President-elect Blaise led the meeting, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Rotary four-way test + quote by Eleanor Roosevelt
Bristol Fire Department Update – 2025
Fire Chief Hart, who worked 8 years as a paramedic and over 3.5 years as Bristol Fire Chief, shared key updates on the department’s progress and future direction. A longtime advocate for fire safety education and diversity in the fire service, he emphasizes strengthening the department through strategic upgrades and training programs.
Facilities & Equipment:
A long-overdue new firehouse in Forestville is under construction, expected to be completed after the holidays. This will include individual bunk rooms, modern kitchens, and upgraded bathrooms—much-needed improvements over outdated 1960s facilities.
Station 3 will house living quarters for 8 personnel. The headquarters is also slated for renovation.
A new ladder truck, ordered three years ago, is set for delivery in late 2025. This will improve response capability and support efforts to achieve a Class 1 ISO rating, enhancing public safety and lowering insurance premiums.
Staffing & Funding Challenges:
Federal grants, which would help fund staffing, are currently frozen. The city is ready to apply once reopened.
Volunteerism has declined to zero, mirroring national trends. The department increasingly relies on mutual aid from nearby towns.
Future Goals:
A proposed CPAT (Candidate Physical Aptitude Test) center will serve as a regional hub for firefighter training, with indoor facilities for year-round use. This initiative also aims to boost female firefighter recruitment, reflecting the community's diversity.
The chief advocates for more support in long-term EMS planning, noting Bristol’s high call volume and rising vehicle incident rates.
Appreciation:
Special thanks to the Bristol Firefighters for their continued professionalism and community support, including helping assess recent safety renovations for public buildings.
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Scholarship Update:
Mario has contacted all 9 scholarship recipients, and they have been invited to the June 8th celebration
Avon-Canton Rotary Club this Friday, May 16th, for a powerful presentation from Rostyslav, who will be joining us live from Ukraine.
He will begin speaking around 7:45 AM via Zoom (or 7:30 AM in person if you’d like to join us at the club). Rostyslav will share firsthand updates on the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and how Rotary clubs like ours can get directly involved.
Join via Zoom: Click to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 898 3564 2599
Passcode: [if applicable—include here]
Ornament Sales:
Our ornaments to be featured in church bulletins, farmers market (June 21), West End Festival (August 16), as well as Bristol Blues games
Flyer attached below!
Mother’s Day Flower Sale Update
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day!
This year’s flower sale brought in $565, which is down from $810 last year (about $245 less).
One factor may be reduced outreach and fewer key people involved compared to last year. For example, Angelique’s office contributed significantly in the past.
We might consider starting earlier next year to boost numbers.
Judi helped with the event—if you have any feedback on how that went, please share.
The funds raised help cover minor but useful expenses throughout the year.
We could consider promoting online next time (e.g., Facebook, Venmo) to expand reach.
Let me know your thoughts or suggestions!
Happy & Sad
Dave , thank you, Chief Hart
Ken, Happy Mother's Day, great job organizing the flower fundraiser, Judi Ann
Norm, thank you for Birthday Wishes
Andrea, number 5 Loan Originatorfor 2024
Tom, happy birthday, sad I don't understand Norm
Mary - dryer died on Mothers Day, happy birthday, Christopher will wear the passed-down gown. big fundraiser Friday night, mural event next week, sneak you in, tue 3:30-5, wed 1-3, 4-6 community
Heather, happy birthday
Judi Ann, thank you to Chief Hart, Laura have a safe trip to London and Florida
Laura, Chris is home, off to Florida next week, had a nice Mothers ay, learned how to make jam
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