Annual Conference Contest Rules

Conference Registration Fees:
EARLY/LATE
Main Conference Registration:  $275/$350 (MEMBER), $325/$400 (NON-MEMBER)
Guest/TFA/Spouse/Other:  $80/ $100
Youth 7 - 17 – $45
Youth 0 - 6 – Free
Weekend registration:  $40 (MEMBER), $50 (NON-MEMBER)
One-day registration:  (Monday or Tuesday) – $125/$175 (MEMBER), $170/$200 (NON-MEMBER)

Annual Conference Frequently Asked Questions

1. I would like to attend the exhibits only. Do I have to register?
No. You may walk inside the exhibit hall without a conference registration. (However, if you choose to stay for more than just the exhibits, you will have to register.)

2. I would like to attend weekend functions. Do I have to register?
Yes, select weekend registration.

3. I'm a member of SFFMA but can't remember my SFFMA ID # (login) and/or password. How can I register online?
Contact the SFFMA office at 512.454.3473 and any staff member can assist you with your login and password. Please don't create a new account online as that will create a new record in our database.

4. I have a junior firefighter who is interested in attending training. What registration should I choose?
Choose "Junior Explorer" registration and make sure to record all the training attended.
The other youth registration will NOT allow attendee to participate in training.

5. I would like to register online but don't have a FD credit card and would like to receive an invoice.
Email gglass@sffma.org with your registration selection. Please note that your FD will be invoiced immediately after such registration is completed and registration payment is due prior to on-site registration pick-up on June 23, 2018.

6. What is the conference dress code?
Unless otherwise specified, it is casual. SFFMA would like you to consider the memorial service and the dinner & dance as special occasions. No shorts and/or flip-flops, please.

7. How do I submit the name of a deceased person to be included in the memorial service program?
Email memorial@sffma.org no later than May 15, 2018, with the following information: name, date of death, fire department.

142nd SFFMA Annual Training Conference and Convention
June 22 - 27, 2018
Arlington, TX

Host Hotel
Sheraton Arlington Hotel - GROUP BLOCK IS CURRENTLY FULL
1500 Convention Center Dr
Arlington, TX 76011
Phone: 817.261.8200
Group rate: $135 (single/double occupancy)
Complimentary parking and breakfast.

Overflow Hotel
La Quinta Inn & Suites Arlington - North/Dallas - GROUP BLOCK IS CURRENTLY FULL
825 North Watson Road
Arlington, TX 76011
Phone: 817.640.4142
Group rate: $109

Crowne Plaza Arlington
Call 1-888-259-8591 and ask for the SFFMA
rate at Crowne Plaza Arlington or using the online booking link below
Click Here For SFFMA Booking Link!
Group rate: $135

EXHIBIT HALL SOLD OUT (3/2/2018)

2018 Prospectus

2018 Exhibitors

Memorial Service Program
June 24, 2018
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Arlington Convention Center

Please submit all names for the memorial service program by May 15, 2018.

Submission deadline - May 28, 2018.

Firefighter of the Year and EMS Provider of the Year Guidelines

2017 Driving Contest Winners

1st Place: Randy Parkison – Latium-Wesley-Greenvine VFD, 2:14.16
2nd Place: Marc Nichols – Gilmer FD, 2:28.44
3rd Place: Steven Kehlenbrink – Brazos County Pct. 3 VFD, 2:42.62

Driving Contest

Guidelines

1. Contestants must be registered for convention.
2. Contestants must have a valid driver’s license.
3. No contestant will be allowed in the truck before the contest begins.
4. Contestants must be present at the driving course by 7:15 a.m.; entrance to the truck driving contest will end at 7:30 a.m.
5. Contestants will be disqualified when any three wheels of the apparatus leave the course at the same time (duals count as two).
6. Contestants will be penalized five seconds for each time a pylon or barrel is touched. This will be added to the overall time.
7. In case of a tie, a rerun will only be done in the first three places.
8. Decision of the judges is final.
9. This is an equal opportunity contest.
10. At the time that you register for the contest, you will draw for the position in which you will drive in the contest.
11. This will be a timed event.
12. Only one driver per town or industry.
13. No one will be permitted to enter the contest after 7:30 a.m. on the date of the contest.
14. Only one occupant per vehicle.
15. Failure to complete course will result in disqualification.
16. Sliding or squealing the truck tires anywhere on the course will result in disqualification.

Rules

1. Contestants will not be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages before or during the contest.
2. The contestant will be required to wear the seat belts at all times.
3. The contestant is required to handle his/her vehicle in a safe manner and to maintain a normal driving position on the field test course.
4. At the starting line, each contestant shall be given a reasonable amount of time and such assistance as he/she may require to satisfactorily adjust his/her seat and mirrors and get comfortable.
5. The rules and the field course may be subject to change due to the host city facility.

Field Course

1. Offset Alley

Objective: To test the driver's abilities to steer, judge distances at all points on the vehicle, and to properly control speed while maneuvering in a continuous forward motion through the confined space simulating the avoidance of parked vehicles or maneuvering through narrow alleys.

Standard Operating Procedure: Driver is required to move through one set of traffic cones, turn right or left, and proceed through a second set of traffic cones without touching any of the cones comprising the problem.

Problem Dimension: width between traffic cones in each set is 11 feet, distance between each set is 24 feet

2. Loading Dock

Objective: To test the driver's ability to back his/her vehicle into a narrow space and stop with the rear of the vehicle within a specific distance of the back limits of the space.

Standard Operating Procedure: The driver is required to drive forward past the opening of the simulated dock, position the vehicle and then back into the dock, stopping with the rear of the unit within 24 inches of the door. After completing the stop, proceed to the next object (serpentine).

You must stop within the line of 0 to 24 inches for a valid score. Anything out of the 24-inch line will count as a five-second penalty on your overall time.

3. Controlled Cornering (New 2003 Driving Contest)

Objective: To test the driver’s ability to maneuver the vehicle in a controlled manner through a sharp corner.

Standard Operating Procedure: Driver is required to move through a set of traffic cones placed in a continuous corner without touching any of the cones comprising the problem.

Problem Dimension: 14 cones, width between cones is 11 feet

4. The Serpentine

Objective: To test the driver’s ability to maneuver the vehicle in and out of tight places in both forward and backward movement.

Standard Operating Procedure: The driver is required to drive in a figure 8 pattern around a line of obstacles. He/she is required to maintain a continuous movement forward and backward with the only authorized stops being those required to change direction to complete negotiation of the problem.

Problem Dimension: three barrels in a straight line, 32 feet apart (from center to center)

5. The Stop Line

Objective: To test the driver’s ability to judge the position of his/her front bumper with respect to a fixed line.

Standard Operating Procedure: The driver is required to approach the line moving forward and maintaining a normal driving position. Only one stop is allowed, and once stopped, a measurement will be taken. The front bumper of the unit shall be within 24 inches of the required stopping line. There will be no score if the contestant moves his/her vehicle forward or backward after making a stop at approach or at the stop line.

Stop Line: You must stop within the line of 0 to 24 inches for a valid score. Anything out of the 24-inch line will count as a five-second penalty on your overall time.

As revised by committee, February 2018

Rules and Instructions

This contest is open to all students in grades Pre-K through 12, enrolled in any school (public, private, parochial, etc.) or homeschoolers.

The following grades will fall into six divisions:

1. Kindergarten Division: grades Pre-K, K
2. Primary Division: grades 1, 2
3. Intermediate Division: grades 3, 4
4. Middle Division: grades 5, 6
5. Junior High Division: grades 7, 8
6. High School Division: grades 9, 10, 11, 12

The poster must be original and may be on any phase of fire prevention and/or fire safety. Only individual work by the student and one entry per student will be accepted. Posters must conform to the following description, size of poster: 14" x 22"

Kind: Any art medium including paintings, cut-outs, pen and ink, crayons, chalks, pencils, computer graphics, but limited to these requirements:

No objects over one-half inch in height are to be placed on the poster.

No live matches may be used on the poster.

No glass may be used in the poster.

The following information must be placed in a sealed envelope attached to the back of the poster. Inside the envelope on a card or piece of paper, please insert:

1. Name of student
2. Name of school
3. Address of school
4. Grade of student
5. Name of fire department
6. Name of district association
7. On front of envelope: division only

All posters must contain full information and conform to size to avoid disqualification.

General Information

All fire departments and/or fire marshal’s offices that are active in the Fire Prevention Poster Contest and are members of the different district associations and the state association may send their winning posters with their fire marshal or representative to the district contest.

Each district may select three posters only from each division and send them to the state contest. (District representative: it is your responsibility to see that all posters entered from your district conform to all of the state rules.)

Posters must be submitted to the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association Fire Prevention Poster committee at the host city before 4 p.m., Saturday of convention week.

Poster committee will have a booth at the exhibit hall for all posters to be submitted.

First, second and third place trophies will be given in each division. Three, five or seven judges will be selected by the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association Fire Prevention Poster committee.

The decision of the judges will be announced at the convention. The decision of the judges is final.

All posters will become the property of the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association to be exhibited at the state contest. Winning posters will displayed for one year at the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas - PO Box 1709 Manchaca, Texas 78652-1709.

It is the district’s responsibility to pick up the last year’s winners from the chairman or his representative.

It shall be the responsibility of the chairman to:

Secure trophies for first, second and third place in each division. Trophies will be presented to the district representative for presentation to the winner. Ribbons will be provided for each place and attached to the posters.

The cost of the trophies and the ribbons shall be paid for by the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association.

Any prize money that is awarded to any poster contestant will be awarded by that company and/or group and will not involve the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals’ Association.

All departments and/or districts who have posters in the state contest must pick them up Tuesday after the awards banquet. Any poster not picked up at awards banquet will be disposed of that night.

Photo Contest

Anyone may enter the contest with the exception of professional photographers; there is no minimum age requirement. If you were in the right place in time to capture that special moment, we encourage you to enter the contest.

All photos submitted will be exhibited at the SFFMA Annual Training Conference and Convention. Some of the winning photographs will also be published in the Texas Firemen magazine and InfoFire newsletter throughout the year.

Contest Rules

1. Department membership is not required. (Professional photographers are not allowed to submit entries.)
2. Photos must be 8” X 10”, color or black and white, unmatted, ALL OTHERS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Prints should be mailed directly to the SFFMA office.
3. A digital file of each print in JPG format must also be submitted. These files may be written to disk, or sent as attachments to email. The digital files should be of sufficient size to allow for reproduction without noticeable loss in resolution.
4. You must fill out the photo contest entry form and attach it to the back of EACH photo submitted. Make as many copies of the entry form as needed.
5. ONLY three photos PER CATEGORY may be entered. (If more than three per category are submitted, the first three will be considered, all others will be disqualified.)
6. Entries (printed copies) become the property of Texas Firemen magazine and the State Firefighters’ & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas, and may be displayed by SFFMA at fire service events.
7. A "Best of Show" plaque will be awarded to the highest scoring photograph. Additionally, first and second place plaques will be given in each category based on creative composition, visual appeal, originality, and good firefighting or EMS practices and techniques.

** Entries MUST be received by SFFMA staff by close of business on the published deadline date. A “complete” entry includes the 8”X10” print, digital file, Photo Contest entry form and a brief description of the photo.

Categories

1. Fire-Related Acts, any variety; must be real-life incident
2. Lifesaving Acts, any variety; must be real-life incident
3. Education and Public Safety; any staged fires such as at fire training schools and anything relating to public safety (presentations at schools, staged disaster drills, etc.)

Presidents' Reception