So you want to be on the Board of Directors...

Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue has three empty seats on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in becoming a Board member but aren't quite sure of the responsibilities and time commitment, here's some information for you.

Q. How much time is involved?
A. The Board meets on the third Thursday of the month. Summer meetings are often cancelled.

Q. I don't know anything about firefighting or emergency management. Can I still help?
A. Absolutely! We have professional staff taking care of the fire fighting and EMS angles. The Board of Directors provides high level direction to the department. What we need are creative thinkers and professionals willing to collaborate in the running the business side of the department. At this time we are especially interested in finding new members with experience in the health insurance, public information or public accounting fields.

Q. The business side of the department?
A. Yes, CGFR is a 501(c)3 non-profit business. Our primary line of business is executing contracts we hold with the Fairbanks North Star Borough to provide fire protection and emergency medical service to our service areas. We also do some business leasing fire apparatus during the wildfire season.

Q. Where are your service areas?
A. We provide fire service to the Goldsteam Valley (Districts 1 and 3), Chena Ridge and Chena Pump (District 2) and the Rosie Creek area (District 4). We provide ambulance service to the same areas, Ester and down the Parks Highway to the FNSB boundary.

Q. Do I need to live within your service area boundaries?
A. Living within the borders of the fire service area is one way to qualify for membership on the Board. Property ownership within the borders is the other way to qualify. Seats on the Board are distributed across the districts so each area has representation. You must reside or own property within the district you would be representing.

Q. Which districts have vacant Board positions currently?
A. Currently, districts 1 and 3, Goldstream Valley East and West, have one vacancy each and district 4 (Rosie Creek) has one.

Q. I'm interested in being a Board member. How do I contact you?
A. You can contact the Board president, David Rohwer, at drohwer@cgfr.com or call him at home, 455-6507. Or call our primary administrative fire station at 479-5672 and leave a message for him.