Take time this holiday season to acknowledge the skill, expertise, and enthusiasm your firefighters bring to work every day.

The American Fire Sprinkler Association announces that R. Donald Kaufman, president and owner, Kaufman Fire Protection, Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been elected Chairman of the 2009-2010 AFSA Board of Directors.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received a one-year, $1 million award from FEMA to develop the final component of an integrated monitoring system designed to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries by precisely locating and tracking them inside buildings in three dimensions while monitoring their vitals.

The National Volunteer Fire Council offers several resources to help volunteer and combination departments prepare their applications and narratives for FY 2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services Grants.

Spartan Motors, Inc. announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Utilimaster Corporation.

The Program Guidance document for the FY2009 SAFER Grants provides a wealth of information on the SAFER program including the implementation of recent legislative changes and program priorities.

Michael Hennigan discusses three questions he puts to every firefighter or fire officer who is considering seeking promotion.

Beginning November 16, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the Department of Homeland Security  will begin accepting applications for FY2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services Grants.

We have “Unplugged” our way through the first four parts of the performance management process. This month we will discuss the fifth and last “box” in the model, which is revision.

Fire Corps awarded the 2009 Award of Excellence to the Mesa (AZ) Fire Department Volunteer Corps. Sponsored by the International Fire Service Training Association, the Fire Corps Award of Excellence honors a Fire Corps program whose remarkable achievements in the fire and emergency services and the community exemplify outstanding performance.

Waterous recently announced the retirement of current President and CEO, Donald J. Haugen and the appointment of William L. Smith as the new President and CEO.

Application procedures have been announced for the 2010 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program. Senior fire executives who are selected will be awarded fellowships to attend Harvard's annual Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate has sworn in Richard Serino as FEMA Deputy Administrator at a ceremony at Boston’s Faneuil Hall.

Leadership from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) joined the State of California along with numerous national and local emergency preparedness organizations at events across the impacted region in solemn acknowledgement of the 20^th anniversary of the San Francisco Bay Area 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.

There is still time to submit an application for the Department of Homeland Security FY 09 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. Applications must be received by October 23, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Help your department apply for funds to support important programs, including the National Volunteer Fire Council's Fire Corps activities. The application deadline is October 23.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation’s Board is pleased to announce that $30,000 is being awarded to 33 first responders representing a range of departments and ranks to further advance their fire service education.

Southern Maine Community College is seeking a full-time administrator to provide leadership for the delivery of fire training and education and certification in the state of Maine.