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Post by athl1881 on Apr 30, 2006 12:03:09 GMT -5
Waynesboro Fire Department Incorporated
Board of Directors ("The Corporation")
ANNOUNCEMENT
"At the April 24th meeting of the Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated, Chairman Dave Martin decided to withdraw as the Corporation representative and administrator for the web page (www.wfd2.net). After much discussion the Board feels there have been too many problems with the way the web page is being handled.
We feel we have little control over what is placed on the site to
represent the department. Therefore the Board unanimously voted to no longer be responsible for the web page and it's content. The Waynesboro Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated will not fund this project when it comes up for renewal later this year.
The Board wishes to relinquish control and responsibility to the
Fire Chief of the Department effective May 1, 2006."
--Letter to Noel Kline, WFD Member who voluntarily
created and maintained the WFD website since May 2005.
Why don't the companies have a say in what the "Corporation" does? Who over sees the corporation? When are the two companies going to stop the corporation from running thing around the companies? The corporation has once again overstepped what the corporation, was stated for. TOTAL POWER corrupts totally! It is sad that what started as a way to raise join funds is now in competition for control over the funds that should have gone to each company.
Sorry that Noel got in the middle of the a few people racing for power.
Noel thank you for all of your hard work! The membership and other members of the fire service enjoyed what was one of the best sites on the net.
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Post by firetach2005 on Apr 30, 2006 18:28:16 GMT -5
it just shows how much political BS gets involved with promoting a good image and PR for WFD.
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bambamCo4
Senior Member
"Head for the Mtn."
Posts: 63
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Post by bambamCo4 on May 1, 2006 15:56:51 GMT -5
I dont see a problem with the web page.......it has some great stuff from now and in the past........why is it that big of a problem???
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Post by volunteerfireman on May 2, 2006 20:42:21 GMT -5
Unfortunately, not everyone will understand the decision that the corporation made. However, the web site was not as great as everyone thinks. Look at the latest entry for the Buckhorn Restaurant call. The entry lists 2-1, 17 and 3 on the call. ET2 was the first co. 2 unit in. Where was that listed? Where was Mont Alto listed? How about co. 8; where were they listed for the transfer? Previous entries included ET2-2, SU2-1 and EVERYTIME 2-1 or the tower is listed, it starts with SUTPHEN. BIG S**T! The corporation did not drop Noel, they dropped a man that was generous enough to contribute a lot of time and effort into something, but was uncontrollable. He was never able to get entries correct and never informed those responsible for the editing that he was posting something. I would like to thank Noel for what he started, but he also led himself to the ending.
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Post by Instructor on May 2, 2006 22:33:10 GMT -5
True - Noel may not have a lot (or even any fire service background) he is a teacher, nurse and for fun a web designer. Yes, he had most of the hose sizes wrong, but he could not tell the difference if he was looking at the rear of the engine. We have never had a West Franklin Street in Waynesboro. He even messed up and had me as Deputy Chief Simmers. There should have been people there to help him.
Look at some of the other web sites in the county, if they would not have been there to "save the day" the people would still be trapped, the placed would have burnt to the ground ( 2 or 3 times) and the cat would still be in the tree. A lot of the FD sites put their own spin on their calls. While others only up-dated once a month.
But remember he was doing it for FREE, sometime you got to take the bad with the good.
His photo are great!
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Post by volunteerfireman on May 3, 2006 17:35:26 GMT -5
Are you sure that it was for free? I seem to remember that he stated that since the funding from the corporation was cut off, he was done. And now that the fire chief is funding it, its back up and running.
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Post by Instructor on May 4, 2006 9:35:58 GMT -5
The only thing WFD Inc. was paying for the web space. We did pay for our domain name and the Dream Weaver website program; both are property of the department. Noel has not received money for what he has done.
WFD will still have a web site and as any project there will be growing pains.
Death of web site? It was only down for a few hours and it was back up. There has been more about that couple of hours on this site then on the WFD page.
Time to build and bridge and get over it.
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Post by Firefighter33 on May 4, 2006 16:32:22 GMT -5
I second what Gary said, All those in favor say I, all opposed, well, anyone who opposes can create a fan club called lets complain and not solve anything club............
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Post by ResTech on May 5, 2006 19:19:13 GMT -5
I think the WFD's site is one of the better FD sites in the county personally. Itz not one of the "template" models that every other department has and has alot of good information on it.
To me it looked like Noel did a very good job and anytime someone takes initiative they should be complimented and efforts should be appreciated. They're is always a few that want to mask what is good with what they can find to be bad. Doesnt sound like the erroneousness info posted was anything severe and could have been easily corrected.
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Post by noelkline on May 7, 2006 21:09:34 GMT -5
To the "Volunteer Fireman",
I am Noel Kline. I have been volunteering in the Tri-State region since 1994. Prior to the WFD, I have served the YMCAs of Hagerstown and Waynesboro with PR, marketing, and capital campaign projects. To date, I have assisted these organizations in raising over $6 million. How? I attended graduate school classes to learn the techniques of fund raising for non-profit organizations including graphic design. In 2000, I was asked by the executive director of the Hagerstown YMCA to be the web master for the new website. I was trained by MASI-Inc. of Hagerstown, MD in Dreamweaver and basic website design concepts. I operated the Hagerstown YMCA website for two years before returning to my previous duties as graphic designer for capital campaigns.
In May 2005, I was asked by the Corp of WFD to create the dept.'s first website. The Corp. wanted a website different from other FD websites in the county. I was offered $300 for my time.
I turned-down the offer of payment since the dept. was at the time conducting a fund raiser to cover the costs of its new apparatus (you know the brand name of the apparatus I am
referring to in this message). Although I have been a member of Camp Hill FD; Mont Alto FD; and CRS; I have never been a firefighter. I have been an EMT-B with the latterly mentioned companies for five years before becoming a Registered Nurse in 1995 and a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree in Nursing
in 2005.
I must indicate at this point that all of my volunteer website and photography "work" with the WFD and now the New Franklin FD is strictly volunteer. I have not and will not be paid for my time
to these organizations. At this point in time, I have spend well over 200 hours of my own time in the various aspects of the WFD website. Try doing this while working three jobs and finishing
a Master's degree!
Also, I am a part-time professional photographer for The Record Herald and Public Opinion newspapers. I have over 15 years photography experience with a BA degree in communications from Penn State. I have five years experience in TV production, ENG, EFP with area TV stations and WPSX PBS in State College, PA. I am a certified Canon Professional photographer and member of the press photographer's association (NPPA).
In 2004, I was one of several photographer's featured in the
WITF production "Our Town: Waynesboro".
Why am I saying all of this? This is prove that I am qualified
and smart enough to serve in the capacity of a volunteer webmaster and photographer for a non-profit, volunteer fire department.
I apologize for any and all errors in grammar, spelling, apparatus/company IDs with the WFD website. Its unfortunate that I have to take the lead in getting information from FD drivers or the Chief after fire calls. Sometimes the information is accurate and complete. However, 90% of the fire calls information is not completely accurate and complete. I will state here that I am
not perfect with grammar and spelling, however I don't hide my mistakes. What would help me is for visitors to the WFD website to indicate my errors so they may be corrected. I am one person a drift in a sea of public opinion without a voice.
I thank you "Volunteer" for pointing out my short comings so I can only improve as a "Volunteer" as well as improve the WFD's website. - Noel Kline
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Post by noelkline on May 7, 2006 21:14:07 GMT -5
Anyone,
What words did I misspell in my first posting tonight?
Noel Kline
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Post by athl1881 on May 7, 2006 21:42:47 GMT -5
Noel:
You are not the problem, It is the Corporation. I think that now the companies are working with you everything will be fine.
The new site looks great.
Jeff
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Post by noelkline on May 7, 2006 22:57:59 GMT -5
Jeff,
Thanks for support!
I've been in contact today with leading officers of both companies and they have given me great direction and support. I think the website issue actual is leading to more cooperation between the Mechanics and Hooks.
You know I spend Saturday (the whole day) with NFVFD. I was treated with the upmost respect and felt like a contributing volunteer with the company. I don't have anything negative to say about other companies in the county, but NFVFD has been very good to me.
The WFD website issue is really dead. As I learn more about
what responsibilities I have as webmaster (this is the correct spelling), the better the website will get. I am hopeful I can
get the website control into the hands of key officers of the organization so they too have input into the website. I'm hopeful also that the membership helps us all by making suggestions, pointing out errors, and most of all ways to keep the website improving instead of repeating mistakes.
Thanks again for your comments -- Noel
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Post by noelkline on May 8, 2006 7:13:41 GMT -5
Jeff & All Readers,
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Post by noelkline on May 8, 2006 7:18:53 GMT -5
Jeff and All Readers,
I have been in contact with Barry Keller and we have an agreement regarding photography at scenes. I've been taking photos for the State Police and Waynesboro PD. My next step is to discuss photography with the officers of these departments as well.
The overall goal is to insure photos of evidence, other objects, or people involved in a scene are not put at risk including any evidence that may be displayed to the public through a newspaper photo.
I now know what I can and can't photograph due to my dual role as a photographer for fire depts. and the media.
Noel
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