The Southern New Jersey Chapter hosted the Society’s first official meeting of the new Millennium in mid-February. The 2000 Winter Convention was held in Atlantic City, N.J. Although there was no muster as such, the Atlantic City Fire Department obligingly dispatched its apparatus in waves to the adjacent convention center for photography. Tours included visits to the Atlantic City International Airport fire station and Whitey Schwartz’s impressive South New Jersey Firefighters’ Museum in Pleasantville. Guest speaker at the closing banquet was legendary fire apparatus salesman Ernie Day. New awards now being presented included the Tom Buckle Award for the chapter signing up the most new SPAAMFAA members the previous year, and the Marie Ward Award for best chapter newsletter. In late June, the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter hosted the 2000 Summer Convention and Muster in Lynnfield, Mass. Some 187 pieces of fire apparatus took part in the huge Saturday parade and muster.

The Board of Trustees authorized the expenditure of $2,400 for a portable SPAAMFAA display booth for chapter use at conventions, musters and other special events. Another new chapter – the Greater Tampa Metro Chapter – was granted its charter this year. And Vermont member Rick Canfield took over the mailing of back issues of Enjine!-Enjine! from New Hampshire member Charlie Harrington, who had ably handled this important task for 30 years.