Established 1999

Firefighter DiversityRecruitment Council

Second Annual ConferenceSan Jose, CaliforniaMarch 19 & 20, 2009

Hosted by Firefighter’s ABC’s

Sponsored by

American Medical Response,Santa Clara County

Articulate Solutions® Inc.

The International Associationof Black Professional Fire Fighters

NCTI-EMT and Paramedic Training

Dear Fellow Council Members and Guest

I, and the Firefighter’s ABC’s team, enthusiastically welcome you to the 2nd Annual Conference of the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council. With a singular focus upon enhancing diversity within the Fire Service, I trust that each of you will find the content and collaboration at this event to be both actionable and of high value.

Our team has spent the last year working diligently to deliver upon key initiatives established by the Council’s Charter Lifetime Members at our inaugural conference in March of 2008, including:

• Extending the conference to two days so as to incorporate a wider range of subject matter, accommodate a broader array of speakers and to deepen both discussion and collaboration.

• Significantly lowering conference fees.

• Launching the National Recruit Database to provide access to a broaden pool of diverse candidates to whom you can post your job openings.

• Incorporating a chat room/forum into the newly configured Firefighter’s ABC’s web site in order to facilitate easier dialogue among Council members.

We look forward to the new Council initiatives that you will establish, over the next two days, and that will direct our efforts over the next twelve months.

We also look forward to continuing our mutual diversity recruitment efforts at next year’s conference that will be held on March 18 & 19, 2010, here in San Jose.

We deeply appreciate the fact that you have dedicated a significant amount of time to join us from throughout the country, particularly during this extremely budget constraining period. As such, we view one of the most important benefits associated with the Council as being the execution of effective diversity recruitment in a manner that is far more cost effective than traditional approaches.

Thank you for joining us and we look forward to a highly productive conference.

Best regards,

Russell Hayden, CEOFirefighter’s ABC’s

The “Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council”

Our Diverse WorldAmerica’s population has become increasingly diverse and continues to do so. So to have the communities that we are sworn to serve without regard to race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. In fact, the combination of ethnic groups and women alone yields an overwhelmingly diverse population.

Critical Questions:

• Does your fire department mirror the increasingly diverse community that you serve?

• Does your department have a diversity mandate or initiative?

• Do you have a comprehensive & long-term diversity recruitment plan?

• Does the recruitment of qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds seem like ‘finding a needle in a haystack’?

Diversity is challengingOn the road to diversity, most fire departments face the following difficulties:

• Resource limitations due to the inescapable and perpetual ‘budget crunch’.

• Highly talented and motivated recruitment personnel that, unfortunately, are short on community outreach and target marketing experience.

• Few available candidates due to the difficulty of extending diversity recruitment efforts beyond your traditional geographic boundaries.

• An ongoing focus upon your next application event gets in the way of developing a longer-term, sustainable plan that keeps your diversity recruitment pipeline filled with quality candidates.

If you can relate to some or all of these issues, you are not alone in being diversity challenged. Nor are you alone in having viable solutions readily available.

Formed by Firefighter’s ABC’s, the Council is a collaborative forum of fire organizations and their HR recruitment teams. With a nation-wide membership of both large and small organizations, the Council’s mission is to achieve levels of diversity that more closely reflect the racial and gender make-up of served communities. And, to do so in a cost effective manner by:

• Sharing “Best Practices” in the recruitment of diverse candidates.

• Programs that more effectively target quality candidates.

• Extending and deepening your diversity pipeline through personalized recruitment announcements to candidates subscribing to the National Recruit Database.

M E M B E R

Firefighter DiversityR e c r u i t m e n t C o u n c i l

National RecruitD a t a b a s e

Proudly display your Membership Insignia on your web site.

Firefighter’s ABC’s Philosophy & Approach

Overview

The under representation of women and minority groups within corporate America is mirrored within the fire service. While great strides are being made, a continued and focused effort must continue.

Against this backdrop, Firefighter’s ABC’s formed the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council. We firmly believe that full representation of all societal segments, within the fire service, can and will be achieved. However, solutions will require heavy doses of creativity, ingenuity, new strategic initiatives and, broad alliances to offset the many challenges that abound.

We all recognize that the desire to become a firefighter is typically incubated at a relatively early age, especially when a young person relates to the uniformed person as a role model. However, this is less prevalent among minorities and women who might harbor the attitude of “If I don’t see any that look like me, then it’s probably not meant to be”.

Added to this dilemma is the cost of Emergency Medical and other training requirements for prospects that typically come from lower income households. There is also the need to earn an income throughout the lengthy process of getting hired for one of the few available positions. Lastly, the education disparity is reflected in lower high school test scores.

These issues, among others, represent significant impediments among fire departments seeking ample numbers of diverse recruits for current openings. The situation can literally seem like finding “the needle in a haystack”. Added to this is the need to build a viable pipeline of qualified and motivated candidates for recruitment in future years.

We believe that by coupling the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council with the National Recruit Database, a strong foundation has been formed to successfully address the pressing requirement for fuller diversity within the fire service. This will be accomplished through the Council’s combination of “Best Practices”, collaboration and cooperative efforts among fire departments nation-wide.

Fire Service Observations

Through hundreds of conversations with fire departments nation-wide, Firefighter’s ABC’s has observed a host of non-optimal efforts that hinder the fulfillment of diversity recruitment goals. While some departments do a better job than others, our anecdotal evidence clearly indicates that most programs are not sustained over time and are not comprehensive or broad enough in scope. Provided below are a few of the “Areas for Improvement” that we see repeatedly:

• Informal diversity initiatives versus written declarations with quantifiable recruitment goals.

• The absence of diversity within a department’s long-term operational plan.

• Diversity mandates not permeating every level of the organization via periodic communications.

• Failure to establish a “Diversity Czar” with accountability for coordinating efforts and realizing quantifiable goals.

• No working relationships with diversity based organizations.

• Lack of community outreach, entry-level workshops, internships and other programs designed to fill the pipeline with future candidates.

• A singular focus upon the ‘next’ recruitment event versus longer-term activities to sustain the pipeline.

• ‘Fishing’ only in the local pond versus expanding the traditional geographic area of recruitment.

If your department can relate to any of the above, membership in the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council will serve you well. Through vigorous collaboration with other departments, and greatly aided by the National Recruit Database of candidates, you will find solutions readily available.

Our Approach

A belief in the ‘Power of Numbers’ is why the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council was formed and was subsequently coupled with the Firefighter’s ABC’s National Recruit Database. We also view collaboration among a nation-wide network of Council member fire departments as pivotal to optimizing and sharing best practices in the area of diversity recruitment. Key elements of our approach, and why they work, include:

• Collaboration through the Council member’s chat room/forum to exchange ideas and experiences. Find out what works and what doesn’t. Don’t ‘reinvent the wheel’ and minimize duplicating errors already made by others.

• Benefit from the collective experiences of fellow Council members and experts in the field of diversity recruitment through “How To” tips and articles published in the Council newsletter and on our web site.

• Significantly broaden the awareness of promotional job openings, by posting opportunities directly to fellow Council members.

• Entry-Level recruitment postings to reach the nation-wide subscriber audience of the National Recruit Database, thereby expanding the available pool of candidates for all Council members. This is of particular importance for fire departments for which a diversity of candidates is not clustered within their served community.

• Fostering an “Across-the-Board” embrace of diversity initiatives through collaboration with local, regional, state and national entities, e.g., Chiefs Associations as well as ethnic and gender based organizations.

• Fostering joint recruitment efforts among Council member departments to generate more effective and cost efficient outcomes while spreading the manpower load.

Firefighter’s ABC’s Philosophy & Approach, continued

Conference Invocation

We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference, March 18 & 19, 2010.

“Invocation”

Presented by

Deputy Chief Lacy Atkinson - Retired

San Jose Fire Department

Past President Santa Clara County Black Firefighters Association

Master Stanford University

Lifetime Member 100 Black Men of Silicon Valley Chapter

7:00 – 7:45 Continental Breakfast on Thursday and Friday

THURSDAY – MARCH 19, 20098:00 – 8:30 “Invocation” Deputy Chief Lacy Atkinson – Retired San Jose Fire Department Welcome & Opening Remarks – Firefighter’s ABC’s – Russell G. Hayden, CEO8:30 – 8:45 Welcome Remarks Southwest Region – IABPFF Dir Demond Simmons 8:45 – 10:00 “Why Diversity Matters” Fred Hayden FFABCs (10) – Comments by Special Guests in the following order:

Chief Daryl VonRaesfield, San Jose FD (5) – Chief Sheldon Gilbert, Pres. CalChiefs Assn. (5) – Gary Giacomo Dir. Of Comm., CSFA (5) – Wayne Davis, Dir. Santa Clara, San Benito & Santa Cruz Co Div. AMR (5) – Chief Augie Ghio San Miguel Fire Pro Dist (Overview of 08 Conf. & why the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council is of importance to the fire service) (15) (All presenters are asked to be staged at the front of the room at 7:55 in the order of your presentation. Special seating will be provided) (The number noted by your name denotes your allotted time.)

10:00 – 10:30 Dan Biddle, FPSI: “Testing Issues Related to Diversity Recruitment” (30)10:30 – 10:45 Break10:45 – 11:30 Keynote Address – Chief Rosemary Cloud, East Point Fire Dept, GA: “The Current State of Diversity

Within the Fire Service” (30) (15 Q&A)11:30 – 12:00 Open comments to optimize the “National Recruit Database” and discuss “National Testing Initiative” (30)12:00 – 12:45 Buffet Lunch for all attendees – Sponsored by Firefighter’s ABC’s1:00 – 1:45 Debra Jarvis – Fire Chief Retired “Assessing an Organization’s Capacity to Recruit and Retain Diversity” (30)

(15 Q&A)1:45 – 2:00 Wayne Davis: AMR – Medic and EMT institutions as it relates to diversity in the fire service. (15)2:00 – 2:15 Break2:15 – 3:45 National Recruit Assessment Testing Workshop – Dan Biddle & Stacy Bell – Fire Police Selection Inc. (1:30)3:45 – 4:00 Break4:00 – 5:00 Panel Discussion: Members: D. Simmons, D. Biddle, S. Gilbert, D. Newton, R. Ortega, M. Morrow & R. Cobb.

This is an open forum on any subject as it relates to increasing diversity. D. Newton will chair panel. (60)5:00 – 5:15 Closing remarks (15)5:30 – 7:00 Dinner for all attendees – Sponsored by Firefighter’s ABC’s

FRIDAY – MARCH 20, 20098:00 – 8:15 Welcome Russell G. Hayden (15)8:15 – 9:00 Debra Jarvis: “Strategies for Recruiting Diversity” (30) (15 Q&A)9:00 – 9:45 Chief Rosemary Cloud: “Accelerating Female Diversity within the Fire Service” (30) (15 Q&A)9:45 – 10:00 Break10:00 – 10:45 Rhonda Farber and Fred Hayden - Marketing Outreach: The National Recruit Database (30) (15 Q&A)10:45 – 11:30 Mitch Seltzer: Website Review and Tutorial of Council Member Functions. We are seeking your guidance

in making it user friendly for the Council members. (45)11:30 – 12:00 Kevin O’Rourke: “Sustaining Diversity; A City Manager’s Perspective” (20) (10 Q&A)12:00 – 12:45 Buffet Lunch for all attendees – Sponsored by Firefighter’s ABC’s 1:00 – 2:00 Chiefs Breakout: “Influencing Diversity Among Local, State, Regional & National Chiefs Assn.” Included:

Dan Biddle, Demond Simmons and Amy Day (60) 1:00 – 2:00 All Other Breakout: Discussion & Define Goals Primary Council Goals for ‘09 (60) 2:00 – 2:30 Reports from each breakout group (15 each)2:30 – 3:15 Chief Sheldon Gilbert & Pres. of CalChiefs: “Diversity & The Influence of Chiefs Assn’s” (30) (15 Q&A)3:15 – 3:30 Break 3:30 – 3:45 Gary Giacomo, CSFA: “How to Permeate Diversity Among Fire Service Organizations” (15)3:45 – 4:00 Fred Hayden “Finding Diversity Recruitment Solutions, Despite the Budget Crunch” (15)4:00 – 4:45 Let’s Chat Open Discussion (45) 4:45 – 5:00 Chief Michael E. Smith (Retired): “Stimulating Diversity: The Fire Chief's Role” (15)5:00 – 5:15 Closing Remarks; Russell G. Hayden5:30 – 7:00 Dinner for all attendees – Sponsored by Firefighter’s ABC’s

SATURDAY, MARCH 218:00 – 5:00 Firefighter’s ABC’s Entry Level Workshop – Conference attendees are welcome to sit in.

Conference Agenda

Firefighter’s ABC’s Entry Level Workshop

Saturday March 21, 2009

Our Entry Level Workshop is specifically designed for aspiring firefighters. It has been conducted across the country for a number of years and has contributed to the success of many recruits.

This 8-hour session is highly effective at preparing and motivating future candidates through in-depth coverage of the following topics:

The Fire Service as your “Career of Choice”

Written & Physical Ability Testing

Tips for Oral Interviewing

Filling Out Your Personal History Questionnaire

Building a Compelling Resume

Resources to Help Increase Your Success

Presenting Yourself in the Best Light as a Viable Candidate

“I truly believed in the advice that you gave and I am proud to say that it was one of the reasons for my success.” La Shon Polk, Fulton Co FD, GA

“...An excellent recruitment program.” Robert Dorman, Former Chief, San Jose FD, CA

We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference, March 18 & 19, 2010.

Workshop 2008

Entry Level Workshop

On Saturday, March 21, 2008, an 8 hour Entry Level Workshop will be held for aspiring firefighters. This event will take place

at The Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose.

Host Location: Dolce Hayes Mansion,200 Edenvale Ave, San Jose, CA 95136

…I credit nothing more as the primary prep tool to getting into the Fire Service than listening and applying what Russell Hayden has to offer. Ronald Johnson Jr. Oakland Fire Department

…If you choose to have Firefighter’s ABC’s as a workshop you attend or if your department chooses to hire Firefighter’s ABC’s to provide a workshop for your department you will receive a highly rated workshop.Dia Thach Oakland Fire Department

…Recruit Officer Russell Hayden was an incredible adviser and motivator. His support had a positive influence along with volunteering as a Recruitment Intern for me to have successfully become a Professional Firefighter Paramedic.La Shon Polk Firefighter Paramedic

…I remember in your “ABC’s of Becoming a Firefighter Workshop,” you mentioned, “You should be doing something EVERYDAY in helping yourself achieve your goal in getting hired.” I truly believed in the advice that you gave and I am proud to say it was one of the reasons for my success.Eric Kwan Tracy Fire Dept – San Jose Fire Dept – San Francisco Fire Dept

…Within a year of meeting Russell Hayden and attending the ABC’s of Becoming a Firefighter, I was hired with the San Jose Fire Department. Working with Russell Hayden directly helped me get to where I am today. Robert TranSan Jose Fire Department

The National Recruit Database

Overview

If you aspire to a career within the Fire Service, joining the National Recruit Database is one of the best things that you can do to increase your prospects for success. For a very low subscription fee, receive email alerts of upcoming application, testing and other recruitment events.

These will come directly from the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council, a nation-wide network of Fire Departments include areas such as:

AK - Anchorage - BC - Richmond - CA - Alameda Co, Anaheim, Berkeley, Burbank, Fairfield, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles Co, Milpitas, National City, Orange Co, Palo Alto, San Bernardino Co, San Diego, San Jose, San Miguel, Santa Clara Co, Torrance, Tracy, Union City, W Sacramento CO - Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver - FL - Fort Lauderdale - IA - Davenport IL - Urbana - SC - Rock Hill - TX - Austin - WA – Seattle - Vancouver

In addition to receiving valuable tips to help you become a more qualified candidate, there are many other useful resources available, such as:

• Links to resources such as Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician training, schools with a Fire Science programs, etc.

• Fire Service organizations that can help you through their entry-level workshops and intern activities.

• Volunteer and student fire programs.

A very important part of your National Recruit Database membership is a powerful assessment tool that you can use to determine your current level of preparedness as a viable candidate. Simply fill-in the blanks to develop your personal assessment profile.

A “Candidate Rating” score is automatically generated as you fill-in pertinent information. You can then make changes to determine what areas of qualifications will increase your rating to become a more desirable candidate.

This is a great way to find out what will better prepare you to become a successful recruit. As a subscriber to the National Recruit Database, you can save your profile and update it as your qualifications change. And, you can use this great tool in total confidence. Neither your assessment profile, nor any other personal information, will ever be shared with any Fire Department or anyone else.

Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council – Members

Alameda County Fire Department, CA* Oceanside Fire Department, CA*Anaheim Fire Department, CA Oxnard Fire Department, CAAnchorage Fire Department, AK Palo Alto Fire Department, CA*Aurora Fire Department, CO Pine Bluff Fire Department, AR*Austin Fire Department, TX Plano Fire Department, TX*Baton Rouge Fire Department, LA* Prince William Co. Dept. of Fire & Rescue, VA*Berkeley Fire Department, CA Redmond Fire Department, OR*Burbank Fire Department, CA* Richmond Fire – Rescue BC, CA*Charlotte Fire Department, NC* Richmond Fire Department, CA*City of Corona Fire Department, CA* Rock Hill Fire Department, SCColorado Springs Fire Department, CO Rockford Fire Department, ILDavenport Fire Department, IA San Bernardino Co Fire Department, CADenver Fire Department, CO San Diego Fire – Rescue Department, CA*East Point Fire Department, GA* San Jose Fire Department, CA*Fairfield Fire Department, CA* San Miguel Consolidated Fire Pro Dist, CA*Fort Bliss Fire & Emergency Ser Div, TX* Santa Clara County Fire Department, CAFort Lauderdale Fire Department, FL Santa Monica Fire Department, CA*Fulton County Fire Department, GA Seattle Fire Department, WA*Huntington Beach Fire Department, CA Torrance Fire Department, CA*Los Angeles County Fire Department, CA* Tracy Fire Department, CAMadison Fire & Rescue, AL* Union City Fire Department, CA*Menlo Park Fire District, CA* Urbana Fire Rescue Services, ILMilpitas Fire Department, CA Vacaville Fire Department, CA*Mountain View Fire Department, CA* Vancouver Fire Department, WA*National City Fire Department, CA West Sacramento Fire Department, CA

*Conference 2009 Attendees Revised 3/12/2009

Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council Conference - Guest 2009

American Medical ResponseCalifornia State Fire Chiefs AssociationCalifornia State Firefighters Association

CPS – Human Resource ServicesFire Police Selection Inc. “FPSI”

Firefighters 4 DiversitySouthwest Region – International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters

We look forward to seeing you at next year’s conference, March 18 & 19, 2010.

San Jose Mercury News Advertisement March 8th and 9th 2009

THE

INTERNATIONALASSOCIATION of BLACK

PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS

Supports

The

Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council

The 2010 - I.A.B.P.F.F Bi-Annual Convention - New Orleans, Louisiana

http://www.iabpff.org

American Medical Response (AMR) is the local and national leader for pre-hospital

care services.

AMR operates in 37 states and has been the local provider in Santa Clara County

for over 55 years.

Come join the America’s best pre-hospital and clinical care professionals.

Join our family and bring a part of yourself to something great; to something which is

hard to describe, which can only be felt.

We are looking for people who have the Passion.

™

Proud Sponsor of the “Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council”

1-800-827-5627 www.amr.net Or contact your local AMR office for more information.

Conference Notes

Conference Notes

Articulate Solutions, winner of the 2008 Communicator of Excellence Award,the 2007 and 2008 Summit Awards, and 2007 Davey Gold Award.

Articulate Solutions® Inc.Graphic Design & Marketing[P] 408.842.2275 [F] 408.846.881865 Fifth Street [STE] 100 Gilroy CA 95020www.articulate-solutions.com

Thank you for your service and dedication.

We’re proud to recognize all of our emergency response personnel.

Articulate Solutions is honored to partner with the Firefighter Diversity Recruitment Council in designing, building and maintaining their website, www.firefightersabcs.com.