Make RecruitNY a Year-Round Effort
RecruitNY 2020 was set to be a record-breaking year as just about 600 departments had stepped up to host an open house with a month to go until the event. Like those hundreds of departments who we thank today, FASNY was looking forward to a spectacular 10th anniversary event.
The pandemic may have cancelled RecruitNY Weekend, but no RecruitNY doesn’t mean no recruits in 2020! In fact, these unprecedented times are actually a good time for appealing to recruits. United by our common coronavirus challenge, attention has shifted to helping friends and neighbors. Fire in You, FASNY’s statewide recruitment campaign, is now appealing to that sentiment. Visitors to fireinyou.org are currently greeted with this message:
“At a time when your community needs you most, what better way to serve than with the volunteer fire service? As new problems challenge us, there will always be a need for volunteer first responders who step up and help. You can be one of them by joining now.”
This messaging is being amplified in the full media campaign that includes social media and digital ads targeted at a younger audience. Radio and TV ads are also running throughout the State. Your department can reinforce the message with the numerous resources available for download year-round at recruitny.org
Use these downloadable, customizable resources to promote events when it is safe to have them again (like Fire Prevention Week in October) or just post these materials around town or online. Together, we can create a united message to help the community now, when it needs it most. This, after all, is what the volunteer fire service is about.
Our dedicated departments across the State reliably serve and protect our communities every day with these days being especially important. Remember, some members of the public may not even know their community’s department is volunteer. It’s so important to get the word out about your services and the resources at recruitny.org are one way to do so.
Thanks to all the departments that signed up for RecruitNY – your noteworthy dedication is appreciated. A special congratulations goes to the 16 winners of FASNY’s Ultimate Recruitment Tool Kits that included a firehouse banner, T-shirts, flyers, lawn signs and even an air dancer to promote their event! They are Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Co., Honeoye Falls Fire Department, Little Valley Fire Department, Sunset Bay Fire Department, East Bloomfield-Holcomb Fire Department, Wallington Fire Co., Hubbardsville Fire Department, Nedrow Fire Department, Alexandria Bay Fire Department, Massena Fire Department, Elsmere Fire Department, West Hoosick Fire Department, Malta Ridge Volunteer Fire Co., North White Plains Fire Department, East Rockaway Fire Department and Flanders Fire Department. Every department should know that recruitment and retention are year-round activities not reserved for a single weekend. The weeks and months ahead are prime recruiting time, so visit recruitny.org to get some help with your efforts today.