Safer R&r

[Limeforever]

I sat through the class last week and when the rep finished with the AFG portion, she covered the FP & S and then SAFER. She gave us some numbers on SAFEr that through me for a loop. There were only 550 request for Recruitment and retention. She said if the program did not pick up dramatically, it probably would not be around formuch longer. I think I am gonn have to talk with KW and see what he can tell me about R&R and apply for some of my volunteer depts around here.

[BoxAlarm187]

Having also gone through the DHS class yesterday, I can't believe that our VFD hasn't put in for SAFER grants in the past. It was specifically said that volunteer departments that can come up with inventive ideas and submit a well-written grant stand a really good chance of receiving funding. Our grants committee has already come up with some ideas for this year's SAFER grant process.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Derrick, was that SAFER in general or the R&R side of it only?

Those figures should go up for this year for how many people Kurt and I have been beating over the head with the 'no matching' statement over the past 6 months. Only so many times you can say FREE MONEY.

And Box hit it, inventive ideas. Big Screen TVs, video games, etc aren't exactly going to get much consideration. There are plenty of ideas out there, the PG expands on the list every year based on what was reviewed favorably the year before.

[Limeforever]

That was strictly on the R&R side. There is a new buzz word this year as well. The words are Conceptual Statement. I think she said that waord a hundred times. I know I will be putting in a couple for R&R. She said the deal on FP&S where the FD had to have a match but if you applied as an affiliated organization may be changed around to where the FD has no match, but the other will have a match.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

That's the way it should be anyway, FDs no match.

Conceptual Statement eh? Usually don't hear that one except in Private Foundation applications. Just a high level summary of the project's mission/purpose, info that's supposed to be in the app anyway.

[McMechen VFD]

We put in for Safer this year...and should see our award soon...we got our update and 10 q's 3 wks ago, then a reduction notice last week...so should be soon. But, we'll be only the 2nd department in all of WV to receive a Safer Grant. We put in for R&R. I just can't see why more departments don't try for it.

[SLY4420]

The same reason many stop applying for these grants all together. They often don't follow the program rules and guidance, get denied annually, and give up.

[bjlffire]

MC:

What was you app for?

We would like do do recruit and ret, just blank on what would work/
i dont mean for award application just what type of program/project to do.

Thanks

[McMechen VFD]

What was you app for?

We would like do do recruit and ret, just blank on what would work/
i dont mean for award application just what type of program/project to do.

ThanksWe put in for R&R in safer and asked for a marketing program (flyers, brochures, and a small scale commercial campaign. We also asked for full class A dress uniforms, expansion for our jr ff program with t's and sweatshirts, t's and sweatshirts for ff's after 3 mo, a t shirt campaign for youth in our community, and length or service and accomplishment awards)

We asked for a plain old sign and were denied and also asked to install a sitting area and were denied on that also.

[morgancity]

Question? Our department has only submitted grants for fp&s and operations/safety and have won. We are a paid department. Are paid departments going after grants in the Safer program? The 550 applications, is that total for 07?

thanks
ms

[Limeforever]

Career departments are going for hiring, combination and volunteer departments are going fro the recruitment and retention. I had always looked at hiring more guys for our combination department, but now I am gonna apply for the recruitment and retention part to try to increase thee number of volunteers.

[CordovaFire]

What can be requested in the R&R with Safer. We have wanted to apply but never knew what to apply for. Any Help would be be great.

[FFEMT284]

BC

I know in this thread they stated only 550 departments applied, When i was researching this grant I could only find 2-3 succesful volunteer narratives, Does anyone have access to more narratives etc? I would love to hear or just see some of the ideas that are getting funded.

[BoxAlarm187]

The grants specialist we had said that your imagination is what should guide you. They'll fund TV ads, radio ads, billboards, ads at the beginning of movies in your local theatre, tuition reimbursement for members in college, etc. The idea is two fold: What can they do to ensure that your volunteers will want to be AT the fire station when calls are received, and what can they do to ATTRACT new members to your department?

A local combination department got a SAFER grant two years ago that pays their volunteers to attend their Fire Academy (FF1, FF2, EVOC, May-Day, Saving Your Own, etc). This program has worked well for them.

She most extreme example that she gave for volunteer R&R was a grant given to a department that paid for child care for a husband and wife who are both VFD members, and were having difficulties attending to department business when the child needed care. Unusual, but kudos to the department for thinking of that....

[FFEMT284]

Anyone finding truth to having better success if you have a part time grant administraitor etc? to handle the R&R in the narrative

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

It's required that you have someone to run it for the marketing and administering the grant.

284, ain't too many sharing that I can find as far as posting them on the web. I think a few people here will send them around if requested.

[McMechen VFD]

We're a rural volunteer dept and are awaiting our official award for Safer...we've been asked by numerous people here on the boards for the narrative...I don't mind sharing, but isn't it going to be a bit bad on depts that use my narrative and several narratives end up looking alike? Guys, that's why I haven't sent my narrative out to anyone...I've had probably 10 people request it just cause I posted on this board. I have already posted above what we received so you have an idea of what to ask for.

[shalavchurch]

Are SAFER awards still to be made? This sure seems slow. We applied with what I thought to be a pretty fair R & R plan, but no dj, no 1199A update, no Qs, no award. So far. We hit the AFG so maybe we'll get some SAFER as well. We sure need it.
Charles

[DLewis-OV28]

As has been stated, most departments are having problems getting started with defining a SAFER eligible project. I have been trying to help departments across our state and certainly would appreciate any copies of proposals that have been successful. Anyone having one that they are willing to share, please forward to dlewis@mfri.org. Your willingness to share is part of what makes this program successful.

Dave L.
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute

[FFEMT284]

More than really wanting to see your narrative i just like reading what everyone is applying for,

Or the different ideas at retaining members etc.