Catherine Salt-Gillispie of Lawrence
To the editor:
I wanted to write in and renew my interest in the details of the fire department plan. Obviously, the funding issue has been addressed. However, I am curious to see how the plan breaks out and if it addresses any consistency issues. I am also interested in why the meeting of Oct. 21 had two uniformed police officers present for the full duration when no disturbance had occurred.
I also wanted to take a moment to address Mr. Dlabik’s response to my letter by saying that my previous letter was directed at Mr. Bostock. It was a follow-up letter to my own of Oct. 18, 2007, which did not concern the fire companies at all. At the Oct. 21 meeting Mr. Bostock advised he was not aware of some of the issues and that he is new at this, so, fair enough.
I will say that I do know that there are three fire companies, but, my point was that only two have Web sites. I know this because since July of 2001, I have had the opportunity to not only donate, but attend fundraisers for all three companies. My personal observations of the inconsistencies amongst the three companies surely must make me unique.
I thank Mr. Dlabik for clearing up the two incidences that occurred earlier this year. My point in my letter was that it appeared to me, that the fire companies (and Mr. Bostock) had two perfectly good opportunities to market your need and promote your plans. What intrigued me most about Mr. Dlabik’s letter was his claim that he wrote and e-mailed a response to the Ledger. Why? If memory serves me right, Mr. Dlabik and his sons are members of Station 22, why not just post it on the Web site? Perhaps he recognizes that the information there is out of date and incorrect? After all this is November and according to reports Station 22 has 25 to 30 members, not the 2003 roster, right? Of course, Station 21 has no Web site and I cannot remember the last time they had an actual fundraising event or being invited to one.
If I were going to write a letter about the fire companies it would be to thank Station 23 for being a good show of a donation-based organization. Not only is their website geared toward assisting the public, but any resident can see their apparatus, scheduled fundraisers, recent fire calls, news articles and their current membership. They have open houses, rummage sales, and collect toner cartridges. Additionally, they avail themselves to local grand openings and events and who can forget those eye candy donation brochures.
Perhaps, this seven-page plan addresses these concerns and perhaps not. It seems at the heart of the matter here is your funding and manpower. And telling from Mr. Dlabik’s final paragraph and the donation requests I have received thus far, the collective approach to getting donations and/or volunteers has not changed one bit.
Catherine Salt-Gillispie
Lawrence
