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LADIES AUXILIARY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
APPLICATION FOR HALL OF FAME
NAME: Ruth Briggs
ADDRESS:
NAME OF AUXILIARY: Maryland City
YEARS OF SERVICE: Powhatan Beach 2 yrs, Green Haven 15 yrs, Maryland City 8 yrs.
OFFICES HELD WITHIN THE AUXILARY: Green Haven President, Treasurer
COMMITTEES: Fire Prevention, Ways & Means, Buddy Bear, Bingo Kitchen
OTHER SERVICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: Before joining Maryland City, Ruth rode the ambulance at Green Haven for many years. She was co-chairman of the Anne Arundel County VFA Fire Prevention Committee for many years. She wrote and published the Fire Stopper Newsletter for several years and some of her articles appeared in the local newspapers.
SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION RECEIVED: Before Ruth joined Maryland City, she was made an Honorary member. She received the Channel 13 TV Award for all her work in fire prevention. In 1987, Ruth was a 3rd place winner for the Silver Spring Trophy Award in conjunction with the annual LAMSFA convention
COMMENTS: Ruth served the LAAACVFA as President 1983-1984. She also designed and made up the programs for many Miss Fire Prevention Pagents and was instrumental in making sure they went off according to schedule. She also designed and prepared the 1990 Miss Fire Prevention program for the MSFA Fire Prevention contest. Ruth’s fire prevention accomplishments are too numerous to mention.
SUBMITTED BY: Patti Kidwell DATE: 28JUNE94
AUXILIARY TO THE MARYLAND CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Prevention Committee
Ladies Auxiliary to the Maryland State Firemen’s Association
Dear Members:
It is with pleasure that the Auxiliary to the Maryland City Volunteer Fire Department submit the name of M. Ruth Briggs for the Silver Spring Trophy. Ruth is an invaluable asset to our Auxiliary in fire prevention and other functions. Ruth is serving as Fire Prevention Chairman for our Auxiliary and since being appointed in May has done an outstanding job. She has the initiative it takes to get the job done and takes pride in her work. She is also very enthusiastic about fire prevention and does whatever she can to promote it in the community.
Ruth has attended three Public Fire Education Symposiums at the following places during the period of June 1986 – present.
a. Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, College Park (two different times.)
b. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Howard County.
In addition to being our Auxiliary’s Fire Prevention Chairman, Ruth is Coordinator for the Anne Arundel County Public Fire Education Co-op, is a member of the Francis Scott Key Medical Center Burn Safety Program, and is Fire Prevention Chairperson for the Ladies Auxiliary to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
Ruth is presently working through the Anne Arundel County Fire Department and the Fire Marshall’s Office in preparing new programs to be targeted for children, from nursery schools to high school level, Senior citizens, and also home evacuation plans.
In working with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s various programs, she puts on programs on Fire Prevention to teach Fire Safety and Escape Plans to Senior Citizens Groups, Church Groups, and Ladies Clubs. She also does various types of programs in nursery schools and kindergartens teaching “Stop, Drop, and Roll”, how to crawl under smoke, and teach the 911 telephone system.
Ruth obtained and used an actual working telephone system from the C&P 911 division, which is used in teaching children the proper way to report an emergency to “911”. The children dial 911 and speak to someone acting as dispatcher. They learn what to expect when reporting a fire, ambulance, or Police emergency. This procedure was demonstrated at our open house on October 12, 1986.
At our open house on October 12, 1986, Ruth was a key asset in putting together a successful open house. It has been past history that our Auxiliary conduct an annual Poster Contest in the two area schools in Maryland City. Ruth having very limited knowledge of how to go about this was able to find the answers she needed to make this project again a success.
The poster contest consists of the following:
a. Obtain permission from the school principals to conduct the poster contest in the schools.
b. Compose a letter to each child explaining what the poster should consist of.
c. Purchasing the paper, certificates, trophies, and ribbons.
d. Selecting judges to judge the posters.
e. Setting up and presenting awards for winners and delivering certificates for each entry.
For our open house, the posters were on display for viewing, the telephone system previously described was demonstrated, a “Stop, Drop, and Roll” demonstration given with the children taking part as well as “How to Crawl through Smoke.”
In addition to assisting with our Open house, Ruth also was a vital asset in putting together and helping with the Anne Arundel County Fire Expo held October 11, 1986 at the County Fire Department Headquarters in Millersville, Maryland.
Around the Christmas Holiday Ruth made a flier and a copy was given to over 500 students in both elementary schools in the Maryland City area. This information was printed in the Maryland City News column in December, 1986 of the Laurel Leader Newspaper.
Ruth also make up a flier on “Cool Tips for a Hot Subject” which discussed alternate heating devices. This article appeared in the Laurel Leader newspaper in the Maryland City Column in February 1987 and also appeared in the March 1987 issue of the Maryland City Community News that is distributed to each house in Maryland City.
Ruth also reads all she can on fire prevention to strengthen her knowledge of the subject and she shares the information with others. She is an active participant on the Fire Prevention Committee for the firemen of the County. She is presently assisting them with reorganizing their Fire Prevention Queen’s Contest as well as other projects.
As you can see by the enclosed endorsement of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s Fire Administrator’s office her talents are very appreciated.
I hope the committee feels as we do in favor of Ruth for the Silver Spring Trophy. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Patti Kidwell
President MCVFD Auxiliary
Ms. Patti Kidwell
Jessup, Maryland
Dear Ms. Kidwell:
It is with great pride that the Anne Arundel County Fire Department endorses the nomination of Ms. Ruth Briggs to receive the Silver Spring Trophy.
Ms. Briggs has been extremely active in promoting Fire Safety and Public Fire Education within Anne Arundel County, and, is fact, has often spearheaded new programs for us. Her efforts have been particularly impressive in the Public Fire Education Coop, a group which cooperates and interfaces with our Fire Marshal’s Office.
With all of her efforts in promoting and working for improved public awareness of fire safety and prevention, we are pleased to endorse Ms. Ruth Briggs for this award.
Very truly yours,
Joseph M. Connell
Fire Administrator
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