Orland Fire District Senior Advisory Council presents achievements

The Senior Advisory Council (SAC) of the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) on Tuesday outlined its achievements from the past year during an appearance before the Fire District’s Board of Trustees.

Curt Unander, a 22-year resident of Orland Park who represents the Senior Advisory Board, reported that the volunteer senior organization has helped provide safety information to seniors who live in the district, as well as to host many free informational programs.

Despite the COVID pandemic, Unander told OFPD Board members, the Senior Advisory Council has continued to strive to educate seniors on safety concerns, Fire District programs and best practices in the community.

“Although the Covid situation has greatly altered the business of SAC, we have been able through Zoom to conduct our monthly meetings. Our goals for 2020 of course were interrupted by Covid, so most of these goals are the same for 2021,” Unander said.

OFPD Chief Michael Schofield (far left) joins members of the OFPD Board and the OFPD Senior Advisory Council Tuesday July 28, 2021. Photo courtesy of the OFPD

“We continue to communicate with on duty OFPD staff, paramedics and fire house personnel to find out senior concerns from their interactions. We continue to work with OFPD Public Education and the Fire Prevention Bureau. We learn more about district operations by hosting speakers at many of our meetings. We continue supporting district sponsored events such as luncheons, open houses and the Taste of Orland.”

OFPD Fire Chief Michael Schofield and OFPD Board President Christopher G. Evoy applauded the work of the Council, most of whose members were in attendance at the Fire District board meeting.

“The Senior Advisory Council is an important part of the Orland Fire Protection District’s mission and it helps strengthen the safety programs we implement for the community,” Schofield said.

“We are grateful for your volunteer work and all that you do to help make this Fire District one the best and safest in the nation.”

Fire District Board President Evoy said the board strongly believes in the role and responsibilities of the Senior Advisory Council.

“Your volunteer work is critical to our success, and we are very grateful,” Evoy said on behalf of the board trustees including John Brudnak, James Hickey, Craig F. Schmidt and Jayne Schirmacher.

Unander listed the Committee’s activities as:

Reinforce branding for consistency with badges and other materials.
Outreach to SAC members HOA’s
Support the Fire Foundation activities
Continue Speaking engagements/Safety Presentations.
Continue with Coffee and Conversation Presentations.
Ride along for SAC members
Continue to interact with seniors to get feedback
Continue outreach with community organizations and increase drop-off locations.
Continue supporting district-sponsored events when invited.
Continue to coordinate with Public Education and the Fire Prevention Bureau.
Increase participation of other OFPD staff/officials at SAC meetings
Recruit new SAC members.

Unander noted he has been a volunteer member of the SAC since 2016 in order “to give back to the community.”

The Orland Fire Protection District Senior Advisory Council (SAC) was established in 2009 and serves as a bridge between the District’s officials and the large senior population in the district in communicating health and safety concerns. SAC both communicates to seniors and brings information from seniors to the leadership of the district. The goal is to preserve life and property for seniors within the district.