MEMBERS STEP UP RECRUITING
By Melissa Murdza
HV staff
Efforts to increase the number of firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians
at Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department have been tackled passionately
by the newly formed membership committee and results are starting to show.
Recent trips to Catholic University and Montgomery College have resulted
in numerous applicants and visits to the station.
"We told [the students] what we do and what equipment we have,"
said Rescue Lt. Maria Coppa. "Four out of 12 [at Montgomery College]
came to the fire department, and we made contacts with others."
"If this works out well we may go look at some other colleges like
GW - they don't have a volunteer system," said Fire Sgt. Matt Verdin,
the head of the membership committee.
Coppa said since she graduated from Catholic, she knew the biology/premed
club there didn't do anything for their students for hands-on experience.
"I called my adviser and set up an appointment for us to go to the
campus," she said. "I asked her if she knew anyone who was interested
in joining."
Twenty-five people showed up for the informational session at Catholic University,
which was set up expressly for the HVFD.
"I'm a fireman back home, and I love it. I figure it will be good for
me to do while I'm at school and to get my EMT," said Tom Devaney,
a freshman biology/premed major at Catholic and Long Island resident.
"It's only three metro stops from Catholic," he said.
"This is beneficial for the entire department, not just us," Verdin
said. "Once [the new recruits] get into the department, they may like
it and decide to stay."
"It seems to me the people here are nice and friendly," said Maria
Bucceri, a freshman biology major at Catholic. She decided to visit the
station because she is interested in gaining experience in the real world
to complement what she's learning in her classes.
Recruiting options in Hyattsville have been pretty limited, largely due
to the fact that the membership committee has only recently been formed.
"Most of our city-type things are limited to our Open House in October,"
Verdin said.
"I've been trying to find out a way to do it, but the only way to do
it is to put a sign outside of the fire department."
Verdin said that recently there were some walk-ins from the city who came
to the station and asked to join. He said the HVFD is considering a bulk
mailing in the city to increase members from Hyattsville.
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Updated 4/17/96