STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT
BY HENRY H. DINNEEN
The start of a new year is a time for reflection and planning. It`s also the time for taking inventory–not only of obvious assets but also of those “extended resources” available to you that can add new dimension to your planning and keep your organization at the forefront of the fire service.
Fire Engineering is one example of an extended resource. Our 42,000 subscribers represent paid (38%), volunteer (47%), and combination fire departments nationwide. They represent departments in urban (40%), suburban (50%), and rural (10%) America. Our subscribers are involved in management (45%), training (58%), prevention (42%), suppression (66%), investigation (30%), maintenance (33%), communication (26%), public education (32%), EMS (40%), and haz mat (36%). Fulfilling the editorial needs of such a diverse cross-section of the fire service involves working with authors and editorial board members from all over the country, from all walks of life, and from areas ranging from New York City to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Their input and the feedback from our diverse group of subscribers make it possible for Fire Engineering to provide you with the superior editorial product you`ve come to expect from us.
Other components of Fire Engineering, such as advertisements and the apparatus delivery and new products sections, keep you abreast of the latest technologies that have been incorporated into the products and services you need to perform your tasks safely and successfully. The principals in many of the companies have been or are members of the fire service; their first-hand field experience is reflected in the products they bring to the marketplace and into your operation.
Fire Engineering as well as Fire Protection Publications, the National Fire Protection Association, the Alliance (formerly the ISFSI), and others are excellent sources for a wealth of training and educational materials including books, videos, slide programs, and software on a wide variety of subjects.
Another extended resource that can help you remain at the forefront of the fire service is the conference/workshop/trade show, such as the FDIC show in Indianapolis February 1-8, 1995. Such an event provides many opportunities to improve your planning, purchasing, training, and consequently your overall operations. Opportunities include being able to see before you all categories of apparatus and equipment you may be contemplating purchasing, to talk to the experts who designed these products and your colleagues who are using them, and to attend seminars and demonstrations to improve your knowledge and increase your efficiency. Equally as important is the chance to network and share your experiences with colleagues from around the country.
The profile of attendees at last year`s FDIC conference, for example, revealed the following characteristics: Most of the attendees have been in the fire service for more than 16 years. They rated the programs and seminars “good or excellent” and found the equipment displays and personnel “extremely valuable” to their overall learning experience. Ninety percent of them said they will return next year, and the majority of them are readers of Fire Engineering.
Since this time of the year is also the traditional time for making resolutions, why not resolve to incorporate extended resources more extensively into your future planning? Working together, pooling resources, and maintaining ongoing communications will continue to improve the future and efficiency of the fire service. n
