Firefighters trying new fundraiser

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A 2012 calendar featuring Franklin County firefighters in action was conceived and produced by Fasprint in Malone to help fire departments raise money as they cope with having less money. The calendars are $10 and available from 15 participating departments. Staff Photo / Denise A. Raymo

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January 10, 2012

Calendars to be used to promote department donations

DENISE A. RAYMO Press-Republican The Press Republican Tue Jan 10, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

MALONE — A Malone printing company has created a fundraising calendar to help Franklin County fire departments cope with shrinking budgets.

The Franklin County Fire Departments 2012 calendar is available from members of the 15 participating fire departments for a suggested donation of $10 each.

Departments featured include Paul Smiths-Gabriels, St. Regis Falls, Chateaugay, Brushton, Bangor, Moira, Westville, Fort Covington, Malone Callfiremen, Constable, Bombay, Tupper Lake, Hogansburg-Akwesasne, Duane and Burke.

Any money raised by a department through sale of the calendar stays with that department.

Each was given 500 copies to sell, but some agencies are giving their calendars away in appreciation — and the hope of generating even higher donations.

In addition to sponsorship advertisements, noted holidays and other celebrations, the calendar features color photos of volunteers in action at fire and accident sites around the county.

LOOKING TO 2013

Perry Tatro, a salesman at Fasprint in Malone, said the company at one time printed fundraising calendars for Bangor volunteers in conjunction with a lottery-number raffle, but that was discontinued when enthusiasm for selling the tickets faded.

But after learning some fire departments were entering 2012 with smaller budgets, Tatro said he wanted to do something to help, and the company agreed to his idea.

He contacted the fire chiefs in each department to gauge their interest and originally had eight committed in the central part of the county.

But, as word grew, the calendar was expanded to include departments in the south end and finally the north end of Franklin County.

Tatro said he "spent a good month" selling the ads that paid for production of the calendar, and a part-time person was brought in for two to three weeks to be sure all businesses that wanted to take part were included.

Fasprint produced between 7,500 and 8,000 calendars, which could fetch a bundle for the county's fire departments.

Some have already asked to be included in a 2013 calendar, including Saranac Lake, which did not participate this year.

'IN SPURTS'

County Deputy Fire Coordinator Rob Demarse, who belongs to the Chateaugay Fire Department, said it's getting more difficult for fire departments to raise money and that the calendar is a great idea for those tired of selling tickets or organizing other fundraisers.

"It's not a whole lot of effort to this," he said, laughing.

He added that the action photos and community support make the calendar a nice public-relations tool for fire departments, as well.

It could also attract the interest of people interested in becoming volunteer firefighters at a time when some departments are experiencing low membership numbers.

"We did have one spike in memberships in Burke, where they added about 12 people in the past year, and we in Chateaugay gained about a half dozen people," Demarse said.

"But it comes in spurts. It's difficult (to find volunteers) because it takes a lot of commitment, training and response to calls."

Email Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com