National Volunteer Fire Council

1. National Volunteer Fire Council

2. Who is the NVFC? • The Voice of the volunteer fire and emergency services • Legislative initiatives • National standards • Information & education • Promote volunteerism

3. The Voice of the Volunteer • Volunteer fire service’s representative on numerous national and international committees and organizations • NFPA, CFSI National Advisory Committee, World Federation of Volunteer Firefighters Associations, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

4. Legislative Initiatives • Congressional testimony • Action Alerts and Issue Briefs • Information packets • FIRE Grant Program, SAFER, Volunteer Fire Assistance, PSOB Benefits • Close relationships with key Congressional allies

5. Current Legislative Priorities • Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program • Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment & Retention Act • Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act • U.S. Fire Administration • Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act

6. Current Legislative Priorities • Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act • Good Samaritan Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Act • Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement Rate • Ryan White First Responder Notification • Novelty Lighter Prohibition • Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act Extension and Expansion

7. Emergency Medical Services Fire and Emergency Service Organization and Deployment – Volunteer Fire Department Apparatus Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications Fire Officer Professional Qualifications Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health Forest and Rural Fire Protection Incident Management Professional Qualifications Professional Qualifications Wildland Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment NFPA Standards

8. Communication is Key • National fire and emergency service organizations meet monthly for “Fireside Chat” luncheons • Agree to work on issues where there is common ground

9. NVFC National Office • Centralize the organization • Washington, Capitol Hill connection • Membership services • Program management • Resources

10. NVFC Communication • Web site: www.nvfc.org • e-mail: nvfcoffice@nvfc.org • Regular NVFC E-Updates • Quarterly newsletter, Dispatch

11. Membership • State • Personal • Department • All Staff Department • Corporate Get Active – Become a Part of the Voice!

12. State Membership Find Your State's Benefits • 49 State Firefighters Associations • Elect or appoint Director and Alternate to serve on Board of Directors • Meet twice a year as a Board • Spring meeting in Washington, DC • Fall meeting location varies • Truly a grassroots organization

13. Personal Membership • $30 per year • $10,000 AD&D insurance policy • Subscription to the Dispatch newsletter • NVFC, Heart-Healthy, Fire Corps E-updates • Personalized membership card • Complimentary copies of NVFC publications and materials • Special member access to web site • Working Advantage discount program

14. Department Membership • $50 per year • Subscription to Dispatch newsletter • NVFC, Heart-Healthy, Fire Corps E-updates • Complimentary copies of NVFC resources and manuals • Membership certificate • Special member access to web site

15. All Staff Department Membership • Each member of department must join to qualify • $10 for each Personal Membership; Department Membership fee is waived • Each member receives full NVFC Personal Member benefits, including $10,000 AD&D insurance policy

16. Corporate Membership • Gives supporters an avenue to meet with volunteers • Subscription to the Dispatch with company recognized in each issue • Four levels to choose from

17. Corporate Membership Levels Chairman’s Club Champion Advocate Emergency Services Insurance Program, Honeywell Fire Systems Group, Lion Apparel, NFPA, Pierce Manufacturing, RBC Wealth Management Sustaining 50+ companies

18. Did you Know... • Nearly 8 of every 10 firefighters is a volunteer • Volunteers save taxpayers an estimated $37.2 billion per year • 70% of the 30,185 fire departments are all volunteer • 825,450 volunteer firefighters in U.S. • Serve urban, suburban, rural areas * Figures taken from NFPA U.S. Fire Dept. Profile Through 2007, NVFC Economic Impact of the Volunteer Fire Service, 2004

19. NVFC Programs • Fire Corps • Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program • National Junior Firefighter Program • Vehicle Safety Initiative • Cost Savings Study • Emergent Health & Safety Issues • Training

20. What is Fire Corps? • One of five Citizen Corps initiatives • Connects fire/EMS departments and the community • Citizen advocates assist local departments in non-emergency roles, enabling departments to concentrate on emergency functions and provide expanded services

21. Citizen Corps • Locally-driven initiative to have every American become an active participant in preventing, preparing for, and responding to crime, natural disasters, and other emergencies • Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams, Volunteers in Police Service, and Fire Corps

22. Fire Corps • Working in concert with DHS, ODP, and USFA • Administered by the NVFC in partnership with other organizations

23. Fire Corps Activities • Program officially rolled out in December 2004 • Acting Program Director, Sarah Lee – slee@firecorps.org • Trade Shows • Web site • 1-800-FIRE-LINE (1-800-347-3546) • Information Gathering • Monthly E-update

24. National Advisory Committee • 15 national fire service organizations • Overwhelming support • VIPS, USFA representation • Meet twice annually

25. Web Site • www.firecorps.org • Searchable online Fire Corps database for the fire service and community volunteers • Online resource guides and downloadable sample documents • Downloadable promotional videos and PSAs • Resources, tools, news, calendar of events, profiles, and more

26. 1-800-FIRE-LINE • National toll-free number that links interested citizens with volunteer emergency service opportunities in their communities, both operational and non-operational • Increase publicity

27. NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program • NVFC’s heart attack prevention program aimed at firefighters nationwide • Launched in January 2004 through a grant from FEMA and USFA • Work Group: American Heart Association; USFA ; American Dietetics Association; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; NIOSH; Medical Reserve Corps; NFPA; and others

28. Firefighters are at Risk • Heart attack is the leading cause of line-of-duty firefighter fatalities • Nearly half of all firefighter deaths each year are due to heart attacks • Many of these firefighters were found to have had pre-existing conditions which may have led to their heart attacks • The strenuous task of firefighting places increased demands on firefighters’ bodies, which in many cases are not physically prepared for the strain

29. Program Activities • Free health screenings for risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, body composition • Contract with L&T Health and Fitness • Trade Shows • Cooking demonstrations • Resource Guide

30. Program Activities • Spokesperson Erron Kinney, firefighter and former NFL player with the Tennessee Titans • Web site • Adopt the Program • Fired Up For Fitness Challenge • Cookbook • Monthly E-news

31. Web Site • www.healthy-firefighter.org • Information on heart basics, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle, and other resources for heart-healthy living • Focus areas for target groups: firefighters, departments, families

32. National Junior Firefighter Program • Sponsored by Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, Baskin-Robbins, Spartan Motors, and Tyco • Launched July 2007 at Firehouse Expo • Umbrella for local junior firefighter programs across the nation

33. Web Site • For Departments • Register local program • Resources for starting, expanding, and marketing a local program • Sample documents • List program in online, searchable database

34. Web Site • For Juniors • Find a local program • Track hours of participation • Receive incentive rewards • Be part of a national community • www.nvfc.org/juniors

35. Scholarship and Grant Program • Sponsored by Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and Baskin-Robbins • $100,000 in scholarships and grants • Ten $5,000 scholarships to outstanding junior firefighters • Ten $5,000 grants to departments

36. Scholarship and Grant Program • First year – Scholarships and grants awarded at Firehouse Expo in July 2008 • More information: www.nvfc.org/juniors

37. Other NVFC Programs • Vehicle Safety Initiative • Partnership with USFA • Available on the NVFC web site • Cost Saving Study • Grant from UBS PaineWebber • Plug in your figures and formula calculates local annual savings of your volunteer fire or EMS department

38. Other NVFC Programs • Emergent Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service • Project reviewing alcohol use, smoking, and vehicle safety • Training • Deliver training at state fire association conferences • Retention & recruitment; health & safety

39. Other NVFC Programs • Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services: Challenges and Solutions • USFA, NVFC partnership • Available on NVFC web site

40. Contact Information Heather Schafer, Executive Director 7852 Walker Drive Suite 450 Greenbelt, MD 20770 hschafer@nvfc.org 888/ASK-NVFC, ext. 17 202/887-5291 Fax www.nvfc.org