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Post by 911pix on Nov 15, 2008 19:50:54 GMT -5
...or historically knowledgeable yung'uns...
Through my research I've discovered that tournaments and drills were originally created as adjuncts to the conventions of the various firefighter's associations - first FASNY, then Suffolk, Nassau, etc. - where drills were included only as an "extracurricular" feature of those meetings where Association business was transacted.
As the years went by, as we know, the drills became more and more important and a larger and larger part of the meetings...to a point these days where, I believe, "conventions" in the true sense of the word are no longer even held, yet the drills associated with them still are; Southern NY is one example. Although these days, to my knowledge, the various area associations (Northern, Western, Nassau & Suffolk) will still have an annual meeting to elect officers, etc., but rather than it being a two or three day affair as it was in days of old, it's now just one night, with dinner to follow...and it isn't necessarily held in conjunction with a drill (or is it?)
My question, then, is: can anyone from the four different Areas tell me when the last time they can remember that their drill (Northern, Western, Nassau or Suffolk) was actually held in conjunction with their Convention? (Or, if the convention doesn't even still exist, when was the last year they had it?)
Thanks,
Mike
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Post by drills4thewin on Nov 15, 2008 22:02:06 GMT -5
western would have been in the mid 90's IIRC
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Post by turtleclimber on Nov 16, 2008 8:05:14 GMT -5
Northerns first drill of the season is held in conjuntion with the Northern NY Firemans Assoc Convention. The drill is simply known as convention and considered the biggest drill of the year outside of states. Most northern teams will put the years they won convention on their trucks along with the years they were points champions.
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Post by turtleclimber on Nov 16, 2008 8:10:44 GMT -5
And it's still a three day affair, where hundreds of firefighters from the area attend.
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Post by west on Nov 16, 2008 9:16:53 GMT -5
There is still the annual FASNY convention, typically runs the week before or after the state motorized drill weekend, but rarely at the same location. You can look at the FASNY site for more detail on this. Obvioulsy the state drill occurred in whatever city the convention was at, and did not follow the current 4 region rotation that it does now. More often than not it was held upstate, thus lots of Island folks headed to the "convention", resulting in a lot of non-paritipants staying for the drill - would get some big crowds stayng over. With the advent of the sanctioned tracks to address concerns, ther era of temproary arches and snow fence came to an end, thus the drill could only be held at specific locations. I don't know if this was the only driver, but had to factor into it all.
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Post by west on Nov 16, 2008 9:17:36 GMT -5
fourth line, that would be "to address safety concerns"
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Post by 911pix on Nov 16, 2008 9:39:15 GMT -5
Cool, thanks for the replies guys.
So, can I conclude so far:
- Northern still has its convention with its drill
- Western, as of the mid-90's, no longer does so. (What is "IIRC"?)
...Now I just need to hear back from Nassau and Suffolk!
Thanks again,
Mike
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Post by SplatterLadder on Nov 16, 2008 14:01:20 GMT -5
The Nassau County Invitational Parade and Drill is held on the second Saturday in July. The parade and drill are actually hosted by the Nassau County Firemen's Association (they own the trophies). The NC Firemen's Association has very little to do with the parade and drill. The incoming president and the NC Firemen's Association lead the parade. Usually, the incoming president will have the annual parade in his town with a drill if possible (if approved course is available).
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Post by 911pix on Nov 16, 2008 14:39:28 GMT -5
OK, good to know. Would you happen to know:
- what year the NCVFA stopped holding conventions?
and
- if the Nassau County drill stopped being held in conjunction with any such convention at or about the same time the NYSPTCA was formed in the early 50's, or before then?
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Post by 911pix on Nov 16, 2008 14:40:28 GMT -5
...sorry if I wasn't clear:
In other words, when did the NCVFA stop having anything to do with the drills?
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Post by drills4thewin on Nov 16, 2008 15:55:37 GMT -5
Cool, thanks for the replies guys. So, can I conclude so far: - Northern still has its convention with its drill - Western, as of the mid-90's, no longer does so. (What is "IIRC"?) ...Now I just need to hear back from Nassau and Suffolk! Thanks again, Mike sorry, IF I Recall Correctly
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Post by bugdriver on Nov 16, 2008 20:11:34 GMT -5
I,ll try to respond to the best of my memory. I could be a little off. I beleive the year was 1974. Jim Fairben was the President of the N.Y.S.D.T.C.A. I beleive the drill was held in Lindenhurst. ( won by the Teddy's Boys). The convention was held in N.Y.C. The powers to be in the State Capt's Assoc. felt that, and rightly so, that they were being treated as an add on to the state convention,when they were the reason so many people attended. When the decision to run the State drill under the drill team capt's banner, F.A.S.N.Y. was not to happy after finally realizing how much they would loose in attendance at the convention and parade. I attended the convention in N.Y.C. with Jim. We weren't past the lobby when the F.A.S.N.Y. officers were all over him about the decision,trying to woo the racers and marchers back. It got a little ugly for a while but the rotating state drill and parade was born from this decision. We finally stopped having to follow F.A.S.N.Y. around like a stray puppy dog. Bob Beam could shed more light on the subject than I, but I think I am pretty close.
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Post by 911pix on Nov 16, 2008 21:25:10 GMT -5
Thank you bugdriver, I think you've got it it pretty close. Historian states that FASNY kept control of the drill locations "through the 1970's", and that the system of rotation between the four Areas began about 1980 (can anyone verify or corroberate this?)
That being said, and if what you posted is true - what happened between 1974 and 1980? Did the NYSDTCA continue to shadow FASNY in disqust, or did the area rotations start immediately after 1974 when the DTCA decided to go their own way?
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Post by F-Man on Nov 17, 2008 6:12:49 GMT -5
Western Drill Teams last regularly attended a Western Convention in 1999. At that drill we competed Old Fashioned because of concerns about the course. The problem, like other areas, was that the Western Convention was held in various towns that did not have a safe place to compete.
We did go back one year since 1999 to compete in Albion. I want to say it was in 2003, because they have a course, but since then Western Team Capts, and Western Fire Assoc. have severed basically all ties.....
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Post by F-Man on Nov 17, 2008 6:15:09 GMT -5
Also,
I think the area rotation for State Drills was approved in either 1992, or 1994 Annual Meeting. I just remember the meeting being in Main Transit.....
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