93rd Annual Convention - Minutes
Bergenfield, New Jersey


The 93rd annual convention was called to order at 8:06 p.m. by President Rauch.

Pledge of allegiance was led by 1st V.P. Kirsch.

National anthem was sung by Cynthia Naylis.

Exits were pointed out.

Roll call of officers was done by Secretary Devries.

Introduction of convention host: Chairman Gerry Naylis.
Guests were introduced by Pres. Rauch,
New Jersey guests:

Hudson County reps.: Joe Stauffer Charles Vorhees
Carl Christiansen
VFIS rep.: Joe Giorgi
New Jersey Fireman’s home rep.: Dan Loftus

Bergenfield Fire Commissioner Chris Fastino and Assemblyman John Rooney had remarks.

Motion was made to bypass the reading of the previous meeting’s minutes.

Report of officers:

Pres. Rauch: gave his closing remarks as president and thanked all officers and members of the association for their support.

1st V.P. Kirsch: welcomed all to Bergenfield and thanked Bergenfield FD For hosting this convention.

Secretary: no report.
Ass’t. Sec’y.: no report

Treasurer: Treasurer Saigh submitted his annual fiscal year report.

Financial Sec’y.: Fin. Sec. Schwedhelm submitted his end of the year report.

Trustees and past presidents had no report.

Sgt. At Arms: meeting well represented this evening.

Committee reports:

Signal: progress

Pol. Action N.J.: nothing

Pol. Action N.Y.: nothing

Fire prevention: Alan Silverman says the next meeting is 6/14/06
In Ramsey.

N.J.S.F.A.: Bob Audway wished all a successful convention.

Clothing bins: Robert Aitken introduced Mark Field who gave a brief description of the services that his company offers to burnt out victims of house fires and also along with his sister Helene presented a $5,000.00 check to the association.

FASNY: Stu Gates reports not much happening.

State Exempts: F. Glueckler convention is 6/24/06 in Budd Lake.

Firemen’s Home N.J.: Dan Loftus wished all a successful convention.

Firemen’s Home N.Y.: Stu Gates reported that Rockland County sent a bus up to the home to celebrate 5 birthdays and was a huge success.

Box 54: very busy new rig is not in yet.

Life member certificates were presented by 2nd V.P. Gates the following were awarded their certificates:

  1. Stanley Kuiepel Jr. Oradell FD

  2. Fred A. Robertson Palisades Park FD

  3. George Crowley Haverstraw FD

  4. Michael C. Szczecina Elmwood Park FD

At this time the memorial service was observed with a moment of silence.

Scholarship award winners were presented their awards by 1st VP Kirsch:

Joseph Costello Fireman of the Year Award.

Saturday July 2, 2005 was very hot, muggy day. At 12:30 p.m. An alarm was transmitted for a basement fire at 2 Fenway Court River Edge, N.J. With reports of a person trapped.

When Deputy Chief Chris Weismann arrived at the scene he observed heavy smoke and was met by a neighbor who informed him that he had tried to enter the basement but was driven back 3 times by heat and smoke.

The owner’s wife confirmed that her husband was trapped in the basement.

Weismann donned his SCBA and entered the basement and found that there were 2 doors open in such a fashion that one had to be closed for the other could be fully opened.

Operating through the heavy smoke, Weismann worked his way through the doors to the basement, where there was zero visibility, high heat conditions and fire rolling across the ceiling.

Crawling almost 18 feet following the moaning of the victim, he found the 240 pound man collapsed over the work bench. Weismann stood up, exposing himself to the high heat conditions, and pulled the man to the marginally safe area by the stairs. By then other firefighters had arrived and were able to remove the doors. It took a total of 5 firefighters to move the victim up the stairs.

After the rescue, hoselines were advanced to the seat of the fire and extinguished it.

Deputy Chief Chris Weismann lived up to the highest tradition of the fire service in affecting this rescue. The survival of the victim was directly due to his quick and heroic efforts. The New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association is proud to bestow the 2006 Joseph Costello Fireman of the Year Award on Deputy Chief Chris Weismann of the River Edge Fire Dept.

Citizen’s Valor Award

On Saturday July 2, 2005 at approximately 12:30 p.m. A River Edge resident, Mr. Richard Corcoran became aware of a fire at 2 Fenway Ct. A woman who lived in the house made her way out, but informed Mr. Corcoran that her husband was trapped in the basement.

Disregarding his own safety, and without the benefit of any protective equipment Mr. Corcoran attempted to enter the basement of the house. He was beaten back by the smoke and heat. At this juncture, most individuals would have abandoned their attempts to enter the burning house but not Mr. Corcoran. He made not one, not two, but three attempts to gain entry to the house in an effort to locate the trapped victim. Unfortunately the heat and heavy smoke prevented Mr. Corcoran from making entry.

An arriving fire dept. Deputy Chief made entry wearing SCBA to search for the trapped victim. Mr. Corcoran stayed at the scene to direct other arriving firefighters to the point where the Deputy Chief entered the house so that the trapped victim might have the best chance for survival.

In recognition for his bravery and total disregard for his own safety by risking his life to save another, the New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association is proud to recognize Mr. Richard Corcoran with the 2006 Citizens Valor Award.

Unit Citation Award

On Wednesday September 21, 2005 at 6:08 a.m. The Little Ferry Fire Dept. Was dispatched to a report of smoke near 109 Neihaus Ave. On arrival this was confirmed to be a working fire.

Because of the hour and the fact that there was a car in the driveway it was determined that the house was likely occupied.

The fire was determined to be located in the basement of the 2-1/2 story dwelling, which was now filling with smoke. A hose team was sent in, and found that the stairwell had burned away. A hole had to be cut in the floor and a roof ladder was used to enter the basement.

Meanwhile, a victim was found on the second floor by the search team. The firefighters carried the un-breathing victim out of the building where CPR was performed by the first aid squad and a paramedic unit. A pulse was found but unfortunately, the victim passed away a week later.

The rescuing crew deserves the highest acclamation for entering the building without a hoseline; not knowing the seat of the fire and affecting a rescue.

The New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association is proud to award the Unit Citation to the Little Ferry Fire Dept., and in particular the following members: Frank Fuchs Jr., Doug Tobin, Adam Reinert, and Brian Castelli.

Rudy Appeld Service Award
Sponsored by the Hillsdale Volunteer Fire Department

There are not many people who can measure up to George Heflich’s record of public service. From the time he joined the Secaucus Fire Dept. In 1964 he has been active in town.

George was a town councilman from 1974-1980, and after holding all officer positions in his dept. Became fire chief in 1985 and 1986. He served as Secaucus Fire Official and as a member and an officer of too many New Jersey Fire Service related organizations to mention, both locally and statewide.

One thing that he is particularly proud of is receiving an award for donating more than 16 gallons of blood, fortunately he did not donate all of this blood at one time.

He also served as a trustee for the Secaucus Board of Education in 2003 and 2004.

George presently serves as the vice president of the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association.

During his career in the fire service, George has received several valor awards. One was for a rescue during a train derailment and another for the ice rescue of a child in the Hackensack River.

The New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association is proud to present the 2006 Rudy Appeld Service Award to an individual with such a fine record- George Heflich, Sr.

At this time the trophy and award presentations were given out by convention Chairman Gerry Naylis assisted by 1st V.P. Kirsch. The following were awarded trophies for these categories:

Strategy and tactics exam competition:

Individual category:
1st place Dave Haenelt - Leonia FD
2nd place Gregg Cariddi - River Edge FD
3rd place Jeff Kaplan- Oradell FD

Team category:
1st place - River Edge FD
2nd place - Leonia FD
3rd place - Oradell FD

Apparatus judging:

Best engine: River Edge FD

Best truck:
1st place - New Milford FD
2nd place - River Edge FD
3rd place - Little Ferry FD

Best rescue:
1st place - Little Ferry FD
2nd place - River Edge FD

Best antique:
River Edge FD

Antique truck pull:
1st place - Little Ferry FD
2nd place - Alert Fire Co. Bergenfield FD
3rd place - Prospect Fire Co. Bergenfield FD

Best overall:
River Edge FD

New business:
2 new membership applications were read and accepted into the association.

Election of officers:
President: Robert E. Kirsch Bergenfield FD
1st Vice President: Stuart L. Gates Wayne Hose Co. Stony Point NY
2nd Vice President: James Cole Westwood FD
Secretary: Peter J. Devries Cresskill FD
Asst. Sec’y.: John Stormer New Milford FD
Treasurer: George Saigh New Milford FD
Assistant Treasurer: Alan Silverman New Milford FD
Financial Secretary: John Schwedhelm Little Ferry FD
Sgt. At Arms: Robert Aitken Little Ferry FD
Trustees: (2) 5 year terms
Edward Kammer Northvale FD
Charles Moots Ridgefield FD

President’s badge was presented by outgoing president Rauch to incoming President Kirsch.

President Kirsch delivered a brief welcoming and thank you address on behalf of his being elected to the position of President. And thanked Bergenfield for hosting this year’s convention.

President Kirsch presented new past President Rauch with his past President badge and service plaque.

Presentation of plaque from Borough of Bergenfield to President Kirsch by Mayor Richard Bohan who gave some remarks.

50/50 winner awarded $194.00

With no more business to come before the association President Kirsch adjourned the 93rd annual convention of the New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association @ 9:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Peter J. Devries
Secretary