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Tuesday August 7, 2007 Edition
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VSFA Firefighters Welcome... Two years of planning by AFFA Members Shines at 118th State Convention

Tuesday August 7, 2007

By Mike Cameron

    The three day event came off without a noticeable hitch or glitch. It wasn’t easy and the weather looked ominous at times but in the end the firefighters did what they always do they got the job done and Addison County has reason to be proud of them once again.

    The Vermont State Firefighters Association State Convention was hosted this year by The Addison County Firefighters Association here in Middlebury.  

    Last Thursday evening The Voice sat down with some of the firefighters who were instrumental in organizing this years event.  We talked about the fire service in Vermont and how the Middlebury community embraced the event  with just about everything imaginable from donations to support services.  The list is special and each person who helped in any way isn’t going to be forgotten  by the firefighters for their help and generosity.  

    Jim Breuer, Deputy Chief City of Vergennes and ACFA President assisted  ACFA Past President Dean Gilmore of the New Haven Fire Department and Retired Chief Bernard Dubois of the Addison Fire Department in co-ordinating a team of do’ers to  plan this very special event.  Dean and Bernie were the point men on the project.   

   They could not have done as well as they did with out capable associates like Howard Grant, Addison Fire Department and ACFA Treasurer and Jim Larrow, Deputy Chief, City of Vergennes and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee.

    The ACFA and the VSFA have expressed their gratitude to Middlebury College and all those who worked on campus to ready the college sports complex and other spaces to host the various events during the convention.

    Friday, July 27th was a day of welcoming member firefighters and auxiliary members and included a memorial service at Mead Chapel honoring deceased firefighters who had passed on over the last year.

    The chicken bar-be-cue organized by the Bridport Volunteer Fire Department is still being raved about two weeks later and the fire works later that evening were spectacular.   

    Saturday, July 28th marked the VSFA Annual Business Meeting attended by over 100 firefighters.

    Congressman Peter Welch, Ethan Ready representing Senator Bernie Sanders Office and John Tenny, Chair of the Middlebury Select Board addressed the gathering.

    Bob Arnebold of Orwell was recognized for his service.  Bob will be  stepping  down after a decade of service as secretary for the VSFA.

    Roger Young of Orwell was reelected as treasurer.  Roger has spent a lifetime in the Vermont fire service in key leadership positions during his career.

    During the Annual Meeting the members voted to support the Fire and Rescue Coalition made up of both career and volunteer firefighters thus giving the 6,500 member organization a strong unified, front and stronger influence on firefighters legislation issues in Montpelier.  One of the main concerns of the coalition is to lobby for increased funding to train firefighters.  Currently the  education and training funding is not keeping pace with demand.  This is vital  for recruitment and retention of Vermont State Firefighters according to fire and safety officials we have interviewed.

    The firefighters  muster was held on Saturday and  it was intensely competitive as always.

    At the Muster and Games Banquet that evening attended by  Governor Douglas and Lt. Governor  Dubie,   Results of the Muster for 2007 were announced and they  are: Men- Wet Hose 1. Fairfax, 2. St Albans Town, 3. Shrewsbury.  Bucket Brigade  1. St Albans Town, 2. Middlebury 3. New Haven.  SCBA Endurance 1. St Albans Town, 2. Shrewsbury, 3. Fairfax
Portable Pumps 1.St Albans Town
2. Fairfax, 3. Cambridge
Midnight Alarm 1. St Albans Town2. Shrewsbury, 3.Underhill-Jerico WaterPolo1.Shrewsbury, 2.Weybridge, 3.Addison.
For the Ladies Wet Hose 1. St. Albans, 2. Milton, 3. Cambridge. Bucket Brigade 1. St Albans 2. Cambridge, 3. Milton. Portable Pumps 1. St Albans, 2. Cambridge, 3. Milton. Midnight Alarm 1. St Albans Town, 2. Cambridge, 3. Milton. in that order.

    At the VSFA Annual Awards Banquet held on Saturday evening, over 300 members and guests listened to Lt. Governor Brian Dubie and he introduced Governor Jim Douglas who also made some brief remarks before the gathering. Plaques of Appreciation were awarded to State Senator Vince Illuzzi of Orleans for his support of the “Cancer Bill” making it possible for both career and volunteer firefighters to receive equal protection in the eyes of the law.  Matt Vinci of the So. Burlington Fire Department was also given a plaque for his work as Chair of the Vermont State Fire and Rescue Coalition who spearheaded this important piece of fire safety legislation.

    This years event also featured the VSFA  Annual Awards for outstanding service  including:
VSFA Rescue Squad/Ambulance Member of the Year presented to Kristy Wyckoff of Cambridge, the VSFA Firefighter of the Year  was presented to Jack Lavanway of Underhill/Jerico, the Robert King Fire Chief of the Year Award went to  Randy Clark of Underhill/Jerico, VSFA Line Officer of the Year Award winner was Mike Farnsworth Middlebury, Captain Charles Taylor Youth Firefighter of the Year Award went to  Nate Elwert Shrewsbury, Senior Firefighter of the Year Award went to Randy H. Clark Underhill/Jerico, Emergency Technician of the Year was awarded to Peter Ochs of Orwell.  

    The Alfred Koltonski Award went to St Albans Town for their outstanding performance.
The Merreal Wheelock Sportsmanship Award went to Cambridge with the Runner up awarded to Northfield.

    For the ladies, the Ladies Sportsmanship Award went to Cambridge with the Runner up awarded as a tie between Milton and St Albans. The awards ceremony was good natured as always.

    This is the first time since 1964 that Addison County has hosted the annual convention.  The annual parade featured over 100 pieces of fire apparatus and 19 Civic Organizations.  The parade passed under a giant arch made up of two extended ladders from ladder trucks holding a 20 by 38 foot Garrison flag.  It took 20 firefighters to unfurl the giant field of red, white and blue.  The flag helped set the theme of this years event.  “Your Community Fire Department Past,Present and Growing into the Future.”  It was a good 3- days in Middlebury for the VSFA, the ACFA and the people they continue to protect and serve across the State of Vermont.

    This year’s VSFA Parade results are listed below.

    Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department was awarded Best Appearing Pumper and Best Appearing Hand Drawn Equipment.

    Weston was awarded Best Appearing Apparatus with Marching Unit.

    Apparatus Judging is always an important part of the convention and some of the other local winners included; Pittsford for Best appearing Marching Unit with Apparatus in-State.  Bristol for Best appearing Antique Motorized In-State.  Middlebury for Best appearing Antique Hand-Drawn Equipment In-State.  New Haven for Best Appearing Rescue-Ambulance In-State.  Lincoln for Best Appearing Fire Line Mini-Pumper Factory Built.  Shrewsbury for Best Appearing Tanker Factory Built.  Bridport was awarded Best Appearing Tanker Department Built.

    The “Float Theme Contest” was awarded to Addison Fire Department Auxiliary.  They received a $500 cash prize.

    Firefighters expressed their gratitude to Middlebury College for their ultimate generosity.  The college was key to the success of the three day convention.

    Middlebury American Legion Post 49, Co-Op Fire Insurance Company, Middlebury Lions Club, Addison County Eagles Club #3801, and many others also gave the firefighters plenty of support and they will be mentioned in future editions of the Voice.  The ACFA worked diligently on this event for over two years and the convention turned out to be one of the best ever for the VSFA.

*Special thanks to Dean Gilmore for his help in the compiling and editing of the material for this article.

    ACFA Firefighters would also like to thank the Middlebury American Legion Post 49 for hosting the VSFA dance to end the evening and although this reporter did not attend that particular event my sources tell me that dancing is something that firefighters both men and women do very well.

   Saturday  dozens of vendors were available to present their many products and services to support the fire service and the Auxiliary held their annual meeting.

     Banquet hosted by the always generous volunteers at the Middlebury American Legion.         

 


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