General Membership Guideline:
Any resident of Urbana and its vicinity, 18 years of age or older shall be eligible for membership in this Department.  Discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, martial status, political or religious opinion or affiliation, and physical or mental handicap (except in the cases where the disability or condition would preclude the individual from adequately performing the tasks involved) is prohibited.  Any resident of Urbana and its vicinity between the ages of 16 and 18 shall be eligible for junior membership in the Department, with the written consent of their parents or guardians under the terms and conditions established by the Department.  The number of Junior Members in the Department shall not exceed six (6)

All persons admitted to membership in the Department shall be on probationary status for a period of one (1) year from the date of admission.  The applicant will receive a three (3), six (6), nine (9), and twelve (12) month review.  The Board of Directors will present each probationary member with a written six (6) month review.  If the probationary member has had two (2) unsatisfactory ratings or has not completed at least half of the work details required for active membership, they will be dropped from membership.  At the end of the one-year probationary period, the Board of Directors will either recommend or deny membership status and present to the Membership.  If the Board recommends membership, a majority vote of the active members present at the monthly membership meeting, shall make a ballot vote to either accept or deny membership. 

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Probation:
Probationary members will be required to participate in as many work details and fund raising events as possible.  Attendance at general membership meetings is mandatory.  Fund raising activities include, but are not limited to:

• Bingo, every Tuesday, excluding July and August.  You will be required to participate on one of the Bingo shifts.
• Public Dinners – We hold two (2) public dinners per year.  You will be required to work these dinners.  The work day usually runs from 8:00a.m. – 8:00p.m.
• Banquets – Preparing and serving banquets.  Banquet season runs from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
• Carnival – The carnival is held every year in July. 

Probationary members must have the following minimum riding requirements prior to responding to any emergency incidents:

• Current CPR certification
• Blood Borne Pathogens/Exposure Control Training
• HazMat Awareness (operations preferred)
• Deemed medically fit after appropriate medical examination and respiratory fit test

Probationary members must completed the Pre-Basic Fire & Rescue and EMS Program set forth by the Department.

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Active Members:
All active members are required annually to attend six (6) meetings of the Department, take an active part in a minimum of twenty-five (25) work details and money-raising activities and attend all possible fire and rescue calls. Active members will have the privilege of holding office in the Department and voting on the business of the Department. All active running members will be required to have a yearly medical physical. You may provide documentation of a completed physical from your personal physician or have a physical completed at Occupational Health Service, Rose Hill Plaza in Frederick at no cost to you. The Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association funds physicals for its Departments at Occupational Health Service (OSH) at Rose Hill Plaza in Frederick. A respirator fit test and clearance for fire & rescue activity will also be required annually. Department of Transportation exams for engine drivers licenses’ are also available at OSH.

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Associate Members:
Associate members are members of this Department who are not able to take an active part, at all times, in the various activities of the Department.  Associate members may attend all meetings and participate in all activities of the Department, but will not have the privilege of holding office in the Department or voting on the business of the Department.  Associate members seeking reinstatement to active status must have attended 3 consecutive meetings of the Department and taken part in 13 work details and money-raising activities prior to requesting reinstatement in person at regular meeting of the Board of Directors.  Once this criteria is met, at a regular meeting of the Department, the Board of Directors may then recommend reinstatement to active status, and upon approval by a majority vote of the active members present at a regular meeting of the Department, to be effective immediately.

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Junior Members:
Junior Members are required regularly to attend the meetings of the Department.  Junior Members shall not be entitled to hold Department office or to vote upon Department business.  The participation of Junior Members in fire operations, work details, fund-raising and other activities of the Department shall be determined and governed by rules, regulations, directives and orders promulgated by the Chief of the Department; such rules and regulations to be subject to revision and approval by the Board of Directors.  No Junior Member shall perform any functions for the Department other than those prescribed in the afore described regulations, directives and orders.

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Administrative Members:
Administrative members are members of this Department who are not able to take an active part, at all times, in the various activities of the Department.  Administrative members must take an active part in a minimum of 12 work details and money-raising activities of the Department, may attend all meetings of the Department, but will not have the privilege of holding office in the Department, or voting on the business of the Department. The participation of Administrative members in fire and rescue operations of the Department shall be determined and governed by the Chief and the Board of Directors.  Once voted into the Department, Administrative members will be on probationary status for one year. Upon meeting or exceeding the requirements of active status, Administrative members may request to be instated as an active member and will not have to complete a second probationary period. If active status requirements are not maintained, the members will return to Administrative status.  Administrative members seeking reinstatement to active status must have attended 3 consecutive meetings of the Department and taken part in 13 work details and money-raising activities prior to requesting reinstatement in person at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Once this criteria is met, at a regular meeting of the Department, the Board of Directors may then recommend reinstatement to active status, and upon approval by a majority vote of the active members present at a regular meeting of the Department, to be effective immediately.  At the December meeting of the Department, the Recording Secretary shall report to the membership the names of all administrative members who have not met the minimum requirement of 6 work details and money-raising activities. By a majority vote of the active members present, any administrative member who has not met the minimum requirement of 6 work details and money-raising activities may be dropped from the rolls of the Department.

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