Due to the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the IAFF Executive Board voted to postpone the 55th IAFF Convention until January 25-28, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After considerable discussion and based on the significantly rising COVID-19 infection rate going into the fall/winter season and the significant travel and meeting restrictions in place – not only in Las Vegas and Vancouver, but also in states and provinces where our members are coming from (and would be going home to quarantine) – the Executive Board voted unanimously to conduct an all-virtual Emergency Convention based on the authority provided in the IAFF Constitution, Article IV, Section 12, with the Convention still occurring January 25-28, 2021.

There are a number of other decisions that still need to be made. We will notify you in the coming days and update this website as decisions are made and more information is available.

FAQS:

How will Convention be conducted this year?

We are developing instructional videos with detailed information about how to participate in debate and vote on resolutions. Only registered and seated delegates and alternates will be eligible to access the virtual platform.

What changes have been made to registration and credentialing?

Registration is now $100. Due to the many complexities in building the virtual platform, and the short timeframe to do so, the Executive Board has decided we cannot accommodate guests at this all-virtual emergency convention. All guest fees that have already been paid will be refunded.

Other than the fee reduction and the guest policy change, registration and credentialing will continue with the same process that has been in place since it was re-opened on September 21.

Will there be any in-person meetings?

Other than the chair broadcasting from a studio, there will be no in-person proceedings. Committees will also meet virtually.

How are officer elections being conducted this year?

During our emergency virtual convention, the IAFF Executive Board voted to ensure the secret ballot process for IAFF officer elections by conducting a vote by mail. Per the IAFF Constitution & Bylaws, only registered, seated delegates are eligible to vote in the election. Election ballots will be sent using USPS Priority Mail in the contiguous United States, Canada Post Priority Mail in Canada, and UPS in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam.

To ensure the integrity of the secret ballot vote, ballots will be mailed to home addresses, not union offices. For delegates with home addresses in the contiguous U.S. and Canada, your ballots will be delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) or Canada Post via Priority Mail. While the Elections Committee strongly prefers the use of home addresses, the USPS and Canada Post can deliver to P.O. boxes in the event you do not use your home address for mail delivery.

For delegates in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam, ballots will be sent via UPS or similar service where UPS is not practical. Please provide your home street mailing address, as UPS cannot deliver to P.O. Box addresses. If more information is needed, you will be contacted by staff or the committee to make sure we have the appropriate address, so you receive your ballot.

Please make sure we have your correct address based on the information above in the IAFF membership database prior to the start of convention (January 25). Login to check or update your home mailing address.

I already paid the full price. Now that it is reduced to $100, how do I get a refund?

Delegates who have already registered will be issued a refund for the difference in the coming weeks.

Are guests allowed?

To ensure a secure online event, the Executive Board has decided that we will not have guests at this all-virtual Emergency Convention. All guest fees that have already been paid will be refunded.

I am already registered as a delegate or alternate – is there anything I need to do now that it is virtual?

If you have completed your registration, no further action is needed. We will honor that registration.

I’ve already registered for the 2020 Convention, but I won’t be able to attend on the rescheduled dates. How do I get a refund?

We will be emailing all registered delegates and alternates with instructions on requesting a refund. Email [email protected] or [email protected] to request refunds.

Our local started the credentialing process but did not finish it. Do we need to start over?

You can pick up where you left off and make any needed changes.

What will the new agenda be?

This will be a strictly business-oriented convention.

The Convention shall commence on Monday, January 25, 2021, with the Opening Ceremony at 1:00 p.m. EST, and shall be called to order at 2:30 p.m. and remain in session until 6:00 p.m. On Tuesday, the business session of the Convention shall begin at 1:00 p.m., and shall remain in session until 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise provided by the body. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Convention business sessions shall begin at 1:00 p.m., and shall remain in session until 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise provided by the body. The Convention shall then be at recess until February 24, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. when it shall reconvene to receive the report of the Elections Committee with the announcement of election results. The General President may decide to recess prior to the scheduled time in light of the workload to be accomplished. If it becomes necessary, evening sessions may be held. All times listed throughout these rules are Eastern Standard time (EST).

When will committees meet?

Convention committees will meet virtually beginning December 1, 2020, and will continue to meet as needed until their work is completed.