Like many communities, Upper Merion was up against an ever-increasing call volume and
limited volunteer availability.
These challenges led them to form the Upper Merion Township Public Safety Department in 2019,
which consolidated police, fire, emergency medical services, and emergency management into
one group that's overseen by a Public Safety Director/Chief of Police.
They believe this combined approach has allowed them to implement several changes that have
greatly improved their recruitment and retention efforts, including:
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Improved and continuous marketing, , involving a better
“word-of-mouth” stream within the first responder community, more outreach (yard
signs, social media, ads, letters, etc.), and additional recruitment events, like a
high school firefighter program and live-in program.
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Increased volunteer benefits, like Accident & Sickness Insurance
Coverage, a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP), more training, permission for
Township employees to respond/volunteer during work hours, stipends, and more.
They believe their comprehensive approach as a combination system, including increased
marketing efforts and volunteer perks, has been highly successful in many areas, noting
they've increased their volunteer/stipend members by 15 since 2023.
We applaud their efforts and service—and are proud to present them with this year's VCOS-VFIS
Recruitment and Retention Award to help recognize their accomplishments!
This annual award is a joint venture of the Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the IAFC and VFIS
that recognizes a department that successfully achieved its retention and recruitment goals
within the last year. Check out all of VCOS' award
opportunities here.
About VFIS - @VFIS
VFIS is the largest provider of insurance, education
and consulting services for fire departments, ambulance and rescue squads and 911
centers in North America, having pioneered the first tailored insurance package for this
industry in 1969. A part of Glatfelter Insurance Group, one of the largest insurance program
managers in the US, VFIS offers insurance protections, including Property & Casualty,
Accident & Sickness and benefits programs, like a Length of Service Awards Program
(LOSAP), as well as training, risk management and safety resources that are specialized
to the emergency services industry.
About Glatfelter Insurance Group - @glatfelterins
Glatfelter Insurance Group (GIG), an American
International Group, Inc. (AIG) company, is one of the largest program managers and
insurance brokers in the US with more than 500 associates serving 30,000 clients. An
all-lines, full-service insurance broker, Glatfelter markets property, casualty,
life,
accident and health insurance products and risk management services on both a retail
and
wholesale specialty basis throughout the country, utilizing a network of more than
3,000
independent agents and brokers.
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization.
AIG
member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life
insurance,
retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in more than 80
countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services
that
help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for
retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with
additional
information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information
contained
on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.
AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement,
and
general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional
information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are
written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group,
Inc.
Products or services may not be available in all countries and jurisdictions, and
coverage is subject to underwriting requirements and actual policy language.
Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties.
Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer.
Surplus
lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds
are
therefore not protected by such funds.
