In this issue:
- NVFC Spring Board Meeting Focuses on Key Issues, Features Prominent Speakers
- NVFC Expands Executive Committee, Creates Health and Safety Committee
- NVFC Releases Podcast on Junior Firefighter Programs
- NVFC Bestows 2008 Fire Prevention Award to Donald Dalrymple
- NVFC Names Congressman John Larson 2008 Legislator of the Year
- Correction: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration EMS Update
- Calendar of Events
- Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
NVFC Spring Board Meeting Focuses on Key Issues, Features Prominent Speakers
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held its annual Spring Board Meeting in Arlington, VA from April 2-6. The meeting focused on topics of critical importance to the fire and emergency services, including key legislation, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), and the role of EMS in the fire service. The Council also expanded its Executive Committee, created a new Health and Safety Committee, and solidified partnerships with several organizations.
The Honorable Gregory B. Cade, Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), gave the keynote address at the Chairman’s Luncheon on April 4. He emphasized the need to work together in order to make a difference and the importance of gaining support from the local level. “I think it’s the strength of the fire service that makes our country great,” Cade said. “On behalf of the President, Secretary Chertoff, and [FEMA] Administrator Paulison, we thank you for what you do.”
Cade stressed the importance of starting the process to select a new Fire Administrator now so that the job can be filled when the new Administration takes office. He encouraged the NVFC Board to create a list of qualified candidates and present this to the final presidential nominees to make sure the right person is in place February 1. He also spoke on issues such as residential sprinklers, the AFG program, disaster reserve work force, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Framework, getting fire prevention messages out to the public, and the dangers of toy-like novelty lighters.
In addition to Cade, several prominent speakers addressed the NVFC Board during the meeting. Dr. Dennis Onieal, Superintendent of the National Fire Academy (NFA), spoke about the training offered by the NFA, current initiatives of USFA and NFA, and retention and recruitment. Brock Bierman, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Small State and Rural Advocate and Director of the Community Preparedness Division, a component of the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate, talked about Citizen Corps and noted the importance of continuing this community preparedness initiative into the new administration. The NVFC administers Fire Corps, a Citizen Corps program that connects community members with their local fire/EMS departments to assist with non-emergency tasks.
Glenn Gaines and Tom Harrington of the Department of Homeland Security discussed the AFG program and answered questions from the NVFC Board regarding which departments are receiving these grants. The Board expressed concern regarding small rural fire departments not receiving AFG awards.
Other distinguished speakers included Drew Dawson, Chief of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation (DOT); Jeffrey Jacobson, Co-founder of the Wills for Heroes Foundation; Bill Jenaway, Vice President of VFIS; George Sifakis, Government Relations Representative of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA); Ryan Paquet, Assistant Director of the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, DOT; and Jerry Johnston, President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.
The NVFC presented its Fire Prevention Award to Donald Dalrymple during an Awards Banquet on April 5 (see related article). The Council also recognized the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation with a special appreciation award for its support of the organization and the National Junior Firefighter Program. The Foundation recently awarded the NVFC a $389,000 grant to help build the Program and provide scholarships and grants to outstanding junior firefighters and their departments.
“We want to recognize the heroes of our communities… the people who give and then give more,” Paul Leech, Chief Administrative Officer of Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., told the Board. “It really is a pleasure for us to address the issue of getting people involved at a younger age.”
The NVFC Board also voted to support and partner with the Wills for Heroes Foundation, HOSA, and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network in order to further mutual goals. The Wills for Heroes Foundation provides free estate planning services to first responders, including wills, living wills, and powers of attorney. HOSA has a mission to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. Common goals between HOSA and the NVFC include service to the community, empowering youth, and preparing for the unexpected. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network aims to provide timely assistance to all fire service members and their families in the event of cancer diagnosis.
AIG, a world leader in insurance and financial services, increased its support of the NVFC during the meeting by presenting a donation to the NVFC’s Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program. The NVFC Foundation also held its bi-annual auction to benefit the Foundation.
Learn more about the NVFC Spring Board Meeting in related articles in the E-update and on the NVFC web site. For more information about the NVFC and its programs, visit www.nvfc.org.
NVFC Expands Executive Committee, Creates Health and Safety Committee
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) expanded its Executive Committee and created a new Health and Safety Committee during its annual Spring Meeting in Arlington, VA, April 2-6. The changes reflect the organization’s focus on EMS and health and safety within the emergency services.
The NVFC’s Executive Committee is comprised of the organization’s four officers, five elected members from the Board, the Chair of the Legislative Committee, and the President of the NVFC Foundation. Two new positions were added to the Executive Committee at the Board’s Fall Meeting to further incorporate EMS more thoroughly into the organization. These new members are the Chair of the EMS Committee and a representative from a national EMS organization as determined by the Executive Committee.
During the Spring Meeting, Ken Knipper, Chair of the EMS Committee, was sworn in as a member of the Executive Committee. Jerry Johnston, President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), was also named to the Executive Committee. NAEMT has taken a leadership role in the EMS community with a focus on advocacy, education, and research.
“It is a real pleasure to me to be involved in the NVFC and I look forward to working with you,” Johnston told the NVFC Board. “EMS is EMS, it doesn’t matter the color of your truck. It is about saving people,” he continued. He noted how this move will help facilitate collaboration and information-sharing between NAEMT and the NVFC on matters of mutual interest.
A special election was also held to fill the Executive Committee position left open with the passing of Phil Sayer, the NVFC’s Missouri Director. The Board elected Robert Timko, the NVFC’s Alternate Director from Pennsylvania, to serve the remainder of the term.
In addition to expanding the Executive Committee, the Board voted to create a Health and Safety Committee. The NVFC has always been active in promoting and implementing initiatives to keep first responders healthy and safe. This includes launching the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 to proactively combat the leading cause of line-of-duty firefighter deaths – heart attack. The new Health and Safety Committee furthers the NVFC’s focus on protecting first responders.
The mission of the Health and Safety Committee is to provide insight on issues and policies relating to health and safety of volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel. The Committee will assist by:
- Serving as reviewers for the many health and safety documents the NVFC receives to review from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and many others.
- Provide input into the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program.
- Provide input into new and existing safety issues.
- Serve as a sounding board and develop ideas for new programs.
- Attend various health and safety conferences to which the NVFC is invited.
- Work closely with other fire service organizations to collaborate on issues pertaining to health and safety.
“Health and safety has always been a priority of the NVFC,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “With the amount of time we already spend on these issues, it is fitting that we create a Committee that can devote its full attention to health and safety. The creation of this Committee only strengthens our dedication to protecting first responders.”
Learn more about the NVFC and its initiatives at www.nvfc.org.
NVFC Releases Podcast on Junior Firefighter Programs
The NVFC has created a podcast to introduce departments to the National Junior Firefighter Program and offer insights and best practices for establishing and managing a local youth program within a department. Firehouse.com recorded the podcast, which is featured this week as part of Radio@Firehouse.com’s lineup of broadcasts for fire and emergency service professionals, online at www.radiofirehouse.com. The podcast is also available on the NVFC web site at http://nvfc.org/files/documents/Podcast-Junior-Firefighter-programs.mp3 and can be downloaded from iTunes.
The podcast can be used as a resource for departments who are thinking of establishing a youth program as well as those who already have a program in place. Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC, begins the podcast by providing an overview as to why youth programs are critical to the long-term health of the fire service as well as the resources and tools available through the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program.
“Considering how much our nation relies on firefighters during disasters of all kinds, we need to find ways to increase the number of people who become firefighters and stay in the fire service,” Schafer said. “One way to do this is for departments to begin forming connections with members of the community when they are young. By engaging youth to learn about and participate in the fire service, we are fostering a new generation that may continue their involvement in the emergency services as they enter into adulthood.”
Following the introduction, a panel of four fire service leaders who serve on the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program Advisory Group discuss some of the key concepts for developing and maintaining a successful junior firefighter program. Jim Williams, NVFC’s New York Director, moderated the panel. Joining Williams was Jeff Cash, NVFC’s North Carolina Director and Fire Chief of the Cherryville Fire Department; Allen Metheny, NVFC’s Alternate Director from Delaware and Past Chief and Past President of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company; and Mike Barnett of the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland.
The panelists used their experiences with their departments’ thriving youth programs to draw out some best practices for local junior firefighter programs. Some of the topics explored were considerations departments should keep in mind when developing a program, obstacles departments may encounter and how to overcome these challenges, factors that keep youth participants interested and involved in the program, activities juniors can participate in, and how youth programs benefit departments and act as an important retention and recruitment tool. The panel also explored how scholarship opportunities, such as the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Scholarship and Grant Program, sponsored by the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, can be a motivational factor for youth participation.
Find more resources and tools for implementing and managing a local junior firefighter program at www.nvfc.org/juniors.
NVFC Bestows 2008 Fire Prevention Award Winner to Donald Dalrymple
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) presented its 2008 Fire Prevention Award to Donald Dalrymple on April 5. This prestigious national Award, which is sponsored by First Alert, annually honors an individual whose outstanding achievements in the fire service and community exemplify the philosophy of fire prevention.
Dalrymple is the Program Manager of the Schuyler County Firefighters Association’s Learn Not to Burn fire prevention program, a volunteer position he has held since 2002. He is a 26-year member of the Valois-Logan-Hector (VLH) Fire Company, a volunteer department in central New York.
Dalrymple became involved with fire safety education 18 years ago as an assistant helper for the Learn Not to Burn program. Before the school year was over, he was an instructor. Now Program Manager, his dedication has only strengthened. In addition to instructing fire safety classes in four different schools, he is responsible for providing the necessary assistance and training to the volunteer instructors in Schuyler County. He also coordinates the Free Detector Program with the county’s Office of Emergency Management, runs the county’s annual fire safety poster contest, and develops and manages the Learn Not to Burn program’s annual budget. He dedicates endless hours and much effort to all of his duties as Program Manager.
Dalrymple has instituted many changes that have improved the caliber of the fire safety and prevention programs being offered in Schuyler County. He has a schedule of monthly educational visits to the schools, ensuring that students receive fire prevention and safety messages consistently throughout the school year. One of his most innovative ideas was teaching his dog to “stop, drop, and roll,” a lesson that greatly impresses young children – and one that they remember. His family is also involved in the fire prevention program, including his son Nicholas, who helps his father in conveying these life-saving messages. Dalrymple’s determination and unfailing efforts have ensured that fire prevention is an active and important part of the county’s educational curriculum.
“I absolutely love this program,” Dalrymple said of Learn Not to Burn. “I am very proud of the program, my family, who helps me immensely, and my dog.” He went on to stress the importance of teaching fire prevention and safety messages to children, who can then pass the messages on to their parents. “Teach the kids, and have the kids teach the parents,” he said. He used the example of checking smoke alarm batteries: If the kids learn the importance of smoke alarms and testing the batteries, they will in turn go home and remind their parents to perform the necessary smoke alarm checks.
In addition to his work as a volunteer firefighter and fire prevention education leader, Dalrymple is a grape farmer. He and his fiancée Anita, who is also an active member of the VLH Fire Company, have three sons between them.
The NVFC established the Fire Prevention Award in the memory of volunteer firefighter Marc Mueller, who energetically promoted the causes of volunteer firefighters and supported all efforts to elevate volunteerism to its highest level. Sponsored by First Alert, the Award is presented each spring in conjunction with the NVFC Spring Board Meeting. Applications for the 2009 Fire Prevention Award will be accepted through February 1, 2009. For more information on this or other NVFC awards, visit www.nvfc.org/page/634/Awards.htm, or call 1-888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832). To learn more about First Alert, visit www.firstalert.com.
NVFC Names Congressman John Larson 2008 Legislator of the Year
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) honored Congressman John Larson (D-CT) with the NVFC 2008 Legislator of the Year Award during the organization’s Spring Board Meeting on April 3. Larson sponsored H.R. 943 – the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) – and made passage of the legislation his top priority. VRIPA, which was signed into law in December, exempts certain benefits provided to volunteer emergency responders from federal taxation.
“I’d like to thank Congressman Larson for all of his hard work in getting this important piece of legislation passed,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The compensation that some volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel receive is modest in comparison to the many hours that they spend training for and responding to emergencies. Federal taxation reduces the incentive value of these benefits, which communities use as recruitment and retention tools. Without Congressman Larson’s efforts, this landmark achievement on behalf of volunteer emergency services personnel would not have been achieved.”
Larson first introduced VRIPA in 2003 after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that property tax reductions for volunteer firefighters were subject to income taxation. Many municipalities in Larson’s home state of Connecticut provide property tax relief to their volunteer firefighters in order to make living in those communities more affordable.
In February 2007, NVFC Connecticut Alternate Director Scott Potter and Director of Government Relations Dave Finger participated in a meeting hosted by Congressman Larson in South Windsor, CT, to announce the introduction of VRIPA in the 110th Congress. Last October, NVFC Connecticut Director John McAuliffe testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, which Larson sits on, regarding VRIPA.
Past winners of the NVFC’s Legislator of the Year Award include:
2007, Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
2006, Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE)
2004, Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA)
Correction: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration EMS Update
Note: In the March 26 NVFC E-update, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was erroneously referred to as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
The NVFC has partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to keep people informed about the activities of NHTSA's Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). The latest edition of the OEMS quarterly newsletter, EMS Update, is now available online. To access EMS Update, go to www.EMS.gov. You'll find "EMS Update" by clicking on the "News" icon on the top, red navigation bar. If you have questions or comments, or if you have a national EMS story to submit for the "Special Features" section, email nhtsa.ems@dot.gov.
The OEMS web site, which was developed to meet the varied needs of the EMS community, contains not only the latest news from OEMS – but also functions as a portal to other Federal EMS web sites and resources. Find information and updates on groundbreaking initiatives and programs, including Emergency Medical Services for Children, the National EMS Information System, the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS, Enhanced 9-1-1 and Next Generation 9-1-1, the National EMS Advisory Council, and more.
Calendar of Events
Below is a list of events that the NVFC will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which the NVFC would like to acknowledge.
FDIC
April 7-12, 2008
Indianapolis, IN
Fire Chief’s Station Style Conference
April 26-29, 2008
Phoenix, AZ
National Volunteer Week
April 27-May 3
Arson Awareness Week
May 4-10
Fire Expo
Harrisburg, PA
May 16-18, 2008
National EMS Week
May 18-24
Firehouse Expo
July 22-27, 2008
Baltimore, MD
Fire-Rescue International
August 14-16, 2008
Denver, CO
National Firefighter Health Week
August 18-22
National Preparedness Month
September 2008
NVFC Fall Meeting
September 24-27, 2008
Grand Rapids, MI
Fire Prevention Week
October 5-11
Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
The NVFC relies on the assistance of its corporate and association partners to be able to provide a voice for the volunteer fire and emergency services in Washington. We encourage you to look at a list of our Corporate Members and support them with your business.
Join the NVFC and support the voice of the volunteer. Find out more and join online at www.nvfc.org.
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