Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association INC.

Associate Member Policy

Section 1 Purpose 
 
1.1 The purpose of this Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) is to establish the minimum requirements, guidelines, and standards for the associate member program. This SOG will establish standards for training, certification, eligibility, and dismissal from the department.  
 
1.2 An associate member shall be defined as any member or potential member who does not meet the living requirements stated in the department by-laws and who holds the appropriate credentials stated in this document. Such members will be required to serve the department through staffing station duty crews. 
 
1.3 The purpose of this program is to assist with station staffing and provide quicker responses of qualified personnel to emergency scenes. Associate members will provide staffing voluntarily.  
 
1.4 Associate members will be provided workers compensation benefits by the department. 
 
Section 2 Eligibility 
 
2.1 Associate members must meet the following minimum requirements: 
2.1.1 North Carolina certified Firefighter Certification 
2.1.2 At least 18 years of age 
2.1.3 Have a valid North Carolina Driver's License 
 
Section 3 Requirements 
 
3.1 Members will be required to provide 36 hours of training per year. 
3.1.1 Members must maintain 12 hours of in-house training each 12 months. 
3.2 Members must provide 24 hours of station staffing per quarter. 
3.3 Station staffing shifts shall be no less than 3 hours per shift to count toward the 24 hours. 
3.4 Station staffing will be scheduled using Microsoft Teams. 
 
Section 4 Driving Eligibility 
 
4.1 Associate members will be allowed to drive apparatus if they meet the following requirements: 
 
4.1.1 North Carolina Driver Operator Certification 
4.1.2 North Carolina Emergency Vehicle Driver Certification 
4.1.3 Be at least 21 years of age 
 
4.2 Members may be permitted to drive if they complete the Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association Driver Operator Program and are checked off by an officer. 
 
4.3 Members may be permitted to drive at the discretion of the Fire Chief. 
 
Section 5 Termination 
 
5.1 At any time an associate member may be terminated in the event they fail to follow the by-laws and SOG’s of the Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association. 
 
5.2 Members not meeting the staffing requirements set by this SOG may be terminated. 
 
5.3 Members failing to meet the training requirements may be terminated. 
 
5.4 At any time the member is terminated all gear and equipment which is property of Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association shall be returned to an officer immediately. 
 
Section 6 Equipment 
 
6.1 Associate members will be provided a set of turnout gear property of Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association. This equipment shall include: 
 
6.1.1 Turnout Coat 
6.1.2 Turnout Pants 
6.1.3 Helmet 
6.1.4 Structural Gloves 
6.1.5 Turnout Boots 
6.1.6 Firefighting Hood 
 
6.2 At no time should the issued gear be removed from the station when the member is not actively staffing the station unless deemed necessary by an officer. 
 
6.3 No alterations shall be made to any gear belonging to Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association. 
 
6.4 At no time shall associate members be issued pagers by the department. 
 

I hereby certify that there are no willful misrepresentations or falsifications of my statements and answers to listed questions. I am aware that, should an investigation disclose such misrepresentation or falsification, my application will be rejected.  
 
I do hereby certify that if accepted as a member of the Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association, Inc. I will abide by the By-Laws of the Association and any other Policies and Regulations of the Department  
 
(Electronic) By typing my name below, I certify the above statements to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that this information can be used for the purpose of processing my Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association, Inc. application. (Non-Electronic) If filling out the application by hand, please provide your original signature and date.  

AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF RECORDS

I, ​do hereby authorize any military organization, law enforcement agency, physician or other medical personnel, insurance agencies, banks and credit agencies, former and present employers, or other individuals to furnish to the Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association (the “Department”) or its authorized agent all available information. 
I hereby release any of the above from any and all civil or criminal liability whatsoever for providing this information.  
 
(Electronic) By typing my name below, I certify the above statements to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that this information can be used for the purpose of processing my Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association, Inc. application. (Non-Electronic) If filling out the application by hand, please provide your original signature and date.  

                               AUTHORIZATION FOR CONSUMER REPORT
I understand and acknowledge that I am applying for membership with the Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association (the “Department”). In connection with that application, I expressly authorize the Department to conduct a full background check and to obtain a Consumer Report and/or an investigative report about me, including but not limited to, a criminal records check and/or credit report.  
I further understand and acknowledge that if I am accepted as a member, this authorization shall remain on file and shall serve as an on-going authorization for the Department to obtain such reports at any time during my membership.  
I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the attached “Fair Credit Reporting Act Disclosure” and “a Summary of Your Rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act” prior to executing this authorization. 
 
(Electronic) By typing my name below, I certify the above statements to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that this information can be used for the purpose of processing my Sharpsburg Fire Prevention Association, Inc. application. (Non-Electronic) If filling out the application by hand, please provide your original signature and date.