DrA BRIEF HISTORY:
In 1889, when the Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association was established, fire departments were few and far between. Some of the men felt that there was a need for an organization to give support to these companies. The first President was George H. Scott. Early records are not available so we do not know who did the organizing. The first records show that at the 1907 Annual Convention, 5 vice presidents were elected and that the membership was 160 with a balance in the treasury of $52.25. By 1930, the membership grew to 450.
In 1931, the convention was held in Coxsackie and a big discussion was held regarding what will be done when there are no more volunteer firemen (volunteerism was fading).
The first Greene County Day at the Firemen’s Home was held on October 27, 1935. The year was 1941 and fire equipment in Greene County was inadequate; in 1942, there was no convention because of WW II.
The association went on record for favoring a county mutual aid program, a fire coordinator (Elmer Young, Bruce Borwegen, Ronald Garrison, Robert Darling and John P. Farrell, Jr. have held this position) and a fire advisory board. By 1952, the treasury had grown to $1,623.65 with a membership of 535. In 1958, 31 fire companies and organization had joined. In 1958, no one came forward wishing to host a convention until Hunter accepted.
The parade rules and regulations were read and reread in 1963 before approval was given. In 1968, the position of Financial Secretary was added and the first Past President’s dinner was held in 1969. By 1970, the membership was 703 and 196 people attended the Past President’s dinner (largest attendance was 250 in 1973).
The Booster Line, a newsletter dedicated to the volunteer fire services in Greene County, was started in 1970 and continues to 2006 with few interruptions. Judith Rhodes, Dorothy Jennings, Kandi Davis, Margaret Feml have held the position of editor.
In October of 1973, the first Drill Day was held in Palenville and has continued each year since. The membership was 937 in 1977 but dropped to 670 in 1980.
To celebrate 100 years of service, the association hosted the convention in Catskill.
Over the years many committees were added, among them Fireman of the Year, Scholarship, Guidelines and Fund Raising. The Past Presidents’ dinner now includes the Ladies Auxiliary of GCVFA, Fire Police Association and Fire Chiefs’ Association.
The membership now is 984 with over $10,000. in the treasury to fund the events sponsored by the association such as Greene County Day at the Firemen’s Home, Drill Day and the annual conventions.
Many changes have taken place over the years. The County now has a new Emergency Control office and will have a burn building and garage in the near future. Again, volunteerism is down; participation at the meetings is low and there are no hosts for future conventions. This year, the Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association and Ladies Auxiliary are hosting the 118th annual convention.
President – Antonio Fuentes
1st Vice President – Ryan Schrader
2nd Vice President – Jason Haines
Recording Secretary- Liza Dwon
Treasure – Karen Schrader
Financial Secretary- George F. Stacey
GREEN COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION CALENDAR
EXECUTIVE BOARD- SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 – GC TRAINING CENTER, CAIRO
FIRE POLICE-OCTOBER 23, 2024- CAIRO
FIRE CHIEFS -OCTOBER 21, 2024- PRATTSVILLE
EXECUTIVE BOARD – DECEMBER 19, 2024 -GC TRAINING CENTER CAIRO
GCVFA-NOVEMBER 7, 2024 – HAINES FALLS
FIRE CHIEFS -JANUARY 20, 2025–OAK HILL
FIRE POLICE-JANUARY 22, 2025 – CAIRO
GCVFA -FEBRUARY 6, 2025 – KISKATOM
EXECUTIVE BOARD-MARCH 20, 2025-GC TRAINING CENTER, CAIRO
FIRE CHIEFS-APRIL 21, 2025- EAST JEWETT
FIRE POLICE– APRIL 23, 2025- CAIRO
GCVFA- MAY 1,2025- ATHENS
EXECUTIVE BOARD – JUNE 26, 2025-GC TRAINING CENTER CAIRO
FIRE CHIEFS -JULY 21, 2025- EAST DURHAM
FIRE POLICE–JULY 23, 2025- CAIRO
GCVFA- AUGUST 7, 2025- ASHLAND
137TH GCVFA CONVENTION- GREENVILLE
SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 THRU SEPTEMBER 6, 2025
EXECUTIVE BOARD- SEPTEMBER 25, 2025-GC TRAINING CENTER, CAIRO
FIRE CHIEFS-OCTOBER 20, 2025- HUNTER
FIRE POLICE–OCTOBER 22, 2025- CAIRO
EXECUTIVE BOARD – DECEMBER 18, 2025 -GC TRAINING CENTER, CAIRO
Auditing | Rich Frasco |
Pete Kusminsky | |
Tyrel Sherman | |
Donald Winegard | |
Boster Line | Maureen Murphy, Chair |
George Stacey | |
Dotty Jennings – Auxiliary | |
Chuck Adsit | |
John Miller | |
By-laws & Guidelines | Tyrel Sherman, Chair |
Pete Alberti | |
Marilyn Schrader | |
Lillian Beechert | |
Phyllis Dinkelacker | |
Dress Parade Rules | P J Pugsley, Chair |
and Regulations | Kevin Lennon, Co Chair |
Tom Gonzalez | |
Kevin Lennon | |
Chip Spring | |
Mark Dinkelackr | |
Frank Boertlein | |
Craig Seaburg | |
Drill Day & Rules | Connie Whitbeck, Chair |
Carlos P Sala, Co Chair | |
Peter Alberti | |
Frank Boertlin | |
Craig Seaburg | |
Drill Day & Rules Con. | Andrew Lubera |
Kevin Sattler | |
Fire Assistance Fund | Frank Roberts Sr, Co-Chair |
Marilyn Farrell, Co-Chair | |
Marilyn Schrader | |
Maureen Murphy | |
Fire Prevention Day | Karen Schrader, Chair |
Kevin Sattler, Co-Chair | |
Connie Whitbeck | |
Frank Roberts Sr | |
Lynn Wallace | |
Andrew Lubera | |
Firefighter of the Year | George Stacey, Chair |
Barry Feml | |
John P Farrell Jr | |
Randy Ormerod | |
Firemen’s Home | Marilyn Schrader, Chair |
John P Farrell Jr | |
Fundraising | Tyrel Sherman |
Donald Winegard | |
Golf | Kevin Lennon, Chair |
PJ Pugsley | |
Robert Schrader | |
Karen Schrader | |
Greene County Day | Marilyn Schrader, Chair |
Donald Winegard | |
Tyrel Sherman | |
Connie Whitbeck | |
Craig Seaburg | |
Legislative | Vickie Dichian, Chair |
Marilyn Schrader | |
Ronald Garrison | |
Yale Frank Jr | |
Nominating | Pete Kuminsky, Chair |
Chester Garrison, co-chair | |
Robert Schrader | |
Carlos P Sala JR | |
Richard Fasco | |
Past Presidents Dinner | Jason Haines, Chair |
George Stacey | |
Marilyn Schrader | |
Karen Schrader | |
GCVFPA Committee | |
GCVFCA Committee | |
GCVFALA Committee | |
Peter Bennett Menorial Award | P J Pugsley |
Recruitment, Retention, | Antonio Fuentes, Chair |
& Membership | Joe Affronte, Co Chair |
Marilyn Schrader | |
John P Farrell Jr | |
Resolutions | Vickie Dichian, Chair |
Pat Pugsley Sr | |
Yale Frank Jr | |
Scholarship Committee | Robert Schrader, Chair |
Mary Sheridan | |
Jason Haines | |
Cathy Spring – Aux | |
Bonnie Pflegl – Aux | |
Pamela Fancher-Brent – Aux | |
Donald Winegard | |
Lynn Wallace | |
Craig Seaburg | |
Ski Competition | Kevin Lennon, Chair |
Adam Goodrich | |
Steering | Marilyn Schrader, Chair |
John P Farrell Jr | |
Yale Frank Jr | |
Quartermaster | P J Pugsley |
Marilyn Schrader, Chair | |
Liason to GCVFA | |
Convention Committee | |
DELEGATES: | |
Hudson Valley – Primary | Chester Garrison |
Hudson Valley – Alt | Frank Boertlein |
FASNY – Primary | Robert Schrader |
FASNY – Alternate | Frank Boertlein |