Happy New Year! Let us hope that 2021 will be way better than 2020 and we can get out from under this pandemic. Stay safe, stay well everyone.

Let’s finish up a little bit of news from 2020 with the announcement of the winners of the “Light Up Walker Valley 2020” competition. No surprises this year – these folks are intense when it comes to their holiday decorations We had so many more wonderful displays this year and we thank everyone for participating. Our sponsors towards the gift baskets were Beck’s True Value Hardware, Borderline Deli – Original, Valley Supreme Liquors, Walker Valley Auto & Truck Repair LLC and the folks at 3rd & Company who also put the baskets together.
Drum Role Please: 1st Place Cody Carroll, Route 52, 2nd Place Dan Greer, Marl Rd. and 3rd Place Thomas McClure, Basel Rd. Great job everyone and congratulations. Can’t imagine what you are going to do in 2021 to top 2020 but we will be there to check it out.

What it means to be part of the Walker Valley Fire Company – part 1. I have been a member of the ladies auxiliary for 14 years or so and I thought it would be interesting and fun to learn how to become and be a firefighter. I also wanted to educate our community what it means to be a volunteer firefighter – like everyone associated with the Walker Valley Fire Company.
So, you want to be a firefighter, or at least be part of a 100% volunteer fire department? The first thing you need to do is stop by the firehouse, usually on Monday drill nights around 7 p.m. and let the group know that you are interested in joining. You will receive an application to complete and submit back to a Line or Civic officer and perhaps get a quick tour of the facility. The Walker Valley Chemical Engine Co. #1 is very proud of their earned respect as being one of the best in the Hudson Valley – and they have been at it for over 100 years.

And don’t let what you think might be a physical challenge on your part stop you from applying. The motto of this crew is there is always a job that you can do that makes you part of the team, so don’t let anything hold you back from reaching your goal. Age rules are simple - you can be a firefighter in training at 16 years of age but need to be 21 or older with full proper training under your belt to be allowed into a burning structure. Physical abilities are evaluated every year based on age groups by a medical team that is brought into the firehouse as required. They take your health and safety seriously and you receive a full checkup each time.
The application can be submitted once you have a member in good standing endorsement and then it goes to the membership. Once it is reviewed by the membership your references will be notified by U.S. Mail. You are advised to let your references know that they will be receiving a notice to make sure they return it in a timely manner.
Once your references have sent back their info, the background check has been completed and your interview has been completed, your final application is presented and a vote will be taken by the department. You will be contacted on the results. There is a $10 application fee that covers the cost of your first year’s dues as well as NYS Mandatory Background check fees. This fee is non-refundable.
Some general things that you should be aware of up front is active members are expected to attend 10% of the calls each year; must attend 4 department meetings each year; must attend 8 scheduled fire drills per year and within the first 12 months of membership, complete the current level course for position being applied for. Social members are expected to attend 3 fund raising events and/or social committee activities per year; must participate in at least 1 social committee or fund-raising committee per year and must volunteer at least 12 hours of time per calendar year.
Being a firefighter, paid or volunteer, is not something for the weak at heart. Once you become a member, you become part of a family and become an integral part of a team that does everything in support of the community and surrounding communities. If you have what it takes, then contact any Line or Civil Officer. The officers for 2021 are as follows:
Line Officers: Chief - Jim Greer, 1st Assistant - Joe Dieterich, 2nd Assistant - Thomas McClure, Captain - Jim Greer Jr., 1st Lieutenant - John Hendrickson, 2nd Lieutenant - Garry Call, 3rd Lieutenant - Jim Waterman, Captain of EMS - Cody Carroll and Captain of Fire Police - Rich King. Civil Officers: President - John Ricker, VP - Jim Tremper, Financial Secretary - Bunny Haskins, Recording Secretary - Sue May, Treasurer - Rich King and Sergeant-at-Arms - Kieran Weiler. Trustees: Art Rose, Chris Bailey and Garry Call. If you know any of these people, when you see them, thank them for their service.
There is one other way to be a member of the fire company, in a supporting role, and that is to be a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. The yearly dues is $3 and you will have some requirements to attain active status and receive the perks that come along with it. Their responsibility is to take care of the firefighters when they are out in the field or rotating through the firehouse during a call and provide them with food and refreshments for sustenance. The ladies also do fundraisers in support of the community and to help with expenses and/or needs of the fire department, for example, if they need equipment for the membership or equipment for the firehouse or vehicles.
Next month – Positions within the fire company and the training required for them.