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The NVFC awards those individuals whose outstanding achievements in the fire service and community provides examples of exemplary performance. The NVFC Fire Prevention Award is one of only two awards that the Council bestows. Nominated by their peers, the recipients are awarded a trophy and a place in history with the NVFC. The NVFC proudly announces this year's recipient:

Diane M. May
2005 NVFC Fire Prevention of the Year Award Recipient

Ms. Diane May accepts the NVFC Fire Prevention Award from Joe Guyotte, Chair of the NVFC Awards Committee.

The award was presented at the NVFC banquet which was held on Lake Tahoe on April 28. Nearly 200 guests applauded Ms. May's contributions to her community.

Ms. May has been a member of the Luke Fire Department for twenty years and has led its fire prevention activities for the last five. She has guided age appropriate prevention activities at all of the local schools, which include puppet shows, skits, mock game shows, interactive discussions on fire safety and home surveys. She also developed and presented a fire safety and life safety program for a mothers group as well as providing presentations to other parent groups.

Other programs and activities that Diane has organized include: programs for church groups, working with the Lavale VFD or organize day-long fire safety displays and activities at a local Wal-Mart, fire and life safety displays at local shopping centers and an evening at McDonalds where she reaches adults who may not otherwise be subjected to her life saving message.

During the intermission of community bingo sponsored by Lavale VFD, she set up a contest and asked fire safety questions, an activity that was very well received by the community. In addition, Diane organized the fire safety booth at a local safety fair that was organized by Cresaptown VFC, which included a hazard house to provide a visual of fire hazards at home. In her hometown of Luke, she has helped residents be more fire-safe by personally installing smoke alarms in any residence that needs them.

Diane is known to sometimes donate in excess 200 hours of her time in a given month. Along with her time, she has spent her own money for some of the supplies needed to conduct the community activities and has not asked for reimbursement. Diane has also partaken in numerous hazmat classes, as well as presenting a program at the NFPA Fall 2004 Conference. She has also conducted countless hours of research for the many programs she has set in motion for fire safety as well as for statistics, resources, and equipment.

Ms. May has also served as a volunteer on the La Vale Volunteer Rescue Squad as an EMT and CRT since 1987, and where she is currently a volunteer as an administrative member.

Diane earned her BS in Fire Science Management from the University of Maryland, University College, and a Masters in Education and Management at Frostburg State University. In addition, Diane is Sunday School Teacher at the Westernport Church of the Brethren. She has been both a Cub Scout and Girl Scout Leader, and President of the Piedmont Rotary.

Overall, Diane is an invaluable part of community fire prevention, and a woman known for her unwavering passion for fire and life safety. Her nomination was not only supported by her own department, but has the support of many surrounding departments whose citizens she has touched.

The NVFC Fire Prevention Award was created in memory of Marc Mueller, a former NVFC Board member from California, to honor his leadership and passion for fire prevention and to attract well-deserved attention to the heroes of public education. This award is one of only two awards that the Council bestows. Nominated by their peers, the recipients are awarded a trophy and a place in history with the NVFC. For more information regarding the award visit: www.nvfc.org