Woman’s Forum learns about local library, Wayland VFD at recent meetings
Chris Houchin with the Wayland Volunteer Fire Department presented the program for the November Woman’s Forum meeting.
Houchin has been a volunteer for various fire departments since 1982. The Wayland Volunteer Fire Department started in 2008 with three volunteers and one truck, and today it has 15 active volunteers, four rescue trucks, a military truck that holds 1,000 gallons of water, a 2,500-gallon tanker and is currently working with Texas Forest Service to get a Hummer added to their equipment. The Texas Forest Service and the National Forest Service helps supply dozers during bad fires.
Chris Houchin
Wayland has approximately 3,000 acres, and the surrounding VFDs work together and help each other out during fires; it’s a brotherhood amongst the volunteers, Houchin said. The volunteers must undergo many hours of training and have numerous state certifications, including CPR, EMT, and Texas Commission on Fire Protection Basic Firefighter or higher certification. They receive no pay, and each department depends on donations, grants and fundraising to support the department. The Wayland Fire Department spends $12,000 a year on insurance, at least $1,000 per month in fuel, plus the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment, so community support is truly appreciated. Many of the local employers will allow volunteer firefighter employees off to work fires, which is a huge gift to those willing to serve the community. Wayland VFD also has a Jaws of Life rescue for non-fire calls and a helipad zone for helicopters to land in emergencies. Houchin gave some basic fire safety tips for home owners, both locally and those living in the country: mow your grass, keep trees trimmed, get a fire extinguisher and periodically shake them so the contents don’t settle, make sure you have hoses attached to all of your outside faucets, steer clear of propane tanks and be aware of power lines, and have fire drills with your family emphasizing the importance of staying low where there is smoke. He ended the program by asking us to pray for them and all fire departments.
The Thanksgiving meal was provided by United Supermarket, and the hostesses were Sonya Morehart, Kendra Mayfield, Heather Ezell, Glenda Knight, Cynthia Fernandez, Nicole Whealy, Donna Walker, Jaclyn Morehart and Jenny Holt.
October meeting
At the organization’s October meeting, Heather Schkade gave the presentation about the Breckenridge Library. She highlighted all of the resources the library provides for the community, including children’s programs, six public access computers and an online eBook program that is free to patrons.
Schkade, who has been the director for six years, shared the history of the library, showed pictures from the children’s summer programs and explained how to utilize eBooks. This fall, the Woman’s Forum community service donations are going toward the library to help provide additional children’s programs.
Hostesses for the October meeting were Maurice Turner, chair; Barbara Trammell, co-chair; Maretta Wulfjen, Ruth Taylor, Fran Sims, Elizabeth Power, Lorene Calkins, Nancy Morales, and Julie Calkins. They were all dressed as scarecrows and decorated the tables with scarecrows and colorful fall accents.
The meal was catered by The Water Store.
Heather Schkade, director of the Breckenridge Library, spoke at the October meeting about the services the library offers. (Courtesy Photo)
The hostesses of the October meeting, pictured in the photos above and below, were Maurice Turner, chair; Barbara Trammell, co-chair; Maretta Wulfjen, Ruth Taylor, Fran Sims, Elizabeth Power, Lorene Calkins, Nancy Morales, and Julie Calkins. (Courtesy photo)
The October hostesses dressed as scarecrows for the fall-themed meeting. (Courtesy photo)
Cutline, top photo: The hostesses for the Breckenridge Woman’s Forum’s November meeting were, from left, Sonya Morehart, Kendra Mayfield, Heather Ezell, Glenda Knight, Cynthia Fernandez, Nicole Whealy, Donna Walker, Jaclyn Morehart and Jenny Holt. (Photo courtesy of the Breckenridge Woman’s Forum)
Information and photos provided by Woman’s Forum member Mary Quinn Griffin.
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