Membership

The associations membership shall be divided into six (6) classes: Active, Associate, Government, Affiliated Organization, Business and Honorary Life.


Active Members shall consist of those fire officers who, at the time of their induction as members of the association, are Fire Chiefs, Directors, or any other fire department person considered as management personnel by the Fire Chief or Public Safety Director of his or her department. Fire Department is defined as a legally organized fire department in any municipality or county duly recognized by the State of Georgia. Management is defined as a functional responsibility conducted by a given fire officer for management of personnel and/or operational systems including, but not limited to, training, fire prevention, investigation, etc. Active members may attend all official meetings, hold voting rights and receive all benefits of the association.


Associate Members shall consist of those individuals supportive of the associations principles and goals. Associate members may attend official association functions with the exception of certain association governance meetings. Persons holding an associate membership shall not have voting rights, may not be appointed to committees or task forces and may not hold office.


Government Members shall consist of those individuals who are elected, appointed or employed by local, state or federal governments and who are devoted to the improvement of public safety and the Georgia Fire Service. Government members shall include, but not limited to, employees of the following offices: State Fire Marshal, Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Georgia Fire Academy, Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, Georgia Office of Homeland Security, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and the Georgia Forestry Commission. Government members may attend official association functions with the exception of certain association governance meetings, are eligible for appointment to committees and task forces, but shall not have voting rights or hold office.


Affiliated Organization Members shall consist of those organizations considered to be members of the Georgia Fire Service and are devoted to the improvement of public safety and the Georgia Fire Service, and include, but not limited to: the Georgia State Firefighters Association, the Georgia Mutual Aid Group, the Georgia Fire and Emergency Service Joint Council, the Georgia Fire Investigators Association, the Georgia Fire Inspectors Association, the Georgia Public Safety Educators Association, the Georgia Rural Fire Defense Council, the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, the Southeastern Firefighter's Burn Foundation and the Georgia Firefighters Pension Fund. Affiliated organizations that support the annual program objectives of the association at local and regional levels and sign an affiliation agreement with the association are considered regional affiliates. Members and staff of affiliated organizations may attend official association functions with the exception of certain association governance meetings and are eligible for appointment to committees and task forces. Individuals within affiliated organizations shall maintain voting rights and hold office if classified as active members unless precluded by doing so by one or more membership definitions.


Business Members shall be those persons supportive of the fire service and its advancement. Business members shall include, but not be limited to, those persons involved in commercial sales of products and/or services to government entities and fire departments. Those persons holding a Business Membership may, by invitation, attend certain official association functions with the exception of association governance meetings, shall not have voting rights or hold office. All Business Members shall be approved for membership by the Executive Committee. A Business Membership does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by the association for companies and their specific products or services.


Honorary Life Membership shall be granted to any Active Member of the association as defined in Article II, who is officially retired or was honorably disengaged from active firefighting service after at least five (5) years as a member in good standing of the association. This honor is automatic upon notification of the individual's status by the member. Once approved as an Honorary Life Member, the person, shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

 

JOIN TODAY

To join, download the New Member Application and return to:


     GAFC Membership Department

     PO Box 105377

     Atlanta, Georgia 30348

     678-686-6239 – Yalonde Tanner

     or by email ytanner@gafc.org