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2005 Company and Web Site News
December 26, 2005 VFD-Funding
Formally Amends Policy to Make Sponsors Effective January 1, 2006 VFD-Funding will be amending their fee schedule to give a greater preference to our preferred vendors. For acquisitions which are funded by tax-exempt leases and low interest loans, VFD-Funding will continue to do our funding processes for only a 1% fee and not require any up front money be paid as fees to us, when fire department customers shop and make their acquisitions with our preferred venders and advertising sponsors. As we find financing and funding for volunteer fire departments, we will refer our client fire departments to our sponsors first, because we know them and their levels of customer service. Our 1% fee is exclusively for our sponsors and preferred vendors, because we know they have reliable apparatus & equipment, great customer service, and they sponsor us with advertising; so that we can keep our rates low at 1% for tax-exempt leases and loans. For non-sponsor and non-preferred vendors, our fees range from 3% - 5%, which are added to the price of the apparatus, equipment or whatever the financial need may be. This is still more economical than others who charge as much as a compounded rate of 9.75% for their fees and interest on the leases/loans. Those vendors who wish to become our preferred vendors and then also get the first direct referrals from us and to have our fees fixed at only one percent (1%) for their products should visit our advertising page and then contact us immediately; because we are limiting the number of preferred vendors and sponsors, so that we give them the best edge over their competition, while still providing many affordable options to our customer fire departments. Due to the large number of visitors and qualified visitors to VFD-Funding.com because of our funding programs, refinancing programs, our VFD Management Course and other services, we will increase our sponsor advertising rates, although we are still less expensive than other forms of advertising that are far less effective. Visit our advertising page to see our rates and compare us.
December 14, 2005 VFD-Funding Offers VFD Management Course In recognizing that fire fighters, EMS and officers of these departments are highly trained in the firefighting and EMS knowledge and skills necessary, but there exists no comprehensive management training program for line officers and administration officers, Will Griffin (President of VFD-Funding) has begun offering a VFD Management Course curriculum FREE to volunteer fire fighters, EMS, line officers and administrative officers. This curriculum is currently still under development, but already fire chiefs, other line officers and administrative officers have eagerly embraced this management course and have registered to participate. The information is posted on the web site for all to see, however, for those wishing a certification or to interact with instructors and other participants, they must register and get on the mailing list to get UID & PW to enter the forums and chatoom/classroom. Review of the Course Syllabus will show many of the topics that will be covered. Although there will be differences in content and interest for those who wish to be line officers, from those who wish to be administrative officers, all participants are encouraged to take each lesson in the entire curriculum, because if you have a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other officers, you'll have a clearer understanding of the management of the entire department, and ultimately your role as an officer in it. Will Griffin is an Ed.D. with many years of volunteer firefighting experience, including serving as an officer, which dates back to 1972, when he first joined the fire department as a junior fireman and was the first Treasurer of the junior fire department. As other older junior officers moved up upon become 18 years old, Will became the secretary, vice president and president of a 16 member junior fire department. He has written various other educational programs and curriculums, after achieving his Ed.D. in 1981. Participants and others are encouraged to review the syllabus and the content of the curriculum in this VFD Management Course and contact us with any questions, comments and suggestions.
December 8, 2005 VFD-Funding
Listing of Fire Apparatus (New & Used), With the increased traffic and search engine rankings, we have listed more apparatus for sale and expanded the number of preferred funding sources we will use. We are adding links directly to the sellers and manufacturers of the fire apparatus and to some of the funding sources, due to the huge volume of traffic we are now getting. Those listed with us are our preferred vendors and those who sponsor us with their advertising purchases. Volunteer fire and combined departments are encouraged to directly visit the apparatus sellers and funding sources that advertise and sponsor VFD-Funding.com, so that we can provide our services with no up front money necessary and only a 1% fee.
November 26, 2005 VFD-Funding
Expands Services to Combination FD, Paid FD, Due to the growing number of combined volunteer/paid fire departments, paid fire departments and municipal governments and their agencies seeking assistance and funding through VFD-Funding, we have expanded our services to include these agencies. As with the volunteer fire and EMS departments, VFD-Funding will not require any up front money or fees for their services. The fees required will be at a rate of one percent (1%) of the project or acquisition for those products and services acquired through or from the preferred and advertising vendors of VFD-Funding. The fees, added to the cost of the apparatus, equipment, or project for those non-preferred/advertising vendors of VFD-Funding will be 3% - 5%, which will occur at the time the funding is transacted.
November 25, 2005 VFD-Funding Adds
Employment, Staffing & Recruiting Due to the number of inquiries by combination and paid fire departments and EMS services asking if we knew of qualified candidates for employment, VFD-Funding has added several pages to the web site for purposes of employment and helping volunteer and paid FF/EMS to find gainful employment in the industry. The new pages in this section include:
Paid FF/EMS Employment
Referral Form - For those wishing to be added to our database Given that training and education are key components to employments, VFD-Funding has established a section for training and a bookstore. Several training companies and instructors will be pursued for strategic alliances, to make these viable offerings. The new pages are: For more information, visit these pages, or contact us.
November 23, 2005 VFD-Funding to List VFD/EMS Companies and their Web Sites VFD-Funding is adding links to various VFD/EMS departments throughout the USA to their web site, to help these departments get more visitor traffic and donations to their web sites. The companies being added will first be in the greater Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania region, given that VFD-Funding is headquartered there and started as the result of providing funding, grant writing, computer, web hosting/development, and general administrative consulting services to the VFD in this region. Other web sites will be added throughout Pennsylvania first, then surrounding states, until all 50 states are completed. However, as some departments visit VFD-Funding and become clients, they will be added at those times. Likewise, some departments may submit their information and will be added as this is received.
November 12, 2005 VFD-Funding
Launches Congressional Lobbying Initiative VFD- Funding has publicly launched a congressional lobbying initiative to provide active volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel a $1,000 federal income tax credit. Along with this proposal is a $1,000 tax credit for employers who permit their active FF employees to respond to emergencies during working hours and a $2,500/yr. scholarship/grant for active FF/EMS to encourage the recruitment and retention of younger volunteers, who may choose the fire service or EMS as a career. For more information: Please visit: Tax Code Amendment Initiative
November 7, 2005 VFD-Funding
Adds Sale of New & Used Fire Apparatus and VFD-Funding added multiple pages for the sale of new and used fire fighting and other emergency apparatus, along with the equipment necessary to provide emergency services. Several manufacturers and distributors of apparatus and equipment have been contacted to notify them of the expanded opportunities for them to advertise their products. Equally, VFD-Funding is looking to expand the number of qualified vendors, given the expansion of their services and offerings on a national basis. Providing some of these distributors/re-sellers and the VFD themselves to market and sale their used, yet still reliable, apparatus will help many smaller fire departments to acquire the apparatus they need and at reasonable/affordable rates. VFD-Funding will also help these acquiring VFD to purchase this apparatus, with affordable funding.
November 4, 2005 VFD-Funding Adds VFD Resources to Web Offering VFD-Funding added many resources to their offering to assist volunteer firefighters/EMS services including:
VFD Facts These sources will be constantly upgraded and expanded to service the VFD/EMS community, so that in addition to the services offered by VFD-Funding, there are numerous reasons for FF/EMS and departments to frequently visit VFD-Funding. Also added to the site were chat rooms, various forums and mailing lists, so that FF/EMS personnel could communicate with each other and directly with the principals of VFD-Funding for information, technical support, inquiries and other assistance.
October 31, 2005 VFD-Funding Launches Web Site Although writing grants and arranging other forms of financing and funding for volunteer fire departments for many years, Will Griffin and a small select staff acquired and launched VFD-Funding.com. The purpose of creating and developing this site is to reach out to VFD across the USA to provide them funding sources, both grant writing and tax-exempt leasing options, and various services including, but not limited to:
The official launch of the web site occurred at 2:30 p.m. EST and the submissions to the major search engines occurred at 3:00 p.m. Development of the web site along with expanding the general FF/EMS resources, sponsors, funding sources and general services will continue, as the web site attracts more traffic and business and the needs and desires of VFD are addressed.
Contact us at VFD-Funding today or fill out our convenient on-line feedback form, give us your wish list and tell us a little about your organization and then let's see what all we may be able to do for you and your volunteer fire department, rescue squad or EMS service. REMEMBER, there are NO up front costs or fees required. Last modified: June 06, 2007
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