E-Update: July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
Welcome to the Fire Corps E-Update. Fire Corps is a locally-driven Citizen Corps program that allows community members to offer their time and talents to their local fire and EMS departments in non-operational roles. Fire Corps serves as a gateway to information for and about fire and EMS department programs and meets a citizen's desire to serve as well as a department's need for support. In this issue:
Nominate a Volunteer Firefighter for the NVFC Lifetime Achievement AwardFire Corps members and their departments are encouraged to nominate an outstanding volunteer firefighter for the 2008 National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations must be received by August 1. Sponsored by Scott Health & Safety, this prestigious national award annually recognizes an individual whose remarkable achievements in the fire service and community exemplifies outstanding performance. The recipient is honored during a special Awards Banquet at the NVFC Fall Meeting and earns a place in history with the NVFC. To submit a nomination, complete the nomination form and send it, along with letters of recommendation and the nominee’s resume, to: NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award Please include detailed information regarding the nominee’s accomplishments and other information that will help the selection committee during the review process. Learn more about the award and criteria. Start Planning Now for National Preparedness MonthSeptember is National Preparedness Month and Fire Corps has updated its online National Preparedness Month Resource Center to help local Fire Corps programs and citizens start preparing now. The Resource Center provides valuable information on a variety of preparedness topics, including hurricane and other weather-related disasters, terrorism, fire safety, and preparedness for individuals with disabilities. Launched in 2004, National Preparedness Month is celebrated each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign, the month is an opportunity to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. This year’s theme focuses on important preparedness steps individuals should take, including getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed, and getting involved. Fire Corps developed the National Preparedness Month Resource Center to provide tools, resources, and materials that Fire Corps teams can utilize to help ready themselves and their community for emergency situations. Access the Fire Corps National Preparedness Month Resource Center online at www.firecorps.org. Fire Corps is a member of the National Preparedness Month Coalition, which is comprised of over 1,300 organizations that have partnered together to support and promote the initiative. Learn more about National Preparedness Month at www.ready.gov. National Junior Firefighter Program Offers Resources for Your Fire Corps’ Youth ComponentDoes your Fire Corps program contain a youth component, or are you looking to expand your program to include youth? The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program offers resources and tools to help you start, manage, and expand a youth program within your fire/EMS department. Register your Fire Corps youth program with the National Junior Firefighter Program and have your program listed in a searchable, online database of programs from across the nation. Once registered, your youth members can then register and track their hours or participation in an online activity log to receive incentive rewards as they reach certain benchmark levels. The monthly National Junior Firefighter Program E-news offers information, tools, and resources for you and your junior members. Sign up by sending an email with the subject line “Subscribe to Newsletter” to juniors@nvfc.org. A new Facebook page allows your juniors to network with members of other local programs from across the country. Registered juniors and their departments are also eligible to apply for the National Junior Firefighter Scholarship and Grant Program, supported by the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation. And a Resources section at www.nvfc.org/juniors provides tools and resources for both program managers and junior participants. Find out about all of these features and much more at www.nvfc.org/juniors. The NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program is supported by the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation and Spartan Motors, Inc. Macomb Township (MI) Fire Corps Invited to State CapitolOn June 5, eight members of the Macomb Township Fire Corps, along with Fire Corps Coordinator Sgt. Dwayne Thompson and Chief Robert Phillips of the Macomb Township Fire Department, attended a recognition luncheon at the Capitol Building in Lansing, MI. State Representative Kim Meltzer commended the group before a room filled with members of the Michigan House of Representatives. Meltzer invited the Fire Corps team to the Capitol after attending one of their meetings and becoming a volunteer herself.
Michigan State Police Lt. Harold Love spoke about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and Citizens Corps, and how Fire Corps fits into the state's plans for emergency response. Joseph A. Grutza, Director of the Office of Firefighter Training, also offered to help Thompson inform surrounding communities about Fire Corps and how it can help their departments. During the event, Thompson and his group received a commending round of applause, something Fire Corps member Tracy Kaye said gave her goose bumps. "It was wonderful," she said. "It was kind of neat being able to represent our township in that way." After lunch, the Fire Corps members went on a tour of the Capitol Building. Kaye noted that the trip was a great experience not only for her, but also for her 16-year-old son Zachery. "We're trying to teach [Zachary] all about volunteering and getting involved. You don't get monetary value out of it, but you'll get something out of it. That's part of the reason we wanted him to go and represent the Fire Corps in Lansing." Kaye added that becoming a member of the Fire Corps is a great way to give back to the community. Learn more about the Macomb Township Fire Corps program. Information provided by Erin McCleary, C&G Staff Writer, and the Macomb Township Chronicle (MI). Department Profile: Port Jervis (NY) Fire Department Fire CorpsOn June 23, the chief officers of the Port Jervis (NY) Fire Department presented their plan for the new Port Jervis Fire Department Fire Corps to the city’s Common Council, the community, and the local media. The officers used a slide show to explain the purpose of Fire Corps and how it will benefit their department. “We realized that there are many talented individuals in our community who might be willing to step up to help our department in today’s busy times, but maybe not in an actual firefighting capacity,” Chief Joe Kowal explained to the group. “There are many ways local volunteers can help take the burden off of firefighting personnel who already give so much of their time.” Chief Kowal went on to describe how community members were already stepping up. Several citizens had expressed interests in computer work, fundraising activities, and public education. The presentation included specific ways in which the new Fire Corps team would assist the department. Since Port Jarvis contains several senior citizen complexes, public education efforts will focus on educating the elderly about fire safety, especially cooking safety. Also, Port Jervis is surrounded by two rivers and frequently has flooding emergencies. Fire Corps members will assist by organizing the canteen efforts that currently are run by the volunteer firefighters. “This will free up the firefighters to do what they have been trained to do,” Chief Kowal said of the proposed Fire Corps activities. For more information on the Port Jervis Fire Department Fire Corps, visit www.pjnyfd.com and follow the link to Fire Corps. The presentation to the community is also available for viewing on their web site. Calendar of EventsBelow is a list of events that Fire Corps staff will be attending, as well as nationally recognized dates which Fire Corps would like to acknowledge. Firehouse Expo Fire Rescue International (FRI) National Firefighter Health Week Fire Prevention Week To be removed from this list please enter your email on the unsubscribe page. 
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“It was educational and informative," Thompson said of the experience. "A nice little trip." 
