NVFC Announces 2013 Award Winners

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fire Prevention Award. A special banquet to honor the recipients of these prestigious annual awards will take place during the NVFC’s spring meeting on May 10, 2013, in Alexandria, VA.

“We continue to be impressed with the quality of nominations that we receive for the NVFC’s awards every year,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The recipients that were chosen truly exemplify outstanding service and commitment to the fire service. We thank you for all you do to strengthen the emergency services and protect your communities.”

Award recipients receive a trip to Alexandria to attend the award ceremony, a personalized award, a $250 grant for the winner and a $250 grant to their department, and complimentary one-year membership in the NVFC, among other items.

Learn more about the NVFC’s awards program at www.nvfc.org/about-us/awards/. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site and e-newsletters in May for additional information about each award winner as well as photos from the awards banquet.

The recipients of the NVFC’s 2013 awards are:

Chief John Buckman III
NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award
Award sponsored by Rosenbauer America

Chief John Buckman III has led a life dedicated to the fire service. He has worked to improve the service delivery, training, safety, and benefits for volunteer firefighters locally, nationally, and internationally for over twenty-five years. He was instrumental in developing the first state fire training system in Indiana, which has now become the benchmark system for all firefighters in the state. At the national level, Chief Buckman was a charter member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer and Combination Officers Section. He was serving as the President of the IAFC in 2001 and led the national volunteer fire service’s response in Arlington, VA, and New York City after the events of September 11.

Chief Buckman is in his 43rd year of active membership at the German Township (IN) Volunteer Fire Department and recently retired from 36 years as operational leader of the department. He has presented in all 50 states, each province in Canada, and in China. He and his wife Leslie have four daughters and five grandchildren (with one more on the way).

Rhonda Cerny
NVFC Fire Prevention Award
Award sponsored by First Alert

Rhonda Cerny travels throughout Nebraska stressing the importance of fire prevention to firefighters and community members. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA) Fire Prevention Committee. In 2008, she used this role to help start a drive for legislation adopting safe cigarettes in Nebraska; through her efforts, reduced ignition cigarettes legislation was signed into law in 2009. Cerny is now focused on campaigning to ban the retail sale of novelty lighters.

In addition to her work in legislation, Cerny oversees fire prevention articles for the NSVFA newspaper and web site, serves as secretary of the Nebraska Firefighters Museum and Education Center, and is responsible for the development of the fire prevention display at the museum. Cerny has served as a member of the Partners in Prevention, which has allowed her the opportunity to network with individuals in several states and work to increase fire prevention information and education awareness. Cerny has been a member and secretary of the Linwood (NE) Volunteer Fire Department since 1990. Joel, Rhonda’s husband, and her three daughters and their families take it with stride that at any event, from fire department functions to family celebrations, she will take the opportunity to implement fire prevention pointers.