Now is the time to be sure your message appears in the 2009 CVVFA Convention Program Book. Sponsorships are available from a full page to patron listing. Publicity Manager Bob Timko pledges this this year the program book will be bigger and better than any book published before. The book is a great way to honor your company or association, a fellow CVVFA member living or deceased or tell readers about your business. Convention Programs record the history of our Association. Don't be left out of the this years book. CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE AND DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIP FORM

There are many members of our Association that deserve to be recognized at the CVVFA Annual Convention. State Directors are responsible for submitting Recommendations to the Resolutions Committee. Members who wish to recommend a member receive a Resolution should complete the down-loadable application complete the information and obtain the support of a CVVFA Director.

Please use the attached CVVFA Resolution Request Form to gather information about any person or persons from your state you would like to have the CVVFA recognize at the annual Installation Banquet during Convention. Members may also check with your state, county organizations to see if they have individuals they may also be recognizing. Please be sure the person(s) belong to the CVVFA however.they may still receive a Resolution if they join the CVVFA prior to the Convention Banquet.

There is no limit to the number of Resolutions a member may request. However, please do not request a Resolution for someone the CVVFA previously recognized at an earlier Convention unless it is deserved for a different accomplishment or achievement. 

50 Year Members of the CVVFA automatically receive a Resolution, but if there is additional wording to enhance the Resolution simply advise the Recording Secretary with that information.
 
The Resolution Committee does not contact individuals or family members to gather information. There is no prohibition against members, officers and directors contacting family members or fire departments to obtain background.
 
Final date for submitting requests for Resolutions is the May meeting.
 
Remember this procedure is for Resolutions only, and is not to be confused or combined with the E. Wade Thomas Member of the Year Award.
 
Complete and Mail Resolution Requests to:
Joseph W. Bukowski
134 Brookside Blvd.
Newark, DE 19713-2623
 
E-Mail Requests: Jwbukowski@aol.com
 
Download Form by clicking on Icon below or on the title of this article
 
 

Past President Harry Alt of the Keyser WV Fire Department continues to feel better as he recovers from recent surgery. Harry says he is taking it easy. According to Harry his recliner is his new best friend. Harry is always happy to hear from his fire service friends and looks forward to returning to his duties as CVVFA West Virginia Director.  

New Creek FD of Mineral County WV previewed their newly acquired 1998 Spartan/Lexington Air/Light/Electrical Unit at the CVVFA Booster Meeting in Keyser. The apparatus was acquired from Marcus Hook PA and specially outfitted to meet the needs of  a rural fire district.

The Unit is listed as a FEMA Resource due to the amount of air on board, a six bottle 6000psi cascade system and a 33.3 CFM Macco compressor. A 85K Oran generator powers a 28ft light tower.

The Unit also carries light duty rescue tools, ventilation and forcible entry equipment. The apparatus also has a RIT bag.

Under the direction of Assistant Fire Chief Dustin Amtower New Creek retrofitted the Air Unit with NFPA 1901-2008 compliant apparatus marking along with cones and high visibility vests. The apparatus marking exceeds the new requirements as striping is installed inside the compartment doors and on the front bumper.

Following best practices Assistant Chief Amtower has ongoing training for all New Creek Firefighters on the proper wearing of traffic vests and how to safely deploy traffic control devices.

Neither New Creek or any of its mutual aid companies have limited access highway or in fact any divided highways. They do respond to a number of motor vehicle incidents on rural roads where visibility is limited and drivers are often speeding. New Creek is an example of a proactive fire department concerned about the safety of their personnel while working on the roadway.

NCVFD is a proud member of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemens Association. Click on title of this article or the camera icon  for more photos.

The Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company of Newark Delaware published the Agenda for the 108th Annual Convention July 29.30.31st and August 1. 2009. The Convention celebrates Aetnas 30th year of affiliation with the CVVFA and CVVFA President Jerry Daniels an Aetna Life Member. Click on the title of this article and download the convention schedule. The Convention Room Block is open at the Sleep Inn in Newark. Click on Event/Meeting News tab of the left for this information.

Don't have a shirt to put on your back? No ball cap to keep that bald spot from getting sunburned? No job because you don't have a job shirt?

Not to worry, all you have to do is see your friendly CVVFA Haberdasher Past President Bob Cumberland manager of the Association's New On Line Store. Bob who has been dubbed the "Fashion Plate" of the CVVFA and his trusty fitting room associate Lou Jordon have the latest stock of  high quality Association logo merchandise to dress even the most discriminating CVVFA Member of either gender.

If you are  tired of wearing clothing purchased from your local farmers market or your neighbor's yard sale it's time to step up and dress for success in the fire service by clicking on the CVVFA Store tab to the left of this article.

As Bob is fond of saying "You're going to like how you look" at the CVVFA Store.

CVVFA Instructor and member of the Emergency Responder Safety Institute Chief Allen Baldwin is the new Director of Operations, Safety and Incident Response for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Allen has a long career in the fire service that includes service as a volunteer in Monroeville PA and currently as an Assistant Chief in Gettysburg Fire Department. He has also served as a career chief in Chambersburg PA FD. Allen serves as the lead instructor of local offerings of the CVVFA courses and is well known in the Mid-Atlantic area for his work in highway incident scene safety. Because of his commitment to the CVVFA Allen arranged for various photo shoots to take place on the PA Turnpike over the last few years to record Best Practices in Traffic Incident Management. Allen is another example of the  high caliber membership of the CVVFA. 

Official announcement from George M. Hatalowich Chief Operating Officer PA Turnpike Commission: I am pleased to announce that effective Friday; Allen W. Baldwin has been promoted to Director of Operations, Safety & Incident Response as a result of the reorganization of this department.  This reorganization was one of the recommendations made by the State Auditor General's compliance audit of the Commission's safety, response, and operations.  Allen will be a direct report to me and the new department was restructured to encompass the operations center, safety, emergency response, PSP, ITS, and network control. Allen has been with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission since March 2001 and has an extensive background in emergency services, safety and incident response.  Before coming to the Commission, he served as the Fire and Emergency Services Chief for Chambersburg Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Point Park University and the Community College of Allegheny County.  He has been a dedicated employee who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Commission, and I look forward to working with him.  Allen resides in Gettysburg, with his wife Julie and son Ryan.  

Charlie and Vivian Myers received significant awards at the 129thAnnual Convention of the Firemens Association of the State of Pennsylvania (FASP) and the 95th annual Ladies Auxiliary convention held in Gettysburg during the last week of September.

Charlie received the James Miller “A” Memorial Award for the Firefighter of the Year Award the highest honor bestowed by the Association. Charlie was FASP President in 2001. In addition he received the President's Dinner Award at the Annual Past President's Banquet. Charlie retired from Hoffman Mills in Shippensburg PA after working on the night shift for 45 years. In 1965 he began working part time at Fogelsanger Bricker Funeral Home where he is still employed. Charlie began his firefighting career in 1960 as a wildland firefighter. He is a life member and Chief Emeritus of the Vigilant Hose Company #1 of Shippensburg. Charlie served as President of the Cumberland County Volunteer Firemens Association for 18 years. Currently he serves as a fire police officer. He was appointed PA Forrest Fire Warden in 1975.

 

Vivian Myers served as President of the State Ladies Auxiliary Association. She received the FASP Ladies Auxiliary Woman of the Year Award presented to her service in working on the banquet committee and in many other roles in the Auxiliary. Vivian is Life Skills Aid at the James Burd School in Shippensburg where she has worked for 23 years. Her current duties include working with special needs children. Vivian is a member of Vigilant Hose and a member of the Auxiliary.

Both Vivian and Charlie are very active members of the CVVFA. Charlie served two terms as President in 1989 and 1993. Charlie and Vivian seldom miss an event especially a parade. The break up area at Gettysburg found the two talking with friends from all corners of the Commonwealth. Members like the Myers are what make the CVVFA a great organization.

 

 

Past President Harry Alt, current WV Director of the Keyser WV Fire Department is resting at home following brain surgery to remove malignant lesions. Harry returned home from the Denver CO. area where he was teaching Highway Incident Management for the CVVFA and fell ill. He is expected to recover fully. Past President Alt is one of the most active members of the Association. He chairs the Scholarship Committee. Harry retired after a long career as an instructor and assistant principal in the Mineral County WV School district. Excellent medical care and the prayers of many members have assisted in getting Harry home and on the road to recovery.

First Vice President David Jacobowitz of the Firemens Association State of New York congratulated the CVVFA upon receiving the IAFC Goldfeder Award and the awarding of a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from FEMA. In his email to the Association Vice President Jacobowitz said: On behalf of FASNY, I want to congratulate  the CVVFA for your FEMA grant award and the winning of the "Billy  Goldfelder Award". Everyone involved in the CVVFA should be very proud of what your association has done for the fire service of the United States. Good luck and thank you! The CVVFA and FASNY joined forces several years ago when it became clear that a number of initiatives that both organizations have are very similar. FASNY and the CVVFA have exchanged memberships and FASNY hosted the Spring 2008 CVVFA Presidents Council in Hudson NY. Both the CVVFA and FASNY believe that fire service progress can be gained with strategic alliances when groups work together for the common good.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both DMd.) and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) today announced the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association (CVVFA) in Hagerstown has been awarded a $172,700 Fire Prevention and Safety (FPS) grant. The CVVFA received a similar grant in 2007 to educate the fire service about the National Unified Goal on Traffic Incident Management(NUG). The first element of the NUG is Responder Safety. The CVVFA reaches the fire service community through its website www.respondersafety.com the authoritative source on protecting emergency responders working on the highway.

Denver CO. President Jerry Daniels accepted on behalf of the CVVFA the Chief Billy Goldfeder Organizational Safety Award from the International Association of Fire Chief’s Health and Safety and Safety Section. This was an exciting moment for C.V.V.F.A. members who were in the audience.   It was truly a privilege for our association to receive the award from Billy G. himself. Our organization was nominated by Chief Dennis Compton from Arizona. In his nomination he spoke of the innovative history of our organization. Dennis spoke of us as an organization dedicated to innovative changes throughout our history. He lauded our efforts to make life a bit safer on the highways of our great nation. He went on to note that our efforts have made a difference at every level of government from the local right on up to the federal level. This is the second year in a row that our dedicated efforts which are designed to make life safer on the highways have been recognized at the national level. Last year we won the first-ever award of the Senator Paul Sarbanes Organizational Safety award which was presented to us by the Congressional Fire Service Institute. In addition to receiving the Goldfeder Award, CVVFA members manned the Respondersafety.com tradeshow booth and presented a pre-conference seminar updating chief fire officers on the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management. Dr. Harry Carter Editor Respondersafety.com contributed to this story.
 

Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE and Citizens Fire Company of Newport PA marched home with the trophies at the 107th Annual Convention Parade in Berkeley Springs.

The famed Newport Drum and Bugle Corps provided stirring march music that reverberated off the hot pavement to the delight of the crowd. Keeping the beat was Aetna who like Newport are among the dwindling number of fire departments who belive that parades are for marching not for riding. 
CVVFA members gathered at the end of the parade to await results with a fried chicken and hot dog lunch and lots of cold beverages.

The complete prize list will be posted on this site. Click on the title of this story to see more photos.

The Berkeley Springs VFC and the CVVFA have jointly posted the Offical Results of the 2008 Convention Parade. Click on the title of this story and download a PDF copy. Checks will be mailed to the winners in the near future.

Jerry Daniels of the Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE was installed as President of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association for 2007-2008. Jerry is a life member of Aetna and serves as Treasurer. An active responder, the new President is a Fire Police Officer and can often be seen on the street protecting firefighters and the public.

Jerry retired from the accounting field after a career with several businesses. He now uses his skills to help manage fire company finances.

Jerry served as President of the New Castle County Division of the Delaware State Fire Police Association. He is actively involved in the CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute’s training programs.

Jerry and Donna have two children one a paramedic the other a firefighter. They enjoy spoiling their grandsons.