News
NVFC Elects Officers, Tackles Important Issues at Annual Spring Meeting
The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Board of Directors held its annual Spring Board Meeting on March 31-April 4 in Alexandria, VA, just outside of Washington, DC. Representatives from 42 state fire associations attended the meeting, which featured action taken on many important issues, Officer and Executive Committee elections, bestowment of several awards, and a lineup of prominent speakers. The location also enabled Board members to meet with their legislators regarding important issues relating to the fire and emergency services.
Nineteen committee meetings were held during the event, covering topics including legislative, EMS, volunteer advocacy, standards, health and safety, membership, and many more. The Board addressed several key issues, adopting statements on the “two-hatter” issue and the Firefighter Property Program and taking a position on several pieces of legislation. Read more.
Elections were held for NVFC Officers and Executive Committee members. The 2009-2010 NVFC Executive Committee is as follows:
Chairman: Philip C. Stittleburg (WI)
1st Vice Chair: Jack Carriger (OR)
2nd Vice Chair: Jeff Cash (NC)
Secretary/Treasurer: Allen Metheny (DE)
Executive Committee:
- Elected: Mike Bird (MA); Pat Hlavaty (TX); Norm Hoeft (NE); Suzie Hill Koklich (AK); Bob Timko (PA)
- Appointed: Robert Kilpeck (VT), president of the NVFC Foundation; Ken Knipper (KY), chair of the EMS Committee; Jim Monihan (DE), chair of the Legislative Committee; and Jerry Johnston, past president of NAEMT.
On April 3, the Board hosted an awards banquet to celebrate the 2009 NVFC Fire Prevention Award winner, Edward Sawicki. The Award is sponsored by First Alert. A volunteer and career firefighter from Delaware, Sawicki has a long and accomplished history in the field of fire prevention. Read more.
During the banquet, two NVFC Board members were posthumously honored by the Council with the prestigious Director of the Year Award. Chief Paul Wilcox (MI) and Dr. James Coleberd (MO) both recently passed away after a lifetime of esteemed service and dedication to the volunteer fire service. “This is bittersweet,” said Norm Hoeft, NVFC’s Nebraska Director, as he presented the awards. “These two awards make me proud to be a presenter but sad it is posthumously… NVFC will extremely miss these deeply respected members.”
Dr. Coleberd’s wife, Linda, accepted the Director’s Award on her husband’s behalf. “Jim would be humbled,” she said. “I know you will all miss him – I miss him terribly. He was very proud to be part of this organization. This award means so much.”
Read more about Chief Wilcox and Dr. Coleberd.
The NVFC also bestowed its Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) at a special ceremony inside of the United States Capitol building on April 2. NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg presented the award to Sen. Collins, calling her a “true friend of the volunteer fire and emergency services.” Read more.
The Spring Meeting featured a lineup of distinguished speakers covering an array of subjects relating to the fire and emergency services. Speakers included:
- Lou Southard, Assistant Director of Fire and Aviation Management for Partnerships, U.S. Forest Service – As the keynote speaker during the Chairman’s Luncheon, Southard spoke about the relationship between the Forest Service and the NVFC/volunteer fire service, relevant programs the Forest Service offers, and looked ahead to future collaboration.
- Dr. Denis Onieal, Superintendent, National Fire Academy – Stressing unity in the fire service, Dr. Onieal emphasized the importance of “seeking ways to stay together and unify.” He also provided an update on the National Fire Academy.
- George Oliver, Mike Ryan, and Craig Sharman of Tyco International – Announced at the meeting, Tyco International is making a donation to support the NVFC’s National Junior Firefighter Program. Read more.
- Ryan Paquet, Assistant Director, Office of Hazardous Materials, Department of Transportation – The presentation focused on the pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, highlighting federal hazmat law, strategic planning, the hazmat Fusion Center, ethanol response, and HMACCESS (electronic shipping papers).
- Steve Younis, Propane Emergencies Program Coordinator, Propane Education and Research Council – “Our goal is to make your job easier,” Younis told the Board during his presentation about the Propane Education and Research Council. “We want to build a good, solid working team relationship with the NVFC so that we can all increase the chances of saving the lives of both first responders and the public.”
- Curt Varone, Director, Public Fire Protection Division, NFPA – Varone talked about the NFPA standards process and then opened the floor up to questions.
- Chris Barron, Executive Director, State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals Association of Texas – The presentation provided an overview of a new membership promotion the NVFC piloted in Texas.
- Howard Genderson, Pfizer – Genderson provided the Board with an update on the NVFC/Pfizer Put It Out campaign, which is currently being piloted in North Carolina.
- Paul Brooks, Executive Director of the Center for Public Safety and Excellence – The presentation provided an overview of the Center, which is the accrediting organization for fire departments.
- Glenn Gaines, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Acting Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration, and Tom Harrington, Deputy Branch Chief, DHS, Fire Grant Program Office – Gaines began the presentation by highlighting his priorities as Acting U.S. Fire Administrator, which include firefighter health and safety and reducing the fatality rate of fire incidents, particularly with the underprivileged who are disproportionately represented. In addition, Gaines spoke about training. Harrington provided an update about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, and then the floor was open for questions.
The NVFC Board is comprised of a Director and Alternate from 49 state firefighter associations. The Board meets as a whole twice a year. The next meeting will take place in Coralville, IA, on September 23-26, 2009.
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