Celebrating 20 Years
The International Association of Wildland Fire turns 20 this year, and I've had some time to reflect on that milestone during this cold winter in the northern hemisphere. So much has happened in the last two decades, which seem to have gone by in a flash.
I have been a member of the organization since the very early days and a member of the board of directors for most of the last 11 years. There have been ups and downs, but the organization has survived those fluctuations, becoming stronger in the process and then reaching out to meet new challenges. This year will be no different as we plan on how the IAWF can best meet our mission and goals and strive to best meet members' needs. The IAWF definitely is in a growth mode, but it takes work by many individuals to keep moving forward.
To better gauge members' thoughts and interests, the IAWF soon will conduct an electronic membership survey. Your response will help us gauge how we are doing on topics such as Wildfire magazine, the International Journal of Wildland Fire, IAWF conferences, IAWF Online, FireNet listserv, and other important topics. Typically we receive a good response rate on these surveys, which itself indicates membership interest.
This year brings a compliment of challenges for IAWF: future growth and direction, new board members (see page 6), wildland fire issues, shifting economics, new political administrations and changing priorities. Our international members represent government agencies, fire and emergency response organizations, private companies, and non-profit organizations. We have fire researchers, equipment manufacturers, fire managers and boots-on-the-ground fire personnel. Some are interested in wildland fire suppression and some in prescribed fire. Some are just plain interested in the never-dull subject of wildland fire and how it interacts with people in so many ways. Groups and individuals have their own interests and priorities. Gauging your interests and how we can work together better is important, and we need your feedback to accomplish this.
Whatever your fire concerns might be, I hope you will join us in continuing to move IAWF into our next decade by becoming actively involved in guiding your association. This might mean simply passing along IAWF information such as upcoming events via e-mail and newsletters. Maybe you can become involved in a committee providing feedback to the board of directors or in planning a conference. You can develop articles for Wildfire magazine or provide information or questions to go out to the global fire community over FireNet.
This will be a year of changes and challenges. Some changes I hope will happen very soon, and you will hear more about these as they occur. The potential to-do list is never ending. There is one task, however, that we can all work on, whether you are an IAWF member or not — make this year the safest in wildland fire for firefighters and residents. Everyone needs to stay safe and come home at the end of the campaign.
International Association of Wildland Fire
3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, Ala. 35216
ph: 205-824-7614
toll-free: 888- 440-IAW
To join the IAWF, visit www.iawfonline.org
Send them to:
Wildfire Magazine
330 N. Wabash Ave.
Suite 2300
Chicago, Ill. 60611
Attn: Lisa Allegretti
lisa.allegretti@penton.com
Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus
