"If you come to us with one voice, you'll get what you need."
-A member of Congress during the 2005
Congressional Fire Services Institute dinner in Washington, DC

Rivalry among EMS, fire and the other emergency services can affect our profession in many ways. It can make us stronger and better, reinforce our commitment to service and inspire us to take our education to higher levels. It can also deprive us of government funds, improved oversight, specialized training programs, enhanced benefits and new laws that advance our services and protect us from harm. It can prevent us from receiving the degree of respect from our civic leaders that we so richly deserve.

     When it comes to petitioning elected officials for support with an issue, the only way to succeed is to put aside differing viewpoints and individual grievances to come together in a solid, unified front to prove to law- and policy-makers that what you bring to their attention carries the weight of consensus and represents the voice of the collective. But how do you go about acquiring that unity when you see things so differently? Furthermore, in EMS, with all the groups out there, how do you ensure that none of them are going to petition their point of view behind your back? The answer is through honest, ongoing dialogue between groups that culminates in a legislative summit, bringing all the parties together to talk openly, collaborate, build consensus and establish an agreed-upon collection of legislative initiatives or positions that will be that year's legislative agenda. This agenda will become the foundation of a coordinated lobbying effort.

     A summit is a highest point, the topmost level attainable. As a conference of top officials, it differs from a committee or association meeting in that it represents the final step toward action on behalf of every constituent. There is no board of directors to receive recommendations-a summit is a decisive conference of organization leaders.