It took a while to assemble the children at the entrance of the Children's Hospital at St. Mary's on Friday morning.

They were slowed down by tubes and IV trolleys, cumbersome machines and hospital gowns a bit too long for small, frail bodies.

Their faces showed the discomfort and pain of the illnesses that had brought them into the hospital two days before Christmas.

Eleanor Blair, 3, whose parents brought her all the way from England two weeks ago, was recovering from orthopedic surgery on her leg, fretful and wriggling in her wheelchair.

The Palm Beach County F.O.O.L.S, received an award from the Drowning Prevention Coalition. We have partnered up with the group to help support their cause to help teach water safety. We have made a Chapter commitment to help support this organization as long as we are a chapter. At the last F.O.O.L.S meeting, Kevin Rattery, Drowning prevention Coalition committee member, also a PBC F.O.O.L.S member presented Buddy Yarbrough, president an award for our continued support. Drowning has been a major reason why kids die in Florida. Any way the Palm Beach County F.O.O.L.S can help to help lower the number, we will always be there for the cause.

On July 31, 2011 the Centrall Illinois FOOLS held a hands on training in Galesburg IL. This training was attended by 25 students, ranging from probationary members to chief of the department. Students were able to get training in ladders, search & rescue, hose line advancement & many other skills. The training was held at the Galesburg IL Fire training center

The Sawtooth Chapter F.O.O.L.S. are excited to announce their new fundraising effort. We will be holding a raffle for a brand new 2011 Polaris Sportsman 500 H.0.

rothers and Sisters,
Well let me present to you, the first Marion County ,FL "Mc.FOOLS" Challenge Coin. The backs side of coin with the Shamrock and Leather helmet with 08n in the shield is for our Irish,(and Scottish) heritage, the 08 is when our Chapter was actually started. 

Official "Mc.FOOLS" Challenge Coin.

The Merced City F.O.O.L.s produced their first chapter “challenge coin”!

Thursday April 14, 2011

Alot of time, effort, and ideas went into the design of our first coin. The final product is what our chapter is all about. It pays homage to the original International Founding F.O.O.L.S. l, the brother and sisters of the fire service, and the fire service in general.

The Front of the Coin: Our chapter was established in 2007, but only recently have we started evolving to what we stand for today. We are about quality not quantity in both our membership numbers and in training. Our burning globe (slightly modified) shows our affiliation to the F.O.O.L.S. International and that we will never forget what FTM – RFB – DTRT – EGH – KTF - PTB means to all of us. .....

What a great event! 178 heads shaved and when all the donations are in we will have raised well over $200,000 for Childhood Cancer Research.

We had some truly wonderful highlights including many father son shavee teams including Pat and his boys, Justin and his boys, Buddy and Chase, and even a grandfather grandaughter duo Chief Ray Carter and Leilani. Eight year old Leilani rocked the house when she gave up her beautiful golden locks to be a hero for kids with cancer.

The Houston Area Leatherheads Forever Chapter recently had an executive board meeting on Monday April 4th, 2011. 

 Several business items were discussed including several presentations from HALF-FOOLS Chapter President Eric Kellman. FOOLS International membership cards were presented along with Founding Members personalized towels.

On January 8th, 2011 The Great FOOLS of Fire and Anchorage Area FOOLS, in conjunction with the Alaska State Fire Marshals office, hosted an 8 hour training session, thanks to Central Emergency Services in Soldotna, Alaska for the use of their training facility and equipment. Class was attended by 32 firefighters from across the State of Alaska. Those members were both FOOLS and non-FOOLS members. 14 of the students were FOOLS members representing 4 different Chapters. The class was lecture in the morning, presented by Paul Urbano and Jason Dolph. Afternoon was several hours of quality hands-on training..........

On February 26th at 6pm the Wichita Metro Area FOOLs Of Oz will be holding their third annual St. Baldrick's fundraising event to raise money for Children's Cancer.  Last year the FOOLs Of Oz raised $15,000 and this year more than 50 members have signed up to have their heads shaved.  Go to the link http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/eventid/1626/eventyear/2011 to donate by phone, online, or mail and help out a great cause.  If your in the Wichita area stop by and support the group and stick around afterwards and hit Dudly's pub for the after party.