Magazine honors ECVFD's 100th anniversary

L-N File Photo Training To Serve The practice and hard work of El Campo firefighters, like that at this training exercise, will be honored when the El Campo Leader-News creates a full-color magazine to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the safety organization's existence.

The El Campo Volunteer Fire Department will soon be celebrating 100 years of protecting the community - and the El Campo Leader-News will publish a limited edition, commemorative magazine to honor the volunteers.

Designed to be a keepsake, the magazine also serves as a fundraiser for the El Campo VFD with half of the profit going to the volunteers' general fund.

Promotional efforts for the publication started at Monday's fire department Appreciation Supper with cards placed at each table and on each to-go box.

"Sometime last year, a fire department volunteer approached the El Campo Leader News about helping the department with a calendar to coincide with the department's 100th anniversary sometime in 2008.

"They wanted to know what it would cost the ECVFD for us to help them out. After discussing it, we felt we could do better than a calendar, and it wouldn't cost the department anything. In fact, we wanted to find a project that would make the department some money," Leader-News Publisher Chris Barbee said.

"For the past two years our staff, under the editorial and graphics direction of News Editor Shannon Crabtree, has published a high-quality, full-color, high-gloss magazine for the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

"With that experience under our belts, we decided to use the Experience El Campo, Pearl of the Prairie magazine as a model for an ECVFD 100th Anniversary magazine," Barbee said.

"Our goal is to present the fire department with a check for $10,000, or more," Barbee said. Revenue will come from advertising, so the greater the participation, the greater the income and the larger the donation to the fire department.

"Our staff is excited about this project. News staffs and fire and EMS departments historically have a good working relationship. El Campo is no exception. When our fire and EMS crews get dispatched, regardless of the time, we try to go.

"Yes, fire and accident pictures sell newspapers. But those same photos also remind the public of the unselfish and valuable service our volunteers and paid fire and rescue professionals provide to this community, and to West Wharton County," Barbee said.

"Work on the magazine should be enjoyable. To be able to do something to honor our brave fire and rescue personnel, from years past to current, is an honor and a privilege," Barbee added.

Currently set at 48 pages, content will include photographs of each active firefighter with an opportunity for their employers, family members or community supporters to "sponsor" each in the edition.

In consideration of the time employers donate in allowing their firefighters to leave jobs in response to those in need, businesses employing volunteers will be given the first opportunity to sponsor.

The history of the department will be examined from the hand-pumped units of the 1908 era to the modern compressed air foam system soon to be put into service.

The Leader-News will also present a look at the type of individual who volunteers to brave the heat to help others, the women of the auxiliary, the youngsters in the Explorers Post as well as fire safety tips and a look inside the department.

Those who spent decades building the department into the firefighting machine it is today won't be forgotten either.

"In Unity Is Strength" is the department's motto and the magazine will show how the volunteers make it work each time the sirens issue the call to help.

For information on how to sponsor a firefighter or other ways to show your support, please contact the Leader-News at 543-3363 or visit the Web site at www.leader-news.com and click on the fire department link.

Individuals can show their support for as little as $10, while those wanting to honor family members who serve currently or in the past can place ads showing their support or in memorial.

For businesses, a tax-deductible ad is a way to thank those who keep the community safe while making a donation to the firefighters' efforts at the same time.