REGISTER NOW | EVENT SCHEDULE | HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
This FREE two-day immersive and interactive event will focus on strategy and tactics for your volunteer recruitment and retention efforts with actionable education on a variety of topics you can take back to your department to have an immediate and sustainable impact.
Whether you’re an R&R Rookie or a Seasoned Recruiter you’ll come away with fresh approaches, different perspectives and new ideas presented by local and national subject matter experts focused on the success of the volunteer fire service.
- When: Saturday, March 26 & Sunday, March 27 (Attend Both or Either Day)
- Where: Branchville Volunteer Fire Company, Located at 4905 Branchville Rd, College Park, MD 20740
- Who Should Attend: Recruitment & Retention Recruiters & Team Members, Department Leadership, Members Interested in Helping with R&R Efforts
The topics covered will include:
- If You’re Not Focused on Recruitment & Retention – What Are You Focused On?
- Retention Starts with Onboarding
- Utilizing Junior Firefighters as Recruitment Force Multipliers
- Recruiting for the Long Haul
- Social Media Essentials Hands-on Workshop
- Retention Strategies for the Vulnerable Volunteer
- Recruiter’s Showcase
- How Community Outreach and Education Affects Every Aspect of Your Organization
- What Good Coaches Know: Getting the best out of our people through positive interaction
- “Breaking the Internet: Using Social Media and Humor to Drive Change (and build an audience!)”, a Virtual Presentation by Fire Service Internet Sensation Jason Patton from Fire Department Chronicles
- Schedule & More Coming Soon
Event Schedule
DAY 1 – SATURDAY, MARCH 26
START | END | ||
0800 | 0830 | Check-in and Registration | |
0830 | 0845 | Kick-off with MSFA Executive Director Kate Loveless | |
0845 | 0915 | A Volunteering Opportunity Like None Other Keynote by Tiger Schmittendorf: Volunteer Firefighter & VP of Recruitment & Retention-First Arriving |
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0915 | 1030 | What Good Coaches Know…Getting the Best with Positive Interaction Verdoy NY Volunteer Fire Chief (Ret.) Jon Politis shares why people learn best when they don’t feel embarrassed or threatened. Most people promoted into company officer and chief roles attain it because of good technical skills. But, they are often clueless about positive human interactions. They often try to “coach people” using the toxic behaviors they were weaned on, usually to disastrous results. |
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1030 | 1045 | Break | |
1045 | 1145 | Social Media Essentials for Leveraging “SpaceBook, MyFace and that TicTac thing!” – Part 1 First Arriving’s Social Media Guru Kristina Greene and Recruitment Strategist Walter Campbell share pro tips for social media posting, management, and creativity. |
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1145 | 1230 | Lunch, Recruiter Showcase & MarylandVolunteer.org Update | |
1215 | 1315 | How Community Outreach and Education Affects Every Aspect of Your Organization Peters Township PA Fire Department Lt. Jordan Cramer offers a balcony view of how community outreach, planned and unplanned events, and public education programs have an effect on fire department community support, funding, and recruitment and retention, which results in increased public safety for all. |
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1315 | 1415 | Recruiting for the Long Haul Southbury CT Chief (Ret.) Jason Decremer starts with an overview of the volunteer life cycle, moves into how to use Public Service Motivation (P.S.M.) to develop interview tactics and questions, and conclude-s with a focus on recruiting for the long term. Everything you do in R&R should be done to positively affect your department 20 years into the future. |
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1415 | 1430 | Break & Recruiter Showcase | |
1430 | 1530 | Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Utilizing Junior Firefighters as Recruitment Force Multipliers South Media PA Deputy Chief and High School Teacher Ellen Yarborough shares success stories and highlights the benefits and challenges of high school fire service youth programs. |
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1530 | 1700 | Roundtable Discussion #1: Is there Recruitment without Retention? Dr. Candice McDonald will facilitate a group discussion on the interdependency between recruitment and retention and the need for a comprehensive and consistent effort. |
DAY 2 – SUNDAY, MARCH 27
START | END | ||
0800 | 0830 | Check-in and Registration | |
0830 | 0900 | Morning Kick-off | |
0900 | 0930 | Breaking the Internet: A Virtual Presentation Using Social Media and Humor to Drive Change (and build an audience!) Virtual Presentation by Fire Service Internet Sensation Jason Patton from Fire Department Chronicles |
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0930 | 1030 | Retention Strategies for the Vulnerable Volunteer Recruitment & Retention SME, Dr. Candice McDonald will help you learn how to better relate to the vulnerable volunteer, gain an understanding of barriers at-risk populations face, and examine strategies to engage often-overlooked socially vulnerable populations of people ready to serve. |
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1030 | 1045 | Break & Recruiter Showcase | |
1045 | 1200 | Social Media Essentials for Leveraging “SpaceBook, MyFace and that TicTac thing!” – Part 2 | |
1200 | 1245 | Lunch & Leadership Presentation: Shark Tank…Surviving The Perils of Leadership Chief (Ret.) Jon Politis shares how stepping up to a leadership position is a rare opportunity to make a difference and at the same time can be a risky career move. There are common pitfalls that can lead the unaware to a short tenure. Those that survive for the long term do so by being skilled in politics, timing, integrity, people, and management ability. This situational awareness briefing will cover the “hard-earned” lessons that may add years to your career. |
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1250 | 1400 | Retention Starts with Onboarding Jason Decremer details best practices for onboarding new firefighters by taking participants through a series of strategies that will help ensure your department has a properly managed onboarding process that leads to long-term retention of firefighters. |
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1400 | 1500 | Roundtable Discussion & Wrap-up Presenters and participants will team up to address burning issues and offer real-world solutions to volunteer recruitment and retention challenges. |
Register Now - Free
Registration is FREE for any member of a Maryland or neighboring state volunteer fire, rescue, or EMS department involved with or interested in Recruitment & Retention at their organization, including leadership.
Registration includes two days of interactive workshops, lunch, and a networking event Saturday evening. You can attend both or individual days.
Hotel Accommodations
Book your stay for the Boot Camp at The Hotel at the University of Maryland with a special rate of $149/night plus taxes. Call today at 301-277-7777 or click the Book Now link below to book your accommodation.
MSFA is offering a one-night stay at a per diem rate for anyone attending from further than 75 miles as well as mileage for anyone driving more than 50 miles one way. Reimbursable with receipts at the conclusion of the event.
In order to secure the MSFA Boot Camp room rate, please only use the links on this page. Booking outside of the room block will not guarantee you the above-listed rates. The above rates are valid through March 1. After March 1, hotel rates will be made by the hotel based on availability. The Hotel at the University of Maryland is located at 7777 Baltimore Ave., College Park, MD 20740.
If you have any questions about the event, hotel/accommodations, are interested in speaking or being part of a panel, or issues with this form, please email [email protected].
If you have any questions about the event, hotel/accommodations, are interested in speaking or being part of a panel, or issues with this form, please email [email protected].
Virtual Presenters
Jason Patton
Social Media Influencer, Fire Department Chronicles

Featured Presenters
Jason Decremer, Ph.D.
Recruitment & Retention Coordinator – Southbury CT Volunteer Fire Department / Founder, Testing & Strategy Practice – MissionCIT LLC

Lt. Jordan Cramer
Fire Inspector & CRR Specialist: Peters Township PA Fire Department

Dr. Candice McDonald
Volunteer Firefighter and Special Agent for NASA Office of Protective Services – Salem OH

Chief (Ret.) Jon Politis, MPA, NRP
Verdoy Fire Department – Albany NY

Deputy Chief Ellen Yarborough
South Media PA Fire Company & Gifted Coordinator/Social Studies Teacher-Strath Haven High School

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