Grant seminar Western PA

[PATF1engineer]

The Adamsburg and Community Volunteer Fire Department will be having a grant writing seminar by Brian Vickers (aka BC79er) on Saturday February 24 starting at 08:30. Thanks to sponsorship by Municipal Emergency Services, the seminar is free of charge to any department in Pennsylvania.

Our department is located in Westmoreland County, about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, just off the PA Turnpike Exit 67.

We are asking that no more than 2 individuals from any company attend so that we can provide the seminar to as many departments as possible. Pre-registration is required! To register or for more information please contact me at [email protected].

[PATF1engineer]

bump...........

[PATF1engineer]

bump

again

Come on folks, a free seminar and only about 25 people signed up?

[imafireman]

again

Come on folks, a free seminar and only about 25 people signed up?

I thought about attending one of these seminars, but received no response when I emailed the presenter for information about dates and locations. Then I thought about it a little more. I wanted a grant writer to proof read my narrative before I submitted it last year, but because I was not a paying customer, he could not do this. I learned of Kurt after the submission date and asked him to look over it for me. Within a couple of days, he informed me of several areas in my narrative that needed definite work and spent a half hour on the phone with me explaining things. I was trying to replace a 31 year old tanker with a cracked frame. I basically lost a year and this tanker has taken a lot of money up until now so we keep it in service long enough to try for the grant again. I would rather pay to attend the seminar this weekend at Alum Bank and be able to get the additional help whenever I need. Plus I do not see how all this information can be packed in to a one day seminar with the 40 people in the class. I like small class sizes so I may receive more individualized help. Sorry if my opinion bothers anyone!!

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Doesn't bother me, and I'm the one teaching it.

I made my workshops 1 day because I listened to the feedback from everyone I talked to about other seminars that were all 2 day when they could only make one. And the rest are all either not fire/ems related at all or only spend 1 day on fire/ems and the other on something else. It's all about choices, that's why they've been making chocolate and vanilla for years. Neither one is bad.

And for the record, the entire afternoon is hands on review and writing with everyone there so there will be plenty of personal attention. That's why everyone fills out my Dept Profile before they come. It's free, come on down for a test drive. Lots of people have been to both and learned something at each because no one can teach everything in 2 weeks let alone 1 or 2 days. Sly is coming to mine in either Lancaster or Chester as well as yours, and people in other areas are coming to both of ours. I still encourage people to head to other seminars. If I had time I'd go myself. You can never have too much education.

Also for the record, the one your hosting for Kurt has been attended by a lot more than 40 people at once and no one felt like it was too big and impersonable. I've talked to a few people that went to one that had over 60 and they all got the feeling like there were only 10 people there. It's the instructor that makes the class feel smaller. The big test for me is that I'm doing one of the 4 Pre-Conference sessions at Firehouse World, and something at Expo this summer.

Plus I don't think y'all would be turning away 20 people if 40 paying customers were registered for yours. As Kurt and I agreed to in another thread, the airlines aren't handing out tickets. None of us that do this are out to rip people off, just make a living.

Some people can't afford to pay anything for a workshop regardless of cost. Check with batt403 who's hosting my one in Missouri. Most everyone there has budgets under $10K and couldn't spare any money at all. That's why I pursued the sponsorship. It shouldn't be about who can and can't afford to pay someone. That's why I wrote the articles, PodCasts, and continue to spend time on the forums. I can't hand out everything for free because I have bills to pay too. But I will do what I can.

And like I said when I emailed you back when you asked me to look your app over: I can work for free in some instances and I push people through those options to avoid having to hire me when I can. If I can't I recommend Kurt & Margie because their employment contracts allow them to work on any app for free. I don't have that luxury, and I'm not going to break my word (contract) with those that do hire me and hand out for free to others what they're paying me for. It's unethical to say the least. I'd rather go broke than sell my integrity. And if people don't respect that then so be it.

- Brian

[ktb9780]

Folks this is not a competetition between Brian or I or anyone teaching grant writing. I am sure that Brian will agree that neither of us can get to everyone and although we both may have different styles or methods, it is not any different than me liking chocolate and you liking vanilla. The point is this, get educated wherever you can and in whatever manner that you must. I have had a number of students that have been to Brian, and I am sure he has had the same from me. The point is, everyone probably learned a little something different from each of us and when combined as a whole, they probably all got funded!

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

I think so, almost everyone I know of that came to both of our workshops got funded.

And that spreads beyond just the two of us not being in competition with each other: we're not in competition with anyone. We're all in this for the good of the fire service as a whole.

[ktb9780]

I think so, almost everyone I know of that came to both of our workshops got funded.

And that spreads beyond just the two of us not being in competition with each other: we're not in competition with anyone. We're all in this for the good of the fire service as a whole.

I'll second that motion!

[ameryfd]

Brian HELP

OK Brian, I see you are doing a seminar in Minnesota.... I will be there....BUT, there is no way my wife will believe that I am spending the day at Cabella's simply for "educational purposes"! What should I tell her

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Tell her you'll be in the back of the store and won't really be shopping (except at breaks....).

[batt403]

It benefits all.

Doesn't bother me, and I'm the one teaching it.

Some people can't afford to pay anything for a workshop regardless of cost. Check with batt403 who's hosting my one in Missouri. Most everyone there has budgets under $10K and couldn't spare any money at all. That's why I pursued the sponsorship. It shouldn't be about who can and can't afford to pay someone. That's why I wrote the articles, PodCasts, and continue to spend time on the forums. I can't hand out everything for free because I have bills to pay too. But I will do what I can.

- Brian

So true.

My small department has been very successful with the AFG grants, over $400 k, so I think we have a grasp on what is needed, but I have learned so much more within the past six month's by reading what Brian and Kurt have had to say as well as many others on here (to many to name).
We decided to host Brian simply because he was available when we asked, not because one is better than the other. With that being said we still plan on attending one of Kurt's seminar's (maybe not this year but next).
When Brian was able to get the seminar for FREE it tickled me because we have several neighboring departments that could not afford the $150.00 fee. Since it has went to free, they are now able to attend and I hope they are successful as well as I hope we are one more time.
In all reality we hosted this seminar for these other departments (beleive it or not) and yes we still have a self serving interest, if they are funded for better equipment or whatever, we benefit from it when we ask for the automatic or mutual aid from them.