The Volunteer and Combination Officer’s Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs has reached its 10-year milestone. Founded as the Volunteer Chief Officer's Section by a handful of dedicated and driven individuals, the section today has more than 2,200 members and is known widely in the fire service simply as VCOS.

Chief John Buckman of German Township (Ind.) held the first meetings. Members exchanged information via fax, held quarterly meetings at the IAFC headquarters in Fairfax, Va., and held board conference calls once every few months. The initial goals of the section were to represent the interests of volunteer chief officers on the legislative front and to develop their educational opportunities. Shortly after the formation of the section, the board of directors successfully petitioned the IAFC board of directors for a board seat.

A membership recruitment drive reaching chief officers all across America was developed. When the section formed, dues were $10 (now only $25). VCOS also has an affiliate membership for young officers who aspire to be chief officers.

With its board of directors becoming more active and involved in the fire service, VCOS took on more work and challenges. The section’s recent accomplishments include:

• 21st Century Leadership Classes. Designed to provide the knowledge and skills that fire department leaders need to bring their departments into the next century, the program consists of four modules that can be taught in four, eight or 16-hour increments, covering recruitment and retention problem-solving, leadership, image-building and team building. The course consists of lecture, videos, hands-on activities and class participation and a complete student handout.
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• The Symposium in the Sun. The only national conference designed specifically for the chief officer who manages volunteers or a combination of volunteers and career personnel, the symposium is usually held in Florida the second weekend in November offering educational workshops, fun and great networking opportunities.
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• A Web site. On the Web at www.vcos.org , you’ll find more information about everything discussed in this article and more.
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• “A Call to Action: Blue Ribbon Report.” The VCOS board has strived to become more involved in legislation affecting volunteer and combination fire departments. In March 2004, it published this report to puts its ideas for preserving and improving the future of the volunteer fire service in writing. The report has been cited several times in testimony about America’s fire service in Congress and led to a number of meetings with national legislators.
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• Industry partnerships. VCOS has received a true commitment from various exhibitors, vendors and businesses interested in promoting the fire service. We would not be where we are today without their support.
  

The VCOS board of directors has 10 members: a chair, vice-chair, secretary/treasurer, international director and six directors at large. In addition to Chief Buckman, VCOS past chairs include Chief Fred Windisch of Ponderosa, Texas; Chief Mike Chiaramonte of Lynbrook, N.Y.; and Chief Peter McMahon of Grand Island, N.Y. The current chair is Chief Larry Curl of Indianapolis.

VCOS has much to be proud of in its first decade, but as you know it still has much work to do. Please visit www.vcos.org for more information.

Timothy S. Wall is fire chief of the North Farms Volunteer Fire Department of Wallingford, Conn. He is a charter member of VCOS and is current vice chair. You can reach him by e-mail at FirewallCo7@cs.com.