FDPR COMPLETES VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TRAINING FOR THE GREAT NECK ALERT FIRE DEPARTMENT

FDPR  is proud to announce the completion of a FOUR YEAR comprehensive analysis of the recruitment and retention of volunteer FIREFIGHTERS providers for the GREAT NECK ALERT FIRE DEPARTMENT in Nassau County NY. The study was funded through the FEMA SAFER Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program. This $750,000 four year, no-match grant was hosted by the Alert FC and included 13 fire agencies including:

• GREAT NECK VIGILANTS FC
• LYNBROOK FD
• ALBERTSON FC
• EAST WILLISTON FD
• BELLEROSE TERRACE FD
• FLORAL PARK CTR FC
• SOUTH HEMPSTEAD FD
• LAKEVIEW FD
• MANHASSET-LAKEVILLE FD
• PLANDOME FD
• PORT WASHINGTON FD
• NEW HYDE PARK FD

FDPR was able to provide recruiter training for recruiter coordinators, members and senior staff and providing actionable direction through reusable and replicable power points learning aids and direct instruction. The study identified measures to retain current members and avenues to explore new members in the massive 13-member region. Over 100 new volunteers were recruited throughout all departments.

The grant produced flyers, posters, roadside banners, website improvements, outdoor signs, and three comprehensive brochures.  Assistant volunteer coordinators in each agency were trained and attended community events such as block parties, street fairs, Halloween events and fire prevention open houses. Also funded were junior firefighters programs. Tents, tables, table cloths, new LED signs were updated, furniture for company rooms funded, new applications printed and websites modernized.

“Retired first responders, active career first responders, college students, high-school students, and homeowners in the immediate area were identified as the immediate direction the region should be going to find new volunteers” said Christine Orsano, FDPR President. Each demographic has items and issues which appeal to them such as college credit, college recommendation for high schoolers, community service hours, tax breaks for homeowners, advanced training for career responders, health insurance for recent graduates among many other viable outlets.

“We were able to fund annual physicals for new members which many residents need and didn’t realize they could obtain”, said Chief Hobson.

The key to running this recruitment program over such a diverse region was finding the key elements to recruitment and focusing on a specially prepared recruitment strategy for each group. The days of a single brochure are over; it’s not one size fits all on Long Island or anywhere in the fire service today, Christine concluded. This region proved that the cookie cutter approach is not viable here where the volunteer fire service so diverse financially, ethnically, and culturally. It’s a rue cross section of society with differing religions, politics and even languages.

FDPR is a certified Nassau County and New York State Minority Woman Owned Business.