News
NVFC Spring Board Meeting Sees Reordering of Legislative Priorities, Election of Officers
Speakers Include Members of Congress, High-Ranking Officials
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held its annual Spring Board Meeting in Arlington, VA, from March 27-31. Representatives from 40 state fire associations, corporate members, and special guests attended the meeting. The Board addressed a range of issues including legislative priorities, the strategic plan, EMS, and the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. The Council also presented its annual Fire Prevention Award.
Nearly 20 committees met on topics from membership, EMS, and disaster relief, to standards, legislation, volunteer advocacy, and homeland security. Board members also took advantage of the location near Washington, DC, to advocate the NVFC's legislative priorities to their Senators and Representatives in the U.S. Congress.
During the meeting, the Board voted to reorder the NVFC's legislative priorities as follows:
1. Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
2. Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H.R. 943)
3. Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act (H.R. 1643)
4. U.S. Fire Administration Funding
5. Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (S. 582)
6. Length of Service Award Programs
7. Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act
8. Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act
In addition, the Board added the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fair Mileage Act of 2007 (H.R. 606), the Firefighters Special Operations Task Force Act of 2007 (H.R. 1351), and the 911 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act of 2007 (H.R. 1247) to the NVFC?s list of monitored items. For more details about the NVFC's legislative priorities and monitored items, visit www.nvfc.org.
An impressive lineup of guest speakers during the meeting included several members of Congress as well as other high-ranking officials. During the Capital Hill Kick-Off on the meeting's opening night, Congressmen Bob Etheridge (D-NC), Sam Graves (R-MO) John Larson (D-CT), and Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) addressed the NVFC Board and pledged their continued support of the volunteer fire and emergency services.
The Spring Meeting Reception on March 28 featured several prominent guests, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Mary E. Peters; Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) R. David Paulison; and Liz DiGregorio, Acting Director, Office of Community Preparedness, Office of Grants and Training, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Citizen Corps. Secretary Peters expressed her thanks to volunteer emergency responders for their service and discussed the steps DOT is taking to strengthen the safety of both responders and civilians. "Every one of you is in the same business as I am - safety," Peters said.
Administrator Paulison took the opportunity to address the challenges FEMA has faced and assured the audience that recent changes and adjustments will make FEMA a new organization that is more nimble, responsive, and unbureaucratic. He also encouraged all departments to take advantage of the Fire Corps program and to ensure that each department and community is ready to respond to emergencies.
DiGregorio spoke about the history and importance of Fire Corps, from its inception to its current status of having almost 600 programs with 8,000 volunteers. The speech marked DiGregorio's final speech before she retired from the Department of Homeland Security and her position with Citizen Corps. "I can't think of a better way to round out my career than to speak to the heroes here tonight," she said, later adding, "I could not have had the successes without you."
The Spring Meeting Reception also featured remarks by International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officer's Section Chairman Tim Wall. The evening concluded with an auction, which raised $3,500 for the NVFC Foundation.
Several other speakers addressed the Board throughout the meeting. These include Connie Meyer, Vice President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians; Corey Gruber, Acting Assistant Secretary of Grants and Training, DHS; Charlie Dickinson, Acting U.S. Fire Administrator, DHS; Marilena Amoni, Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tom Harbour, Director of Fire and Aviation Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; Hope Janke, Counsel to the Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice; and Dr. Bill Jenaway, Vice President, VFIS.
Elections were held for each NVFC office as well as the Executive Committee. The leadership for the 2007-2009 term is:
Chair: Philip C. Stittleburg, Wisconsin State Firefighters Association
First Vice Chair: Norm Hoeft, Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association
Second Vice Chair: Jack Carriger, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association
Secretary/Treasurer: Allen Metheny, Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association
Executive Committee:
Jeff Cash, North Carolina State Firemen's Association
Pat Hlavaty, State Firemen's and State Fire Marshals' Association of Texas
Phil Sayer, Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
Paul Wilcox, Michigan State Firemen's Association
Jim Williams, Firemen's Association of the State of New York
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held its annual Spring Board Meeting in Arlington, VA, from March 27-31. Representatives from 40 state fire associations, corporate members, and special guests attended the meeting. The Board addressed a range of issues including legislative priorities, the strategic plan, EMS, and the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act. The Council also presented its annual Fire Prevention Award.
Nearly 20 committees met on topics from membership, EMS, and disaster relief, to standards, legislation, volunteer advocacy, and homeland security. Board members also took advantage of the location near Washington, DC, to advocate the NVFC's legislative priorities to their Senators and Representatives in the U.S. Congress.
During the meeting, the Board voted to reorder the NVFC's legislative priorities as follows:
1. Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
2. Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H.R. 943)
3. Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act (H.R. 1643)
4. U.S. Fire Administration Funding
5. Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (S. 582)
6. Length of Service Award Programs
7. Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act
8. Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act
In addition, the Board added the Volunteer Emergency Responder Fair Mileage Act of 2007 (H.R. 606), the Firefighters Special Operations Task Force Act of 2007 (H.R. 1351), and the 911 Comprehensive Health Benefits Act of 2007 (H.R. 1247) to the NVFC?s list of monitored items. For more details about the NVFC's legislative priorities and monitored items, visit www.nvfc.org.
An impressive lineup of guest speakers during the meeting included several members of Congress as well as other high-ranking officials. During the Capital Hill Kick-Off on the meeting's opening night, Congressmen Bob Etheridge (D-NC), Sam Graves (R-MO) John Larson (D-CT), and Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) addressed the NVFC Board and pledged their continued support of the volunteer fire and emergency services.
The Spring Meeting Reception on March 28 featured several prominent guests, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Mary E. Peters; Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) R. David Paulison; and Liz DiGregorio, Acting Director, Office of Community Preparedness, Office of Grants and Training, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Citizen Corps. Secretary Peters expressed her thanks to volunteer emergency responders for their service and discussed the steps DOT is taking to strengthen the safety of both responders and civilians. "Every one of you is in the same business as I am - safety," Peters said.
Administrator Paulison took the opportunity to address the challenges FEMA has faced and assured the audience that recent changes and adjustments will make FEMA a new organization that is more nimble, responsive, and unbureaucratic. He also encouraged all departments to take advantage of the Fire Corps program and to ensure that each department and community is ready to respond to emergencies.
DiGregorio spoke about the history and importance of Fire Corps, from its inception to its current status of having almost 600 programs with 8,000 volunteers. The speech marked DiGregorio's final speech before she retired from the Department of Homeland Security and her position with Citizen Corps. "I can't think of a better way to round out my career than to speak to the heroes here tonight," she said, later adding, "I could not have had the successes without you."
The Spring Meeting Reception also featured remarks by International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officer's Section Chairman Tim Wall. The evening concluded with an auction, which raised $3,500 for the NVFC Foundation.
Several other speakers addressed the Board throughout the meeting. These include Connie Meyer, Vice President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians; Corey Gruber, Acting Assistant Secretary of Grants and Training, DHS; Charlie Dickinson, Acting U.S. Fire Administrator, DHS; Marilena Amoni, Associate Administrator, Research and Program Development, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tom Harbour, Director of Fire and Aviation Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; Hope Janke, Counsel to the Director, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice; and Dr. Bill Jenaway, Vice President, VFIS.
Elections were held for each NVFC office as well as the Executive Committee. The leadership for the 2007-2009 term is:
Chair: Philip C. Stittleburg, Wisconsin State Firefighters Association
First Vice Chair: Norm Hoeft, Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association
Second Vice Chair: Jack Carriger, Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association
Secretary/Treasurer: Allen Metheny, Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association
Executive Committee:
Jeff Cash, North Carolina State Firemen's Association
Pat Hlavaty, State Firemen's and State Fire Marshals' Association of Texas
Phil Sayer, Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
Paul Wilcox, Michigan State Firemen's Association
Jim Williams, Firemen's Association of the State of New York
Robert Kilpeck (appointed), Vermont State Firefighters' Association
James Monihan (appointed), Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association
The NVFC awarded the 2007 NVFC Fire Prevention Award to Kimberly Herskowitz during an Award Banquet on March 30. Herskowitz is the Fire Prevention Officer for the Neffsville Volunteer Community Fire Company in Lancaster County, PA. For more information on Herskowitz and the Award, which is sponsored by First Alert, visit www.nvfc.org.
The Spring Meeting coincided with the Congressional Fire Services Institute's (CFSI) Annual Dinner and Seminars. The NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program hosted health screenings and cooking demonstrations during the event, and Maggie Wilson, NVFC Director of Health and Safety, helped lead a workshop entitled "Promoting Health & Wellness in the Fire Service." Fire Corps, which is administered by the NVFC, also hosted a booth during the seminars. Many members of the NVFC Board attended the CFSI Dinner on March 29, and NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg sat at the head table along with other fire service organization leaders. The centerpieces for the Dinner were sponsored by Fire Corps.
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 2007 Fall Meeting will take place October 24-27 in Providence Rhode Island. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org for more information.
The NVFC gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of the 2007 Spring Board Meeting.
Platinum
First Alert
Gold
Rock Creek Strategic Marketing
Scott Health & Safety
Silver
California Casualty
Virginia State Firefighters Association
VFIS
Bronze
International Code Council
The NVFC awarded the 2007 NVFC Fire Prevention Award to Kimberly Herskowitz during an Award Banquet on March 30. Herskowitz is the Fire Prevention Officer for the Neffsville Volunteer Community Fire Company in Lancaster County, PA. For more information on Herskowitz and the Award, which is sponsored by First Alert, visit www.nvfc.org.
The Spring Meeting coincided with the Congressional Fire Services Institute's (CFSI) Annual Dinner and Seminars. The NVFC's Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program hosted health screenings and cooking demonstrations during the event, and Maggie Wilson, NVFC Director of Health and Safety, helped lead a workshop entitled "Promoting Health & Wellness in the Fire Service." Fire Corps, which is administered by the NVFC, also hosted a booth during the seminars. Many members of the NVFC Board attended the CFSI Dinner on March 29, and NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg sat at the head table along with other fire service organization leaders. The centerpieces for the Dinner were sponsored by Fire Corps.
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 2007 Fall Meeting will take place October 24-27 in Providence Rhode Island. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org for more information.
The NVFC gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of the 2007 Spring Board Meeting.
Platinum
First Alert
Gold
Rock Creek Strategic Marketing
Scott Health & Safety
Silver
California Casualty
Virginia State Firefighters Association
VFIS
Bronze
International Code Council
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