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The Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA) has been awarded $1.4 million in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program to improve the recruitment of volunteer firefighters in Minnesota.
We can assist you with marketing and onboarding new firefighters and possibly reimburse you for turnout gear and health screenings for your new hires.
Step 1 - Fill out the form below and an MSFDA representative will contact you!
Step 2 - Sign up for a one-hour training session
Minnesota State
Fire Department Association
Minnesota Fire Department Regions
President - Alan Newman
MSFDA Director - Dan Ober
C: 757-655-1206
medicman695@gmail.com
Secretary - Joe Carpentier
C: 651-226-5473
Joe.Carpentier@oakdalemn.gov
Treasurer - Kip Springer
C: 651-675-5902
kip.springer@rosemountmn.gov
Upcoming Meetings:
All meetings will be at Lake Elmo FD - 3880 Laverne Ave. N. Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Meetings start at 6 pm
Bylaws:
MSFDA Rep - Calvin Larson
calvinlarson@netscape.net
President - Calvin Larson
calvinlarson@netscape.net
Vice President - Marty Semanko
semanko@mncable.net
Secretary/Treasurer - Bill Batchelder
bill.batchelder@hotmail.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
2nd Thursday of April and September.
Social Hour 5:30 pm
Board Meeting 6:30 pm
Dinner and Regional Meeting 7 PM
President - Travis Cole
218-360-9702
tcole@ci.grand-rapids.mn.us
Vice President - Adam Mannausau
218-244-0548
adamm@ci.international-falls.mn.us
Secretary - Rex Lentner
218-263-3800
rglentner@northlc.com
MSFDA Rep - Steve Shykes
218-290-6527
fayalfire@mchsi.com
All future meetings of the Arrowhead Region Association will be 2-per year-scheduled for the 1st Thursday of May, and the 1st Thursday of December of each year.
5-5:30 pm - Advisory Commitee Meeting
5 pm Registration
6-8 pm Meeting
Contact Arrowhead secretary Rex Lentner for questions at arrowheadregion@outlook.com or 218-263-3800
MSFDA Rep. - Travis Olson701-412-1915tolsonfireservice@gmail.com PresidentDave Coufal701-238-5519lpfdchief@lakeparkmn.com Vice PresidentTravis Olson701-412-1915tolsonfireservice@gmail.com SecretaryJohn Kostynicknorthwestregional4@gmail.com Upcoming Meetings:Thursday, August 27, 2026 - Frazee Event Center - 114 Lake Street N, Frazee, MNSocial Hour 6 pmMeal 6:45 pm with Training/Meeting to follow
President - Matt Daniels
320-424-1645
moose_cat@hotmail.com
Vice President
Philip Zimpel
218-686-5856
foradafd1421@gmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer- Jeff Drais
320-290-7360
secretary@lakeregionfire.com
MSFDA Rep - Matt Daniels
320-424-1645
moose_cat@hotmail.com
Upcoming Meetings:
March 2026
September 2006
Meetings start promptly at 7 pm on the evening scheduled. Location is predetermined by the host department. Host department offers a dinner which serving starts at 6:30 pm. Meeting information is sent out to all members by the Secretary/Treasurer prior to each meeting.
Lake Region Website
President - David Kooiman
dalbofdtrainer@outlook.com
Vice President - Zach Reed
zreed@ci.chisago.mn.us
Secretary - Jake Vodenka-Reed
chief@taylorsfalls.org
MSFDA Rep. - Dave Matchinsky
chinskyrugger@hotmail.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
July 16, 2026 - Taylors Falls Boat Trip
October 8, 2026 - Dalbo FD
Meal at 6:30. Meeting starts at 7 pm.
REGION 7 NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Conference Scholarship Application/Info
Scholarships available for the MSFDA and MSFCA Conferences. Click the link for more details and application.
Region Expense Requisition Form
Bylaws:
MSFDA Rep. - Tim Seehusen
320-522-0191
oliviafire@gmail.com
President - Brandon Raymo
320-226-0828
braymo22@gmail.com or westcentralfiregmail.com
Vice-President - Ryan Tostenson
320-226-1810
Secretary/Treas. - Allen Jacobson
320-321-2509
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Monday, May 18, 2026 - Granite Falls
Dinner at 6:30 pm, meeting at 7 pm.
Bylaws:
President - Dean Nelson
320-296-1102
nels821@hotmail.com
Vice President - Dale Grochow
612-419-0192
dmgrochow@xtratyme.com
Secretary/Treasurer - Carol Nelson
320-296-4020
deancalolnelson@gmail.com
MSFDA Rep. - Dale Grochow
612-419-0192
dmgrochow@xtratyme.com
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 2, 2026 - Fire Training Event - 8am-4 pm - Hutchinson Armory. Meeting to proceed training.
MSFDA Rep. - Jason Forshee
jasonf@ci.waseca.mn.us
507-461-0416
President - Chris Meskan
watfire@frontier.com
Secretary - Patrick Anderson
patrickanderson_17@yahoo.com
Upcoming Meetings:
June 9, 2026 - Pemberton
September 8, 2026 - St. Clair
December 8, 2026 - St. Peter
The meal is served at 7 PM and the meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
President - Gary Reed
greed@nussgrp.com
Vice President - Joe Thulien
507-317-5641
joe_thulien@yahoo.com
Secretary/Treasurer - Josh Schoener
507-469-4660
jschoender@madeliahealth.org
MSFDA Rep. - Jay Kopischke
507-829-0612
jkopischke@mankatomn.gov
Upcoming Meetings:
July 21, 2026 - Welcome
October 20, 2026 - Wells
Registration/Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting starts at 7:30 pm
Bylaws:
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