DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL HOST GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DRESS PARADE

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE USED AS GUIDELINES FOR HOSTING THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS MEETINGS AND DRESS PARADE.

 ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS MEETING

      THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT A LOCATION SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE DATE WILL BE THE 3RD TUESDAY IN JANUARY MEETING.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS, A BUFFET STYLE LUNCHEON WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL PERSONS ATTENDING THIS FUNCTION: OTHER REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT AN AMERICAN FLAG, TWO LARGE TABLES OR DESKS FOR THE OFFICERS AND SUFFICIENT CHAIRS FOR ATTENDEES ATTENDING. REIMBURSEMENT OF BUFFET COST WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

ANNUAL DRESS PARADE

 A WRITTEN REQUEST TO HOST THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION BY THE FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT SEEKING TO HOST THE EVENT. THE REQUEST WILL BE READ AND ACTED UPON AT THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING AND NUMBERED FOR IDENTIFICATION.

 ACTION TO BE TAKEN WILL BE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT INVITATION OR LEAVE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE ASSOCIATION PARADE COMMITTEE AFTER PROPER INVESTIGATION OF THE REQUEST TO HOST EVENT.

UPON ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION AT THE NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING OR THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE PARADE COMMITTEE THE FOLLOWING ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN.

IF REJECTED THE REQUESTING FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT WILL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF THE REJECTION.

IF ACCEPTED THE REQUESTING FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT WILL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF THE APPROVAL OF THEIR REQUEST TO HOST THE ASSOCIATIONS ANNUAL DRESS PARADE A REQUEST FOR A MEETING FOR A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION OF CURRENT GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOSTING THIS ANNUAL EVENT. THEY ARE ALSO ADVISED THAT ANY UPDATE OF THOSE GUIDELINES WILL BE FORWARDED TO FUTURE HOST ORGANIZATIONS.

THE ANNUAL DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DRESS PARADE WILL BE HELD IN TWO (2) STAGES. STAGES 1 WILL BE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS  MEETING, STAGES 2 WILL BE THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE MADE TO THE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT FOR THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS  ($4000.00) TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE BURDEN TO THE HOST ORGANIZATION. NO OTHER EXPENSES  SHALL BE INCURRED BY THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR EVENTS STAGED BY THE HOST, SUCH AS OPEN HOUSE, MARDI GRAS PARADE, ETC. WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOST ORGANIZATION AND NO EXPENSE WILL BE, INCURRED BY THE DUTCHESS  COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION FOR THESE EVENTS.

         THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE WILL BE HELD AT A LOCATION, DATE AND TIME AGREED UPON BY THE HOST DRESS PARADE COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION AND/OR IT'S PARADE COMMITTEE.

 THE DRESS PARADE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE OF THE SCHEDULE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT. AS NOTED ABOVE NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) TIMES DURING THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE SELECTED EVENT. ALSO, THE HOST COMMITTEE SHALL MEET WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE PARADE TO EXPLAIN THE STATUS OF THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE AND TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

FOR THE ORDERLY AND UNIFORM PERFORMANCE OF THE ANNUAL DRESS PARADE OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION, AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOST FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT. THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS AND STRONGLY URGES THE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT TO EMPLOY THEM.

THE ROUTE SELECTED SHOULD NOT EXCEED TWO (2) MILES IN LENGTH AND SHOULD BE PROPERLY POLICED WITH DETOURS FOR THROUGH TRAVELERS. CLEARLY DEFINED STARTING AND FINISH LINES SHALL BE CONSPICUOUSLY MARKED.

2.     EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO START THE PARADE ON TIME.(SUGGESTION) -SHOWER DELAY OF ONE (1) HOUR.

3.     THE LOCAL DRESS PARADE COMMITTEE SHALL FURNISH QUALIFIED JUDGES IN SUFFICIENT NUMBERS TO PROPERLY REVIEW MARCHERS IN COMPETITION. PROPER RULES TO JUDGE MARCHERS WILL BE PROVIDED IF NOT AVAILABLE.

4.     A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION'S DRESS PARADE COMMITTEE ( NOT MORE THAN ONE (1) WILL BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING OF THE JUDGES BEFORE THE START OF THE PARADE AND ALSO AT THE SCORING SESSION AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE. THIS REPRESENTATIVE WILL RESOLVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION LEAST DEMERIT TROPHY.

5.     A SUITABLE REVIEWING STAND WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CHAIRS TO ALLOW THE OFFICERS OF THE D.C.V.F.A. AND OTHER LOCAL DIGNITARIES TO REVIEW THE PARADE. AN AMERICAN FLAG AND A SUITABLE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM SHALL ALSO BE ON THE REVIEWING STAND.

OPEN CARS OR OTHER VEHICLES AGREED TO BY THE DRESS PARADE COMMITTEE. VEHICLES SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE PARADE ROUTE.  OPEN CARS ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR INCOMING PRESIDENT, THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT AND CARS FOR THE 1ST VICE PRESIDENT AND THE 2ND VICE PRESIDENT.             

A DISASSEMBLE AREA LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PARADE SHALL BE PROVIDED. ALSO PARKING FACILITIES FOR FIRE APPARATUS, BUSES AND BAND VEHICLES OF THOSE MARCHING IN THE PARADE. RESTROOMS ALSO MUST BE PROVIDED FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE MARCHERS AND THOSE ATTENDING THE PARADE AND TO BE PROVIDED AT THE BREAK UP POINT OF THE PARADE OR OTHER AREAS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE HOST.

SEVERAL FIRST AID STATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FIRST AID FOR MARCHERS AND SPECTATORS IF NEEDED, AND THEY SHOULD BE SPACED THROUGHOUT THE PARADE ROUTE.

INVITATIONS TO ATTEND THE PARADE WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE HOST, AND SHALL INCLUDE ALL FIRE COMPANIES AND DEPARTMENTS OPERATING WITHIN DUTCHESS COUNTY.

ALL ATTENDING UNITS SHALL BE REMINDED THROUGH MAILING, TO HAVE RESPECT FOR THE HOST COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS IN WHICH THE STARTING POINT OF LINE UP TAKES PLACE AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE FINISHING AREAS.

TROPHY AWARDS ARE MANDATORY FOR THE DRESS PARADE AND MUST BE AT LEAST 16" IN HEIGHT FOR SECONDARY AWARDS AND A MINIMUM  OF 18" IN HEIGHT FOR 1ST PLACE. THE HEIGHT AND STYLE OF ANY OF THE BEST OVERALL TROPHIES SHALL BE THE CHOICE SELECTION OF THE HOST. APPRECIATION AWARDS WILL BE ALSO BE AT THE SELECTION OF THE HOST. A MINIMUM REQUIRED LIST OF CATEGORIES FOR THE AWARDS IS HERETO ATTACHED.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE POINTS UP THE NEED FOR GUIDELINES FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PARADE FORMATION IS FORMULATED. SO TO AVOID COMPLAINTS AND RECRIMINATIONS, THE FOLLOWING IS STRONGLY URGED TO BE FOLLOWED.

ANY FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT REPORTING TO THE PARADE AFTER THE PARADE HAS STARTED, WILL BE ASKED TO LINE UP AT THE END OF THE PARADE. NO COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF ITS LATENESS WILL BE PENALIZED OR PLACED AT A DISADVANTAGE OR LOSE DEMERITS.

ESCORT DIVISION   

        HOST SHALL PROVIDE A COLOR GUARD OF ITS CHOOSING TO LEAD THE PARADE. OUTGOING AND INCOMING PRESIDENTS IN CARS. 1ST AND 2ND VICE PRESIDENTS IN CARS. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE DCVFA IN TRANSPORTING VEHICLES. ALSO GUESTS OF THE DCVFA IN LIKE VEHICLES. DUTCHESS COUNTY LADIES AUXILIARY WILL PROVIDE THEIR OWN VEHICLES. TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICIALS OF THE HOST COMMITTEE, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DUTCHESS COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSES COORDINATOR, LEGISLATURES, MAYORS, SUPERVISOR, TOWN AND VILLAGE BOARD MEMBERS ETC. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE DCVFA, BUT IF HOST DESIRES THE PRESENCE OF THE ABOVE, THIS IS THE REQUIRED POSITIONS AND THE HOST RESPONSIBILITY TO INVITE THEM.

1     COLOR GUARD    HOST CHOICE

2    ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT   ( INCOMING)

3     ASSOCIATIONS   IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

1st & 2nd  VICE-PRESIDENT

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS OF ASSOCIATION

GUEST OF D.C.V.F.A

D.C.V.F.A.  LADIES AUXILIARY

TOWN, COUNTY, STATE OFFICIALS, DUTCHESS COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES.

OTHER HOSTS COMMITTEE CHOICES FOR THIS TYPE OR FORMATION

FIRST DIVISION 

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT AND LADIES AUXILIARY (IF ANY)

INCOMING PRESIDENTS HOME COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT AND LADIES AUXILIARY (IF ANY)

OUTGOING PRESIDENTS HOME COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT AND LADIES AUXILIARY  (IF ANY)

NEXT HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT.

* THESE POSITIONS MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE COMPANIES AND IS OPTIONAL FOR THEM.

SECOND DIVISION AND OTHERS

  ASSIGNED POSITIONS TO BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE HOST IN THE LINE OF MARCH SHALL BE GOVERNED BY DATE OF RECEIPT OF ACCEPTANCE, CONSIDERATION TO SPACING OF COMPANY'S WITHOUT MUSIC, SIZE OF DIVISIONS, RULES OF CONDUCT ETC SHALL ALSO BE AT THE DIRECTION OF THE HOST COMPANY.

EACH DIVISION MAY BE LED BY A DIVISION MARSHALL, CHOSEN BY THE HOST COMPANY.

OTHER COMMENTS OR AWARDS

THE PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES AND/OR OTHER AWARDS MUST FOLLOW THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE AND AT A REASONABLE HOUR. SUCH TIME AND PLACE WILL BE LEFT UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT, AND STATED IN INFORMATION MAILED TO PARTICIPATING COMPANIES OR DEPARTMENTS.

IN THE AWARDING OF TROPHIES OR OTHER AWARDS, THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES WILL BE FINAL.

IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION ATTENDING THE PARADE ALONG WITH THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ADVISE THE HOST SO THAT SUITABLE TRANSPORTATION AND SEATING CAN BE ARRANGED.

REVISED AND ADOPTED BY THE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2001

                   MINIMUM CATEGORY'S FOR TROPHIES AND AWARDS

IN COUNTY AWARDS

                           BEST OVERALL IN COUNTY FIRE UNIT IN PARADE

                            D.C.V.F.A       THREE LEG LEAST AMOUNT OF DEMERITS AWARD

                            (MUST HAVE 16 OR MORE IN LINE)

                                               BEST APPEARING------------------------REGULATION UNIFORM

                         2ND                BEST APPEARING-------------------------REGULATION UNIFORM

                                             BEST APPEARING--------------------------NON-REGULATION UNIFORM

                         2ND               BEST APPEARING-------------------------NON-REGULATION UNIFORM

                                             BEST APPEARING------------------------LADIES AUXILIARY

                         2ND               BEST APPEARING------------------------ LADIES AUXILIARY

OUT OF COUNTY AWARD

                                                BEST APPEARING --------------------------REGULATION UNIFORM

                         2ND                 BEST APPEARING--------------------------NON-REGULATION UNIFORM

                                                BEST APPEARING--------------------------LADIES AUXILIARY

                                                 BEST OVERALL OUT OF COUNTY

Explores                                    Best Explore post

IN AND OUT OF COUNTY AWARDS

                                    BEST APPEARING FIREMATIC COLOR GUARD

                         2ND     BEST APPEARING FIREMATIC COLOR GUARD

                                  BEST APPEARING N0N-FIRMATIC COLOR GUARD

                         BEST APPEARING FIREMATIC APPARATUS                                      (YEAR TO YEAR)

                         BEST APPEARING FIREMATIC APPARATUS                                      ( YEAR TO YEAR )

                         BEST APPEARING ANTIQUE FIREMATIC APPARATUS

MUSICAL UNITS

                         BEST SENIOR UNIT

                         BEST JUNIOR UNIT

NOTE

        THE LOCAL COMMITTEE MAY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TROPHIES IN EACH CATEGORY ,I.E. 3RD  BEST 4TH  BEST AND SO FORTH. THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE TROPHIES FOR ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE HOST COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT.  IT IS ALSO PERMISSIBLE TO HAVE ADDED AWARDS FOR UNIT SIZES (26 AND OVER, 19 TO 25, AS AN EXAMPLE TO IMPROVE COMPETITIVENESS.

                                                        JUDGES INFORMATION FOR SCORING

             DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION

                                                                3 LEGGED TROPHY

                       FOR MARCHING UNIT WITH LEAST DEMERITS

MARCHING UNIT MUST BE A DUTCHESS COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT OR COMPANY TO BE IN COMPETITION FOR AWARD

MARCHING UNIT MUST HAVE AT LEAST SIXTEEN(16) MEMBERS ON THE STREET. THESE MARCHERS  MAY INCLUDE COLOR GUARD, BANNER CARRIERS, OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, CURRENT AND PAST CHIEF OFFICERS, AND CURRENT AND PAST COMMISSIONERS. NOT TO BE INCLUDED ARE MEMBERS OF  LADIES AUXILIARY, JUNIOR FIREFIGHTERS OR EXPLORE GROUPS IN A REQUIRED NUMBER.

MARCHING FIRE UNITS ARE TO BE JUDGED ON FOUR ( 4 ) COMPONENTS.

THESE COMPONENTS ARE:

COLOR GUARD

UNIFORMS

GENERAL APPEARANCE

MARCHING PERFORMANCE

THE STANDARD DEMERIT SCORING METHOD OF THE JUDGING ORGANIZATION REQUESTED TO JUDGE THE DCVFA DRESS PARADE IS TO BE USED.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE AND AT THE JUDGES MEETING, THE TOTAL DEMERITS FROM EACH OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED FOUR COMPONENTS LISTED EACH PARTICIPATING DUTCHESS COUNTY GROUP WILL BE TOTALED.

THE FIRE UNIT MEETING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED WITH THE LOWEST TOTAL OF DEMERITS WILL E DECLARED THE RECIPIENT OF THE DCVFA LEAST DEMERIT AWARD. THE AWARD WILL REMAIN WITH THE RECIPIENT GROUP FOR ONE YEAR. DURING THIS YEAR AN ENGRAVED PLATE WILL BE FASTENED TO THE TROPHY INDICATING THE RECIPIENT'S NAME AND YEAR THE TROPHY WAS WON. IF THE MARCHING UNIT WINS THE TROPHY THREE (3) TIMES, THE FIRE COMPANY/DEPARTMENT GAINS THE PERMANENT POSSESSION OF THE TROPHY.

SHOULD THERE BE A TIE IN THE FINAL SCORING RESULTS OF LEAST DEMERITS, THE TIE SHALL BE BROKEN WITH THE AWARD BEING PRESENTED TO THE UNIT WITH THE MOST MARCHERS IN HE LINE OF MARCH ON THE STREET.

IF A TIE STILL EXISTS, THE HEAD JUDGE FOR THE EVENT SHALL USE OTHER ESTABLISHED AND ACCEPTED METHOD TO BREAK THE TIE. IN ALL CASES, THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES WILL BE FINAL.

THREE (3) WINS FOR POSSESSION NEED NOT TO BE CONSECUTIVE YEARS.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DUTCHESS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION PARADE COMMITTEE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AWARD, IF REQUIRED OR REQUESTED AT A MEETING PRIOR TO THE PARADE AND THE SCORING SESSION FOLLOWING THE PARADE.