For many years, the Concord Hotel in the Catskill Mountains was the site for the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs' annual show and conference. A traditional gathering for those with smoke in their blood -- it was as much a massive social event as a trade show. Exhibitors were packed in lobbies and the surrounding grounds of the aging hotel.

The old Concord is still serving New York's chiefs, but not as a conference site these days. Before it's demolished for redevelopment, it will be used as a training site. The concrete construction makes a good facility for a variety of hands-on training classes.

NYSAFC moved its show to the state fairgrounds in Syracuse six years ago. If fire exhibitions got points for acreage, this one would win hands down. Spread among five buildings and the outdoor grounds on June 9-12 this year, there was plenty of demo space outside and food offerings were plentiful (no funnel cakes, but good lemonade).

But attendance seems to have dwindled in recent years. "Where's the chiefs?" asked one exhibitor.

Funds from the show support the association's activities throughout the year. Typically, trade shows will include exhibitors and kids in their daily attendance numbers, so you can't tell how many real fire and emergency service personnel were there.

The attendance at the New York show is primarily volunteers. The entrance fee ranged from $10 (the Saturday special) to $40 for nonmembers. By comparison, Fire Expo, sponsored by Lancaster County Firemen's Association in Harrisburg, Pa., charged $7 for admission and had no education classes. With attendance estimated at 20,000, its crowds never let up for three days.

Capt. Dennis Weaver of Jonesville Fire District and Capt. Jason Kaczmarck of Round Lake Fire spent a couple days at the New York show. They said they have a rule: Members of their departments who attend the show must attend some of the education programs and be prepared to share what they learned with other members of their department when they returned.

Capt. Weaver was interested in the "shorthand firefighting" session. "A lot of our drills are for five or six people, but the turnout [on scene] might only be four or five, so the crew needs to figure out how to make up for being one down," he said.

Another chief said he sent 11 members of his department to Harrisburg for $77; he and two commissioners came to New York at a cost of $105. He couldn't take in any of the education classes because they were there only for a day and he wanted to see all the exhibits before the 90-minute drive home.

As fire department budgets shrink, so do the numbers of members a fire department can send to trade shows and conferences and the distances those members can travel.

As with any nonprofit association, the NYSAFC needs money to provide newsletters and education for its members. The association is trying to satisfy the needs of its members and its exhibitors, and it's a tough job.

As one exhibitor commented, he also faces a dilemma: "If the fire departments don't have money to [support] travel, they probably don't have money to buy either."

Perhaps without realizing it, you cast a "vote" when you attend an exhibition or conference, and you re-cast your vote when you return the next year. If it's an event for a nonprofit fire service association, you're also contributing to the organization's efforts to help its members. If you don't participate in the annual fund-raising event for your organization, what message are you sending?


Janet Wilmoth, Editor