Affiliate Leadership Training Summit




1. Click on REGISTER MYSELF or Register Someone Else button.

2. Select a REGISTRATION OPTION (If you are contributing to US FIREPAC, you must confirm the statements, Click SAVE Responses & proceed to step 3).

3. Click ADD to select Workshops.

4. Click PROCEED TO CHECKOUT.

5. On the Next Page You MUST click SUBMIT ORDER at the bottom of the page to receive a Confirmation Email.


If you want FIREPAC credit for 2023, you must wait until January 1 to register. FIREPAC contributions made before January 1, 2023, will be applied to your 2022 contribution totals.

IAFF members may join the FIREPAC Chairman’s Council or FIREPAC Leadership Trust (U.S. and Canada) when registering. The FIREPAC option is available only to IAFF members. United States federal election law prohibits the solicitation of non-IAFF members.

Your decision to contribute via this FIREPAC option is purely voluntary and the suggested FIREPAC contribution amounts are merely guidelines. You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts and you will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute to FIREPAC.

1. Your personal, voluntary FIREPAC contribution by personal credit card of $500 or more ($600 standard registration) provides you membership in the Leadership Trust, or $750 FIREPAC contribution provides you membership in the Chairman’s Council.

2. U.S. members who select one of the FIREPAC options to register must submit a personal check payable to IAFF FIREPAC or use a personal credit card. U.S. Members cannot use a union or corporate check/credit card or seek reimbursement for their contribution to FIREPAC.

3. One person cannot write a personal check or use a personal credit card to cover multiple registrants contributing to FIREPAC.

Please note that contributions to FIREPAC are not tax deductible and previous FIREPAC contributions and monthly deductions via FIREPAC Check-Off cannot be applied toward the FIREPAC registration option.

The standard registration fee for the Affiliate Leadership Training Summit is $600.

Two Options for Making FIREPAC Contributions:
1. FIREPAC Chairman's Council IAFF members making a personal, voluntary contribution of $750 or more to FIREPAC will be enrolled in the FIREPAC Chairman’s Council and registered for ALTS and can attend one pre-conference workshop. Registrants using the FIREPAC option will receive a Chairman’s Council pin and a special gift, along with recognition on the IAFF website. Registration must be submitted online!

2. FIREPAC Leadership Trust IAFF members making a personal, voluntary contribution of $500 or more ($600 standard registration) to FIREPAC will be enrolled in the FIREPAC Leadership Trust and registered for ALTS. Registrants using the FIREPAC option will receive a Leadership Trust pin and recognition on the IAFF website. Registration must be submitted online!
When
1/29/2023 7:00 AM - 2/1/2023 9:00 PM
Where
Caesars Forum Conference Center 3911 South Koval Lane Las Vegas, NV 89109

Program

   

01/29/2023 - FIREPAC

Description
Category
01/29/2023 - FIREPAC
Time
1/29/2023 - 2/1/2023
1/29/2023

01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events

Description
No Fee, included with FIREPAC Chairman's Council Registration
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

FIRE OPS is a unique event that teaches elected officials and community leaders about the risks and challenges involved in firefighting by exposing them to real fire ground scenarios. At FIRE OPS 101, participants suit up in protective gear, feel the heat of live fires, rescue victims, and perform other duties that first responders do on the job. A FIRE OPS 101 event is one of the most effective ways an IAFF local can build relationships with elected officials, the media, and management. This pre-conference event will teach you how to prepare for and run a successful and effective FIRE OPS 101 event in your community. (Note: No PPE required.)
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

No Fee, included with FIREPAC Chairman's Council Registration
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

NEW The IAFF’s new F2T program includes resources to help every fire fighter in their pursuit to be more active more often. Systems, strategies, and tactics are embedded to improve fire fighter fitness and performance, but an emphasis is also placed on behavior change and making active choices easy choices for everyone. Specifically, assistance is provided with the selection, design, and implementation of relevant initiatives for every department via the sharing of education and training-related resources, the mentorship of front-line ambassadors, and the distribution of best practice guidelines that provide direct support for departments. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on activities, affiliate leaders will improve their ability to assess the needs of their organization and identify possible actions to assist in program implementation. Attendees will be provided with a series of resources to assist with the development of an implementation plan.
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

This workshop uses actual events and practical activities designed to provide students a brief overview of the Responding to the Interface (RTI) program along with some of the course material. The students will learn about strategies and tactics, wrapping up the class with demonstration hose loads, quick deployment, and reloads outside with an engine. At the conclusion of this program, students will have an idea about the RTI program that is designed for fire fighters to safely operate in the urban interface environment and successfully defend homes while suppressing interface fires.
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

No Fee, included with FIREPAC Chairman's Council Registration
Category
01/29/2023 - Sunday Pre-Conference Events
Time
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/29/2023 8:30 AM

01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)

Description
NEW The 2022 mid-term elections have ushered in a new Congress and established new majorities on Capitol Hill. Instructors will review the election results, identify hot topics and themes for the incoming House and Senate majorities, and discuss the impacts these changes will have on the IAFF’s policy priorities. This class will provide opportunities for collaborative discussions about political trends at the national, state, and local levels.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Branding Your Local: A Case Study in Best Practices, Historical Perspectives, and Winning the Public. Branding is a term we hear thrown around a lot, but have you ever thought about the brand of your local union? How does your current band impact your ability to make tangible gains for your members? How do firefighters view their union? How do elected officials and the public view your union? In this class, students will review creative ways throughout history that labor unions have created effective branding campaigns with pro-union messaging that resonated with the public at large. We will discuss the national fire service brand and how we can leverage that brand with this new historical knowledge to win over elected officials and the public.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

This workshop will provide union leaders with an overview of their rights and responsibilities during the employment disciplinary process. Union leaders will learn how to best represent their members in accordance with their contract, civil service laws, and the Weingarten, Loudermill and Garrity decisions. This workshop is applicable to affiliate leaders in both collective bargaining and non-collective bargaining environments.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

NEW Regular exercise can help and is recommended as one of the first options for treating and preventing chronic conditions afflicting too many fire fighters. However, education and mandated fitness programs are not the answer. Emerging evidence highlights the need for behavioral solutions to improve the physical activity habits of fire fighters. The IAFF is leading an innovative charge to improve fire fighter health and wellness by launching the F2T program, a comprehensive initiative designed to help more fire fighters be more active more often. This workshop will outline the program’s commitment to education, training, support and mentorship and provide tips to assist with implementation.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Currently, there are as many as four generations employed and working side by side in fire departments throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each generation brings its own individual values and behaviors, and these can be a source of conflict in the workplace. This workshop will examine each of the four generations in a humorous way, providing a better understanding of generational behavior, the value that each generation brings to the workplace, why conflict exists among them, and identify communications styles that work for each.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Health Insurance Track: Health Insurance Basics, Do You Know All the Acronyms?! The IAFF can help. Healthcare is typically one of the largest contributors to personnel costs. This class will discuss terminology and the inner workings of insurance plans, including indemnity pans, HMOs, PPOs, EPOs, HDHPs, HSAs and many more acronyms! Understanding your Explanation of Benefits (EOBs), different types of networks, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and independent Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) is paramount to being able to negotiate healthcare plans.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

IAFF Wealth Management Initiative Track: Helping New Firefighters Get Off on the Right Foot Financially. What you need to know as Affiliate Leaders to help your new members make successful financial decisions in their life. Topics include: Credit card debt Basic personal finance • Setting and executing financial goals Creating a budget Creating an emergency fund Deferred Compensation Deferrals Mortgage Basics IAFF 15 x 5 Principle
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

NEW How to Effectively File and Handle a Grievance and Other Member Complaints. The work that you do before an arbitration hearing on a case is often more important than the actual presentation of the case at arbitration. In this class, you will learn the best practices and top tips for handling member grievances and complaints, including handling disciplinary interviews, investigating grievances, writing and presenting grievances, dealing with difficult management personnel, and settling grievances. We will put these skills to practice during the class.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

NEW The most effective affiliate leaders prioritize behavioral health programming as central to the fabric of their organization. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of all behavioral health resources currently available to IAFF affiliates, including peer support and resiliency training, advanced peer training, clinician education, addiction recovery support, behavioral health toolkits, technical assistance, and more. An introduction to the IAFF Center of Excellence will be provided, including how to be prepared when a member needs help fast. Attendees will also receive exclusive updates on the IAFF west coast treatment center, as well as emerging treatment resources specifically for Canadian affiliates. Learn about the IAFF resources you need to be an effective behavioral health champion back home.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

The strength of a local depends on the active involvement of its members. Whether it’s a committee meeting, political campaign, or public relations effort, your members make the difference between success and failure. This workshop provides methods to increase member participation and build an effective union.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

You’re a member of your local’s executive board, now what? This class will work to provide new union leaders with the tools and perspective to communicate the mission and the brand of their local. We will review proven, basic terms, messages, and key branding “must-haves” to help you promote your local effectively.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

On a daily basis, fire departments are confronted with a variety of issues that require labor and management to work together. The best departments have the tools in place to work through those issues successfully • even if they don’t always agree. This workshop will address best practices and how labor and management leaders create a team culture, build trust over time and develop consistent involvement. Case studies will be addressed where labor management cooperation was utilized to address situations that are generally met with conflict. In addition this workshop will address that there is no perfect system and even with collaborative labor-management relations, there will always be ups and downs.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

We are a union regardless of the status of the economy. Therefore, when we are in tough economic times, we may adjust our mission but not change our vision to continually advance. These challenges may be in the form of decreased tax revenues, cuts in state aid to local government, or cuts in other sources of revenue. The reductions in revenue that result in municipal budget cuts have affected IAFF locals by influencing wages, benefits, or operational resources. This workshop will provide an understanding of how fiscal crises impact the negotiation process, as well as providing insight on how to address wages, benefits, working conditions, and staffing issues in tough times. The workshop will specifically address the above outlined issues for locals with collective bargaining agreements or a formal negotiation process.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Preparing for Negotiations: Collective Bargaining workshop addresses the collective bargaining process which allows you to negotiate for wages, benefits, and other conditions of employment. To be successful at the bargaining table, you must thoroughly research and develop your strategy. In this workshop, you will learn how to set realistic goals for your membership and collect the data needed to support your case.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1/30/2023 1:00 PM - 2/1/2023 12:30 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

From Right to Work States to Collective Bargaining States every professional firefighter deserves to be represented by the IAFF. Both internal and external organizing brings Safety, Security, Dignity, and a Voice to those that are not represented. This session will provide you with the tools to begin your own organizing campaign.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

This interactive course on Parliamentary Procedure is an interactive learning experience designed to give participants the ability and confidence to fully prepare for and participate in a meeting and to understand and exercise their rights as members. It covers topics such as making motions, amending and disposing of motions, presiding, the roles of the officers, the bylaws, committees, reports, voting, secret ballots, elections, the minutes, and the role of the board. Questions are encouraged.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

This workshop will give you the tools you need to analyze the status and outlook of your pension system, including funding levels, the underlying assumptions on which cost calculations are based, and the funding history of the plan sponsor.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

FIRE OPS 101 is a unique event that teaches elected officials and community leaders about the risks and challenges involved in the fire service. At this event, decision-makers suit up in protective gear and put out fires, rescue victims and perform other duties that fire fighters and EMS workers do on the job. Through FIRE OPS 101, participants learn about the importance of sufficient staffing and the critical role that time plays on the scene of an emergency. A FIRE OPS 101 event is one of the most effective ways an IAFF local can build relationships with elected officials, the media, and department management. This workshop will focus on how to customize a FIRE OPS 101 event in your community.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

NEW This workshop will examine the recent arbitration decision in Sudbury, Ontario where the affiliate was successful in convincing an arbitration board that: (1) safe staffing for firefighters was an arbitrable issue; and (2) deciding that safe staffing for a first in apparatus was four firefighters. This landmark decision marked the first successful staffing arbitration in Canada in 30 years. Focus will be on the expert evidence and other factors necessary to successfully advance a staffing argument based on firefighter health and safety in both the U.S. and Canada.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Understanding Union Leadership workshop will address many facets of being a union officer, including the responsibilities associated with each role. This workshop will also address how to be a union advocate, using the skills of the executive board, and how to organize members and increase their participation to build a stronger local.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1/30/2023 1:00 PM - 2/1/2023 12:30 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

Through its constitution and by-laws, your local establishes its basic organization, including the duties and responsibilities of your local union officers, executive board and committees, as well as the various procedures that govern different types of meetings. Your local’s constitution and by-laws should provide the precepts necessary for governing your members. It should meet their needs, as well as be flexible for reasonable and future change. In this Local Union Governance workshop, you will learn the important aspects of your local’s constitution and by-laws, be given tools to understand how this document influences your role as a union leader and learn how to properly govern your local based on this important text.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Workshops (Session 1)
Time
1/30/2023 1:00 PM - 2/1/2023 12:30 PM
1/30/2023 1:00 PM

01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions

Description
NEW While most locals have a digital presence and brand, some leaders are still hesitant about social media for themselves or their local. This class will provide an entry-level, basic orientation of what social media is, what it can do, and how you can safely lead your local in to accessing the power and reach of your digital brand.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

What happens when your officers make poor decisions? Is there coverage for wrongful management? What happens when cash goes missing or an employee steals from your checking account • is your affiliate adequately covered? See how Directors & Officers Liability insurance and the Labor Organization Fidelity Bond can help protect your Local from these claims.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

NEW FIREPAC is a political action fund, managed by the IAFF, that is made up of voluntary contributions by fire fighters to advocate for the Fire Fighter Agenda. FIREPAC is an investment in the firefighter agenda and the protection of your future. Every decision about your job is governed by someone elected or appointed. FIREPAC allows fire fighters to build collective power and relationships by supporting campaigns and independent efforts to elect a fire fighter majority.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

Pension Analysis Workshop Required. How dos what you learned in previous workshop apply to your local’s situation?
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

Your dues are your investment in your union. Hear directly from General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma where your investment is allocated in the IAFF budget. This session will break down your per capita investment in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-convey to your members manner that will creating the accountability and transparency that they expect and deserve. This in-depth discussion will also shed light on the IAFF budget and how department lines are created and funded.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

The Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) are death benefits for fire fighters and law enforcement officers that died in the line-of-duty (emergency or non-emergency) from a traumatic injury. Learn about the various components of the legislation, who can receive these benefits, and the process to secure these for our fallen brothers and sisters.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

Current events and hyperbole on the impact of Urban Interface Fires can leave many questions and concerns unanswered. Urban Interface (WUI) fires are occurring more often, and are larger and more destructive, than in past decades. Every year, greater numbers of structural firefighters are called to respond. This session will focus on the IAFF Responding to the Interface training program designed by structural fire fighters for structural fire fighters.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

IAFF Families with children who have special needs have unique requirements that extend well beyond traditional financial planning and estate management. As an IAFF leader, learn about the IAFF-FC resources available to the families of your members with these circumstances.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

An innovative approach to effect changes influence opinion and create awareness. present your GIS report to stakeholders using state of the art map comparisons of current and recommended staffing levels, response capabilities, and assembly of effective response force. From integrating a new service into your department to showing decision makers where improvements to response must be made, story maps are the tool that will tell your story.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

NEW Many of us aren’t comfortable with the media. We’ve all heard the horror stories of mis-quotes, errors, and just plain bad press. Most media want to work with us and can be an asset to your local. This quick info session will give membership 5 quick tips to work with the media and not against them to help advance the mission and message of your local.
Category
01/30/2023 - Monday Information Sessions
Time
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1/30/2023 3:30 PM

01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)

Description
Taking care of your local’s financial health is one of the most important responsibilities of a local leader. This four-hour session will break down the responsibilities of the Secretary, Treasurer, and Secretary-Treasurer role and provide valuable tips and tools for your local to utilize. From the basics of financial communications to fiduciary responsibilities to preparing your budget, this class will review the best practices involved in these important roles in your local. Led by GST Staff and experienced secretary/treasurers, the session will also address the importance of auditing and fiscal oversight to help build trust in your local’s financial health.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

NEW Building Your Strategic Communications Calendar • A Hands On Workshop. This hands on operations level class will help you strategically build a communications calendar unique to your local and community. We will work together to quickly research historical events, current trends, and evergreen content that connects you with your local audience. This class will encourage live, hands-on work. Your enthusiastic participation is welcome and appreciated.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

NEW This workshop will examine the ideological shift in the federal political landscape under a minority government with a new Opposition Leader as all parties determine pathways to a post-pandemic recovery. We will explore the impacts on the economy and strategies for IAFF Locals on how to navigate this new normal. This workshop will also look at the UCP leadership race in Alberta leading up the spring 2023 provincial election, the ripple effects across other provinces, and the potential implications at the federal level.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

Funding Your Pension: Reduce Potential Attacks on Retirement Security. Tired of politicians’ damaging & ineffective attempts to increase pension funding levels by cutting benefits and increasing member contributions? Then come to this highly informative class on pension plan funding where the experts will discuss a wide range of tools that include pension obligation bonds, revenue bonds and more.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

Should your Local create or join a Health Trust? Are you and your Board informed on all the nuances of not only creating, but administering a Trust? Learn the basics about a Health Trust, as well as what the IAFF is doing to help.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

The IAFF pursues a robust legislative agenda to enhance and protect members’ jobs, benefits, and health and safety, as well as provide them with the resources they need on the job. This class will provide newly elected leaders with comprehensive education about key IAFF legislative priorities. Instructors will discuss the IAFF legislative philosophy, major bills and initiatives, and future opportunities and challenges. Instructors will also lead a discussion on how affiliate leaders and IAFF members can participate in the department’s work.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

What kind of leader am I and what kind of leader do I want to be? This workshop will help IAFF affiliate leaders learn what kind of union leaders they are and will provide them with several tools to become more effective leaders. During this workshop, participants will identify their own leadership styles and will learn how those styles are perceived by and impact the members that they lead.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

On a daily basis, fire departments are confronted with a variety of issues that require labor and management to work together. The best departments have the tools in place to work through those issues successfully • even if they don’t always agree. This workshop will address best practices and how labor and management leaders create a team culture, build trust over time and develop consistent involvement. Case studies will be addressed where labor management cooperation was utilized to address situations that are generally met with conflict. In addition this workshop will address that there is no perfect system and even with collaborative labor-management relations, there will always be ups and downs.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

Through its constitution and by-laws, your local establishes its basic organization, including the duties and responsibilities of your local union officers, executive board, and committees, as well as the various procedures that govern different types of meetings. Your local’s constitution and by-laws should provide the precepts necessary for governing your members. It should meet their needs, as well as be flexible for reasonable and future change. In this module, you will learn the important aspects of your local’s constitution and by-laws, be given tools to understand how this document influences your role as a union leader and learn how to properly govern your local based on this important text.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

IAFF Wealth Management Initiative Track: Talking to Active Firefighters About Making the Best Mid-Career Financial Decisions. What you need to know as Affiliate Leaders to help your active members make successful financial decisions mid-career. Topics include: Building wealth Managing investment risk vs. reward Ensuring you have provided sufficiently for you family should a tragedy occur 457(b) strategies for active firefighters who have not started saving Maximizing self-directed brokerage to boost return on investment
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

This overview provides essential information for new affiliate leaders so they can be effective in their roles. This course is ideal for affiliate leaders with up to two years of experience or seasoned veterans who want to refresh their skills. Overview of Membership Services examines the various IAFF departments/divisions and the services provided to members, as well as an understanding of their respective state or provincial organization.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

NEW Your local relies on the strength of its members. Between dwindling active participation and your local’s organizational history retiring with past union leaders, it becomes harder to run an effective union. New leaders become involved when they understand the local’s core values and find a calling for their talents and passions. This class will provide current local leadership with a framework on how and why they should recruit and develop new leaders, strategies for reaching out across different generations, a brief overview of labor history to help new members understand the value of their membership, and a plan for mentoring rising leaders to carry your local into the next generation.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

NEW This presentation reviews what is known, and more importantly what is not known, about fire fighter suicide. Participants will learn about suicide prevention and suicide postvention, defined as an organized response in the aftermath of a suicide to facilitate the healing of individuals from the grief and distress of suicide loss, mitigate other negative effects of exposure to suicide, and prevent suicide among people who are at elevated risk after exposure to suicide. Content will include effective suicide prevention strategies, evidence-based treatments for suicide, resources for suicide loss, and new IAFF efforts to understand and address suicide.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

The IAFC/IAFF WFI Study: Obstacles and Facilitators to Implementation . In 1997, the IAFF and IAFC established a historic partnership with the launch of the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative (WFI). Since its inception, the WFI has become the principal and most comprehensive and inclusive resource to support fire fighter wellness and fitness. In 2020, the IAFC and IAFF renewed their commitment to the WFI by collaborating on a FEMA-funded study to examine the obstacles, facilitators and best-practice strategies to assist with wellness-fitness program implementation. Surveys and focus groups were used to gather information from fire chiefs and labor leaders from 150+ small, medium and large-sized departments across the United States and Canada. This workshop will share lessons learned, best practice guidelines and practical examples to help every department and local improve the health and wellness of their fire fighters.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

The impact of the labor movement in the U.S. has been deliberately hidden from American workers. There is a lack of labor education in public schools, a prevalent anti-union bias in the media, and a hidden history of militant and effective public employee/firefighter organizing. In this class, students will examine ways labor history is subverted, the history of firefighter and public employee organizing, and how understanding and educating members about this history can help us build strong locals today.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

NEW Tips and Techniques for Presenting a Case before an Arbitrator or Hearing Officer. Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of an Arbitrator as you are presenting your case or what an Arbitrator looks for in determining whether you will win or lose your case? This class will include the insight and experience of a seasoned labor arbitrator who will share his/her perspective as to what makes for a successful presentation at an arbitration hearing. You will also be able to ask the Arbitrator the questions that you have always wanted to ask. We will provide a review of the nuts and bolts of preparing and presenting a case to an arbitrator or hearing examiner, including how to prepare witnesses and documents to use at the hearing. We will also review typical evidentiary issues that arise at a hearing, including hearsay objections and past practice. Participants will also learn how to prepare an opening statement and how to conduct an effective cross-examination. Finally, there will be opportunities to participate in various role play scenarios with feedback provided from the arbitrator and the attorney presenters.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

Members who become parents face increased demands on their time and resources. Local leadership need to help ensure that the local employing agency complies with applicable federal, state/provincial, and local laws, allowing these members the leave time and medical accommodation they need as they build their families. In addition, this workshop reviews how local leadership can advocate for family-friendly local policies and laws.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

IAFF members are constantly confronted with choices that match work against family life and other personal obligations. Fire fighters must balance their 24 hour shifts with family events, holidays and other obligations. This workshop will give union leaders tools to help themselves and their members address these work-family issues for a better work/life balance.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 2)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
1/31/2023 8:00 AM

01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)

Description
Does your local tackle obstacles in a systematic, thoughtful, and collaborative way? Or does your daily workload push you into a place where you’re always reacting to the next crisis? In this class, students will learn the importance of engaging in deliberate strategic planning. We’ll talk about defining your mission as an organization, creating parameters to determine your strengths/weaknesses and opportunity/threats, and obtaining buy-in from members for the process. Students will engage in strategic planning exercises dealing with specific issues impacting their local.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

This advanced class will expose you to new targeting approaches for ad buying, content placement, and funnel creation. We will cover changes in the Facebook ad buying marketplace, new audiences, and new types of ad placements to help your local compete in 2023 and beyond.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

Every decision about the pay, benefits, working conditions, and retirement of our members is made by someone elected to office or appointed by an elected official. This class discusses the information, tactics, and resources you need to in order to build political power to put to work for your members. In the lean budget years we may be facing, having political strength is essential for IAFF affiliates.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

NEW The IAFF Peer Support training program continues to transform behavioral health conversation in the fire service. Attendees will learn how to access peer support training through locals and departments. We will also introduce a 10-step model to developing a successful peer support program. Topics include how to obtain program buy-in, select peer team members, utilize mental health clinicians in your community, conduct program outreach, evaluate your impact to stakeholders and more. Attendees will be provided with practical strategies and IAFF resources to build or enhance an existing peer support program.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

This workshop will examine DFR under Canadian Law. The workshop will look at the handling of DFR complaints in both the civil courts and under Labour Board tribunals in those provinces that allow DFR complaints to be heard by Labour Board tribunals. The workshop will also review current DFR decisions.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

Defined Benefit Plans: Legal, Legislative, and Regulatory Issues. Many state and local governments continue to grapple with changes to firefighter retirement plans. This workshop will provide legal, regulatory and legislative updates from both state and federal perspectives and how these changes are affecting public pensions. Also discussed will be the recent battles to convert defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

Health Insurance Track: Bargaining for Retiree Health Insurance. IAFF leaders face many challenges, but few are more pressing than pre-65 health care options for retirees. From VEBAs, PEHP, HRAs, and HSAs, learn how to create opportunities through the collective bargaining process to engage employers to lower the cost of post-employment healthcare to allow IAFF members an earlier and more dignified retirement.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

IAFF Wealth Management Initiative Track: Helping Your Senior Members Get Ready for Retirement, and Maximizing Opportunities for Your Retirees Understanding Social Security options Pros and cons of professional asset management and distribution strategies vs. variable annuities and similar insurance options. Insight into how taxes can impact your retirement plans Tax efficiency in retirement requires a thoughtful approach to income planning that starts as early as 10 • 15 years prior. A more tax-efficient retirement income distribution plan can add tens of thousands of dollars to estate values or years to portfolio longevity. Refresh your knowledge of tax basics like which investment accounts are taxable, tax deferred or tax free. And it will provide some sequencing strategies for drawing retirement income tax-efficiently.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

How Can I Help Our Union Become More Effective? This workshop will provide tools to help affiliate leaders become more effective as IAFF locals continue to evolve to meet the serious challenges facing our union and our members in the 21st century. During the workshop, participants will learn how to assess and to prioritize union resources and leverage and how to engage in strategic planning to establish and achieve effective organizational goals.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

NEW In January 2022, the IAFF launched IGNITE, a comprehensive wellness-fitness program, in collaboration with fire fighters from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (NRMA). Created as an extension of the IAFF’s Fit To Thrive (F2T) program, IGNITE was designed to be accessible, inclusive, comprehensive in its scope, and behavior focused for the purpose of helping more fire fighters be more active. IGNITE involves 4 distinct but complementary phases that collectively serve to address members’ wellness and fitness needs by leveraging the benefits of education, training, mentorship, and support directed to an entire organization. This workshop will share details of each phase, discuss potential obstacles and facilitators to the implementation process, and offer practical tips and strategies to help any department improve the physical activity habits of their members.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

The manner in which you process grievances will determine how quickly they are resolved and how your members will perceive you. A good understanding of the grievance process will better enable you to enforce the collective bargaining agreement and avoid costly arbitration hearings. In this workshop, you will learn how to evaluate and file a grievance, reduce your chances of receiving a DFR claim, and develop effective grievance strategies. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

The IAFF recommends that every local establish a human relations committee. Establishing a committee is a proven way to help locals sort through the opportunities and challenges that diversity presents. It can assist locals in resolving conflict and developing a proactive strategy for change. In this workshop, affiliate leaders will learn about the benefits of having a local human relations committee and strategies for developing their own committee.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

Designed to help affiliate leaders achieve goals for their locals, this course teaches the skills necessary to be effective in any role as a union officer. Information is provided on the duties of each local union officer, as well as the responsibilities of the executive board and other committees in the local. It will also acquaint participants with the various services and assistance available from the IAFF.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

This interactive course on Parliamentary Procedure is an interactive learning experience designed to give participants the ability and confidence to fully prepare for and participate in a meeting and to understand and exercise their rights as members. It covers topics such as making motions, amending and disposing of motions, presiding, the roles of the officers, the bylaws, committees, reports, voting, secret ballots, elections, the minutes, and the role of the board. Questions are encouraged.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

A detailed examination of the Family Medical Leave Act and similar Canadian laws and regulations and how they apply to public employees, with examples, case studies and Q&A. Additional attention will be paid to state/provincial/local FMLA-like laws as well as paid leave laws in the United States and Canada.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

What do I have to do to make sure that my Local is complying with the law and operating effectively? In this class, we will examine member rights, officer obligations, and local union requirements under the law and the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws. We will discuss best practices and top tips for making sure that your local union operates properly and your union elections run smoothly. We will also discuss cutting edge union governance issues such as virtual meetings and electronic elections. This will be an interactive and participatory class as we explore various union governance decisions.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 3)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1/31/2023 10:30 AM

01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)

Description
This class will walk you through ancillary insurance products that your members are signing up for at open enrollment. These products often have a huge advantage to your municipality. Learn how programs through the IAFF-FC can help switch these benefits to benefit your members and your Local.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

NEW Fire fighter entitlement to overtime pay is subject to a series of complex rules and regulations. We will examine the relevant provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including the Section 7(k) exemption that is unique to fire protection personnel. We will also examine the factors typically considered in determining whether fire protection personnel are properly classified as “exempt” under the “executive, administrative or professional exemption of the FLSA. We will discuss different factual scenarios that arise in the field with respect to FLSA violations and how to identity them. Finally, we will provide a question and answer session to address issues and concerns from members.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the fire service and fire fighters are exposed to an array of carcinogenic agents in the line of duty. This workshop will review studies on biomarkers of exposure and effect as well as the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce exposure. The panel will discuss the recent International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) decision to classify occupational exposure as a firefighter as a carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Future directions in fire fighter cancer research with the aim of reducing cancer diagnoses and improving treatment outcomes will also be discussed in context with the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study and National Firefighter Registry (NFR).
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Cities and states give away huge corporate subsidy deals and then cry poverty on public safety. Learn how to document and expose these giveaways, plus successful fight-back strategies, messaging, and allies. Learn about Subsidy Tracker and Tax Break Tracker, plus a new government accounting rule that helps document how much tax revenue governments are losing to corporate tax breaks. They are labeled “economic development incentives,” but they are often unnecessary and sometimes fail to pay off. States lose so much revenue this way the losses often far exceed their pension obligations.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

IAFF Wealth Management Initiative Track: Deferred Compensation: What You Need to Know to Build the Best Program for Your Members. How to open an RFP What is a 401(a)? Self-Directed Brokerage (SBDO) What to know about consultants What to do in your city manager’s office Contract Language How to get all FC initiatives into you CBA
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

A strong internal communications program is the backbone of any powerful union. How can you better communicate with your members? Everyday leaders struggle how best to reach their members. Internal communication is the key to activating your members and engaging them in local activities to build your brand and political power. This session will look at best practices being implemented today in locals around the country and will include a free-flowing discussion on what works and doesn’t work in your local.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

The provision of EMS response is an essential service that government must provide. However, for this service to be effective and efficient, it must be staffed and positioned appropriately to address emergencies in an equitable manner. When creating a staffing and deployment plan, it is important to understand how many units need to be in service and where they should be positioned. This course will outline how the IAFF utilizes demand and workload to calculate the necessary number of units to have in service and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to determine the optimal locations for units to be positioned.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Engage Members for Life: The Power of a New Member Orientation. First impressions are critical. What is the rookie firefighter’s first impression of your local? Effective new member orientation programs can have a lasting impact on the strength of local unions and set the stage for members to participate in their union through their entire career. In this class, students will learn best practice, supported by behavioral science, for developing and delivering new member orientation programs.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

This session will provide updates on the parameters of the Biden Executive Order expanding bargaining in the federal sector. The session will also cover recent decisions by the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Federal Service Impasse Panel.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

QuickBooks can make a Secretary-Treasurer’s job easier, but it can be a difficult program to learn and navigate. This class will provide hands-on learning from seasoned secretary-treasurers to make sure that your local is getting the full benefit from using QuickBooks. Additional one-on-one time is also available for those interested in learning the trick of the QuickBooks trade.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

During the workshop, you will identify and learn how to effectively model union values while communicating with the membership, building an effective culture of union solidarity, and creating and working with coalitions to achieve local IAFF political and legislative goals.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

NEW This workshop provides an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the amendments which now make it officially the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). This workshop will also address the Accessibility Canada Act (ACA) and similar legislation in Quebec and Ontario. The workshop will explore the basic principles of the legislation, examples of how it applies to fire service employees, plus case studies and Q&A.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Despite your best efforts to resolve all disputes internally, some grievances cannot be settled at the local level and must be heard by a neutral arbitrator. To win at arbitration, a union leader must be well prepared and have a good understanding of the arbitration process. This workshop will give you an overview of arbitration procedures and protocol, methods for selecting an arbitrator and strategies for cutting costs. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who work in collective bargaining environments and have limited experience with grievances.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Relational organizing is the single most effective way to make direct contact with supporters, and countless organizations and movements have leveraged relational organizing with great success. Relational organizing is the act of mobilizing personal contacts within your network. It can be as simple as a call, text, talking at a community event, or even in the firehouse. Participants will learn how to build their coalition leveraging their contacts and network and how to build and expand political and legislative partnerships.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Fire suppression and emergency medical activities are labor-intensive jobs that require an adequate number of fire fighters on scene to protect property and save lives safely and effectively. Studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and updates to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 standards have shown that inadequate staffing can result in unnecessary loss of life and property and serious injury to fire fighters and the citizens they protect. In this workshop, you will be introduced to standards and studies that indicate best practices regarding staffing and that help you make decisions regarding staffing in your community.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

NEW Supporting Members in Treatment: Strategies and Lessons Learned for Affiliate Leaders. Affiliate leaders will explore the role the affiliate leader plays in collaboration with their fire administration to develop departmental policies, standard operation procedures and language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as it relates to behavioral health issues. Additionally, the more behavioral health programs are recognized and embraced, the more issues are normalized for our members and the administration. The workshop will discuss SOPs and policies, access to resources, return to work, and last chance agreements.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

Fire fighters put their lives and health at risk to save other people’s lives and property; they don’t stop to ask who lives in the burning building or for background information on the heart attack victim. At the same time, fire fighters need to bring that respect for community, diversity, and ethics back to the firehouse, living up to their own • and their community’s • highest standards for providing a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace. Similarly, a station house must be a place where teamwork standards live up to fire fighters’ • and their community’s • standards for fairness and transparency. This workshop helps examine what it means to be a good team member, how to make effective changes in individual behavior, and how to build a culture of teamwork that respects and embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

IAFF members are constantly confronted with choices that match work against family life and other personal obligations. Fire fighters must balance their 24 hour shifts with family events, holidays and other obligations. This workshop will give union leaders tools to help themselves and their members address these work-family issues for a better work/life balance.
Category
01/31/2023 - Tuesday Workshops (Session 4)
Time
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
1/31/2023 2:00 PM

02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)

Description
Learn advanced techniques to manage your local’s social media accounts that grow your digital audience. This class is an advanced class and requires you to have a good foundation of your social media platforms. We will cover a lot of tools broadly and allow time for Q/A to address specific membership needs. Tools and topics will include 2FA, Business Manager, Business Suite, Creator Studio, Tweetdeck, Twitter for Teams, and Authenticator.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

COVID economy will renew the desire for decision makers to attack firefighters and EMS workers for cuts. Decision makers frequently rely on third party consultants to determine plans of action for public safety because they don’t understand what firefighters and EMS workers do. This workshop is designed to inform affiliate leaders how they can use their data, including publicly available resources, science, and subject matter expertise to refute their findings.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

Most IAFF leaders are public employees and have fiduciary responsibilities to their membership. Due to the nature of your position, you are subject to higher ethical standards than the average member or employee. These standards must be upheld in order to maintain the trust of your members and run an effective local. Failure to do so can result in loss of credibility, loss of union position, or even criminal charges. This workshop will cover the principles of ethics, the requirements of public employees, and strategies for making ethical decisions. You will use these strategies to analyze scenarios and case studies.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

This session will provide valuable updates to federal affiliates on OWCP programs to include filing claims and the processes involved in claim approval. This session will also cover recent updates to the OWCP Fire Fighters Special Claims Unit.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

This workshop addresses the knowledge and skills involved in effectively enforcing contract provisions and representing workers’ rights with your fire service management and jurisdiction. It will introduce and explore the issues and best practices involved in handling grievances, enforcing contract language, and handling discipline issues. Additionally, this workshop reviews ways that key union personnel can inform membership on the benefits of union membership and active involvement.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

What is the IAFF MERP? What can it do for you and your members? And how do you as an Affiliate Leader implement the IAFF MERP for your members? This class will explore these questions and more and will provide participants with a clear roadmap for how to bring the IAFF MERP into your home Local.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

The strength of a local depends on the active involvement of its members. Whether it’s a committee meeting, political campaign, or public relations effort, your members make the difference between success and failure. This workshop provides methods to increase member participation and build an effective union.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

NEW How do you plan and prepare for the most horrible event imaginable? How do affiliate leaders act when faced with what can often be a crippling organizational event? Listen to IAFF leaders and staff as they provide suggestions to affiliate leaders about relationships and networks to establish before tragedy strikes, guidance on immediate steps to support surviving members and families, the ceremony, the incident review, and championing positive change in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Self-care and follow-up efforts. Self-care and follow-up efforts are also discussed.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

The collective bargaining agreement is a contract between union and management that outlines the wages, benefits and working conditions for fire fighters. To maintain flexibility in the workplace, negotiators sometimes include language in the agreement that is ambiguous or general in nature. Occasionally, this ambiguity leads to disputes between the two parties over the meaning of the contract. When these disputes are brought to arbitration, the arbitrator must determine which interpretation is the most reasonable and best reflects the mutual intent of the parties. This workshop will teach you how arbitrators consider contract language, past practice and other contributing factors in order to reach a decision.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

Protecting Yourself and Members: First Amendment Speech, Internet and Social Media. As a public employee, knowing your First Amendment rights will allow you to advocate for yourself, your members and your co-workers while keeping yourself and your Local out of trouble. We will examine the various First Amendment protections afforded to union officials and members, both on and off the job. In addition, we will provide guidance on the perilous intersection of the First Amendment with the internet and social media platforms. Finally, we will discuss the various federal and state laws concerning the recording of meetings, phone calls, video conferences and similar forms of communications. As part of this class, there will be the opportunity to participant in a trivia/game show type contest to review the most important aspects of First Amendment protections.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

Providing a timely response to emergencies is crucial for a fire department. NFPA 1710 establishes precise objectives for the travel time to the scene of incidents. Travel times depend on the distribution of department resources and department workload, as well as on city-specific factors, such as traffic, one-way roads, and geographic barriers. Predicting how the interplay of these factors affects travel times when resources are added or removed is often difficult. The IAFF developed a forecasting software, based on the combination of Geographic Information System tools and Computer Aided Dispatch data, which allows to simulate how travel times and the workload of a department are affected by adding or removing units, closing, or opening stations, and by any other change in the response model of the department. The software considers real world factors, such as historical traffic level in the jurisdiction, variations in the calls volume during the day, and can be adapted to any response model as desired. This course will show examples of the IAFF forecasting tools applied to several fire departments.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

NEW On April 19, 2019, four fire fighters were seriously injured when a cascading thermal runaway within a 2.16 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (ESS) led to a deflagration event. IAFF partners at Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute studied the event and will educate attendees on the ESS dangers and response strategies.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

NEW Signing up New Members: Best Practices of Internal Organizing. Internal organizing is the systematic process of signing up new members. In this class, students will hear from IAFF leaders that have built effective local unions from the ground up in some of the toughest anti-union environments in the US. This class isn’t just about getting new firefighters to sign membership cards. It’s about how we can win hearts and minds for your local and the firefighter union movement.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

NEW States and cities spend an estimated $70 billion per year on corporate tax breaks and other subsidies called “incentives.” But as some IAFF locals are learning, secretly-negotiated “megadeals” can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per job! These costly giveaways can actually undermine the tax base for public safety. Good Jobs First will explain how to expose specific deals with its Subsidy Tracker database and also how to document the total harm to public budgets thanks to the government accounting rule called GASB Statement 77. The first step to curbing corporate welfare is sunshine!
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

Why annuities have historically gotten a justifiable bad rap, and despite that, how today’s variable annuities and similar insurance solutions may be the right option for IAFF retirees. Many IAFF members leave the job with sizable deferred compensation accounts and DROP accounts, and very frequently those assets are not deployed in a manner that maximizes opportunities for those IAFF retirees. This class will explore how and why annuities got a bad reputation amongst firefighters, and more importantly, why IAFF leaders should become familiar with how modern annuities may be the right option for some IAFF retirees.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) were created to provide funding directly to fire departments to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. This workshop will provide an overview of SAFER grant legislation, available funding, program priorities, and the application process. Instructors will provide tips and tricks for writing effective grants for their department, actual grant applications for critique, and a question and answer session.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 5)
Time
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
2/1/2023 8:00 AM

02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)

Description
This advanced class is designed for local leaders who already have a social media presence and a basic brand built. We will discuss new techniques, tools, and targets to grow your influence in your local community. If you’re ready to move to the next level and grow your ability to influence local politics, then this class is for you.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

NEW Today’s fire service is dealing with the challenges of legal medical marijuana. The panelists will discuss their experience with the legalization of medical marijuana, contract language, and propose solutions for current and emerging challenges
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

This workshop will provide union leaders with an overview of their rights and responsibilities during the employment disciplinary process. Union leaders will learn how to best represent their members in accordance with their contract, civil service laws, and the Weingarten, Loudermill and Garrity decisions. This workshop is applicable to affiliate leaders in both collective bargaining and non-collective bargaining environments.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

Special category retirement considerations.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

What is financial planning, and why every single IAFF member needs to have a professional relationship with a fiduciary financial planner. Most IAFF members are significantly underinsured, frequently resulting in our survivors not only coping with a loss of their firefighter, but also struggling to make ends meet in their absence. This class will take a deep dive into the fiduciary financial planning process and also examine how every IAFF member can protect their family should something tragic happen on, or off the job, or should something happen to their spouse.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

The manner in which you process grievances will determine how quickly they are resolved and how your members will perceive you. A good understanding of the grievance process will better enable you to enforce the collective bargaining agreement and avoid costly arbitration hearings. In this workshop, you will learn how to evaluate and file a grievance, reduce your chances of receiving a DFR claim, and develop effective grievance strategies. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

NEW What are PFAS chemicals and how are fire fighters exposed to this class of chemicals? This session will explore the impacts of exposure to PFAS chemicals found in the firefighting environment, in the foam and in our gear. This session will also discuss this class of chemicals and the ongoing research to better understand fluorine free foams and next generation turnout gear.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

Risk assessment is a fundamental part of a fire department organization and deployment of resources as well as a key component of the accreditation process. Understanding the risk in a community means determining the likelihood of incidents, the consequences that incidents can have on the community, and the impact on the responding agency. The analysis of demographic and socio-economic data enables quantitative forecasts of the risk. The IAFF has developed a statistical approach to predict the likelihood of incidents based on the combination of demographic and economic variables with the incident statistics provided by fire departments. The method helps to predict the future likelihood of incidents, even in areas of the community which are evolving or developing, and determines what factors are driving the number of incidents. Assessing the risk means also ensuring preparedness for disasters and learning from previous events.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

To win your case in grievance arbitration, it is crucial to have evidence to back up your arguments and assertions. Without sufficient evidence, it is difficult to convince an arbitrator to rule in your favor. This workshop will teach you how to gather evidence, identify the types of evidence admissible in arbitration and determine which types carry the most weight with arbitrators. This workshop is ideal for local union officers and grievance committee members who have limited experience with grievances.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

For political candidates, the endorsement of fire fighters is the most coveted endorsement in campaigns today. The political action of an affiliate is what it takes to move fire service issues forward. In this workshop, you will learn how to select a candidate and campaign for political action, understand the endorsement process, and create a local endorsement process.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

The AFG Training and Equipment grants are for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience. This workshop will provide an overview of AFG grant legislation, available funding, program priorities, and the application process. Instructors will provide tips and tricks for writing effective grants for their department, actual grant applications for critique, and a question and answer session.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

A Geographic Information System (GIS) coupled with Workload Analysis are two great ways for you to start owning your data. However, although these resources could stand on their own, their power is tied to your ability to use the data, tell your story, and build winning arguments. This workshop will show local leaders how to gather necessary data, assess their community risk, interpret a workload capacity, and explain how the results can inform fire service administration. Join us to see the resources the IAFF has provide fire department operations insight.
Category
02/01/2023 - Wednesday Workshops (Session 6)
Time
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2/1/2023 10:30 AM

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