NVFC Holds Annual Fall Meeting in Wilmington, NC

November 1, 2022

NVFC Board of Directors

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Board of Directors met on October 26-28 in Wilmington, NC, to conduct Council business and guide the direction of the organization. Fifty-seven directors from 39 states were present, along with other leadership from state fire associations, invited speakers, corporate members and sponsors, and guests.

The board is comprised of up to two representatives from 47 state fire service associations and meets twice a year in the spring and fall. Highlights from the fall 2022 meeting are as follows.

Training
The meeting kicked off with back-to-back training sessions from father and son duo Jeff and Quentin Cash. First Quentin Cash, assistant chief of training and safety with the Cherryville Fire Department and battalion chief of operations of C-Platoon at City of Shelby Fire & Rescue, presented a session on junior firefighter programs. Jeff Cash, retired chief of the Cherryville Fire Department and a North Carolina director for the NVFC, then followed with a session on leadership success.

Legislative Committee meeting

Committees and Sessions
Several NVFC committees met on a range of issues including wildland, standards and codes, legislation, recruitment and retention, health and safety, and more. Two general sessions were held with the full board to discuss matters of national and state interest, vote on issues before the board, and provide input and guidance on the strategic direction of the organization.

Among the topics addressed at the meeting were the status of the National Firefighter Registry and the recent launch of the NVFC First Responder Helpline. Troy Markel of VFIS also presented the NVFC with a donation of $500 in recognition of the board winning the 2-lb challenge, a challenge that took place in the spring between the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, and the NVFC to promote health and wellness.

Dinner at the Brooklyn Arts Center, hosted by the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association

Special Events
Meeting hosts North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association welcomed the board to Wilmington with a reception on the first evening and a dinner at the Brooklyn Arts Center on the second evening. In addition, the NVFC held its annual fundraising auction, sponsored by ESIP, which raised $6,390 to help support health and safety initiatives. The board also enjoyed breakfast on Thursday sponsored by OnStar, the Chair’s Lunch on Thursday sponsored by Clarion Fire & Rescue Group, breakfast on Friday sponsored by FirstNet, and lunch on Friday sponsored by NPPGov.

Sponsors
The NVFC thanks the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association for hosting the fall meeting and all of the sponsors who helped make the meeting possible: Anheuser-Busch Foundation, California Casualty, Clarion Fire & Rescue Group, Columbia Southern University, ESIP, FirstNet Authority, FireCraft Safety Products, Josh Cellars, Lincoln Financial Group, National Fire Protection Association, North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of the State Fire Marshal, NPPGov, OnStar, Sander Resources, and Ward Diesel Filter Systems.

Next Meeting
The next NVFC board meeting will take place May 19-21 in Arlington, VA.

Father and son duo Jeff and Quentin Cash	Opening General Session	New Hanover County Fire & Rescue Honor Guard presenting the colors
Troy Markel of VFIS presenting the NVFC with a $500 check for winning the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s 2 lb Challenge	Provident Insurance providing an overview of the NVFC First Responder Helpline	The NVFC’s annual fundraising auction