1st Vice President Shane Ray, President Tim Sendelbach, and 2nd Vice President Doug Cline traveled to Washington, D.C. as representatives of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors for the 19th Annual Congressional Fire Services Institute dinner on Thursday, March 29, 2007. This year’s event featured strong words of support and heartfelt praise for the fire service including addresses from two new members of the caucus Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Congressman Peter King. Senator Joe Biden, Congressman Steny Hoyer and Robert Edwards also shared their support and words of continued praise for the fire service. Three accomplished leaders were also recognized for their accomplishments and long-term contributions to the fire service; recently retired IAFC Executive Director Gary Briese was presented with the CFSI/Motorola Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award, former congressman and founding member of the Fire Service Caucus Curt Weldon received the Congressional Fire Services Institute Legislator of the Year Award, and Jim Dalton of the National Fire Sprinkler Association received the Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire & Safety Education. Once again the CFSI dinner and the preceding educational seminars proved to be a very rewarding event filled with great networking opportunities for all. As a member of the ISFSI, this event truly is a unique experience and one that every member should strongly consider attending each and every year. While politics may not be considered your strong point, it remains a key to our success and the forward progression of the American Fire Service. So please make your plans now to join us next year as we continue our quest to make safety, survivability, and progressive change the hallmarks of the American Fire Service.