



The hugs. The selfies. The tender-hearted firefighters who probably never expected to be shedding tears as they tell us of their marriage challenges on the show floor.
Meeting our community in person is priceless. Well, almost. You may be surprised to know that FDIC is our second biggest expense each year second only to our Commitment Weekends. It costs us multiple 5 figures to have a booth at FDIC. Plus, it requires a team of at least 10 people who pay their own way and work 18 hour long days, on their feet, moving boxes and booth setup and smiling to everyone all the while. It’s a major endeavor. Sometimes we make our money back. Sometimes we come close. Sometimes we make a little to help further the non-profit mission. No matter the outcome, the stress and worry of that big spend leading up to the event is a big one.
Great t-shirts will really drive a crowd. But we’ve always been here first for marriage and family support.
The good news is that our book will drive a crowd as well. In 2016, we released the first of it’s kind firefighter marriage book – Honor & Commitment – at FDIC. We sold out pre-orders. Sold out at the show. And it continues to be the mainstay of our mission and resources here. (Get your copy here now)
This book means so much to us that we make it available at our cost to our Fire Wife Academy participants and to departments who purchase in bulk. Commitment Weekend is life changing. Our online communities are so effective at connecting our nationwide fire family. But that book has slipped quietly into the bunk of countless firefighters and brought answers, solutions and comfort to those fire families who think they are the only ones going through these challenges.
“Honor and Commitment” the first and only story of real life fire families and how to not just survive, but thrive as a fire family – marriage and all.
The answer this year was a difficult one but you will not find a 24-7 COMMITMENT / Firefighter Wife booth at FDIC 2018. 2019 has brought many changes and while we will not be in attendance for this year’s show… we hope you all understand the most important reason.
Because. Family first.
So with sadness we announce we will not be at FDIC 2018. Sending virtual hugs right now to the community of fire service show attendees we’ve grown to call family over these past 6 years.
Can we also give a big shout out to Firehouse World and Firehouse Expo who have graciously allowed our organization to attend their events at mega discounts? And, in much nicer vacation getaway spots than Indy (sorry Indy. I’m in Ohio right there with you. California and Nashville win.) Without their partnership, we wouldn’t have been able to reach so many of you.
For the duration of the show, we’ve put our online store on sale here.
[Sales and discounts end on April 29th, 2018 at midnight.]
This leaves us with one very important fire family topic lingering out there.
And the next most popular FDIC question we get: should the wives attend?
First family first. Straight out of the mouths of Chief Rick Lasky and Chief John Salka, whom I met at my very first FDIC when this was just a baby blog with a big vision.
Lori Mercer
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