It is the policy of the Varna Volunteer Fire Company to encourage members to seek training relevant to fire fighting or EMS activities that are available outside of the department.

In accordance with this policy, the Company shall pay the course tuition in full upon registration, with the following restrictions and limitations:

1. The department shall pay for tuition only, not travel/lodging expenses, textbooks, or any other supplies/equipment required for a course. However, members may request funding for non-tuition expenses from the Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis.

2. The Training Officer shall prepare and post a list of courses that are preapproved by the Board of Directors for full tuition funding. This list shall be updated yearly.

3. For courses not on the preapproved list:
   • A member wishing to have his or her tuition paid by the Company must submit a Course Approval Form to the Training Officer for his or her signature. In the absence of the Training Officer, any Chief Officer may grant approval.

   • Requests for payment of tuition must be submitted to the Board of Directors after receipt of approval from the Training Officer. The Board may approve full or partial payment for such courses, and may demand further stipulations (e.g., reimbursement only upon completion, delayed reimbursement, etc.), at the Board's discretion.

   • The Board shall have final authority in granting tuition payment requests in those cases where the Training Officer has, for whatever reason, denied approval.

4. It shall be the trainee's responsibility to ensure that a receipt for payment of tuition is obtained and submitted promptly to the Treasurer.

5. The Company will not pay the tuition of members who have not yet achieved Active Sustaining Membership status, but those members can apply for reimbursement once they have achieved such status.

Purpose: To reward the participation in VVFC activities by allowing members to accumulate credits that can be used for the purchase of authorized fire fighting or rescue equipment.

Participation in the incentive program is open only to members meeting the minimum requirements of their membership categories. (See Rules and Regulations.) A member makes the purchase out of his or her own pocket and then seeks reimbursement from the Treasurer. Personal items may not be purchased and billed to the Company without prior approval by the Board.

A.

Activities will be awarded points as follows:

1. Response to calls	1
2. Meetings, regular and board	1
3. Bonus for attending at least 9 regular meetings/yr	10
4. Training (weekly, departmental, approved, 3 hours)	1
5. Bonus for making at least 30 trainings/yr	10
6. Participation in a truck check	½
7. Bonus for making at least 40 truck checks/yr	10
8. Level of competency advance
a. Completion of Sustaining Membership	5
b. Completion of Fire Fighting Membership	10
c. Completion of EMS Membership	10
d. Qualifying as Interior Fire Fighter	10
e. Qualifying as driver/operator of 1901	10
f. Qualifying as driver/operator of 1921	10
g. Qualifying as driver/operator of 1941	7
h. Qualifying as driver/operator of 1942	5
i. Qualifying as driver/operator of 1943	10
j. Completion of Fire Police Membership	5
k. Completion of Certified First Responder course	20
l. Completion of EMT-D (Basic) course	*80
m. Completion of EMT Intermediate course	25
n. Completion of EMT Critical Care course	40
o. Completion of Paramedic course	*160

* Half the points are awarded in each of two consecutive years.

B.

Mentors will be awarded points as follows for each trainee who completes the requirements for the membership level (only half the points will be awarded if the trainee does not advance to that level):

a. Sustaining Member	5
b. Fire Fighter Member	10
c. EMS Member	10
d. Interior Fire Fighter	10

C.

The period over which points are totaled each year is Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

D.

Each individual member will be assigned points based on activities as outlined above. The total points for the Company will then be calculated by summing all points over all members.

E.

The total amount of incentive money will be determined during the budget process and will be announced before January 1 of the subsequent year.

F.

Members must submit proof of hours for all outside training by the Regular Monthly Meeting in February.

G.

Prior to the Regular Meeting in March, a list of activities, points, and incentive money proportioned to each individual member will be posted, after which members will be able to draw on their balances.

H.

Incentive money is to be used for the purchase of fire fighting and EMS equipment, official Varna apparel, scanners, two-way radios, cell phones and services, NYS Defensive Driving Course, and for other Board-approved activities.

I.

Transfers between or among members are not permitted.

J.

Credit can be carried from one year to another, and previously purchased items will be honored for reimbursement.

K.

People who leave the VVFC will have 3 months after the awards are posted to claim the incentive money that they had earned while a member.

Purposes:

• To get new members engaged in the activities of the Company and to help make it a positive experience.

• To help new members advance through their training and certifications to make them productive contributors to the Company as soon as possible.

Procedure:

1. The Membership Committee will assign a mentor to a new incoming member at the time that the individual's membership application is accepted.

2. The mentor and trainee will immediately begin to work on the requirements for Sustaining Membership. (See Member Advancement Sequence.)

3. If the new member has not completed the requirements for a membership category within 6 months, the Membership Committee will review the progress and change the mentor, if necessary.

4. The Membership Committee will assign an appropriate mentor for each step in the member advancement sequence.

Membership Categories:

Mentors will be assigned for the following membership categories (see Member Advancement Sequence):

• Sustaining Membership
• Probationary Active Membership
• Fire Fighter Membership
• EMS Membership
• Fire Police Membership
• Interior Fire Fighter

Mentors will not be assigned for driver/operater certification. It will be the responsibility of the individual member to seek help with a specific vehicle.

Mentors:

To qualify as a mentor, an active member must be

• willing to invest the time and make the commitment to serve as a mentor,
• certified at the level at which he or she intends to mentor, and
• be approved by the Chief for mentoring at that level.

The responsibilities of the mentor are:

1. Work with the trainee during truck checks and trainings.

2. Work with the trainee in additional one-on-one trainings.

3. When possible, work with the trainee during emergency calls.

4. Keep current in the membership categories in which he or she is certified.

5. Inform the Chief of any problems that develop.

A mentor may not test the trainee for certification in the membership category for which he or she was mentor.

Purpose: To provide specific guidelines for the use of the premises of the Varna Volunteer Fire Company by other agencies and community groups.

Application: This covers the conditions and requirements for use of the building, including costs and expectations. It shall apply to all outside groups wishing to use the Varna Volunteer Fire Company building, grounds, or other facilities.

1. The building is available for use subject to the approval of the Chief in consultation with the Building and Grounds Committee. The Chief and/or the Building and Grounds Committee shall review the proposed use to determine (a) if the Company facilities are an appropriate size for the event and (b) if the event is likely to interfere with Company operations.

2. The suggested donation for use of the facilities is $50.

3. The use of VVFC facilities is subject to the following conditions and expectations:

   (a)

   An organization or group wishing to use the premises must have a "sponsor" for its event. The sponsor shall be a responsible member of the VVFC, who shall unlock and lock the doors, shall serve as liaison for the group, and shall be responsible for the preparation of the rooms and conduct of the group, including cleaning up.

   (b)

   All users must clean up after use.

   (c)

   Some areas may be locked or closed off, and access to these areas will be prohibited.

   (d)

   No use shall interfere with the emergency response of the VVFC. Should any interference occur, the use of the facilities will terminate immediately.

Only the four Chiefs and the Treasurer are authorized to make purchases on VVFC charge accounts. Particular individuals may be authorized by the Board to make purchases on specific VVFC charge accounts for specific purposes (for example, purchase of barbecue supplies).

Application: This policy applies as soon as a female firefighter or EMS member learns that she is pregnant. A Probationary Active or Active Firefighter or EMS Member shall notify the Chief of her condition as soon as possible after becoming aware that she is pregnant.

The Chief shall provide the pregnant member's physician a letter detailing the work involved with her volunteer activities, including but not limited to:

• interior fire fighting
• exterior fire fighting
• operating fire apparatus (driving and pump operation)
• vehicle extrication or other heavy rescue work
• emergency medical care
• fire police activities

Within 30 days, the pregnant member shall provide the Chief a letter from her physician describing her fitness for duty and any restrictions on her activities. This letter must be updated monthly by the physician until the pregnancy has ended, and all restrictions have been lifted.

The pregnant member shall abide by all restrictions stated by the physician, and no officer shall ask the member to do anything in violation of those restrictions.

Every effort will be made to equip the pregnant firefighter from existing available stock with turnout gear that fits.

Hepatitis B

Influenza

Other Vaccinations

Tuberculosis Testing

1. When a caregiver is a member of the Varna Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

2. The caregiver is required, needed, or desired to be at Fire Company meetings, trainings, and work details (including truck checks)

3. The caregiver actually attends and participates in the event for which funding is to be provided.

4. It shall be the responsibility of the caregiver(s) to screen all sitters and see to the safety of their dependents.

5. The caregiver(s) must pay the sitter and then seek reimbursement from the Board. A receipt will be required to receive reimbursement.

Emergency calls represent special situations for which normal dependent care cannot be provided.