LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Firemen's Association of the State
of New York (FASNY) upon the occasion of hosting its 6th Annual Recruit-
NY Weekend from April 23-24, 2016

WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout the
Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the arduous
field of fire protection and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Since the early days of "teapot steamers," the volunteer
firefighter has been the cornerstone of our great Nation's efforts to
spare us from the ravages of fire; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the Fire-
men's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) upon the occasion of
hosting its 6th Annual RecruitNY Weekend from April 23-24, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Five years ago, RecruitNY was created by FASNY to keep the
New York State volunteer fire service alive; after years of decline,
this annual event has helped add more than 20,000 to the ranks of fire
departments across the state of New York; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, approximately 120,000 volunteer fire-
fighters served their New York communities; a decade later, that number
drastically dropped to around 80,000 firefighters, making it difficult
for fire departments to adequately respond to fires and other life-
threatening situations; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, FASNY applied for, and received, a Federal Staffing
for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant to conduct recruitment
and retention activities; and
WHEREAS, One year later, FASNY developed and then held its first
RecruitNY Weekend where volunteer fire departments were encouraged to
open its doors to the public and solicit new members as well as
strengthen the relationship between the volunteer fire department and
the community it protects; and
WHEREAS, Over the past five years, the Annual RecruitNY Weekend has
become a vital aspect of FASNY's recruitment and retention activities
with an increasing number of departments participating each year; with
the help of local media, members of the fire departments are able to
broadcast the importance of local volunteer departments and the contin-
uous need for new firefighters; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of New York are prepared to risk their
lives every day to help save the lives of others and to protect homes
and property from the destruction caused by fire; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters and fire departments not only provide
the critical service of fire protection but also engage in other activ-
ities of great benefit and importance to the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help others
and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with family
and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need; New
York firefighters heroically perform, above and beyond the call of duty,
those responsibilities which define the task of fire protection; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) upon
the occasion of hosting its 6th Annual RecruitNY Weekend from April
23-24, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY).