Fail one, and you were out.The hardest was a timed test that required carrying more than 120 pounds of equipment up a training tower, and many strong-looking candidates were failing. Think about how many retired firefighters finally get surgeries for those knee and shoulder problems that they've been putting off for years. It's tough to find that kind of satisfaction working in the non-fire service world. Connecting with others in a relatable way is the key to building relationships and fostering a positive work environment, and [name] was a master at that, among other things. A call intended to blow up firefighters with propane bombs, in which the bombs miraculously did not explode. "The job essentially is bigger than any of us the responsibility to protect the community and serve the community," he said. Our amazing team accomplished so much in the years Ive been here, and Im proud to have played a part in our success. You deserve it! He and his team responded to the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, 9/11 in New York in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, among other disasters. Coming back wasn't easy, he said. Kate Bradshaw writes for The Almanac, a sister publication of PaloAltoOnline.com. When you need help, turn to the award-winning team at the John Guilfoil Public Relations Agency. Although I wont be in this office anymore, there are still plenty of contributions yet to come from me and those like me who will carry this legacy forward into our respective futures. "Fire seasons aren't getting smaller. The following sample speech is perfect for any employee who has dedicated years of service to the company. Some notable accomplishments during their tenure here include: We will sorely miss their hard work, loyalty, and enthusiasm. You know you're going into a fire driven building, but you're not just firefighters. Your first introduction to Covington was the ambulance. You learned a lot very quickly. View all posts by Hauser Lake FPD. It wasn't an easy job, and there were plenty of dangers and lots of internal pressures within the department. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Email info@jgpr.net if you wish to be placed on a SPECIFIC email list for your beat, agency or community. Im proud of the accomplishments and improvements weve made in the department and I know Im leaving it in great condition., Client News, Fire News ceremony, Chief Kevin Partridge, Easton Fire Department, retirement. Thank you all for everything. Stay up-to-date with breaking JGPR client news. Short Retirement Speech 3. Like most people, you may find crafting a retirement speech daunting. The term divorce is an apt description, despite it being an amiable one. We can save people I would have said in the past we would have lost.". He channeled lessons about detail orientation he'd picked up from his father and his accountant brother as a youth, and kept working at it, he said. When creating an outline for your retirement speech, make sure to consider the following steps: By crafting an effective outline and following these steps, you can ensure that your retirement speech is well-received by everyone in attendance. Lexipol. A call intended to blow up firefighters with propane bombs, in which the bombs miraculously did not explode. He offered gratitude to those he worked with along the way, words of wisdom and stories of lessons learned. After a career of shouldering those kinds of duties, it can be difficult to wake up one day as a team of one. He still remembers graphic details from the first death he witnessed on the job, of a man involved in a motorcycle accident on Constitution Drive. Over the years, Schapelhouman kept working in his chosen field, developing a specialty in urban search and rescue operations. He passed the other physical assessments and joined the district in June 1981, beginning his long career with the district that culminated with his retirement June 30 after 40 years of service, the last 15 of which he spent as the district's chief. His family lived in Mountain View and Los Altos, and as an adult, he lived in Sunnyvale and Fremont before settling in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood, he said.As a youth, he thought he'd pursue law enforcement work, joining a police explorer program. Retirement speech for an employee Not every day is as special and a truly emotional occasion like this one. 5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples 1. Larry Shapiro photo. Canton, MA 02021 The fall In May 2013, about seven years into his tenure as chief and after escaping unscathed from so many high-risk rescue situations, Schapelhouman was struck with a life-changing injury in his own backyard.He fell off a ladder while trimming bushes and suffered paralyzing spinal cord injuries and a traumatic brain injury. - Andrew Bernstein. Fail one, and you were out. Its been an amazing journey here at this company, and I am grateful for everyone who helped me grow while putting up with my occasional growing pains. BY: Senator STEC. He has helped make the Fire District one of the most innovative in the Nation and he was one of the key players in the creation of the National Urban Search and Rescue Teams. A portable fire department bell is then tolled by another member. The restaurant's name means "pot on fire. At least age 55 with 25 or more years of service you will receive $250 per month. Nothing says you've moved into the second half of life's football game like retirement. From the commissioners to our members husbands and wives, the dedication each and every one of you has to this Department, community, and the people you all help every day is truly commendable. 2. WebThe current mandatory retirement age for a firefighter (in some areas) is 57, as long as they have served at least 20 years of covered service. All rights reserved. Every day has been rewarding in its own way, but today is an especially bittersweet occasion as I bid farewell to all my colleagues and look ahead to the future. He fell off a ladder while trimming bushes and suffered paralyzing spinal cord injuries and a traumatic brain injury. Mastandrea then ended the ceremony by presenting interim Fire Chief Dave Wheelock with a gift. We were not Chiefs, or Officers or Engineers, we were just new Firefighters starting our path in life as the rest of our generation trickled in, adding a few every couple months. A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted.. But the physical test was another story. Schapelhouman said he dropped the bag twice on his way up and was sure he would fail, until, finding an inner well of strength, he threw the bag up the last few stairs and jumped on top of it, with two seconds to spare. Though my time has come to an end, lets not forget why we are here tonight: remembering and celebrating all of you for all that you do in service to this community. ""It's a job where you can find the better part of yourself, if you're looking," he said. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. I will miss all of you tremendously and hope to stay in touch to see how everyone is doing. Sleepily, he went with his friends to stand in line at the station near St. Patrick's Seminary to take the test. "I took that real hard. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman gives a speech at his retirement party at Station 1 on June 28, 2021. Over time, Schapelhouman began to work more in the realm of fire prevention and advocacy. When that retirement date comes and goes, it might seem like a divorce. Woman charged for fatal wrong-way crash on I-280 last weekend, Foothill-De Anza names four finalists to be next chancellor, Around Town: Palo Alto gets ready to celebrate 99th annual May Fete Parade, Take a look back at April with our month-end local news quiz, Special-education classrooms destroyed in possible arson at Cubberley Community Center, "They gave it the best college try they could give it, but he didn't make it," he said. Its about saying goodbye while thanking everyone who helped you along the way. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, , "Successful Transformational Change in a Fire and EMS Department: How a Focused Team Created a Revenue Recovery Program in Six Months, Open the tools menu in your browser. Suicides witnessed and responded to. Help sustain the local news you depend on. "If you can't do that with compassion and forgiveness in your heart and the ability to move past people who aren't nice to you, then this isn't the job for you. "It does take on a rhythm," he said. With that said, I will miss all of you and wish you and (name of company) continued success. It should help the audience understand what this change means for you while keeping them curious about where your next chapter will take you. Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox. Schapelhouman was introduced later that night at the Oasis (a beloved Menlo Park watering hole that shuttered in 2018), and the two stayed in touch while she attended college in Santa Barbara. Being a fire officer also means that you probably had some significant roles and responsibilities managing people, physical resources and budgets. This article, originally published on March 3, 2015, had been updated. Then, showing the true commitment offirefighters, the fire radiosounded reportinga two alarm-fire in Deer Park. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. He and his colleagues found and rescued an abandoned newborn from a dryer near Whiskey Gulch and named him Walter Millschap, a portmanteau of their names.They succeeded in safely evacuating every child from a 1997 fire at Green Oaks Academy in East Palo Alto despite extremely hazardous conditions, including a faulty fire alarm and no sprinkler system. "Over his years as a firefighter and first responder within the fire district, there were plenty of harrowing and traumatic calls, he remembers. Retirement to Take Effect February 16. More than 100 friends, family members, firefighters, paramedics and elected officials filled the lawn and driveway in front of the firehouse. It can also be a difficult adjustment for your spouse and family as well; as my wife still tells me from time to time, "You're not the chief anymore." He was cognizant that he only had a few years left until he could be fully vested in the district's pension system and didn't want to get fired or become a "casualty" of the district's board.He finally took on the role March 31, 2006, after he was told that if he didn't, the next chief would come from outside of the district. If youre looking for a reason to volunteer, for anything, no matter what it is, or for how long, think of the impacts youll have on yourself and the people you serve for and with. All rights reserved. Harold Schapelhouman almost didn't become a Menlo Park firefighter.The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los Altos Fire Department woke him in the middle of the night and asked him to join them in taking the test for the district.Schapelhouman, then 20, needed some convincing. He spent time after high school working in commercial construction, and he credits that work for not just helping him to build fitness, but to develop an instinctual understanding of buildings, a skill that would set him apart later in a field dedicated to saving structures and their inhabitants during disasters. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). He was cognizant that he only had a few years left until he could be fully vested in the district's pension system and didn't want to get fired or become a "casualty" of the district's board. 719 Washington St. Easy to download youll get a selection of speeches that are easy to mix and match. Battalion Chief Robert Avsec (ret.) People indicated when I put in my retirement letter that there would be some big shoes to fill; I want to assure Dave that those shoes arent as big as people think they are, Mastandrea said. Another 40 years from now, he said, he's hoping the district will continue to adapt by gaining knowledge, technology and convenience through automation. He brought in attorneys to push for his return to the chief position, and took steps to ensure he could still do the job well, like finding specialists to evaluate him and securing the right adaptive equipment.

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