All welcome to take part in RecruitNY open house weekend
RecruitNY, a major initiative of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York, is rapidly approaching. On April 28-29, firehouses across the state will open their doors to the public in an effort to increase membership in the volunteer fire service. This will be the eighth straight year of this recruitment initiative, a cornerstone of FASNY's ongoing recruitment campaign.
During the April 28-29 weekend, members of the public will be able to get a taste of what it means to be a volunteer firefighter. Across New York State, volunteer firefighters will be conducting firehouse tours, demonstrating firefighting techniques, and more, all to generate interest and appreciation for what members of the fire service do on a regular basis. Anyone interested in the possibility of joining the fire service will have the opportunity to speak with active volunteers, who can discuss what being a member of the fire service entails.
"It is a privilege and an honor to serve as a volunteer firefighter," said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski. "Joining the fire service is an incredibly rewarding thing to do, and all across New York state, volunteers are eager to discuss this possibility with their neighbors, friends, and family. Serving as a volunteer firefighter means serving one's community, but it also means joining a very close, very special family. We are always heartened to see New Yorkers turn out to support their volunteer firefighters, and expect to see many faces, both familiar and new, during this year's RecruitNY event."
The volunteer fire service has a long, proud heritage in New York, and is deeply integrated into the social fabric of the state. Volunteer fire departments not only answer emergency calls, but also they often serve as the backbones of local communities, hosting popular events such as parades and pancake breakfasts, and providing common space for people to gather. The volunteer fire service's economic impact is also substantial.
In addition, volunteer firefighters save New Yorkers money. In 2016, FASNY released an economic impact report, which concluded that the annual cost of a replacement, all-paid fire service would be $3.87 billion. Furthermore, property taxes in New York state would rise by an estimated average of 26.5 percent. These figures do not factor in the costs of acquiring the necessary facilities and equipment needed to accommodate a paid fire service. The volunteer fire service and efforts like RecruitNY make the state, not only safer, but also more affordable.
Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the FASNY, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York.
For fire departments that would like to sign up for RecruitNY, log on to
www.recruitny.org/signup and fill out the participation form. The program provides fire departments with access to recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners, and more. Visit
http://recruitny.org/resources.php to help plan a RecruitNY event.
