and State Representatives to strongly oppose
changing the structure and reporting responsibilities of the
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Additionally, as no public hearing was scheduled, CEMA Vice
President Austin and I traveled to the Legislative Office
Building on Monday afternoon and personally addressed many
Senate Democrats regarding this issue. Senate Democrats
issued a statement later in the afternoon that the issue was
off the table for both discussion and action.
I personally applaud the efforts of the CEMA members who
answered the call and influenced policy outcome. Without
your help, we may not been successful.
This type of scenario is an example of why the State’s
emergency management community relies on CEMA to be the
voice of Emergency Management. Immediate action by our
association proved beneficial to our profession, thus
demonstrating the true power of a unified voice. Most
importantly, this situation is a reminder of why our
association exists and that we must always remain prepared
to advocate for
Connecticut
emergency management and public safety professionals.
Your support has made a difference and as CEMA president, I
applaud the membership’s successful campaign.
Sincerely

Michael A. Spera
President
CEMA
Members Group
All
CEMA members should have received notice and an invitation
to join a group we created on Yahoo called CEMAMEMBERS.
This group, restricted to CEMA members, will allow us to
easily share files, send group notices and post notices.
If you have not received an invitation (the email message
from Yahoo may have been accidentally deleted) contact
Joe
Sastre or enter your email address below for access.
Make sure you identify yourself in the message.

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