CFFJAC 10th Biennial Conference
For more than a quarter century, the California Fire Fighter Joint Apprenticeship Committee (CFFJAC) has been a leader in apprenticeship, training and recruitment in the fire service and has set a professional standard for firefighters throughout the state.
In November, more than 300 fire service professionals gathered in Cathedral City to explore new partnerships at the CFFJAC 10th Biennial Conference.
The conference brings together management and labor, training officers and SubJAC members united in the CFFJAC's ongoing mission of creating excellence in the fire service.
Featured speakers included a moving presentation from Elizabeth Eckford, a member of the "Little Rock Nine" -- nine African-Americans who famously desegregated Little Rock High School in 1957. Participants also heard updates on the CFFJAC's program and a discussion of the state of California's emergency response system from Matthew Bettenhausen, newly-appointed as Director of California's Emergency Management Agency (Cal-EMA).
Workshops focused on building our profession in tough times, as well as updates on the CFFJAC program and a chance to forge the critical labor-management collaboration so vital to our profession.
Prior to the conference, many attendees participated in the biennial golf tournament and banquet benefitting the California Firefighters Memorial. This year's featured speaker -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa -- regaled the banquet audience with stories of his days managing the Oakland Athletics as well as his current gig managing the Cardinals. La Russa is the 3rd winningest manager in major league history.
"I'm thrilled to see labor and management come together in such numbers," said CFFJAC Chair Dan Terry. "It is a tribute to the commitment of all in our profession to the mission that has driven the CFFJAC's quarter-century of success -- creating excellence in the fire service."
