VolunteerFD.org is touring the US presenting its VolunteerFD.org Round Tables to volunteer departments across the country! This format of roundtables was successfully launched at "Cruisin for Solutions", a 7 day conference at sea last year.

The round tables are made up of six separate facilitated discussion sessions of two and a half hours each and starts with a two hour session entitled "Get Fired Up! Get Fired Up! is a motivational session to get the attendees in the right mind frame for change and moving forward!

The sessions are facilitated by Jason Zigmont, and are based upon using real life submissions of what works for volunteer fire departments across the country. The six topics to be discussed are the core of running a volunteer organization and include:

" Bylaws
" Fund Raising
" Grants
" Recruitment and Retention
" SOGs
" Training

The purpose of the sessions is not to discuss putting out fires, but how to run a volunteer fire service organization. The sessions use facilitated discussion to bring volunteers together to learn from each other.

VolunteerFD.org has collected over 2500 submissions from over 16,000 volunteer departments in the six core areas. Each submission includes details of the program, the department that submitted it, and the successes and pitfalls. Participants are given an over 150 page handbook with selected submissions as discussion points and tangible ideas to accomplish their goals in each area. The group is then led in a facilitated discussion to allow the attendees to learn from other attendees
The goal is to provide attendees with tangible ideas and plans to change or improve their department. Each session has a slightly different focus, but the goal is to overcome existing roadblocks and problems within volunteer departments. Individual learning objectives are as follows:

Bylaws:
" Understanding how and why to make changes to department bylaws.
" How to 'hire' and 'fire' members, including discipline procedures.
" How to elect or appoint officers, and minimum qualifications.

Fundraising:
" How to make the most out of your strengths.
" Understanding profit margins and the "McDonald's Test".
" Thinking outside the box and new fundraisers to try.

Grants:
" Understanding alternative funding sources and possible sources for grants.
" Understanding why grant proposals fail.
" Real life examples of grants that 'work'.

Recruitment and Retention:
" Changing the mentality of the recruitment and retention process.
" Do LOSAP plans work?
" Going past just giving out money and putting money to work.

SOGs/SOPs:
" Understanding why SOPs are important.
" Keeping up with the times and technology.
" Controversial SOGs such as alcohol in the fire service and facial hair.

Training:
" Keeping training interesting.
" Getting members to participate and come to training.
" Setting and meeting minimum training requirements

The session costs $295 per person, which includes the 150 page handbook. Groups of 5 or more should contact Jason Zigmont at jason@volunteerfd.org for group discounts. A minimum of 25 attendees is required to hold a round table. Should there be less then 25 attendees, the event will be canceled and your sign up fee returned. A portion of each sign up goes to the host department. If you would like to host a round table, there is more information available from Jason as well.

The events in Texas are being held at:

Fireman's Park
Giddings, Texas 78942
May 6th and 7th, 2006

LCVFD Training Field
League City, TX 77573
October 21st and 22nd, 2006

More information can be found at http://www.volunteerfd.org/roundtable/