[Msfdanews] 2006 MSFDA Conference Class Options

[Woody Walters]

Mn State Fire Dept. Assoc. Conf. June 1 - 3, 2006.  Detroit Lakes, Mn
Pick and reg. your classes early.  They do fill up at times and you may get your 2nd or 3rd choice if mailed late. 
Reg. packets will be mailed soon with full agenda.  First to Reg., First to receive motel rooms, camping or ? of choice.

2006 MSFDA Conference Class Options
Workshops June 2nd 8am - noon.  Symposium Speaker June 2nd 2:45pm * 4:00pm

01 - RELIEF ASSOCIATION [Investments]	
An overview of relief association operation for the new and veteran trustees.  Investment strategies will address the state investments as well as the pros and cons of alternative investment options.	

02 - RELIEF ASSOCIATION [State Auditor Reports]
An overview of relief association operation for the new and veteran trustees.  Topics include reporting requirements, schedules I and II, and State Auditor and federal reporting requirements on benefit disbursements. 	

03 - RELIEF ASSOCIATION [By-Laws]
Topics include bylaw construction and provisions, investment policies and State Laws information. A computer demonstration of setting up spreadsheets for benefits and length of service computations as well as repetitive forms.	

04 - RELIEF ASSOCIATION Fire Relief Pension Accounting System [FRPAS]
Tired of filling out forms? Learn to use the State Auditor's new Fire Relief Pension Accounting System called FRPAS pronounced "Free Pass".  The free system promotes best accounting practices, automatically completes annual reporting forms and conveniently tracks relief association data. By entering data during the year, reporting forms will be automatically completed for submission by your deadline. FRPAS will also help you follow best accounting practices and better meet your record-keeping responsibilities. 	

 05 - RELIEF ASSOCIATION [New Officers]	
An overview of relief association operation for the new and veteran trustees.  Topics include an overview of the functions and purpose of fire service relief associations, their bylaws and a review of state laws that pertain to pensions.  All trustees are obligated to act in a prudent and fiduciary manner, this course will assist you in ensuring you are qualified to act in that degree.	

06 - ARSON [Vehicle and Equipment Fires]
This classroom instruction will give students examples of various intentional and accidental types of vehicle and mobile equipment fires.	
07 - FIRE GROUND OFFICER
This course will provide you with overview and information on the responsibilities of the fire ground officer at incidents.	

08 - SIZING UP STRUCTURES FOR RAPID INTERVENTION
Every clue counts when called to find a lost/downed firefighter. Building construction, firefighting tactics and common sense are used to undress the structure from the outside for information that can quickly pinpoint the victim's location. Learn how to determine the building's layout before entering and quickly identify living, sleeping and functional areas of the structure. Tips for preplanning and improving emergency communications are also presented.	

09 * HIGH RISK OPERATIONS - "MITIGATING THE RISK"
Students will learn proper ways of preparing for high-risk operations at incident scenes. Definition of high risk operations outside of the normal fire situations will be discussed. Solutions to confrontation with angry people, road rage, and threat continuum will be covered. How do we deal with narcotics, gang's, extremists, IED's road rage etc.  This is a fast interactive class environment. 
	
10- LIVE-FIRE TRAINING: KNOW THE RULES! 
 Firefighter deaths and injuries that have occurred during live-fire training in recent years have resulted in legal proceedings. In one case, an assistant chief was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to 75 days in jail. The jury considered NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, to be equivalent to "regulation or law." Attendees will become acquainted with this standard and learn how to develop safe live-fire training evolutions.	

11 * MN FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES
The participants will be provided with an overview of the various state agencies and organizations that impact the fire service in Minnesota	

12 -ADMINISTRATIVE AND EMERGENCY DECISION MAKING
Explore the benefits and challenges of the chief officer in individual and group decision-making. Decision-making processes will be compared and critical factors affecting quality decision-making will be examined.	

13 - DEVELOPING A TRAINING PROGRAM 
Demonstration of what is required to develop and deliver an in-station training program in a fire or rescue department.

14 - CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS           
Designed to provide the student with a general knowledge and recognition of drug labs, defensive considerations including implementing self-protective measurers; secure the scene, complete appropriate notifications to local, state, and federal authorities.

15 * WE HAVE A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE-NOW WHAT
This course will provide you with the basics strategy and tactics that should be considered when dealing with single through quad unit residential structure fires.

16 * National Volunteer Fire Council [NVFC]  Dual Topic Workshop
The Retention and Recruitment seminar 
Will focus on the results of the recent NVFC study on R&R. The program also provides recommendations on retention and recruitment topics and delves into the reasons why there has been a decline in the service. 
and
The Health and Safety workshop
Will focus on the NVFC Heart Healthy Firefighter program and the need for heart attack awareness among
firefighters. The program reviews proper diet, exercise programs and tools to keep firefighters on track. Information on available health and safety grants will be provided. The results of the recent NVFC/USFA Emergent Health and Safety study will also be reviewed. 

17 * THE FIRE IS IN THE BASEMENT
 A fire in the basement is different from any other fire to which we respond. Fire spreads throughout the building from vertical voids that initiate in the basement. Everyone on the fireground should rethink their strategies and tactics when they hear the words, "It's in the basement." The hazards associated with all types of construction, especially balloon framing and trusses, are discussed, as are size-up concerns, proper handline placement, ventilation and search procedures.

18 *  NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS)
This course will provide you with overview and information on the 2006 NIMS requirements and what you should be doing to update your department.

19 *  HIGHWAY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
This course will provide you with overview and information on the hazards that firefighters face in incidents involving roadways.

20 - PLANS SECTION CHIEF: ICS GENERAL STAFF FOR THE FIRE SERVICE
The ICS role of the Plans Section chief is not used often in the structural fire service, but it is critical in a large-scale event. The Plans function involves the use of several ICS forms originally created for the wildland fire service. The Plans Section Chief function and responsibilities are reviewed. You will use "structural-fire friendly" versions of the Plan forms in a mock incident warranting a Plans Section Chief.

21 * FIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT AND LIABILITY ISSUES - LEAGUE OF MN CITIES
Attend this interactive session focused on fire department management and liability issues. A brief presentation will be followed by Q&A discussion time. The specially designed, round table discussion will focus on identified current fire department concerns and liability issues; NFPA and response time standards, Fire relief associations and fire department checkbooks, Alcohol response policies and alcohol sales for fund raising, Mutual aid agreements, Charging for Fire Calls and many others.

22 *  SMOKE SIGNALS - WHAT THE COLORS MEAN
One of the most important size-up skills an officer can have is the ability to capture, in an instant, the size of a fire and the potential for a rapid hostile fire event like flashover or smoke explosion. Often, smoke issuing from a structure is the only clue available to predict fire behavior.

23- STRUCTURAL FIRE CAUSE DETERMINTAION 
This classroom instruction will give students examples of various intentional and accidental types of structural fires and what to look for.

Mn State Colleges and Universities
Woody Walters, Fire Service Specialist
Fire/EMS/Safety Center
Wells Fargo Place
30   7th  St. E., Suite 350
St. Paul, Mn 55101 - 7804
1/800/fireline - w/in state only
1/800/311-3143 - nation wide
651/649-5450 - local
Fx 651/649-5409
EM - woody.walters at so.mnscu.edu

also serving as 
National Volunteer Fire Council, Director
Fire Corp, MN Rep.
Minnestota State Fire Dept. Assoc., Director