Timothy E. Sendelbach, Editor-in-Chief, FireRescue magazine
“Leadership for Tough Times” was the theme of this year’s conference, and without question it was the talk of most everyone throughout the halls of the Dallas Convention Center.
Absent the thoughts of the tough times that lie ahead, FRI 2009 by all counts was a great success and a historical first in many rights for the IAFC and the fire service as a whole. It featured the first public presentation to the fire service by newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA Director Craig Fugate, the swearing in of the new United States Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran and the graduation of the first Company Officer Leadership group.
This year’s program was filled with educational seminars and focused discussions related to the some of the most critical topics in the fire service today. Two full days were dedicated to special track of the Safety, Health, and Survival Section covering topics ranging from fire ground tactics, to firefighter fitness and well-being. A follow-up forum discussion was also provided to address the ongoing debate of firefighter cancer and the recent findings of the Tri-Data study published by the National League of Cities. All firefighters are encouraged to monitor this ongoing research/debate for the latest on this critical issue.
As has been the long-standing tradition of FRI, the topic of leadership was covered in great detail, with topics ranging from personnel issues that emphasized the need for strong ethics and values to weathering the economic storm through fiscal responsibility and cooperative partnerships. All were unquestionably well received and provided great insight and direction to the current and aspiring officers in attendance.
The final day of FRI began with an early morning 2k walk/5k run for several hundred participants, including a number of IAFC Executive Board members. Later that morning the halls of the convention floor opened for a host of new attendees who had the opportunity to speak with vendors and sales staff who featured their latest product lines and, in some cases, newly released products that were previously in development.
In short, this year’s FRI was both educational and refreshing. The opportunity to interact and meet with friends and colleagues is always rewarding, but to see firsthand the dedication, innovation and leadership demonstrated by the many instructors, staff members and vendors throughout this year’s conference is an assurance to us all that our collective efforts are and will continue to make a difference.
Congratulations to the Board and staff of the IAFC for a great conference. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago in 2010.
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