Each spring for more than a decade, Capitol Hill abounds with fire service officials, some in their dress uniforms and others wearing lapel pins identifying their associations, on their way to the National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. They are there to learn and to deliver their own messages to Congress.

If you are thinking about attending the Congressional Fire Services Institute annual dinner and seminars this year, you should put some thought into how to use your time in Washington to the benefit of your fire department or association.

Set some goals and budget your time. Your goal could be meeting with your senators and congressman. It might be scheduling a private meeting with a federal agency official to discuss a parochial issue. If you don't set goals or budget your time effectively, you will forgo a unique opportunity to become involved in our democratic process.

The date of this year's dinner and seminars is May 5. In the morning, the CFSI will offer a series of workshops featuring members of Congress, administration officials and national association leaders. The seminars are designed to answer questions about legislation and government programs hat affect the fire service. The focus will be on navigating the Department of Homeland Security, such as where the grant programs are located and how federal monies work their way through the funding pipeline.

In addition, the CFSI will provide forums to discuss the status of federal legislation and to share information about education and prevention initiatives. In recent years, we have made a stronger effort to incorporate a prevention and education component into the program. More than ever, we believe it imperative to highlight these programs so we do not lose sight of our core mission.

The afternoon is open for private meetings with members of Congress. We purposely schedule the dinner when Congress is in session so that members will be in town on the day of the event. It's up to you to schedule your own meeting, but we can tell you how to contact your representatives.

What you decide to discuss is your call, but be sure to prepare in advance the major issue for your meeting. Rehearse your presentation, keeping in mind that you may have only 15 minutes to present your thoughts. If you will be in a group, make certain that everyone is in sync and speaks with one voice. If you bring material with you, keep it concise and bring extra copies and business cards for the congressional member's staff.

The late Thomas “Tip” O'Neill, former speaker of the House, once said that “all politics is local.” When discussing a measure, put a local spin on it and explain how the measure will affect the fire service locally. Be prepared for questions about local funding responsibilities versus federal. While we have made significant progress in securing more federal funding, we must be prepared to explain why the federal government needs to assume a greater role in local emergency response.

If the purpose of your visit is to discuss legislation, contact the national association that best represents your interests, or visit its Web site. Find out the status of the measure and the actions the association has taken to date to advance it.

In addition, the CFSI Web site has a link to a legislative tracking service called Thomas, which tracks every bill pending in Congress. By visiting this site, you can follow the status of a measure and see if your member is a co-sponsor. Beyond the dinner, Thomas is an invaluable resource for staying current on Congress. To access Thomas from the CFSI Web site, click the Fire Service Legislation link and then Thomas.

By attending the National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars, you will not only support our mission in Washington, you will make a difference at the local level for your first responders. On one level, our annual program brings together the nation's fire service to speak in one clear voice; but on another level, it is about local leaders engaging their elected representatives on both local and national issues.

For registration information, you can visit www.cfsi.org. The registration fee ($250 per person and $2,500 for a table) includes access to all events on Capitol Hill and the shuttle service. If you are considering attending and have some questions, contact the CFSI staff at 202-371-1277.