WFSAA News - Winter 2010

Media Relations Training

In September, Joe LaBarbera (LaBarbera Media Group) presented a one-day Media Relations seminar to the WFSAA and area fire departments.  Joe provided great tips for building a strong rapport with members of local and regional media outlets to not only help a department avoid some of the unnecessary “bad press”, but also to help ensure that a department’s critical messages get out to the residents in a timely manner.

All the attendees enjoyed the presentation and walked away with very valuable information.  The WFSAA looks forward to the next opportunity to host a training seminar and we’ll be sure to notify all members of the WFSCA of upcoming opportunities for their administrative personnel.

WSFCA Members

Think about everything your administrative personnel do for you and then consider how much more they could bring to The House when they are able to participate in training and networking opportunities along side their peers from across the state.  Getting your administrative personnel connected with the WFSAA will help them to learn ways to perform their job functions more effectively and efficiently, thereby allowing them to help you even more than they already do.

No department will ever dispute the importance of training for its Firefighters and Officers, but how many departments ever consider the importance of training for their Administrative members?  The job functions of the administrative personnel might not be as heroic or glorified as those of the frontline firefighters, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a critical piece in the puzzle.

WFSSA History & Information

The WFSAA was established in 1993 and consists of administrative assistants, secretaries and related support staff from throughout the state. The WFSAA meets quarterly, including a day-long educational seminar once per year. The WFSAA provides support for the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs and assists at their annual convention.

If you are interested in getting more information about the WFSAA, please contact Diane Yashinsky, De Pere Fire Rescue, at 920-339-2467 or via e-mail at dyashinsky@email.de-pere.org.