Congratulations on your appointment as chief of department. Your many years of training, formal education, experience and dedication finally have been recognized. But you will face many challenges in the weeks, months and years ahead.

If you are an inside appointment, you already know the lay of the land and the strengths and weaknesses of those who will serve you. If you came from another department, it will take some time to know the community and your staff. You will undoubtedly choose your leadership team and set short- and long-term goals and expectations. You must become acclimated with your boss, as well as with the other department managers and agency heads who you will interact with.

There's a good chance you will be asked to appear before a variety of groups and functions. You will be asked to join your county, state and regional chiefs organizations, and you really will need to join the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Perhaps more education is in order, such as enrollment in an Executive Fire Officer or Chief Fire Officer Designation program.

Before you know it, your calendar will be pretty full — and that doesn't take into account family commitments, or church and community involvement. Can you take on a little more? Probably not at this time, you will say, but you must.

There is a pretty good chance that you will attend a few chiefs meetings once the dust settles. Perhaps it's a meeting involving your mutual aid communities or a state chiefs organization. You will hear many comprehensive reports from committees and task groups. You will receive a report on progress concerning the legislative front. You will be updated on forthcoming state and federal grants, and the fire codes and laws being promulgated. There is a pretty good chance that those people leading this meeting and giving reports (which reflect many hours of hard work) are chiefs just like you who face the same challenges and the same hectic schedule.

The fire service has progressed light-years in securing funds. Only a few short years ago, we received virtually no federal funds and in some cases little help from the state, either. This progress is the result of a great deal of hard work by your peers, both present and retired. There is a good chance that your sprinkler bills were the result of fellow chiefs walking the soles of their shoes off at the state capital.

Continued vitality of your chiefs organization depends on its members and the dues they provide. Chances are that you learned about your association because another chief took the time to bring you along to your first meeting. You need to do the same thing: Reach out to your neighbor and make sure they attend as well.

Bigger commitments

This is a different world than when many of us joined the fire service. We can't survive by staying behind the desk, reading the magazines and newsletters, and assuming that someone else is taking care of business. This is your future and your fire service that is at stake, and you need to be an active player. So what can you do get involved and do your fair share while maintaining some sort of balance?

Attendance at chiefs meetings and conferences is a good place to start. You may say you have too much on your plate. Perhaps you need to delegate more. You say that you have some difficult issues to fix. They will be waiting on your desk tomorrow. The time spent away in a productive meeting will refresh and recharge your batteries. Perhaps you will network with some of the best and brightest in your group, and you will find solutions to your problems. In one group that I meet with regularly, the chiefs share their difficult issues in a confidential setting. You leave feeling better and knowing that things could be worse.

Seek out a committee to serve on. The time spent will help your own agency as well as the entire order. I always have learned a lot by pitching in on a project.

Much of our future survival and success depends on our legislative endeavors. The brunt of the work is carried out by your organization's elected leadership, legislative committee and, in some cases, paid staff. They need your help as well. Success depends on your legislators hearing from you, their constituents and respected local public safety officials.

As a good citizen, you should get acquainted with your elected officials at the local, state and national levels. They are accessible at many public events. Take the time to introduce yourself to them. Follow up with a note or a letter. Thank them for helping the fire service. Share photo opportunities and good news stories when they provide resources to protect your community. Attend a fund-raiser occasionally or contribute to your organization's PAC fund, if one exists. This allows your leadership to attend and support your agenda. When asked, write letters and make phone calls, to support important legislation. When requested, show up at the statehouse in Class A uniform and support your organization's legislative goals.

Legislators read the responses of the chiefs at important hearings and events. Educate yourself on the issues and speak intelligently. Speak with a single voice. The diversity that makes the fire service great and strong makes us weak and ineffective when we speak from diverging viewpoints. By joining the IAFC, you will be kept informed on the important legislative issues through member alerts and updates to the legislative link on our new Web site, www.iafc.org.

Make the effort each year to attend the Congressional Fire Services Day and Dinner at our nation's capital. The efforts of our predecessors helped to propel us to where we are today. The efforts of those of you assuming the leadership role today will ensure your ability to protect and serve your community tomorrow.

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Currently serving as first vice president, Chief Bob DiPoli will assume his role as president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs at Fire-Rescue International next month. He is in his 34th year with the Needham (Mass.) Fire Department and his 15th year as chief of department. Dipoli is a past president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, as well as a past president of the New England Division of the IAFC. For the last several years, Chief DiPoli has served as federal legislative representative and director of governmental affairs for the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. DiPoli holds a degree in fire science and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.