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Tuesday January 30, 2018 Edition
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Why Serve?

Karen Taylor receives the ACFA President's Award as she steps down from her work in fire, rescue and ACFA leadership.
photo by Cookie Step
Karen Taylor receives the ACFA President's Award as she steps down from her work in fire, rescue and ACFA leadership.
Sisters Pam and Karen Taylor celebrate together years of service and commitment to serving others.
photo by Cookie Step
Sisters Pam and Karen Taylor celebrate together years of service and commitment to serving others.

Tuesday January 30, 2018

By Cookie Steponaitis

When you sit in a room of over 300 firefighters and First Responders it might seem strange question to ask about the reasons why people serve run deep. Karen Taylor has been involved in fire services and emergency services for over twenty-five years. What started as a decision to take a CPR course morphed into a career of serving others. When asked why she chose to serve Taylor refers to her years involved as, “some of the best decisions I ever made. I became involved with the Emergency Services in 1992. I started off by taking a CPR course that was being offered at Vergennes Rescue that lead into an Emergency Certified Assistant (ECA) course directly afterwards. At the same time I joined Ferrisburgh Volunteer Fire Department. I was a First Responder for eight years and firefighter for nineteen years. I have been Secretary for the Addison County Firefighters Association (ACFA) for sixteen years.”
    During her tenure in emergency and fire services Taylor has seen and been a part of significant changes focusing on how to fight fires and respond to emergencies that resulted in altering the make-up of the crews involved. When Taylor joined Ferrisburgh Volunteer Fire Department she and Lori Soter were the only women at the department. Taylor was encouraged that in a field traditionally involving males only both women felt involved and accepted. “I have never felt that being a female had anything to do with joining; we both had a desire to make a difference and become involved with our community and we had incredible support,” explained Taylor. “There are several women on local fire departments. Belonging to organizations such as these require a sense of teamwork and a desire to become an integral part of the team to provide a service to those who need your help and compassion. You have a job to do and you do it. It isn’t about ‘me’; it’s about ‘us’. It’s truly a family. The bonding and understanding are invaluable. I feel it really helps you become a better person.”
    One unique facet of being a member of the Fire Service and Emergency Service is that your training is never done. Changes in technology and how people live make it constantly important to keep up. “When you arrive on scene you’re prepared to do what needs to be done,” Taylor explained. “You listen to your officers. I would highly recommend and encourage our young people to look into the emergency services in their own communities and look into joining if they have the desire to go out there and make a difference. The rewards are compared to none. I think one of the most important things a person in need of help no matter what the situation is for them can hear is you saying ‘help is on the way; you’re not alone.’”
    Stepping down this year from the position of Secretary of the Addison County Firefighters Association, Taylor feels that the time is right and is happy to have been a part of this positive group for sixteen years. With seventeen Addison County fire departments, the connections made and the spirit of mutual aid that prevails in the county, Taylor feels her years of service are an honor and says to the next volunteers stepping up be prepared to have your life enriched and become part of a very large family and make a difference in the lives of people in both small and large ways. “This has been a life altering experience for me,” concluded Taylor, “and one I would encourage anyone to participate in.”


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