If you are attending FDIC for the first time, “veteran FDIC attendees” have some pointers on how to get the most from your experience.
• “Take the time to study the schedule of events before you attend,” says Gabliks Eriks, president, the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD), who has been attending FDIC since the 1980s.The NAFTD holds its spring meeting at the FDIC each year. “Highlight the classes you want to attend in yellow. Be prepared just in case the session is full and you may have to attend another offering. Highlight your second choice in red or green. This way, you will be prepared and can make the most of each day.”
Eriks adds: “Don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the vendor/exhibit area. It’s gigantic! I would recommend that you have an idea of with whom you would like to speak before you arrive. Walk through the area first. Come back to visit the vendors from whom you would like to learn more. If your list of visits is large, you may need to keep track of your time, or you may not get to complete your list of visits. Bring business cards and a camera so you can exchange information with vendors, and have photos of what you saw at the show when you do your follow-up work when you return home.
• Make an “incident action plan,” advises Eddie Buchanan, president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, who has been attending FDIC since 1996. “There is far more to do and see than one person will have time for.” He recommends also the following:
–The classroom pocket guide is your best friend! Don’t lose it. Prioritize and mark the classes you want to attend. You’ll probably have to choose among several great programs at once, so if you have a partner with you, split up.
-Spend quality time with the vendors. They’re here to show us the latest technology. You’ll see products and innovation that will blow you away!
• “FDIC is by far the most cutting-edge international fire service conference. The conference encompasses all the top instructors, manufacturers, and fire service professionals to present the best fire service learning experience in the world,” says FDIC instructor Lead Instructor Lt. Daniel DiRenzo, Cherry Hill (NJ) Fire Department. “With today’s economy and budget crisis,” he explains, “departments don’t have the training opportunities as in previous years. Sending members to FDIC enables them to learn a multitude of new and improved information to bring back and educate their department. If you’re a ‘student of the job,’ then FDIC is where you need to be. It’s guaranteed that you will be going home with a wealth of knowledge and a feeling of such fire service rejuvenation!”
• Take your time; take it all in,” advises Eric C. DePoto, president, the Fraternal Order Of Leatherheads Society (FOOLS). “There is a lot to do and see, and it can get overwhelming.”
