At the regular meeting of the Indian Mills Fire Company and Shamong EMS on Thursday, April 5, longtime members Paul Miller and John Smith were to be honored with the President’s Special Recognition Award by the 200 Club of Burlington County.
The two men, both former chiefs and now assistant chiefs, were the first recipients of the newly created award, said fire company president Stanley Rowe.
“Paul is the first assistant chief and John is the second assistant chief right now,” he said.
Miller also currently holds the position of vice-president, and Smith is a past president.
“They go out with the emergency squad for major calls,” as they run the first-responder team among various other activities within the company, Rowe said.
“As president of the fire company, I picked these two guys who have been with the fire company as long as I have been,” he said, which is more than 30 years in both of their cases.
Other awards given throughout Burlington County by the 200 Club include the Advanced Training Award, Meritorious Award and Distinguished Service Award, according to the club’s website.
Rowe said the club is comprised of many lawyers and state police officers.
“We are there to support and help our own, if you will, the police, fire and ems volunteers and paid who need assistance or are furthering their education,” said 200 Club of Burlington County President Peter Clifford, who is part of an all-volunteer board.
There are 200 clubs in every county in the state.
The club awards some of the largest college scholarships in the state. Each year, it gives four, $2,000 scholarships.
“That’s our mission, to help our own,” he said.
As for Smith and Miller, he said, “You’re not going to find in today’s society people as dedicated as these two individuals are.”
He said what the two men do is like a second career — but without pay.
This is the first time an award such as this is being issued to the fire company, Rowe said.
“We felt so compelled to do something that we created this award,” Clifford said. “I consider it an honor to recognize them.”
“They don’t do it for the recognition or a paycheck,” he said. “They do it because it’s in their blood, it’s in their heart. They do it because they want to, not because they have to.”
Clifford and Smith were to have presented the award. The idea of the award being presented in front of their peers made it much more compelling, he said.
“It’s really something that will mean something to them, I hope,” Clifford said.
The fire company, based out of Shamong, provides assistance to neighboring companies when needed, including Tabernacle.
“We organized in 1942,” said Rowe.
The company has always been a volunteer organization.
About eight years ago, the EMS crew was formed, and both Miller and Smith were instrumental in getting that started, he said.
The company has been operating on the same budget for the past 20 years, he said. “We’ve never asked for an increase.”
The budget for 2012 is currently being formed, he said.
This year, the company asked for a new fire truck.
“The people in town are really good with donations,” he said, noting the company routinely sends out requests for donations in May and September.
To learn more about the Indian Mills Fire Company, volunteer, or donate, visit www.indianmillsfire.com.
Donation checks may also be sent via mail to Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, 48 Willow Grove Road, Shamong, 08088.
For information about the 200 Club of Burlington County, visit www.burlco200club.org.
