The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held its Fall meeting in Galveston, Texas from October 19 – 22. Forty-three state associations, sustaining members, and special guests attended the productive meeting where NVFC leadership focused on the fire services’ role in hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf coast and reaffirming legislative priorities.
Nearly 20 committees met on topics ranging from EMS, homeland security, legislation, communications and volunteer advocacy. The committees made recommendations to the full NVFC Board on important legislation, regulations, standards, and other significant issues affecting the nation’s emergency services volunteers.
Les Buntes, Director of the Emergency Services Training Institute at Texas A&M, welcomed the group at the Chairman’s luncheon on Friday. Buntes provided an overview of the demanding fire school the institute offers each July. Several NVFC Directors attended the recent school and provided testimonials on the superb training the institute offers. Buntes donated four Texas A&M fire school scholarships to the NVFC Foundation auction.
Dr. Bill Jenaway presented the results of the USFA/NVFC Vehicle Safety project which is now available on the NVFC website. The project is aimed at reducing the number of firefighters killed while responding to or returning from the emergency scene and operating on the roadway.
Frank Florence of NFPA and Steve Austin of State Farm and the International Association of Arson Investigators gave updates on their respective organizations. Mr. Mike Bazinet of UST reported that the application period for the Ranger program was open and to visit their Web site at http://www.ustinc.com.
Maggie Wilson, NVFC Director of Health & Safety, updated the attendees on the NVFC Heart Healthy Firefighter program. To date, the program has provided health screening for more than 10,000 firefighters at trade shows across the country. The program will expand its focus in the coming year to engage firefighters on fitness, nutrition and smoking cessation.
The Board also adopted an updated Strategic Plan and the organization’s legislative priorities in the 109th Congress. They are:
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant program funding;
- Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (H.R. 1131/ S. 512);
- U.S. Fire Administration funding;
- Citizen Corps funding;
- Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act (H.R. 1088/S. 766);
- Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act implementation;
- Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act (H.R. 934/S. 625); and
- Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H. R. 1405)
