United They Stand
The organization Women in the Fire Service started in 1982 with a focus on female firefighters and officers. Years later, during a Fire-Rescue International in Kansas City, five women fire chiefs took me to lunch to talk about promoting a new organization for female chiefs, one that would address leadership skills, networking and other concerns of women chiefs. That was the impetus for the Women Chief Fire Officers Association, which started in 1997.
Two years ago, I hosted a meeting in FIRE CHIEF’s Chicago office between the WFS and the WCFO to discuss common problems and possible solutions that might offer stronger support and enhanced services for both organizations. Working together also could offer expanded opportunities for networking and career development.
The two organizations continued their dialogue and this fall they announced they would merge into one organization: the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services. WCFO President Chief Laurie Mooney, EFO, and WFS President Bttn. Chief Cheryl Horvath will serve as co-presidents of IAWFES, which now has close to 1,100 members.
“Many WCFO’s members can reflect upon their own career achievements, promotions, networking and mentoring successes,” Mooney wrote on the WCFO’s Web site, reflecting on its decade as an organization. “While we can all admire our past successes, we must rededicate our future efforts for strengthening a proactive network that supports, mentors, and educates current and future women chief fire officers.”
A new Web site will launch next week, as will registration for the Eighth Biennial Fire Service Women‘s Leadership Training Seminar, which will be held April 24–27 in Glendale, Ariz.
According to Horvath, speakers will include U.S. Fire Administrator Chief Greg Cade; Dr. Larry Iverson, well-known for workshops in the wildland sector; Kimberly Alyn, who will discuss promotions; and Bttn. Chief Katherine Ridenhour, with her dynamic workshop on assessment centers. In addition, Ridenhour also will hold a tactical workshop on strip mall fires.
“You do not have to be a member or female to attend this leadership training seminar,” said Horvath. Look for the ad on the IAWFES seminar in the January issue of FIRE CHIEF.
Remember the five women chiefs I lunched with at in Kansas City? Each one is retired but still actively involved in the field of emergency services. They have passed the torch to a new generation of women in the emergency services and I think the future is looking pretty bright.
