Illinois Fire Chiefs Associa on Dedicated to Excellence in the Fire Service

P.O. Box 7 Skokie, Illinois 60076 www.illinoisfirechiefs.org

An invitation to the 2016 VCOC Conference On behalf of IFCA President Brian Doyle, IFCA Executive Board, and our Volunteer and Combination Officer Committee members, I extend an invitation to volunteer and combination fire chiefs and officers from around Illinois to join the VCOC in our renewed annual Conference. On November 5 & 6, 2016 the IFCA-VCOC will host the only conference in the Midwest tailored for the education of volunteer and combination fire officers. There are many great conferences out there; however, very few focus on the specific topics important to the officer who is leading the very dynamic structure of a volunteer and combination departments. Our VCOC Conference Committee has carefully designed educational tracks with topics that are important and interesting to the officer of a volunteer and combination department. There are a couple of changes this year. Due to low attendance at the Friday tired travelers events, we have decided not to hold that this year. Dinner is on your own on Friday night. Also, we will be having a very light breakfast offering on Saturday morning so please plan breakfast on your own, we are firefighters so of course there will be plenty of coffee. The conference kicks off at 8:45 on Saturday morning. We are excited to be joined by Chief Peter Van Dorpe of the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District who will share with us the “The (not so) New Firefight – Top 20 Tactical Considerations from UL/NIST Firefighter Safety Research”. Chief Van Dorpe will be with us most of the day on Saturday. As a normal feature in our conference, we will present the “Small Town – Big Incident” series Saturday afternoon. On Saturday evening we will enjoy a cookout and networking session (included in your registration fee). On Sunday morning we will start with a hearty breakfast (included with your registration fee). Our first presentation on Sunday is Chief Dan Eggleston of the Albemarle County Fire Department, Albemarle County, Virginia will present “Real Ways to Recruit and Retain Volunteers”. The Albemarle County Fire Department is one of the largest combination departments in the United States, and though they have full-time career personnel they are successfully recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters who operate from many volunteer stations around the county. Chief Eggleston is a great advocate for volunteer and combination services, serves on the Volunteer and Combination Officer Section Board of Directors and was a recipient of the 2016 International Fire Chief of the Year. Sunday afternoon we will discuss firefighter behavioral health with Dan DeGryse of the Rosecrance Program; we need to take care of our physical and mental health. We have worked out the details to make sure this is accessible to the volunteer officer; the time of the year, schedule of the day, location and very affordable lodging, registration and meals. Don’t be the one wishing you attended when all your peers are talking about the great conference they just attended. Also, remember the slogan of “each one bring one”; if you are attending, bring your neighboring department chief or assistant chief and carpool. Sign up today – register at www.illinoisfirechiefs.org Sincerely,

Al Yancey, Jr. Al Yancey Jr., Chairman Volunteer and Combination Officer Committee

Illinois Fire Chiefs Volunteer Combination & Chief Officer Committee Seminar November 5-6, 2016 Holiday Inn Hotel and the Thelma Keller Convention Center, Effingham IL

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Sunday, November 6, 2016

7:30‐8:45am

7:30‐8:50am

Registra on and Con nental Breakfast

8:50‐9:00am Opening Remarks Chief Dave Weiss, Westmont FD, Vice Chair VCOC

8:45‐9:00am Welcome Chief Jim Kreher, Barrington/Countryside FPD IFCA Pres Chief Al Yancey, Minooka FPD, VCOC Chairperson 9:00am‐Noon Keynote Address: “The (not so) New Firefight; The Top 20 Tac cal Considera ons from UL/NIST Firefighter Safety Research” Chief Peter Van Dorpe, Algonquin‐LITH FPD 10:15‐10:30am Break 10:30am‐Noon Chief Van Dorpe con nues 12:00‐1:00pm Lunch (included in registra on) 1:00‐2:30pm “The (not so) New Firefight; The Top 20 Tac cal Considera ons from UL/NIST Firefighter Safety Research” Chief Van Dorpe con nues 2:30‐2:45pm

Break

2:45‐4:00pm “Small Department‐Big Incident ‐‐ Water Rescue Events” Deputy Chief Todd Friddle, Wilmington FPD 4:15‐4:30pm

Breakfast (included with registra on)

9:00‐10:15am “Real Ways to Recruit and Retain Volunteers” Dan Eggleston, EFO, CFO, CEMSO, Fire Rescue Chief, Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue (VA) 10:15‐10:30am Break 10:30‐11:30am Dan Eggleston con nues 11:30am‐12:00pm Organiza on Briefings Invited Organiza ons (IFCA, OSFM, FSI, VCOC) 5‐10 minute presenta on on what’s happening with their organiza on and what’s going on in the State of Illinois. 12:00‐1:00pm Lunch (included with registra on) 1:00‐3:00pm ”Firefighter Peer Support—Mental Health Wellness” Daniel DeGryse ‐ BA, BS, CEAP, CADC, LAP/C, CAI Director, Rosecrance Florian Program; Ba alion Chief, Chicago Fire Department 3:00‐3:30pm “Q & A” Ques ons & answers, survey, final wrap up

Ques ons & Answers

6:00‐8:00pm “Saturday Night Cook Out” Join us for a good old Cook Out (included with registra on)

8:00pm “Open Round Table Discussion” First Day Presenters and Invited Organiza ons Network and share ideas with your peers

VCOC Seminar Concludes

. . . .Our Presenter's Peter Van Dorpe is the Chief of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District. He recently retired as Chief of the Chicago Fire Department’s Training Division after a 33 year career with the CFD. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Fire Science Management from Southern Illinois University. He has made presentations on modern fire ground challenges at FDIC, Firehouse Expo, Fire Rescue International and the National Fire Academy. In 2012 he delivered the General Session Keynote at FDIC and addressed the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, on the “Effectiveness of Furniture Flammability Standards and Flame Retardant Chemicals”. In addition to his work as a Field Instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute, he has been a lead instructor for the Chicago Fire Department's Fire Officer School, and has taught building construction for the fire service through the City Colleges of Chicago. He is a member of the Advisory Board for Underwriters Laboratories’ Firefighter Safety Research Institute. He has recently participated as a Subject Matter Expert for UL’s research on "Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber In Fire Conditions", the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s, “Evaluating Firefighting Tactics Under Wind Driven Conditions”, the IAFF/NIST “Firefighter Safety and Deployment Study” in high rise buildings, and the NIOSH investigation in to the Line of Duty Deaths of two Boston firefighters that occurred on March 26th, 2014. Presentation The Not So New Firefight; The Top 20 Tactical Considerations from UL/NIST Firefighter Safety Research Lightweight energy efficient construction, modern fuels, firefighter encapsulation and manpower reductions have combined to make today’s residential firefight a dramatically new challenge for even the most experienced firefighter. UL and NIST have been leading the effort to meet this challenge through research and education initiatives. At FDIC 2014, UL’s Steve Kerber presented a “Top 20” list of tactical considerations based on this research. In this session, Chief Peter Van Dorpe, a member of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s Advisory Board will use Kerber’s “Top 20” to guide a discussion on how firefighters may best implement the principles and concepts arising out of this body of work, and debunk some of the myths, misstatements and misinterpretation that has made its way onto blogs and social media. Todd M. Friddle is a 3rd generation, 25 year veteran of the fire service and a Deputy Chief with the Wilmington Fire Protection District in Wilmington, IL. Todd has a background in law enforcement having served several years as a full time police officer. He is a certified fire officer and is the team leader for the MABAS Division 15 Water Rescue Team as well as an active member with the MABAS Division 15 Incident Management Team.

Dan Eggleston began his fire service career in 1978 and is currently the career Fire Rescue Chief with the Albemarle County Department of Fire Rescue, a 700 member combination department that serves a 723 square mile urban/rural area. Chief Eggleston has an AAS Degree in Engineering, a BS degree in business, and an MS degree in Emergency Management from the University of Richmond. He is a graduate from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and received his Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFO) and Chief Medical Officer Designation (CEMSO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Chief Eggleston is a Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Fire programs adjunct fire instructor and is an active member of the Virginia Fire Chief Association. He has published many articles and research papers relating to fire and EMS administration and emergency management and has lectured and consulted throughout the country Daniel DeGryse is a 26-year firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department who has served as an officer for 19 years. Dan presently holds the rank of Battalion Chief/EMT. He also served as the Coordinator of the Chicago Firefighters’ Union Local 2's Employee Assistance Program for 14 years. Dan is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC), a Certified Labor Assistance Professional (LAP/C), a Certified ARISE Interventionist (CAI), and holds advanced training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Dan operated in the capacity of peer supporter in New York after the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and in Chicago following the E-2 nightclub disaster. Dan has been a member of the International Association of Firefighters Labor/EAP committee since 2002. Dan holds degrees from two universities; A Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Management from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Wabash College. Previously, Dan worked six years as a counselor at a private hospital, where his experience included individual, group, and family therapy for adolescents and adults in the area of addictions and behavior management.

VCOC Mission To represent the leadership of the volunteer and combina on fire departments in the State of Illinois; to assist officers in the development of professional leadership skills, representa on on important issues affec ng the volunteer services of the State, and enhance local capabili es of our volunteer organiza ons.

“SAFER GRANT NEWS” Did you know there’s an ACTIVE statewide SAFER grant to assist your department with recruitment and reten on? The IFCA received a $1.3 million dollar SAFER grant to address volunteer firefighter reten on and recruitment throughout Illinois. This includes statewide recruitment adver sements, Reten on & Recruitment Workshops, and funding to pay for your local recruitment campaigns. How can your department take advantage of this program? A end one of the Reten on & Recruitment Workshops to learn new methods to help with your specific challenges and network with Chiefs from around the state. There is no cost to a end and your mileage, lodging, and per diem will be reimbursed. Begin your local recruitment campaign today by contac ng the Grant Administrator, John Myers. Items such as brochures, banners, flyers, newspaper ads, and event displays are examples of what other departments are using to promote their recruitment on a local level. All of these materials are available at no cost to your department through the IFCA SAFER grant.

RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT WORKSHOPS Fire service leaders and community leaders are encouraged to a end this R&R Workshop. There is NO COST to a end the Workshop, travel, two nights lodging, and per diem for a endees will be reimbursed upon comple on of the workshop. The R&R Workshop is designed to facilitate open discussion about local Volunteer Firefighter reten on and recruitment issues, including:  Leadership challenges & Management skills  Learn about Reten on & Recruitment incen ves and how to fund them  Iden fying and communica ng your local volunteer need to the public  Develop and implement a local marke ng plan

Reten on and Recruitment Workshop, Marion To register contact Ashley at 855‐VOL‐FIRE (855‐865‐3473)or go to www.illinoisfirechiefs.org

December 3‐4, 2016—Macomb IL

Set up a mee ng with the Grant Administrator to discuss your recruitment needs and brainstorm marke ng ideas. John is available to meet with individual departments or to present at Chiefs, county, MABAS, etc. mee ngs. To begin your local recruitment campaign or to learn more please contact Chief John Myers, Chillicothe FD, Re red through the IFCA officiate at 1‐800‐662‐0732 or by email at vcoc@illinoisfirechiefs.org.

Thelma Keller Conven on Center/ Holiday Inn Express The seminar program will be held at the Thelma Keller Conven on Center, 1202 N. Keller Drive, Effingham IL. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express a ached to the Keller Conven on Center. Please contact the hotel directly by calling 217‐540‐7777. The room rate is $99.00/night + tax. Please men on the code FCA to receive the room rate. The Thelma Keller Conven on Center is located in Central Illinois. It is a comfortable drive from all areas of the state. Effingham offers easy access via major Interstate, U.S. and Illinois highways. Located at the intersec on of Interstates 57 & 70 at Exit 160, U.S. highways 40 & 45 and Illinois highways 32 & 33.

The VCOC has a Twi er page dedicated to volunteer and combina on department issues. Twi er handle is @IFCAVCOC

Illinois Fire Chiefs Association 7th Annual Volunteer & Combination Officer Symposium November 5-6, 2016 Thelma Keller Convention Center/Holiday Inn 1301 Avenue of Mid-America, Effingham Illinois

REGISTRATION FORM Please complete the form below and fax to 847/966-0782, email to [email protected] or make check payable and mail to: IFCA, PO Box 352, Mundelein IL 60060 Name Department Mailing Address City, State, Zip Email:

Phone: My department is:



Volunteer



Combination

 Volunteer with paid chief

Population of Area Served

Cost: $60.00 per person (includes conference registration & lunch on both days)

Check Enclosed PO Number_____________ Bill Department Credit Card (provide info below) ¨ Charge Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover)________________________________

(4% service charge added)

Exp Date_____________________ (MM/YYYY) If cardholder information is different that registration information please complete info below Cardholder Name_______________________________________________________________________________ Cardholder Address, City, Zip______________________________________________________________________ Cardholder Phone Number__________________________________________

Mail To: Illinois Fire Chiefs Assn, PO Box 352, Mundelein IL 60060 or Fax To: 847.966.0782; Email to: [email protected] PLEASE CONTACT THE HOTEL DIRECTLY: Holiday Inn 217-540-7777 A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn at $99.00/nt+tax Please mention the code: FCA to obtain the conference rate.