News
NVFC Fall Board Meeting Features Prominent Speakers, Sees Reordering of Legislative Priorities
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held its annual Fall Board Meeting from October 24-27 in Warwick, RI. Representatives from 43 state fire associations, corporate members, and special guests attended the meeting. The Board addressed a range of issues including legislative priorities, international relations, and NVFC activities. The Council also heard from prominent speakers, including representatives from several presidential campaigns, and presented its annual NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the Chairman’s Luncheon on October 26, guests were welcomed by Warwick Mayor Scott Avedesian and Chief Stuart Pearson, President of the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs. Pearson spoke about the successful campaign in the Rhode Island state legislature to pass a law requiring installation of fire sprinklers in buildings. Other topics addressed during the meeting included a progress report on the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act implementation and the NVFC’s expanding efforts in the international arena.
During the meeting, the Board voted to reorder the NVFC's legislative priorities and make the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program part of the top priority, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Previously, the SAFER Program had been on the NVFC’s list of monitored items. The reordered priorities are:
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
- Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H.R. 943, S. 1466)
- Length of Service Award Programs (H.R. 2160, S. 1840)
- Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act (H.R. 1643, S. 2240)
- U.S. Fire Administration Funding
- Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (S. 582, H.R. 1742)
- Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE Act)
- Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act
A full description of these priorities as well as the NVFC’s list of monitored items are available on the NVFC’s web site at www.nvfc.org.
Several prominent guests addressed the Board during the Fall Meeting, including Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri; Fred Brower, Manager, Community Infrastructure Information, ISO; Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) representing Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and former New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen representing Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign. Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), spoke about CFSI’s role in educating Congress on issues of concern to the fire service. Judith Woodhall, Executive Director of COMCARE, spoke about a Vehicle Rescue Portal project created by her organization. The Portal is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource to aid in the effective response to and recovery of vehicular emergencies by providing emergency responders with low-cost access to interactive vehicle schematics and information useful in emergency response and extrication. COMCARE has asked the NVFC to Chair a Vehicle Rescue Advisory Board composed of various stakeholder organizations.
The NVFC presented its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert T. Bettenhausen during an Awards Banquet on October 26. This prestigious national award, sponsored by Scott Health and Safety, is given annually to recognize a volunteer firefighter whose remarkable achievements in the fire service and community exemplifies outstanding performance. Learn more about the Award and this year’s winner at http://nvfc.org/page/634/Awards.htm.
The NVFC Board of Directors is comprised of one Director and one Alternate from 49 state fire associations. The Board meets as a whole twice a year. The 2008 Spring Board Meeting will take place April 2-6 in Washington, DC. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org for more information.
The NVFC gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors of the 2007 Fall Meeting:
Amica
BoundTree
Dunkin’ Brands
Freightliner of Hartford
ICC
Insurance Reconstruction Services, Inc.
Liberty Mutual
Mark Cardarelli NKFD Local 1651
Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs
Rhode Island State Firemen’s League
Scott Health & Safety
Southern Rhode Island Firemen’s League
VFIS of Southern New England
Woonasquatucket Valley Firemen’s League
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David Finger
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