Second Quarter 2016 Always have membership applications available 24/7. The HOW TO GROW YOUR application should include a brief history of the organization, it’s CHAPTER vision and mission, and a statement in bold that “YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OWN APPARATUS TO BE A MEMBER”. Benefits Article #1, a primer of membership should be highlighted on the form and of course Being a SPAAMFAA Chapter is no easy task in itself. There all the dues information and space to fill out necessary information is much behind the scenes work that must go on and unless you about the person joining and info on where to send the app and/or have served as an officer you have no idea of the time how to join online if your chapter has that ability. commitment that is required for a chapter to be successful. Even Every apparatus should always have applications on the rig! Every harder, is the task of long term success. I am not talking about personal vehicle of each member should always have applications next year, 3 years or 5 years - how about 25 years, 50 years, 75 in the glove box. years? Do you want to build an organization that will stand the Every chapter was issued 2 cardboard “stand up” application test of time or is your vision one of come and go? What will holders some years back! Where are they now? Are they being happen to your prized apparatus or collection when we pass the used? If not, why not? Every event that any of my apparatus torch, if there are no younger people involved to continue it’s attends, whether it be a parade, muster, static display, wedding, care? birthday party – if my rig is on display, an application holder will How many chapters have we all seen start up, build for a be displayed on it. Just by setting that display on the running while, do great things and then start to slowly fade away and board, many applications are distributed and the word is spread. finally disappear altogether? This tends to happen as the younger Sometimes it results in conversation, questions or a lead on where and energetic members who carry the organization for many a rig was seen sitting. Does it always result in new members, years, grow older, get tired, get burnt out, retire or move away. maybe yes, maybe no, but the important thing is – A SEED IS Why does this happen? This happens when there is not a steady PLANTED! flow of new & younger members coming into the organization. I have heard the “Complainers” saying that young people just This happens when the officers of the organization do not prepare cannot afford a fire truck, etc., etc. Young people don’t care about younger members to move up into a position of leadership. This anything, etc., etc., They may be right! But those young people happens when we become complacent. We sit around and that see our rigs, read our membership application and learn what complain about the younger generation, but remember, WE were we are all about will remember later on in life about that thought once the younger generation! way back in the back of their mind from years earlier, that I am not an expert at marketing, advertising, etc., but I am “someday I would like to have an old fire truck”. Someday they passionate about my hobby and about preserving history for will be able to afford it! Someday they may care! Someday they future generations. Having started a SPAAMFAA chapter and just might be ready to make their dreams come true! watched it grow from 12 to 300 members in an area of the It is all about “PLANTING THE SEED”, NURTURING THE country where collecting fire apparatus or memorabilia was SEED, WATCHING THE SEEDS GROW AND BRINGING IN virtually unheard of, I understand the time & commitment A STEADY STREAM OF NEW MEMBERS FROM THE required to constantly be recruiting new members. The SEEDS THAT YOU HAVE SPENT YEARS PLANTING! leadership of the organization HAS TO KEEP RECRUITMENT Once you attract new members into your local organization, EFFORTS IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE MINDS OF ALL the next step is to have them educated about and to join THE THE MEMBERS! NATIONAL ORGANIZATION SPAAMFAA and start getting Enjine Enjine and Silver Trumpet! To be continued next issue. SILVER TRUMPET Published Quarterly by the Society for the Preservation 2016 SPAAMFAA and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus of Board Members America. Send change of address to: President: William Dundas, Camarillo, CA Sr. Vice President: Ted Elder, Applecreek, OH Membership Secretary: Vice President: Thomas Herman, Chesterfield, VA Candy Bennett Treasury Secretary: Leonard W. Williams, Sunnyvale, CA 8035 Bird Pond Road Executive Secretary: Peter West, Philomont, VA Adams Run, SC 29426 Membership Secretary: Candy Bennett, Adams Run, SC North Eastern Trustee: Andy Leider, Warwick, NY Editor: Central Eastern Trustee: Steve Heaver, Baltimore, MD Bill Blunden South Eastern Trustee: Jim Durstine, Enola PA North Central Trustee: John Zangerle, Avon Lake, OH PO Box 296 South Central Trustee: Justin Birchfield, Mooresville, IN Carthage, NY 13619 Western Trustee: David Kromka, Camarillo, CA [email protected] Immediate Past President: David Napier, Farmingdale, NJ Editor- Enjine! Enjine!: Scott Rollins, Mooresville, IN Associate Editors: Editor- Silver Trumpet: Bill Blunden, Carthage, NY Tim Elder Webmaster: Candy Bennett, Adams Run, SC Ken Buohl Well, the snow has finally melted (for the most part), and the days are getting longer and brighter. Muster Season is finally upon us! The opportunity to take our trucks in parades, weddings, graduations, Birthday Parties and Musters. That first trip out of the garage down the road every year is a special time. The purr of BRUCE NORMAN- California Chapter Member Bruce the engine, the fresh air, and of course the mandatory Norman of Grover Beach passed away on Dec. 8, 2015. Bruce bell ringing and siren blowing just to make sure that was a fireman with the LA County Fire Dept from 1961-1975 they still work. and was assigned to station 48 in San Pedro. This is also the time we get to let the public see, SANDRA KIDD- Wife of ODHFS Vice President Wayne Kidd touch, and even ride on our old fire apparatus. This is the perfect time to promote the organization. Tommy JOHN R. ACRE- Former ODHFS Member Herman has a wonderful article in this issue addressing JIM LIPPER- Mile High Hook & Ladder member James M. membership and how it is everyone’s job to promote, Lipper, age 67, a 28-year resident of Monument, Colorado, died and grow the organization. From the chapter level, to on February 29, 2016, after a lengthy illness. the national level, new and younger members are our future… JOE BRANTLEY- Gulf Coast Chapter member and Past Chief of the Arcadia FD passed away 4/9/16. One of the great things about this job is that I get to see what other chapters across the country are doing ZOLTAN SZUCS- Zoltan was a California Chapter Member and there are some great ideas out there. I have tried to who passed away March 3 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. pick out some of the best of the best to share with you. As always, I am also looking for feedback and story ideas for the Silver Trumpet……Enjoy! Bill Blunden, Editor Presidents Line HELP WANTED: Who’s coming to Middletown New York this summer? It’s waiting for you! Do you like fire trucks or fire engines? Over The organization is in need of several industrious five hundred of them await you at this one event. If so, time to volunteers to head committees and new projects for show up and join in the festivities planned that are planned for all the membership. The most important position is of you. I can assure you it will be the fix that you need and just Membership Secretary. Sometime this next summer what you are looking for. we will need someone who has the time (possibly a Make this your summer’s vacation and take the time and sign up retiree) to take on this critical job. If any of your at: http://www.fairchesterhosehaulers.org/ for August 10-13, members are interested please have them contact 2016. President Bill Dundas for more information. All that attended Houston this last winter raved about the event, the regrets were numerous on Facebook when they saw the photo’s and videos. SPAAMFAA now has a member stepping up, who is Summer 2016 National Board Schedule videoing the activities and posting it on line for all of you who missed out on the fun. It’s time to get your face and or your truck in the movies! Tuesday August 9 – Arrival Middletown, NY, Holiday Inn Remember it’s a lot more fun to have friends join with you in our hobby, so this summer make it a point to ask a non-member to join Wednesday August 10 you in the local or national events coming up. Get them to sign 0830 – National Board Meeting – Open to members up locally and nationally as a member. Remember when we were 1130 – Lunch on your own. (We will designate someone to go to young, the more kids involved the better time we all had; you are a sub shop and bring back sandwiches. If still that boy or girl from back then. I promise it’s as simple as the hotel is going to object, we can eat outside with our fire just asking them to be a part of SPAAMFAA, as I do at every event trucks.) I attend.