Challenges & Opportunities Volunteer Fire Departments Face
2021-08-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
This free session takes place at FDIC at the IDEX booth 1823. A panel discussion will focus on unique challenges and opportunities that are specific to volunteer departments as well as best practices for volunteer departments in the areas of recruiting, automation and technology, funding, and fireground safety.

Volunteer VIP Tour
2021-08-06 11:30 - 12:15 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
This free event takes place at FDIC at the IDEX booth 1823. For volunteers that are specing a truck, meet IDEX leadership along with an up-close, hands-on presentation to look at new technology that can help volunteer fire departments. To celebrate IDEX’s partnership with the NVFC, the first 20 people that sign up will also get a year membership with NVFC.

Optimizing Your Department’s Application for AFG and SAFER Grant Funding
2021-08-11 13:00 - 14:00
The application periods for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs are expected to open this fall. To help departments get ready, the NVFC is hosting a Facebook Live discussion on tips and best practices for a successful grant application. Join NVFC chief of legislative and regulatory affairs David Finger, NVFC first vice chair Kevin Quinn, and NVFC director from Maryland David Lewis to learn about the importance of the AFG and SAFER grants and what you can do to optimize your grant application to improve your department’s chances of being awarded funding. Registration for this event is not required. The discussion will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page (@nvfc1) on August 11 at 1pm ET.

Webinar: Firefighter Wellness: How to Outfit for Injury Prevention with Brooks Running
2021-08-11 14:00 - 15:00
The team at Brooks Running is passionate about keeping their athletes safe, active, and Run Happy. In this webinar, Chris Collier and Tatiana Medina from Brooks will use the research, knowledge, and science that is put into creating their shoes and apparel to provide information that can help firefighters and EMS providers perform at their best. Learn how to dress for injury prevention whether it is day to day on the job, on the run, or in the gym.

What It's Like - An Informational Session on Joining a Volunteer Fire Department
2021-08-18 15:00 - 16:00
This information session is designed for members of the public who are considering volunteering with their local fire department. Attendees will learn about requirements and expectations, a “day in the life,” different types of volunteer roles, how to handle the work-life-volunteer balance, and benefits of volunteering. Share this webinar with prospective volunteers who want to learn more about life as a fire service volunteer. This webinar is possible thanks to support from the Motorola Solutions Foundation.

Webinar - Effective Public Education: Connecting with your Community
2021-09-09 14:00 - 15:00
Your fire department is in an excellent position to increase community awareness and provide age-appropriate education about preventing home fires and addressing other life safety issues. At the same time, it’s essential to build rapport with the local news media to incorporate fire and life safety messaging into relevant news stories. This webinar, presented by fire prevention education expert Michael McLeieer, will discuss strategic ways to develop a positive relationship with citizens, other stakeholders, and local media outlets to connect with the community, as well as existing resources and lesson plans available to enhance your fire prevention initiatives.

Firehouse Expo
2021-09-14 - 2021-09-18 | Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Visit the NVFC at booth #932 and attend the NVFC course “Creating a Psychologically Healthy Fire Department” on September 18 at 8am, taught by David Ballard.

Facebook Live: First Look at the Lavender Ribbon Report Update
2021-09-14 13:00 - 14:00
Studies have shown that firefighters have an increased risk of developing several types of cancers due to the occupational hazards they face. The NVFC and International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (IAFC-VCOS) developed the Lavender Ribbon Report to detail 11 specific actions firefighters need to take to lessen those risks. An update to this report is about to be released to better help firefighters improve their health and safety and reduce occupational cancer risks. Join NVFC New York director Brian McQueen, Charles Flynn, fire chief of the Suffield (CT) Fire Department and chair of the IAFC-VCOS board, Frank Leeb, deputy assistant chief of the Fire Department of New York and 35-year member of the East Farmingdale (NY) Fire Department, and Chief John Buckman (ret.), past president of the IAFC and co-founder of the IAFC-VCOS, for a discussion on the importance of the Lavender Ribbon Report and an overview of the new supplemental report.
Attendees will have the chance to enter to win a GORE Particulate Hood in Nomex blend. The link to enter will be shared during the live broadcast.
This event is free to attend and registration is not required. The discussion will be broadcast to the NVFC’s Facebook page @nvfc1 on September 14 at 1pm ET.

NVFC Recruitment & Retention Experience
2021-09-17 - 2021-09-18 | Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade, 420 Superior Avenue East, Cleveland, OH, 44114, United States
The NVFC R&R Experience is a new interactive education and networking conference that will bring together fire and EMS personnel from across the country to participate in valuable classroom training and idea exchange relating to volunteer emergency service staffing issues.

Facebook Live: Engaging the Public During Fire Prevention Week
2021-09-21 14:00 - 15:00
The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, taking place October 3-9, is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” and focuses on educating the public on the different sounds smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Lt. Michael O. McLeieer, past president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association, will be joined by Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at the National Fire Protection Association, and Teresa Neal, fire program specialist at the U.S. Fire Administration, for a discussion on the importance of this year’s theme and how departments can engage with their communities during Fire Prevention Week while taking COVID-19 related restrictions and precautions into account. This event is free to attend and registration is not required. The discussion will be broadcast to the NVFC’s Facebook page @nvfc1 on September 21 at 2pm ET.

Webinar - Science to the Street: Research-Based Public Education and Firefighter Training
2021-10-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) for this free webinar focused on FSRI’s education and training resources for fire departments. Senior content specialist Jennifer Williams will discuss FSRI’s Close Before You Doze and Smoke Alarm Friendship Stories public fire safety programs and share ways to spread the word in your community. Instructional design manager Angela Bennett will then walk participants through the FSRI Fire Safety Academy and how to freely access FSRI’s cutting edge, practical fire service training aimed at helping firefighters stay safe while more effectively protecting people and property.
This webinar is sponsored by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). FSRI is dedicated to addressing the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. Click here to learn more about FSRI.

NVFC Fall Meeting
2021-10-13 - 2021-10-15 | Snow King Resort, 400 E Snow King Avenue, Jackson, WY, 83001, United States
Annual fall meeting of the NVFC board of directors.

Facebook Live Discussion: Getting Ready for Crash Responder Safety Week
2021-10-20 14:00 - 15:00
Crash Responder Safety Week, formerly known as National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, is November 8-14. Make sure you and your department are prepared to engage with your community during this critical week by joining NVFC directors David Lewis and Judy Thill from Maryland and Minnesota, respectively, and director of training at the Emergency Responder Safety Institute Jack Sullivan for this free live discussion. Panelists will discuss safety challenges posed to emergency responders while responding to and at the scene of traffic incidents, strategies for engaging with your community to raise awareness, and best practices to keep responders safe at crash incident scenes. If you are unable to attend live, the discussion will be recorded and available to watch later.

Webinar - Folding Time: How to Achieve Twice as Much in Half the Time
2021-10-27 14:00 - 15:00
You don’t have time to do everything; you only have time to do what matters! As leaders we are constantly being asked to do more with less. If we can get clear about those activities that make the biggest difference to our productivity, we can get twice as much done in half the time and free ourselves up to get on with whatever else we choose. In this practical and entertaining workshop presented by Neen James, learn how to achieve more in your volunteer department, at work, and in your personal life by managing your time, focusing your attention, and managing your energy.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Webinar - Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles: Fundamentals for Firefighters
2021-10-28 14:00 - 15:00
Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles operate daily throughout the country, yet many firefighters have not received the essential training necessary to respond to fires and other incidents involving them. This one-hour webinar, hosted by Hexagon Agility and presented by Natural Gas Vehicle Institute, highlights the most critical information firefighters need to know when responding to CNG vehicle incidents. Learn how natural gas differs from gasoline and diesel, how to identify CNG vehicles, what to do and not do in an emergency, and proper response to a CNG vehicle fire.
This webinar is sponsored by Hexagon Agility. Hexagon is the leading global provider of highly-engineered and cost-effective alternative fuels for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

Webinar - Attention Pays™: Drive Profitability, Productivity, and Accountability
2021-11-03 14:00 - 15:00
To get the results you want, you need to get attention. But most people don’t know how to get it and keep it. People often see attention as a transaction, something to trade, but it’s much more than that. In this workshop presented by Neen James, learn how to leverage personal, professional, and global attention so you can be more deliberate about the choices you make and the actions you take so you can get the results you want in your department, at work, or in your personal life. Discover what makes attention valuable, and why paying attention in very specific ways drives profitability, productivity, and accountability.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Crash Responder Safety Week
2021-11-08 - 2021-11-14

Webinar - Systems Thinking: Drive Productivity, Profitability, and Accountability
2021-11-10 14:00 - 15:00
Members of the fire and emergency services wear many hats, and it is easy to be constantly distracted, overwhelmed, and not achieving the results we want in different aspects of our lives. By developing a system to increase and streamline productivity, we can leverage time and get more done. This webinar presented by Neen James will help attendees create a prioritization process for everyday application, learn how to focus on what’s most important daily, and create a productive personal action plan for implementation.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Symposium in the Sun
2021-11-11 - 2021-11-14 | Hilton Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33767, United States
Visit NVFC booth #46.

Wildland Fire Assessment Program Training
2021-11-13 - 2021-11-14 | Mountain Ranch Community Club, 8049 Washington Street, Mountain Ranch, CA, United States
The Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) teaches fire service volunteers how to work-side-by-side with homeowners to identify threats around their property that may be susceptible to wildfires. The WFAP is a joint effort between the NVFC and the U.S. Forest Service to prepare fire department members with the necessary information, skills, and resources to conduct home safety assessments and provide residents with recommendations as to how to make their homes more fire adapted in the wildland-urban interface. Registration deadline is Oct. 31. View flyer for more details.

Facebook Live Discussion - Winter Fire Safety: Preparing Your Department & Community
2021-11-18 15:00 - 16:00
Winter is just around the corner, along with new challenges to public safety. Now is the time to prepare your department and community for the threats fire poses during the winter months. Join us for this Facebook Live discussion on the NVFC’s page: National Volunteer Fire Council. Lt. Michael O. McLeieer, current president of E.S.C.A.P.E., Inc. and past president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association, will be joined by Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at the National Fire Protection Association and Teresa Neal, fire program specialist at the U.S. Fire Administration.
Registration is not required. The event will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page on November 18 at 3pm ET. If you are not able to attend live, the discussion will be recorded and available to watch at a later time. You can also attend via Zoom using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83749365670.

Webinar: Changes to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
2021-12-01 14:00 - 15:00
The application period for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is open from Nov. 8-Dec. 17. There are important changes with this year’s program that departments need to know about before applying. To help prepare departments to submit an application, the National Volunteer Fire Council is hosting a webinar to discuss the changes. Come learn what you need to know to help make your department successful in acquiring AFG funding to meet your department’s equipment needs. Presenter David Lewis will review the basic requirements for the AFG grant program, discuss the data that must be collected prior to applying for a grant project, and provide an overview of the application review process and how successful applications are considered.

Webinar: Fireground Communications
2021-12-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2021-12-09 13:00 - 14:00
This free webinar from 3M Scott Fire & Safety Application Engineering Team will discuss the importance of fireground communications, common barriers to successful communications, and addressing common communications issues.

Webinar - Resiliency: Preparing for and Bouncing Back from Difficult Calls
2021-12-09 14:00 - 15:00
Join the NVFC and presenter Hersch Wilson for this webinar on building resiliency. Learn how firefighters can emotionally prepare for difficult calls and how we can “bounce back” from the bad ones. The webinar is interactive to encourage participants to share their own best practices.

Facebook Live Discussion - Firefighter Cancer: Actions to Reduce Risks
2022-01-18 15:00 - 16:00
Cancer has become one of the most dangerous threats to firefighters, but there steps you can take to reduce risks. Join the NVFC and subject matter experts for a Facebook Live discussion on January 18 at 3pm ET in conjunction with Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Panelists will discuss the threat cancer poses, how firefighters can reduce their cancer risk, and share personal stories about cancer in the fire service. Can’t join on Facebook? Watch the discussion on Zoom instead: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85420938432

Webinar: Roadway Incident Safety and Survival for Fire and EMS
2022-01-25 14:00 - 15:00
Struck-by-vehicle incidents continue to be a serious hazard for firefighters and EMS providers. Emergency service operations on roads and highways put personnel at serious risk of being struck by vehicles and injured or killed. Making sure personnel are trained in proper traffic incident management techniques can prevent tragedy. Join the NVFC and presenter Jack Sullivan for this webinar that offers guidance on how to conduct various types of operations on rural roads and highways, with emphasis on how to protect emergency personnel, the victims they are responding to assist, and other motorists in the vicinity of the incident. Strategies and tactics, new technology, and apparatus innovations that can help improve incident scene protection will be presented.

Webinar: Leading the Sustainable Fire Department Health and Fitness Initiative
2022-02-17 14:00 - 15:00
This free webinar explores issues that challenge fire service leadership in their quest to offer comprehensive health and fitness programming to its members and offers solutions to these leadership obstacles. Presenter Richard Kline will also provide a roadmap for effective program design, obtaining support, and benchmarking success.

Volunteer Voices Live: Face-to-Face Virtual Connections
2022-02-23 17:00 - 18:00
Join fellow volunteers to discuss strategies for improving everyday communication in the volunteer fire department. The goal of this interactive session is to come away with at least one new communication strategy that you can implement in your department right away.

NVFC Annual Membership Meeting
2022-03-02 13:00 - 14:00
The NVFC’s Annual Membership Meeting is open to all state, individual, department, and corporate members. Attendees will hear reports on the NVFC’s business and financial operations. State member representatives may vote on matters raised at the meeting, such as the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation.
