Join Fire and EMS

Everyone has their own personal reasons for wanting to become a volunteer firefighter or EMS. Some are driven by a longstanding family tradition, while others are seeking to forge their own personal tradition of community service. Whatever the motivating factor, there are many rewards and incentives, the greatest of which is a sense of belonging to a brotherhood/sisterhood that is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Other rewards include:

Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)

The Volunteer Incentive Program, or ‘VIP’ is a program whereby local businesses can offer discounts of their determination to individuals that can document, by presenting their County issued ID Card, their active membership in a volunteer emergency services agency located in Rensselaer County.

Note: Local businesses, we are asking for your assistance with this program. We are in the process of recruiting local businesses that are willing to offer discounts to individuals that can document their active membership in a volunteer fire department or emergency services agency located in Rensselaer County. We would like to encourage your business to join with us in this program. The amount and terms of the discount are left up to you. This simple act will help demonstrate the community’s appreciation for their emergency services volunteers, and would provide a much-needed incentive to remain active. If your business is interested in participating or already providing incentives to emergency services volunteers please let us know by calling

(518)-270-1047.

Additional Information: VIP Frequently Asked Questions

VIP Business Commitment Letter

VIP Business Commitment Form

Scholarships

New York State offers scholarships to volunteer fire and volunteer ambulance companies to use as a recruitment and retention incentive for new members.

http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/0/NYS_Volunteer_Recruitment_Service_Scholarship

The Scholarship Advisory Committee on behalf of the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York is happy to announce that they will be awarding ten $2,500 Scholarships to high school graduates entering college.

http://www.fasny.com/appsandforms.aspx

Ward A. & Janice R. Bohner Scholarship Program – The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) is pleased to offer this scholarship program to enhance, through academic achievement at the college level, the quality of leadership in the fire and life safety field and to assist Active, Associate, and Affiliate Association Members (and their spouses or children) in their efforts to pursue academic advancement.

http://www.nysfirechiefs.com/scolarshipsandawards.php

NYS Personal Income Tax Credit

Beginning in 2007, a New York State resident who serves as an active volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance worker for the entire tax year may be entitled to a $200 tax credit. You may claim a refund of any volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance workers’ credit that is in excess of your New York State tax liability.

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance-Summary Of Personal Income Tax Legislative Changes Enacted In 2006

Rensselaer County Fire Training Schedule

To Read the Complete Emergency Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Committee Report (Click Here)

Note: The Report is in Adobe PDF format and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or higher. Download and install free Adobe Acrobat Reader at http://www.adobe.com