Thursday, 17 April 2008
Kenna Holm
LADY FIREMAN
Since I wrote about the Fireman last week, I thought maybe I would write about the Fireman Auxiliary this week. Just to let you know a little bit about the women in that organization. It was actually organized in 1942, a long time after the men were organized into a department. It’s so fun to look back in the history book and read about all the things they used to do. My how times have changed.
As I read the first constitution and by laws of the Payson Lady Fireman I couldn’t help but smile at how different it is today. The first by laws were: Dues and Finance: each person becoming a member of this organization shall pay the sum of $1.00 a year, payable in January. (Our dues are still due in January but are $20.00 a year now) Members failing to have all dues paid before the first of February shall be notified by the secretary and those not paying before the first meeting of March shall forfeit all rights to membership and their names shall be taken from the roll. (We have certainly become lax on that.)
An additional 10 cents per member to be paid at each monthly meeting, whether member is present or is not.(I love that--it would take forever to get anything built up nowadays at 10 cents) this money is to be known as our Building Fund (Now I’m not sure what the building fund was, whether it was to go towards a building or just a savings account)
Each member shall entertain in alphabetical order. (they held the meetings in their homes) Limit of refreshments to one thing and a drink. We shall have 3 annual parties per year entertaining our partners. (now we have 2--a summer party and a Christmas party. Before we got a full time Fire Marshall, Scott Spencer, we had an Installation Banquet in January to install the new Chief and other officers)
The sum of $2.00 to be paid for flowers at the death of a mother or father of each side of member and also children of member. The sum of $5.00 to be for flowers at the death of a member or the husband of a member (Now you couldn’t get one single flower for that price.) The sum of fifty cents to be paid for flowers for member who is ill. Don t you love it.
They were really serious about these by-laws. Mamie Chapple was the first President of the Auxiliary. Anyone remembering Mamie knows how she had to have everything proper. She d turn over in her grave if she saw how we elect officers now. She believed in Roberts Rules and she made you stick to then. We loved that lady. She was great.
They did a lot of great things in those early days. They did things for the Red Cross, sewing things for them. They had quilt raffles and the tickets were 10 cents each and the proceeds from the sale of the tickets was used to buy war bonds. In 1953 they had a Dance Review that was sponsored by the Lady Fireman and they gave the proceeds to the new swimming pool and to the Jr Library. They gave $50.00 to the Swimming Pool and $30.00 to the Jr. Library. (how far would that go now?) In 1959 they helped furnish the new Fire Station with dishes and silverware and tables. Over the years the ladies have done a lot of worthwhile things. They donated money in 1963 for Cemetery beautification. The money went for trees and concrete benches.
Now we concentrate more on the Burn Center. We have made quilts and had raffles at State Fireman Convention and turned the money into the center. This year we donated $500.00 to the Burn Center. It is such a worthwhile cause.
Years ago, the ladies and men loved to play bingo (and some still do). They would hold their parties in the old American Legion Hall or at Don’s Cafe. Now we hold our parties in the City Center or the Park. It seems all the ladies are so busy nowadays that we only have meetings every quarter and we have the two parties with the men.
The city sends 10 couples to State Fireman Convention where the ladies attend meetings alone and some with the men. At convention they give out service awards to the men serving10-25-and 50 years. They also have some very inspiring speakers and the men have training sessions.
I’m really proud to be a member of the Lady Fireman Auxiliary. It s a great group of women and fun to work with. We have new officers this year. Maxine McCoy is our President with Marilyn Spencer as Vice President and Tanya Thatcher as Secretary. I have the privilege of being the Historian, a job I have held since 1995. (They won t let me out.)
When I think of all the changes that have been made over the last 66 years it is amazing and so fun to remember when...
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