Time for a Get Together

Another picture from Rockaway - Willy D in shock - a closed McDonalds on Beach Channel Drive that never re-opened after Sandy:


 
nfd2004 said:



  We hope to have another Get Together around the same time next year. Maybe the second Thursday, Friday, Saturday (Sunday Optional) in October.
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  Just starting to make plans for another Fall Get Together, 2014. Looks like the New York City area, maybe October 9, 10, 11th. (Thursday/Friday/Saturday). Still in the very early planning stages and looking for any ideas.

We will never be able to top last years Get Together in which "Atlas" set up the entire program. I will contact him soon for his thoughts on this. Also "mack" has interest in attending and had a few ideas.

  Some have asked about going to the Fire Academy, the Shops, and maybe The Bronx C.O. - again. Maybe the Mand Library, Fire Musuem, Fort Totten FDNY/EMS Academy, SOC Headquarters on Roosevelt Island, "The 343" at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,  just to mention a few.

  If you have any ideas or thoughts on this upcoming event, just send a pm.
 
If indeed you wish to visit the FDNY EMS Academy it would have to be on a week day as no one is usually there on the weekends. Just a heads up for you gentlemen.
 
Willy D - Thanks for the initial suggestions.  It would be terrific if we could put together a schedule for as many guys as possible to participate.  October is a great month for NYC weather.  There are a lot of possibilities for visits:  FDNY fire academy, EMS academy, shops, fireboat, museum, fire companies, communications center.  The last get together put together by Atlas (Kenny) was first class.  Everyone was welcomed and we had a good time.  I hope we have a lot or interest and some good ideas.  We could also consider some of the other possibilities in the NYC area (NYPD, Yonkers, Newark, Port Authority).  Thanks for getting the process going.  I am looking forward to it.
 
memory master said:
If indeed you wish to visit the FDNY EMS Academy it would have to be on a week day as no one is usually there on the weekends. Just a heads up for you gentlemen.
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  Thank you "memory master" for that info. I have never been to the FDNY/EMS Academy and I know that we had discussed that possibility with "Atlas"  for next time. (Kenny, you got your ears on ?). Also, the FDNY Fire Academy is always a great place to visit. Last time we were there, we had a great tour given. This site owner, Lt "Tbendick", was part of the group that showed us around. It is quite a place and we were treated GREAT. I know one or two guys of this site that were not able to make it and they asked about going next time.

  There are other individuals who helped make our previous tours possible. One individual helped us with getting into the Bronx C.O. Another helped us with getting into the Shops. Maybe they don't want it advertised but I'm sure they know who they are and WE are very Thankful for what you've done. These days are not like pre 9/11. You can't just show up and say, "Can we get a tour". Plans must be made and cleared ahead of time. Very often, we also need some form of government IDs. In some cases, "two" might be required. So keep that in mind if you join us. 

  The last Get Together was Great. I think the one before we visited the Yonkers FD and Yonkers PD/ESU also. I know the chief that gave us the Yonkers FD tour has since retired. He was Great to us. The Yonkers PD/ESU tour was given by "Truck 4", himself, a sergeant in that unit. A retired FDNY Captain (John B) also played a huge roll in setting that up for us. He helped organize that trip and the dinner. Many on here know him and are very thankful for all he has done for us. We've been to the Shops, the Bronx C.O., Rescue 3, Eng 75/Lad 33, Marine 9, Squad 1, Eng 160/Rescue 5, 9-1-1 Memorial by FDNY photographer Butch M., Eng 154, Eng 329/ATRV 329, Breezy Point area and Roxbury VFD, Oceanic VFD, Eng 168/EMS Station. And there's been others too. I know that "Atlas" worked with a high ranking Chief to set up much of the tour last year. Every stop was worth a trip in itself. At least to me it was. I'm sure the other guys feel the same way too.

  We are just a group of guys, primarily with an interest in the FDNY, but other fire departments as well. We usually end being pretty impressed and have a much better understanding of how some things work after these tours. It doesn't get us any promotion or put any extra money in our pockets. But it does give us all some satisfaction in understanding our hobby a little better afterwards. I would say that every individual, that has ever attended any of these Get Togethers, has proven themselves to be a well respected gentleman and a credit to this web site.

  As "mack" (Joe M) says, "October is a great month for NYC weather". He has also presented some excellent ideas for places to visit. I'd like to put my vote in for the FDNY/EMS Academy, since I've never seen that before. And also for the FDNY Fire Academy. That is always a great place to visit and the fact that a few guys have asked about another tour there. 

  Currently we are looking at October 9, 10, 11. Maybe Wednesday Oct 8th or Sunday Oct 12th as an additional option day. Of course you don't have to be there every day. We do expect you to be on time though. "Atlas" was pretty tough about that last time.

  And if we can plan it so that one of the days we meet at Micky Ds on Fordham Rd/Southern Blvd in the Bronx, we just might get to meet up with probably the most popular and well liked guy on this site. I can only be referring to "mikeindabronx".

 

 
 
As you know, I have no preference because it is all good to me. What about Queens, The academy and maybe a border dept in Nassau County? Just one rednecks thoughts!
 
CFDMarshal said:
As you know, I have no preference because it is all good to me. What about Queens, The academy and maybe a border dept in Nassau County? Just one rednecks thoughts!
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  Thank you Reverend C.F.D. Marshall. Certainly something to consider. I believe the EMS Academy is in the northern part of Queens at Fort Tilton. Nassau County borders that.

  Reverend, I must say, for a Redneck, you sure know a lot about the NYC area.
 
NFD, It was probably a typo, but its Fort Totten which is just east of the Throggs Neck Bridge. Some Nassau County FD's which border Queens are Great Neck, Manhassett, New Hyde Park, Bellerose and Valley Stream. I think I named most. FDNY border companies would be E313/L164, E251, E304/L162 and E314 to name a few. Have fun!!
 
Thanks "Memory". I forgot it is Fort Totten, not Tilton. And thanks for the info on the FDNY border companies and Nassau County Depts.

We wanted to mention the dates of Oct 8-12 now is so that guys who might be interested in making the trip, can keep those dates open. But there are no real plans yet on where we might try to go.

  Thank you "Memory".
 
memory master said:
Some Nassau County FDs that border
Queens are Great Neck, Manhassett, New Hyde Park, Bellerose and Valley Stream. I think I named most.
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Don't forget Elmont.  Half of the Belmont Park race track is in their territory, and they have a really pretty TDA.  Floral Park is on the border, too.
 
dont forget the five towns, Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Inwood & Hewlett. They are just east of the big house in Far Rockaway.
 
raybrag said:
memory master said:
Some Nassau County FDs that border
Queens are Great Neck, Manhassett, New Hyde Park, Bellerose and Valley Stream. I think I named most.
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Don't forget Elmont.  Half of the Belmont Park race track is in their territory, and they have a really pretty TDA.  Floral Park is on the border, too.
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Elmont has 6 firehouses.
 
  I want to mention that "mack" also gets involved in our Get Togethers. He has passed on a few good ideas for us in the past. Of course "Atlas" played the key role in setting up the events of last year. He did all the foot work himself. And actually set the whole thing up himself. I certainly don't expect him to do that this year. But I will contact him for his advice and the fact that he is very well known and respected throughout the FDNY.

  I also would like to mention that last year, Chief J.K., "68jk09", invited us to join him. Some members were able to meet up with him. Others, were not able to because of previous plans. So Chief J.K., it has been mentioned to me, that many on here would like to meet you, as they enjoy all of your contributions to this site. And I think the fact that they respect you for what you've done. Maybe one of your favorite dinner places, if that can be worked out.

  We have to also thank the Bendick family for all they do for us. They've given tours in the past, they've fed us, and many of us have gotten to meet the entire family. They are the BEST. I think there isn't ONE SINGLE PERSON who would disagree. And of course, if it wasn't for FDNY Lt Tommy Bendick, none of this would be going on.

  I have a good friend who is a Fire Lt in the Toyko, Japan Fire Department. I've known him for several years now. I hope to invite him this year and I hope he joins us. He's currently not a member of this site, but I'm hoping to change that soon.

  I think it is a pretty safe bet to go with the previous dates announced earlier. That is October 9,10,11, 2014 with Wednesday October 8th, and Sunday October 12th as option days to add.

  Here's a few ideas I had:

1) Maybe devote one entire day to the FDNY/EMS. A tour of the FDNY EMS Academy, an EMS Station, A MERV Unit, and A HAZ TAC Ambulance.

2) The FDNY Fire Academy. Many of us have seen that before but there has been a few members ask about that who have never been there. I've been there for two tours in the past and the place is pretty impressive to me. The Mand Library there is a visit in itself.

3) The FDNY Fire Museum. A great place to visit. I think it's three floors of history on the FDNY.

4) The Bronx C.O. and the Shops are always great places. Our last Bronx C.O. tour was two or three years ago and was set up a member of this site. The tour of the Shops was set up by a supervisor there. I stopped by one day. Told him what we would like to do and he took very good care of us.

5) SOC Headquarters - Tac 1 and a few other special pieces.

6) Field Comm Unit

7) One of the Nassau County Fire Departments. If they are Volunteer houses, probably Saturday/Sunday would be best to visit there.

  So that's a few thoughts. Of course we would make our donation to the Wounded Warriors Fund. For those outside the area and traveling, we need to set up a decent, inexpensive place to stay for a few days. Last time I think there were 6 or 7 of us that stayed at a local hotel. Throughout any one of these events, everyone who has ever attended, has proven themselves to represent this site in a very honorable manner. We need to remember, with Security issues today, we may need TWO forms of government issued IDs such as drivers license, passports etc. ("fdce54" and myself, clearly remember the day when we were on a tour and had a machine gun pointed at us and were told .... "LEAVE NOW". They weren't kidding.).

  So I am hoping that we can get things in the works pretty soon. Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn is a great place to eat if that can be done. If we're in the Bronx, the Belmont Ave area is tough to beat. We've been to some good places in Queens. There is just so much to see and do in this huge massive city. The FDNY and FDNY/EMS protects more than two and one half times the number of people in the entire State of Connecticut. I think NYC has Four Area Codes, Connecticut has Two. So I guess we'll never run out of places to go.

 
 
"FDNY 6012". Thank you very much. That is one tour that "I" would certainly be interested in, and based on what the guys from last years Get Together had also mentioned also. We would be looking at either October 8th, 9th,or 10th (Wednesday/Thursday/Friday). Whatever day that you think would be the best.

It is my hope to set up at least one entire day dedicated to the FDNY/EMS. Maybe a day and a half. Besides the FDNY/EMS Academy tour, maybe a tour of a MERV, Haz Tac ambulance, and one EMS Station. Just a thought, maybe one of "The Tin House Station's", former FDNY War Years firehouses.

Regarding the tour of the FDNY Shops, the last tour about 2-3 years ago was set up by a supervisor there by the name of Bob Mc..... I think I still have his Email address, and I will try to contact him for another tour. He was really good to us.

  I also hope that a few others might be able to help us with this. Besides the FDNY/EMS and the Shops, maybe FDNY Fire Academy, SOC headquarters and Tac 1, FDNY Field Com Unit, FDNY Fire Museum, a department in Nassau County, maybe the Bronx C.O., and a quick outside look of the new Bronx/Queens C.O. now under construction.

  Over the last few years, everything has seemed to work out well. If it wasn't for such a decent group of guys, I wouldn't do this. So "FDNY 6012", thank you very much for offering your services to us. Yes, I will be contacting you through a pm.
 
The FDNY EMS academy on Ft. Totten is great because there is a MERV stationed at the CFR building among other units worth taking a look at (SOC/SCUBA unit), Anyof those dates wouldn't be a problem. There's alot to see on Ft. Totten so it will be worth it
 
memory master said:
Don't forget the EMS "EVOC" driving simulator and maybe PD's Canine Training area.
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  Thanks "memory master". There is just so much to see and do in this city. I know one of the issues we sometimes run into is just that there is so much to see and not enough time to see it. We have learned that it is impossible to see everything in one time. And not just in NYC, I think we spent two days in Yonkers visiting areas of the Yonkers Police and Fire Departments. We have found that usually no more than three or four stops a day is tops.

  Guys want to spend time asking their own questions, Some want to take pictures if it is allowed. Other guys just get involved in general conversation. Then of course is the traveling around in a vehicle on the busy streets and highways. Then we sit down together as a group and have chow and a bull $hit session. Three or four tours becomes a very busy day.

  "memory master", I will check with "FDNY 6012" to see what he says about EMS "EVOC" driving simulator. The NYPD K9 units training would certainly be interesting to see. I appreciate that and I think it is something we will consider. Although this site is dedicated to the FDNY and FDNY/EMS, the NYPD Finest is also a group of dedicated individuals, risking their lives daily, to protect its millions of residents and visitors. They certainly are in a class all by themselves in being probably the busiest in the world. That's a story in itself.

  I appreciate all the ideas given. Tonight, I'll try to start the ball rolling by contacting a few people. Very briefly, this past weekend I mentioned this to "Atlas" for his thoughts. "Tbendick" and "Truck4", both site administrators, I'm sure will help if they could. However, both have young families at home to take care of first. "mack" has already given me a few ideas, and FDNY retired Capt "Jbendick" is always there for us if he can help.

  There has been a few other individuals who have helped us in the past. They have helped make our previous Get Together's a successful event. We appreciate it and thank you for what you've done for us.

 
 
memory master said:
nfd..I failed to mention that the simulator and Canine are located at Fort Totten near the EMS academy.
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  "MM", I didn't realize that. I've been told that somebody who instructs using the simulator "may" be able to help us with that. And being that the Canine Units train right there, we may be able to catch some of that too. If everything were to work out and we get the okay, unfortunately some things have to be put off until the following year. We've had to do that in the past. But I certainly don't want to give the impression that this is a done deal. Honestly, at this early stage, NOTHING is really been OFFICIALLY planned yet. Might just be getting together at Micky Ds for a couple of McDoubles and soda pop. I know there's a few guys out there that have no problem with that. They sure like those McDoubles.
 
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