ODHFS Central Region Members;

As usual, my first order of business each month is to correct something I wrote in the previous month's newsletter.

Last month I forgot to welcome two new members who joined us in December, Joe Brice from North Chesterfield and Eric Broughton from Chester. I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events. Also, FYI to Joe & Eric and all members that do not currently own an antique apparatus; there are many ways for you to get "hands on" in our club including:

• Many of our members that own apparatus (or a fleet in Tommy Herman's case) welcome other members riding along with them to events and/or helping them demonstrate their apparatus while representing ODHFS.
• Helping out with events in our region such as at: the Pride and Polish event (see below); at our upcoming annual meeting (see below); and at our annual muster in Farmville in October.
• There are also other ODHFS events in other regions that are listed on our website calendar such as the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Antique Fest that can always use assistance putting the event on.

If you need help in finding someone to offer your services, let me know.

Reminder to those who have not renewed your 2022 dues. Please do so as soon as you can.

Events: The following are events that I know about in the region, close to the region, or ODHFS sponsored events in other regions. As always, the most up to date list of all statewide events is on the ODHFS website calendar. Likewise, if you know of an event that our members would be interested in, send it to both Jack Sullivan and me.

• March 12 Central Region Meeting and Pride and Polish Workday Keystone Museum, Colonial Heights, 9:30AM - 4:00 PM Yesterday I sent out the information on this event. If you need another copy let me know. The museum will be giving ODHFS a significant price break for the use of their facility during our upcoming annual meeting so the work to polish the 9 antique fire apparatus while telling stories is a direct benefit to our organization. Unfortunately I will not be there as I will be polishing my grandkids toys that day, someplace a lot warmer than in Virginia so Tommy Herman will be leading this event.
  
• March 12 Raleigh NC St. Patrick's Day Parade If interested contact George Mills ASAP g.c.mills.iii@earthlink.net
  
• April 2 ODHFS Annual Meeting, Keystone Museum, Colonial Heights. More information will be sent out on this event soon including registration information. One thing to be alert to: If you register in advance, your lunch will be provided by ODHFS. If you do not register in advance, it will cost $10 per person to eat.
  
• April 29 95th Apple Blossom Festival Antique Festival Winchester. All day. Apparatus judging, parade, and banquet. More information on the ODHFS website calendar or contact Northern Region Director Davind Gantt at racindave@msn.com.
  
• May 14 3rd Annual Breakthrough Car Show Pamplin Park, Petersburg. 10AM - 3 PM To register or for more information see www.pamplinpark.org or contact Colin Romanick at aromanick@pamplinpark.org.
  
• June 4 Virginia Fire and EMS Memorial Service More information later.
  
• June 11 Richmond Region AACA Collector Car Show and Swap Meet St Joseph's Villa, Henrico More information at www.RichmondCarShow.com.
  
• September 16,17,18 Field Days of the Past Amelia More information later
  
• October 8 ODHFS Annual Muster, Wilck's Lake Park Farmville. More information later but if you desire to stay in the area, I recommend you make your reservations now. With two colleges in Farmville, there is something going on every weekend and the hotels fill up fast.

Last month I touched on ODHFS' desire to have additional people step up to be prepared to run our organization in the future. More specifically and personally I need one or more Central Region Members to contact me to discuss the position of Central Regional Director. Not only do I hope you will consider moving into the Central Region Director position in a year or so, but during this upcoming year I hope you could accompany me at Board of Director meetings (most of these have been on zoom recently) to learn more about the inner workings of our organization and represent me when I am unable to attend due to other commitments. Please consider this and give me a call.

Floyd - FloydPowhatan@gmail.com

804-347-9016 (leave message)