Past FRI attendees share their tips for getting the most out of the conference
Wondering how you can make your Fire-Rescue International (FRI) experience even more memorable? FireRescue spoke with several multiple-time attendees to learn their secrets for maximizing this valuable educational and networking opportunity.
“Attending FRI is always positive and motivating for me. I encourage fire service personnel to attend FRI and take advantage of the classroom sessions, which are very educational and inspiring to fire service leaders. There are many activities that you can be involved with, like the business meetings where you can see the leadership and association in action. Also, please attend your Section meetings and the diversity luncheons; this is where you can interact with those people who are committed to making a difference in the fire service and our service to the community.
“The opening sessions and keynote speakers are a must for our professional development.
“One tip: Make a schedule when you arrive so you’re able to take full advantage of the conference. The more activities you participate in translates into more value added to yourself and those you come in contact with. Get involved, have fun and make a difference.”
—Shane Ray
Fire Chief
Pleasant View (Tenn.) Volunteer Fire Department
“I’ve attended FRI the past 2 years for the Company Officer Leadership Symposium. I didn’t know what to expect the first time I went, but I was pleasantly surprised. Simply put, FRI is the best conference I have attended. The symposium has afforded me the opportunity to meet and speak with fire service leaders from throughout the country. The networking opportunities are endless. The organization of the events and classes is amazing. The trade show on Friday and Saturday is by far the largest I’ve seen. I would highly encourage you to attend this conference. It is money well spent for the education and networking opportunities brought back to the department.”
—Michael J. Little
Battalion Chief
Violet Township Fire Department
“Don’t overlook the early morning sessions. To benefit from the early morning sessions, you need to be rested, watered (I do mean water) and fed. Being mindful of your diet and beverages will ensure that you have the energy and stamina required to participate in everything from the Opening Ceremony to the close of the conference. You’ll be on the go the entire time you’re at FRI. There will be several fun and exciting evening events to attend, and opportunities to enjoy libations with presenters and co-attendees. Just remember that you’re going to have an early start and then go, go and go some more.”
—Nicolas Thomas
Deputy Fire Chief
San Jose Fire Department
“A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend my first Fire-Rescue International in Atlanta. Not knowing what to expect and coming from the Department of Defense side, it was a little intimidating to see the magnitude that support FRI. As I got to know fellow professionals, such as myself, it was clear that we are all the same, and we all have things to share from every aspect.
“As the time has progressed, I have met many great people, heard some of the best lectures and have engaged in conversation and attended sessions that has helped me shape who and what my community is today. Those of you out there considering or wary about attending, this is one event you cannot miss. There is no other conference I have seen, sitting both on the military and civilian side, that can compare.
“I encourage each of you, EMT through chief to attend. I can say on my part that it lives up to every level of expectation it represents and beyond, and sends me away with new and exciting possibilities to share with my fellow colleagues in the field.”
—SFC Ronald M. Taylor, First Sergeant/Fire Chief
Liaison Officer CBRNE Consequence management Force
416th Engineer Command
1255 S. Seventh St, Bldg 444
Granite City, Il 62040-1801
“Don’t miss the apparatus and equipment display areas. It’s something people don’t get to see every day. To go [to the conference] and not take advantage of visiting with a wide variety of manufacturers is a missed opportunity. First, I visit the vendors I know. But I also look at apparatus and equipment that are similar to what we’ve been purchasing, and view new innovations that the manufacturers are presenting that might be appropriate for our department. In addition, be sure to attend the conference’s social gatherings. It’s a great chance to renew old friendships and make new ones.”
—William H. Markgraf
Chief, Columbia (Mo.) Fire Department
“The showroom floor is so big that if you just wander around, you won’t have time to go to a lot of other events. So, I basically do a pre-plan. I look at the map of all the vendors, and if there’s something in particular I’m looking for, I make a beeline for it. If I come across something else that catches my eye while I’m doing that, I make a stop.
“You can’t go [to FRI] and be a wallflower. You’re amongst fellow firefighters, so engaging them in a conversation should be pretty easy. Don’t be bashful. Another great way [to network] is to join an IAFC section, such as the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section or the Safety, Health and Survival Section, and go to the section’s meeting held at the conference. You can’t leave FRI without having learned something new or having discovered a new way of dealing with an old problem. If you do, you haven’t talked to anybody.”
—Edward Mann
Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner
Assistant Chief, East Derry Fire Company, Mifflin County, Pa.
“[In addition to the] concurrent education sessions, an activity I try not to miss is the Fire and Life Safety Section annual business meeting. It’s an opportunity to exercise my privilege to vote for the board that leads that very important Section, and to learn about many issues relative to fire safety and prevention. It’s also a great way to network with my contemporaries.
“When I return to work [after FRI], I create a PowerPoint presentation of my activities and highlight the key issues from FRI, which I share with a number of agencies and organizations. On several occasions, I have revisited the presentations from previous conferences in search of some material that I had garnered.”
—Brian Maltby
Division Chief, Fire Prevention Services, and
Chief Fire Official, Brampton (Ontario) Fire & Emergency Services
“I decide which classes I want to attend and which vendors I’m going to visit based on what we’re doing here locally—what we are doing this year and what our plans are for next year. I always try to view at least one or two pieces of equipment when I go to the conference. In addition, I always attend the Southeastern Division and the Black Chief Officers luncheons.
“When I come back from FRI, I hold a workshop with my staff to go over the things I learned and liked best. Sometimes I even conduct a class with the officers. We try to get a lot of use out of the conference.”
—J.D. Rice
Chief, Valdosta (Ga.) Fire Department
“Consider going to some of the IAFC committee meetings that run throughout the conference. Even if you’re not a committee member, you’re welcome to sit in on a lot of those meetings. The committees not only welcome your attendance as a spectator, in some cases, they even look to the audience for input. And that’s something not a lot of people realize or feel comfortable doing, so they don’t take advantage of it. But if you have designs on becoming involved in the IAFC, I don’t know any better way to understand the issues and the tasks at hand than listening and participating as a guest [at the committee meetings]. Also, if you’re an executive fire officer, make sure to attend the EFO reception. It’s an opportunity to see people you attended the program with, and meet people from new classes. It’s a popular event, and it seems to grow every year.
“FRI is truly the one time all year where you have the opportunity to meet, [talk with] and ask questions of your peers in the nation’s fire service. If you don’t spend some of your time, if not most of it, reaching out and learning from other people, then you’re not really getting the most out of it.”
—Dan Rhodus
Division Chief, Lenexa (Kansas) Fire Department
“During the conference, I keep an ‘ideas list’ with me and I write down anything that I would like to research further. Upon my return to work, I break out my list and share it with staff members. It has been common practice for us to implement programs or ideas I discovered during the conference.
“My two favorite networking events at the conference are the IAFC Division Luncheons and the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer alumni hospitality event. These events allow me to see old friends and meet new people who share their ideas and solutions to problems we face as chief officers.”
—Mark Young
Fire Chief, Casper (Wyo.) Fire-EMS
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