The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce two new speakers have been added to the agenda for the 2024 NVFC Training Summit. The NVFC’s signature conference, taking place June 21-22 in Buffalo, NY, provides an opportunity for firefighters and EMS providers to participate in valuable classroom training, idea sharing, and networking.
Joining the prestigious line-up are Jan Spence, CSP, who will present on leading and engaging volunteers, and Chief Keith Drabick, who will discuss lessons learned from the February 2023 East Palestine, OH, train derailment.
Boost department morale
On June 21, international speaker, author, consultant, and former pro female football player Jan Spence will present ‘It’s Game Time! Leading and Engaging Volunteers and Employees,’ which focuses on keeping volunteer/staff engagement levels high and consistent among the team. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to boost department morale and help the department reach its full potential.
On June 22, Chief Drabick will present ‘Small Town, BIG Problem: An Overview of the East Palestine Derailment.’ This presentation will review the hazardous materials involved in the train derailment, the issues faced during the first seven days after the incident, and a discussion of lessons learned and safety recommendations to help keep other first responders safer moving forward.
Other first responders
The agenda features a selection of 18 courses relating to critical topics impacting volunteer emergency services
In addition to these keynote presentations, the Summit includes two days of classroom-based breakout sessions with nationally-known instructors, networking events, and a vendor expo.
The agenda features a selection of 18 courses relating to critical topics impacting volunteer emergency services, with a focus on physical and behavioral health, safety considerations during different types of response and training, recruiting new volunteer responders, best practices for retaining volunteers, and leadership.
Networking social event
While the Training Summit is a great value, the NVFC recognizes that cost can be a challenge. To remove this barrier and help offset the costs, stipends are available that reimburse up to $800 of conference-related expenses, including hotel, airfare/mileage/transportation, and the event registration fee. To be eligible for a stipend, you must be a current member of the NVFC.
The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel and Conference Center. The hotel is in historic downtown Buffalo, just a short walk, ride, or (free!) streetcar trip to museums, restaurants, and the Canalside waterfront district. As in previous years, the NVFC will offer a networking social event after class concludes on Friday, June 21. The reception will include a vendor area featuring sponsors and partners.
