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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
I'm sorry but in no way should tax payers have to pay for a race car. Fire trucks yes, heck they even have my vote for a new Santa suit every year, but a race car um NO!
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Posted 10/13/06 7:57 AM  |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
*attempting to get back on topic and have a civilzed conversation* 
We don't know the whole story here. What I would like to know:
Specifically for this one department, what is the amount of money received from neighborhood donations via fund drive?
What is the amount of money received via "special" fundraisers (like you said re Bald Hill)?
What are the yearly operating expenses just to keep the trucks on the road and the lights on at headquarters?
What amount of money (or percentage) is spent on recreation, ANY recreation including parties and alcohol?
I'm also someone with a volunteer background, I'm a lifetime member (10 years active) with a volly organization that shall remain nameless. I received my basic and advanced EMT training for free, sponsored by my department, but paid by the county.
Just to operate two ambulances out of our one location and minimal recreational spending (soda, not beer - cable tv - maintenance on pool table - one adult holiday party, one kid holiday party) was hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
How much operating money did we get from the county? NONE. All of it came from the charity of the residents in the towns we covered.
If I'm not mistaken, I believe I read some years ago that NY has the highest number of volunteer FD's and Ambulance Corps in the country. Everyone else has to pay for these people through their taxes.
The sacrifice that these volunteers make is beyond what a lot of you might expect. You can think you understand what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night to the pager going off and feeling that duty to help. But you really don't until you've done it for a few years and it's worked it's way into your every day life. Or to know that a patient you're working on has TB or AIDS, and to give them the same level of care regardless of the danger to you. To see death and destruction constantly, but to still come back again and again. All this... WITHOUT PAY!
Sure, there are degrees of dedication - people who don't respond to the pager when they're sleeping, or when they're eating dinner with their family, or when their favorite show is on tv. Consider what would happen if all the volunteers had that degree of dedication? We would all be scr*wed.
You want there to be a really tight community feel to every department. Why? Because it keeps the members there, at headquarters. Thus, when the tones go off, you're already there and ready to jump on the rig instead of at home, 5 minutes away. Five minutes is a long time when your child is choking or your house is on fire.
It sounds like their competition vehicle is completely dead. In which case, 55k is not an unreasonable amount for a brand new vehicle, painted to match the FD colors, custom lettering, special equipment for competitions, etc.
Can they fix their 20 year old vehicle? Maybe. But then it's most likely in antique condition, and not racing condition. At 20 years, you have to consider the cost of fixing instead of replacing. Spend 55k now, and they won't have to spend much over the next 10 years. Fix a 20 year old vehicle, and you'll most likely be spending money on it every year.
They're no angels, I know this. Better than many of you reading this, I'm sure. But until the volunteers organizations are dead, we need them. And I, for one, appreciate the sacrifices they make and think that certain rewards are not excessive. Take the salary that paid FD members make, multiply it by the number of active members, and apply that total to the recreation budget. That alone would encompass all of the changes proposed. Recreation is the way these volunteers get "paid" for their committment.
But I'm not going to bash them outright because I don't know all the facts about their money situation. And I don't ever trust that what a newspaper reports, especially Newsday, is completely factual and unbiased.
I don't think a "watchdog" or "audit" of spending is a bad idea. But that person or persons better be a veteran volunteer to completely understand just what it takes to do this.
Message edited 10/13/2006 10:08:59 AM.
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| Posted 10/13/06 10:04 AM |
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MrsNaunie
Kai helps my father dump out.
Member since 9/06 1181 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by oakslady
take the money from the d*mn school districts.
Wow- really? This statement blows my mind. What do you mean? Do we not get as much service from the public school system as we do from the volunteer firefighters?
My father was FDNY, my mother served on the school board, so I like to think that I may be on both sides of this fence. But I can't imagine at all what you might be talking about.
A 55K sports car, for volunteer firefighters, is more important than after school sports, or music activities for the communities children?
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| Posted 10/13/06 10:33 AM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Maybe the way to end this....people upset on how the volunteers spend the $$$ is to have paid firefighters on LI.
I can not believe that something as important as firefighters is not a paid position for most of LI.
I for one wouldn't mind a increase if I knew that it was going towards the salaries and equipment of the firefighters but I have a problem with an increase for "extra curricular" activities!
YES, I know that the volunteer firefighters work hard...and THANK YOU for that....BUt I don't feel the need to have to pay for their pool table or bar in the fire house.
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| Posted 10/13/06 10:45 AM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
I am the soon to be wife of a volunteer figherfighter and EMT, I am also the daughter of a volunteer EMT.
I question how many of the people who say race car no way, thats ridiculous have actually been to a racing event? How many people really understand what is behind it, the commitment and time the people on the racing team spend together, the bonding that takes place the skills that are enhanced.
THere is so much that goes into your local volunteer fire department and unitl you have personally been a part of it and experienced it you shouldn't judge. I understand everyone is entitled to their own oponion. And for those of us involved it is hard to not take it personally.
I think it would be like complaining about school budgets and teachers salaries to a teacher. When someone is doing the work they have a different perception then someone paying for it. Hope that makes sense.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:29 AM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
What does racing have to do with fighting fires and getting the newest equipment??
Shouldnt that be the MOST important thing a fire department is concerened with....NOT winning a race???
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:34 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by JandJ1224
I am the soon to be wife of a volunteer figherfighter and EMT, I am also the daughter of a volunteer EMT.
I question how many of the people who say race car no way, thats ridiculous have actually been to a racing event? How many people really understand what is behind it, the commitment and time the people on the racing team spend together, the bonding that takes place the skills that are enhanced.
THere is so much that goes into your local volunteer fire department and unitl you have personally been a part of it and experienced it you shouldn't judge. I understand everyone is entitled to their own oponion. And for those of us involved it is hard to not take it personally.
I think it would be like complaining about school budgets and teachers salaries to a teacher. When someone is doing the work they have a different perception then someone paying for it. Hope that makes sense.
are you serious?? are you really trying to justify them spending $55K on a race car at the tax payers expense????? 
ETA: if they want to have a fund raiser for the car, fine. but to spend tax payers $$ on something like that is wrong!
Message edited 10/13/2006 11:38:29 AM.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:37 AM |
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Farmingville FD also hosts weekly car shows on Tuesday night which they make thousands of dollars for. They charge $5 a car and at least 1000 cars show up between show cars and spectators and they also sell food. So why don't they use that money for the race car?
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:39 AM |
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unknown1
****
Member since 5/05 2771 total posts
Name:
lisa
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by Lisa
What does racing have to do with fighting fires and getting the newest equipment??
Shouldnt that be the MOST important thing a fire department is concerened with....NOT winning a race???
Your Right it has nothing to do with it ...... and I AGREE you volunteer to save lives not win races..
And third if you arer getting a 55,000 race car I considered you paid not a volunteer...
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:42 AM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by unbelievable
Posted by Lisa
What does racing have to do with fighting fires and getting the newest equipment??
Shouldnt that be the MOST important thing a fire department is concerened with....NOT winning a race???
Your Right it has nothing to do with it ...... and I AGREE you volunteer to save lives not win races..
And third if you arer getting a 55,000 race car I considered you paid not a volunteer...
Again have you ever been to a race, do you know what it is about?? These volunteers aren't personally getting these race cars. How would that be considered paid?
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:45 AM |
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MegZee
My bunny
Member since 5/06 8777 total posts
Name:
Meaghan
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Again have you ever been to a race, do you know what it is about?? These volunteers aren't personally getting these race cars. How would that be considered paid?
so who is benefitting from the racecars? Not my house that is on fire. unless they are using it to get to my house.
I am all for supporting camraderie, etc., but they should have used fundraising $$ for their car, not taxpayers.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:47 AM |
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unknown1
****
Member since 5/05 2771 total posts
Name:
lisa
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by JandJ1224
Posted by unbelievable
Posted by Lisa
What does racing have to do with fighting fires and getting the newest equipment??
Shouldnt that be the MOST important thing a fire department is concerened with....NOT winning a race???
Your Right it has nothing to do with it ...... and I AGREE you volunteer to save lives not win races..
And third if you arer getting a 55,000 race car I considered you paid not a volunteer...
Again have you ever been to a race, do you know what it is about?? These volunteers aren't personally getting these race cars. How would that be considered paid?
Because That isn't the only thing they get. They get alot of perks ,, add it up it comes out to a lot more then what MY cousin makes being a NYFD in Brownesville none the less... ANd TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION yes I HAVE BEEN TO MULTIPLE RACES i AM NOT SURE WHY THAT MATTERS I STILL DON'T SEE THE NEED...
Message edited 10/13/2006 11:49:44 AM.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:48 AM |
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Hi-Fi55
12 years...wow....
Member since 2/06 2984 total posts
Name:
Dianne
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by Lisa
Maybe the way to end this....people upset on how the volunteers spend the $$$ is to have paid firefighters on LI.
I can not believe that something as important as firefighters is not a paid position for most of LI.
I for one wouldn't mind a increase if I knew that it was going towards the salaries and equipment of the firefighters but I have a problem with an increase for "extra curricular" activities!
YES, I know that the volunteer firefighters work hard...and THANK YOU for that....BUt I don't feel the need to have to pay for their pool table or bar in the fire house.
I completely agree with you. It's ridiculous how many volunteers we have on Long Island. Most of them aren't even active, never go to fires and yet will still reap the benefits later on.
I understand you're volunteering and that's great. I have respect for that. But how come Long Island has the best trucks in the nation? How come we have fire houses that have custom bars and lounges in them and now race cars? Do you really think this is how the city runs the shop? And let's face it, they have a much more difficult job then the fire houses out here on LI do.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:49 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by JandJ1224
Posted by unbelievable
Posted by Lisa
What does racing have to do with fighting fires and getting the newest equipment??
Shouldnt that be the MOST important thing a fire department is concerened with....NOT winning a race???
Your Right it has nothing to do with it ...... and I AGREE you volunteer to save lives not win races..
And third if you arer getting a 55,000 race car I considered you paid not a volunteer...
Again have you ever been to a race, do you know what it is about?? These volunteers aren't personally getting these race cars. How would that be considered paid?
why do you feel that they have a right to spend that kind of money on the taxpayers dime?? you said something about schools and budgets... how would you feel if schools started using tax $$ to buy race cars?
and other posters on here who have DH's or Dad's in the FD on LI agreed that they should not be allowed to use tax $ on a race car.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:49 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by MrsSchwags
I am personally all for the fire dept having activities in which they enjoy themselves. Unless you have personally dedicated your time you really do not know what it takes.
my family has about 75 yrs of volunteer service. I myself gave 3 years. i enjoy the races and participated in them.
to be a volunteer i had to go to EMT school for 6 mths. twice a week on top of college and a ft job.
i also have to wake up at all hours of the night for all types of emergencies and nonemergencies. do u know how many times we respond to nonemergencies??
besides the endless alarms...there is cleaning and maintenance of the equipment.
now after the hard work they ALL deserve a little fun. if u disagree and want to complain over 200 or so dollars a year thendedicate your time.
you would pay a lot more for a paid FD
I agree-they shoudl get some special treatment-they are risking their lives to do this ultimately. We had a fire and the volunteer firefighters were unblelievable-we always donate money to them and will continue.The race car is a little crazy but I am not against them having entertainment, new trucks, etc.
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:53 AM |
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TheInfamousOTG
Waiting for Lil' M....
Member since 5/05 3468 total posts
Name:
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
I've been to many races in my lifetime, and use to race on my department's team.
The B-rig(truck)- is considered a pumper
The C-rig(car)- is considered an auxiliary hose carrier
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| Posted 10/13/06 12:10 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Well, here's a different take on the whole thing. I was a volunteer EMT for 5 years, I only stopped doing it because I moved to queens, but thats a dfifferent story.
ANYWAY. In my community, we had both a fire dept and an ambulance corps, two separate entities from each other. The FD budget was soooo much higher than the ambulance corps budget. While the FD was spending millions of dollars on new trucks each year, we were trying to scrape together the money to buy a new ambulance - which costs way less than a fire engine.
We were lucky if we got a free t-shirt one year, our building was falling apart, and we never went on trips or anything. Meanwhile the FD was getting all that stuff.
The FD would get maybe a quarter of the calls that we got, and most of the time they were false alarms. If they did get something real (say a working fire or a carbon monoxide call) we had to be there as well.
So I feel the pain of all the spending going on in the FDs. But don't knock all the vollys, because not everyone is getting all the perks. Yet they are still getting their azzes out of bed at 3am, or leaving in the middle of thanksgiving dinner to help you and your families.
If LI went to a paid system, your taxes would be way higher than what they are right now supporting the volunteer system.
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| Posted 10/13/06 12:34 PM |
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MegZee
My bunny
Member since 5/06 8777 total posts
Name:
Meaghan
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Newsday Article
here is a link to the newsday series if anyone wants to read.
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| Posted 10/13/06 12:43 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by JandJ1224
I am the soon to be wife of a volunteer figherfighter and EMT, I am also the daughter of a volunteer EMT.
I question how many of the people who say race car no way, thats ridiculous have actually been to a racing event? How many people really understand what is behind it, the commitment and time the people on the racing team spend together, the bonding that takes place the skills that are enhanced.
THere is so much that goes into your local volunteer fire department and unitl you have personally been a part of it and experienced it you shouldn't judge. I understand everyone is entitled to their own oponion. And for those of us involved it is hard to not take it personally.
I think it would be like complaining about school budgets and teachers salaries to a teacher. When someone is doing the work they have a different perception then someone paying for it. Hope that makes sense.
i will be quite hoinest and say i really don't give a crapola what goes into their car races and the time they spend together...this isn't a coffee group here..
these are fire fighters...
if they want to get to gether have do things....via from the money that they raised....COOL.
MORE power to them
THEIR ENTERTAINMENT doesn't and shouldn't be funded by my TAX DOLLARS
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:14 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
But i do agree...I think that these Volunteers should get paid..I DO believe this should be an employment opportunity for people
BUT....i will also say that IF that does happen....
THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY FRIGGIN RACE CARS at the expense of the public
THEN this would be their JOB.
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:17 PM |
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MrsPorkChop
Twinning!!
Member since 5/05 9941 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
id rather not know.
they deserve alot for making the sacrifces they make
if you think about all the crap spending that is done by politicians and schools and companies where you invest stock $, you would be shocked.
i guess im turning a blind eye to it. they definitely go above and beyond to protect us and i dont think we can even put a dollar amount on that
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:20 PM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by MrsPorkChop
id rather not know.
they deserve alot for making the sacrifces they make
if you think about all the crap spending that is done by politicians and schools and companies where you invest stock $, you would be shocked.
i guess im turning a blind eye to it. they definitely go above and beyond to protect us and i dont think we can even put a dollar amount on that
I agree with you
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:25 PM |
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LUCY
I <3 Gabriella
Member since 6/06 1029 total posts
Name:
N
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by MrsPorkChop
id rather not know.
they deserve alot for making the sacrifces they make
if you think about all the crap spending that is done by politicians and schools and companies where you invest stock $, you would be shocked.
i guess im turning a blind eye to it. they definitely go above and beyond to protect us and i dont think we can even put a dollar amount on that
I concur.
Also, Newsday loves to attack Fire Departments, Police Departments, and large local companies, etc. any chance they get. I find them to be an unreliable source of information and extremely slanted.
Ironically, there was never a single article on their highly unethical scandal.
If it werent for the Sunday coupons and the wedding announcements.... I would NEVER purchase Newsday.
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:27 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by MrsPorkChop
i guess im turning a blind eye to it. they definitely go above and beyond to protect us and i dont think we can even put a dollar amount on that
well you can't...since they don't get any...
i truly am appreciative of what they do.
My Ex was a volunteer...in HIS town i can't say there was much action to think that they deserved a racecar
sorry...i just am sicked my this aspect of it...
And i do think that more and more will be done to crack down on this frivolous kind of spending...
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:29 PM |
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MrsPorkChop
Twinning!!
Member since 5/05 9941 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Fire Department on LI (long)
Posted by Redhead
Posted by MrsPorkChop
i guess im turning a blind eye to it. they definitely go above and beyond to protect us and i dont think we can even put a dollar amount on that
well you can't...since they don't get any...
i truly am appreciative of what they do.
My Ex was a volunteer...in HIS town i can't say there was much action to think that they deserved a racecar
sorry...i just am sicked my this aspect of it...
And i do think that more and more will be done to crack down on this frivolous kind of spending...
frivolous spending is everywhere.
unfortunately id rather have them with their race cars and fancy rec rooms, then not have them there at all
i used to date a fire department guy--they have a repuation of partyying and drinknig and being wild- and he definietely lived up to it.
HOWEVER what they do takes a certain person. a dedicated and brave person. i think they deserve ALOT so the spending doesnt really bother me...and/or i just block it out. i think they deserve it.
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| Posted 10/13/06 1:33 PM |
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