"Courage and Commitment: A Capital Experience"

The 11th International Conference of Fire Service Women

March 29 - April 3, 2005

Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center
Montgomery County, Maryland

This is your invitation to attend one of the most exciting fire service conferences of the year!

For six days next spring. you can further your fire service education in a positive learning environment. In Montgomery County, you'll meet with other women who share your commitment to the fire and rescue service, and who've "been there" -- and succeeded -- when it comes to working in a non-traditional field.

It's a great chance to recharge your batteries and re-energize yourself about your job. We hope to see you there!


WFS has been organizing conferences for almost 20 years, and has consistently created events that are well-run, interesting, educational, and downright fun. In 2005, we will meet near the nation's capital.

Hosted by the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department, "Courage and Commitment: A Capital Experience" promises to be another great event in this long series of successful gatherings. Women and men from many area fire agencies are involved in the conference planning process, working hard to bring you an opportunity for education, networking, and battery-recharging that you won't want to miss!

We expect 450 to 500 women and men from all aspects of the urban, rural, and wildland fire service to join us in Maryland, and we hope you'll be among them.

Our workshops and seminars provide leadership development, classroom education on fire and EMS topics, valuable hands-on training to improve your job skills, tips on the promotional process, and valuable information and guidance on gender and diversity issues. Perhaps most importantly, we offer you the chance to meet, network, and make friends with fire and rescue service personnel from across the country and around the world.
Registration materials for the conference, an overall conference schedule, and workshop information are now available on this website. Paper copies can be obtained by mail after January 31 by or by calling 608/233-4768.

 Tuesday, March 29 pre-conference activity:
 A Day on the National Mall

 Wednesday afternoon, March 30:
 Wildland Fire Issues Session

Thursday evening, March 30 optional event:
 Reception on Capitol Hill

Friday, April 1, luncheon presentation:
 In the Tsunami's Wake
 Friday evening, April 1, special event:
 WFS Auction Extravaganza		  Sunday - Wednesday, April 3-6:
 Women's Post-Conference Trip

Registration fees

(Click here for registration form)

 

   Advance rate
(must be received by March 18)

 On-site rate
(for those not registered by March 18)
Package A:
 Thursday, March 31 -
Sunday, April 3 		WFS members: $350
Non-members: $380		 WFS members: $420
Non-members: $455
Package B:
 Wednesday, March 30 -
Sunday, April 3 		WFS members: $520
Non-members: $550		 WFS members: $625
Non-members: $660
Package C:
 Tuesday, March 29 -
Sunday, April 3 		WFS members: $575
Non-members: $610		 WFS members: $690
Non-members: $730
Thursday 3/30 Capitol Hill Reception $15 $15 (if space is available)
Friday 4/1 luncheon: $30 N/A
Saturday night 4/2 reception and dance: $35 $40
We offer a group discount for six or more participants registering together. To qualify for this discount, attendees must register at the same time and fees must be paid by the same check, purchase order, or VISA/MasterCard.

Important: All attendees who register on-site, or whose registrations are received after March 18, will be charged the on-site fee. If you send your registration and do not receive a confirmation letter or e-mail, we encourage you to call 608/233-4768 to confirm that you are registered. We can not be responsible for registrations we did not receive.

Accommodations

Rooms at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852) for conference attendees are $129/night plus 12% tax. Call Marriott Reservations at 800/228-9290 or 301/984-0004 and mention the Women in the Fire Service conference to obtain these special rates. A first-night room deposit or major credit card is required to hold reservations. The reservation cut-off date is Wednesday, March 9; however, we strongly encourage you to book as early as possible, particularly if you want a double room, as we anticipate the hotel will be filled well in advance of the conference.

Transportation

The area is served by three airports: D.C. National (Reagan), Dulles, and Baltimore. The conference airline is American Airlines, which offers 5% discounts off all non-Internet fares to all three airports. To take advantage of these discounts, call American's Meeting Services Desk at 800/433-1790 and refer to Starfile authorization number S5635AV. [Outside the U.S. and Canada, call your local reservations number and refer to the same Starfile number.] Discounts are good for travel between March 25 and April 7.

Ground transportation to the hotel is easiest and least expensive from National; those coming from the Baltimore airport may need to rent a car. Parking is available at the hotel for $12/day. If you are flying to the conference and do not specifically need a car, we recommend you not rent one. The hotel is on the Metro line, which offers easy and inexpensive access to the D.C. metropolitan area.