People sometimes say that firefighters are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. It is in that same spirit that iWomen is pleased to be planning a rather extraordinary conference for 2010.

I-Women’s Leadership Conference kicks off on Monday, August 23, 2010, at the Chicago Hilton and this year, will be co-located with the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) “Fire Rescue International (FRI)” conference.  Experts from a variety of disciplines within the fire service are slated to deliver talks with such compelling titles as “Bridging the Generational Divide”, “When Leadership Fails”, “Poisons of a Leader”, and others.  Attendees may take advantage of an outstanding lineup of classes, workshops –even a mock trial! – and continue the week at FRI with a host of events, panels, discussions and seminars. 

“We wanted to offer a wide variety of leadership-focused workshops that are relevant to both new and seasoned, career and volunteer fire service personnel” notes Conference Organizer Linda Curtis, a Fire/Arson Investigator with Portland (OR) Fire & Rescue. “It’s a great learning environment for chiefs, company officers, firefighters, paramedics, public safety officers.  Everyone can benefit from this event.”

The keynote address at this year’s conference will be given by Laura A. Liswood.  Liswood’s latest book, The Loudest Duck (Wiley & Sons, November, 2009), is a business guide that explores workplace diversity and uses practical stories to offer an alternate, nuanced approach to create a truly effective workplace for all.  She will be signing copies of her book following the address.

The conference will be held at the Hilton Chicago, located on the “Cultural Michigan Avenue Mile” overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan.  For information or conference registration, go to www.i-women.org, or call Jennifer Cooke, Project Manager, at 703.869.4858, or email staff@i-women.org. 

More About iWomen

The goal of the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Service (iWomen) is to provide a proactive network that supports, mentors, and educates current and future women in the fire and emergency services. iWomen began in the fall of 1982, with the publication of its first newsletter. The organization officially incorporated in 1983, and held its first conference in 1985. iWomen have over 1,000 members, primarily in the United States, but also in Canada, Trinidad, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, and Australia. These include career, seasonal, and volunteer women and men involved in all aspects of the structural and wildland fire service and EMS, and at all ranks. 

iWomen holds a leadership conference each year and an international conference every two years with the goal of gathering fire service women and men gather to share experiences, challenges and insights as well as providing officer development for women seeking promotion to line and administrative positions.

  Portland Fire & Rescue We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

  July 23, 2010