National Volunteer Firefighter Council Fall Conference
In the Fall I had the opportunity to travel to South Dakota and attend NVFC’s Fall conference. While there, networking with others from across the nation, you realize in the volunteer world of firefighting how different things are state to state, but then how similar things are also. It seems we are all plagued with some of the same issues. It is NVFC’s goal to bring these issues together, state to state, prioritize and work on them as a national group. Some are resolved at local and regional levels, while others are pushed to the national level. NVFC is the largest voice for the volunteers at the national level.
As with all organizations, their membership provides much-needed funds to function. The NVFC also acquires millions in grant funding on a yearly basis. NVFC also works as a clearing house for many coporate sponsers and their give aways.
NVFC has a large voice in reducing cancer through many initiatives and programs for departments to use to combat firefighter cancer. They have many programs, printouts and guides for help on many issues in the volunteer fire service. Most can be accessed by going to their website and downloading them. Items will range from training, family support, cancer initiatives, training, recruitment and fire-based support groups.
Recruitment and retention are areas that NVFC works diligently on for fire departments. One way is by accessing “makemeafirefighter.org”. Fire departments list their department, then when a person goes to the site, it will lead them to a department in their area. It will give them contact information and they can sign up to connect with that department. There are several tabs that discuss what being a volunteer is and some tips on what is expected of them and what they should expect. Remember, the general public does not realize you are looking for volunteers if you don’t tell them.
NVFC has many resources to support your department in the recruitment and retention of fire fighters. Currently, there are 11,000 departments listed on makemeafirefighter.org. Is yours one? NVFC also offers short 2-4 minute videos to help teach you how to manage your recruitment and retention needs. In 2025, NVFC put on 10 in person trainings around the nation. Now they are working on upgrading the makemeafirefighter.org portal to make it more modern and user-friendly. NVFC has corporate sponsorship that is looking to promote volunteering nationwide with a campaign of billboards and signs in many airports around the nation. Also in the works is an AI-generated chatbox. The idea is to help smaller departments that may not have someone available to assist people wanting to volunteer. People can log in and ask questions, and an AI can respond to their questions, thus helping people who want to volunteer while also helping the department by responding to the person in a timely manner. This committee on the NVFC is working hard to assist departments in recruiting new members. Many resources are there and available to assist your department. Most are free of charge, and you do not need to be an NVFC member to access them.
Another growing part of the NVFC is the EMS and Rescue section. It has become a large enough area that it has its own section in the organization. The group meets regularly and works on issues pertaining to EMS based volunteers along with rescue squads. This group of members has reached 7000 plus, who are not so much fire interested but join because of the EMS support provided to volunteer departments. Some items they are currently working on are a recruitment and retention online course to enhance recruitment for volunteer EMS. Other items being focused on are the use of body armor by 1st responders and the guidelines pertaining to this. They would like to see the guide upgraded to a standard for this PPE so it is regulated more accordingly to its use. Several other items are watched and worked on by this section of the NVFC. Their goal is to become the leader in support for volunteer EMS in the nation. Their membership is growing, and you can join as a stand-alone group. This group works nationally to promote EMS and its components.
Thank you for allowing me to represent you at the NVFC. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me and I will do what I can to assist. Thank you for all you do for your community and keep up the good work.
NVFC membership by each state. The top number reflects Missouri membership as of October 2025. The bottom number was our membership one year ago, October 2024. Our numbers are down reflecting improvement opportunities. There are numerous benefits with your $24 NVFC membership. In addition to AD&D insurance for yourself, adding family members gives them the same benefits. The AD&D insurance if nothing else.
For more information on joining NVFC and benefits go to nvfc.org/join-nvfc/
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