Please take the time to complete the following survey from the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. How will the Fire Service survive the next few years? The economic climate of 2008 shifted the focus for many leaders from growth to survival. The Fire Service is as diverse as the population it serves; therefore, it is reasonable to address the needs each fire department faces because our systems are unique. The Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recognizes this diversity of needs and challenges and is attempting to provide resources to assist with your decision making needs. We are assembling a comprehensive database of best practices. We recognize the impracticality of trying to research, absorb and distribute these best practices without establishing priorities with manageable research parameters. Even though this endeavor will take a significant investment of time, we believe it will be a critical resource for the Fire Service. The following survey will establish the priority of issues you determine as needing prompt research to find and distribute "Best Practices." Once identified, these best practices can benefit us all.

Your Name (Optional)

Your State:

Fire Department Name (Optional)

Fire Department Mailing Address (Optional)

Email Address (Optional)

Phone Number (Optional)

Number of Fire Department Personnel

Area protected by Fire Department (Square Miles)

Fire District Population

Number of FD Stations:

What is your total annual Fire Department Budget?

1. Which best describes you?

Elected/Appointed Official

Chief Officer

Company Officer

Interested Party

2. Which of the following best describes your community’s emergency service organization?

100% Volunteer Organization

Primarily Volunteer Combination Organization

Primarily Career Combination Organization

3. Please rank the following challenges of your community's emergency service organization with 1 being most concerned and 12 being least concerned.

	Adequate and dependable revenue sources
	Recruitment of capable and productive members
	Creating and maintaining an effective training program
	Retention of capable and productive members
	Maintaining pace with area population growth
	Apparatus replacement program/plan
	Transition to a combination or career dept.
	Maintaining or improving ISO rating
	Facility improvement or expansion
	Creating, maintaining or improving an incentive program
	Building an effective team of community stakeholders
	Establishing or building organizational and community support/equity to accomplish a stated vision/mission

4. Which of the following best describes how you would best learn from other organizations' successful programs? Please rank them in order from most preferred 1, and least preferred as 5.

	Published report on-line
	Annual emergency services conference
	Regional emergency services symposium
	Webinar/Podcast
	National Fire Academy one-week class or Volunteer Incentive Program class

5. Please select the following reports if you are aware they exist.

VCOS Blue Ribbon Report

VCOS Red Ribbon Report

VCOS White Ribbon Report

NVFC Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services Challenges and Solutions

None of the above

6. I believe the challenges my emergency service organization faces are unique and I do not see much hope of being able to use another organizations' program or best practices.

`Questions 7-16 are intended to capture departments that may provide best practice examples. Completion of these questions are not required to submit the survey.`

7. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of "emphasis on quality of life within their community?"

8. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of emphasis on safety and reasonable risks to their citizens & firefighters?

9. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of emphasis on effective and efficient service delivery?

10. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of emphasis on overall fiscal responsibilities?

11. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of receiving superior organizational and community support that empowers it to achieve its vision/mission?

12. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of a successful department with Recruitment & Retention?

13. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of a successful department with their training program?

14. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of effective leadership - taking actions, popular and unpopular, that results in efficient and effective services to the community?

15. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of keeping pace with community transitions -- planning, monitoring and evaluating decisions as the community transitions?

16. What Fire & Emergency Services Department comes to mind when you think of team approach -- stakeholders working together for the improved quality of life to the citizen regardless of our community or department situation?

The outcome of our research is dependent upon discovering and sharing "Best Practices;" therefore, any of your electronic files, links (SOP's/SOG's, Policies, Recruitment programs, retention programs, training programs, leadership programs, etc.) you believe relevant to this research effort are appreciated. Please send all correspondence to ChiefRayS@aol.com Thank you for your candid responses and your time. We would like to send you a copy of our report based on this survey. We will email the survey results to the email address provided. Thank you for your participation in the process.

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