Joty

For the information of all My Sand Canyon Neighbors, the election has once again been cancelled, due to COMPLICATIONS. I believe the complications being that there were to many people running that were not "Yes" men for the Chief and the President of the Board, his wife(conflict of interest?).  I want you all to know that the original founder is appalled at the mess the organization is in, he just wanted to get back on the board so that he could have a say in how  it was going.  The other gentleman that you mention was a  volunteer firefighter and did quit to be a member of the board, thinking it would be a conflict of interest,but when he was on the board, he found out what a dictatorship was like, so he went back to being a firefighter, which was what he wanted to be in the first place.  He wanted to help, not having any dreams of grandeur.  Then Mr Bender became Chief, and yes he did quit for the third time because he thinks Mr. Bender is noyt a good representive of the Canyon. I recognize the ramblings of JOTY,she was the one who wrote the poison pen letter in the Sand Canyon Newsletter. I, myself have lived in this Canyon for 8 years, and have seen the Fire Dept when it was good, but in the last two years, it seem to have gone to pot.  We have no fire trucks they are parked and we have no newsletter and the board in in a state of decay.  For JOTYS information all of the members of the board and the at large member were up for election this year, for the first time there was a member from Pine Canyon running, we were all looking forward to getting some new and improved  members on the board.

So-I'm a little confused.You have a Vol. FD run by a board-or run by a Chief?Is everyone elected?Do you have a HOA or POA or just sections,and what role do they play in the VFD and elections?Who has the power to cancel the elections?Who puts out the newsletter?I see people in front of Albertsons requesting donations-what do the donations go to and who has oversight over that?Does your average Sand Canyonite have any knowledge or involvement in these issues?

Pearl...were you involved in the fire department at all? Did you ever run for office on the Board? Did you ever step up to the plate and volunteer for anything? Or are you one of those people who don't get involved but want to put in your uninformed two cents? I don't care how long you've lived here, the VFD was a mess, (still is) struggling along for 10 years. If that particular original founder was so concerned why didn't he do it correctly from the get go? Claiming to be a non-profit, yet there was no 501c3 applied for until a year ago. Why did he walk away?

About 18 months ago, a new board was voted in. They worked really hard to turn things around. The records turned over were a disgrace...unpaid bills, unopened bank statements from years ago, no accouting, no balancing of the checkbook, a shoebox method of filing, no tax returns ever done, outdated by-laws. Monies from fundraisers missing. They were on the verge of having to fold. This new board, by the way, were people who did not really want the jobs, but they stepped right up anyway when asked. Within 4 months the bookkeeping was at a professional level, the proper tax forms filed, the application for the 501c3 completed and submitted - and granted. The bills were paid up. This board then contacted Mr. Maben's office and was given a large grant for the fire station, a land owner here in the canyon had donated 3 acres. There were big fundraisers in the planning. There was a regular newsletter going out. There were canyon events held for all the residents organized by the auxillery. All for the first time in 10 years. Then the FIRST legal election in the history of the VFD was held. New bylaws were voted in by an overwhelming majority. Suddenly, these people who had quit were interested in the organization again. There was money, the work had been done and things were going well, we had a Fire Chief who was extremely qualified, real training was happening. Then the two who want back in started contacting people and telling them the election was illegal, the ballot box had been stuffed. AND FYI Pearl, there was a woman from Pine Canyon who was on that ballot - the only one, so this year was NOT the first time Pine Canyon was going to be represented! There were only two sections with multiple candidates, Section 3 and Section 5. The Board that had worked so hard  to accomplish all that decided to turn in their resignations, by then people in the canyon discovered they had been lied to, accusastions made against this Board were false. Apologies were made and they asked that the resignations not be turned in...things were on the upswing because of this Board. It was too late. People can take just so much abuse.

I'm not surprised to hear that the election has been cancelled...it has been allowed to become a dictatorship. 

The firetrucks are parked because there is no workers' compensation insurance. There's no wc insurance because there's no money (hmmm where did it all go?). The grant money cannot be used for anything other than a building, and I hope Maben's office is not going to allow that money to just sit there for much longer. And if he does take back the money, will that original founder still be interested in sitting on the Board?

And that "gentleman" who had no visions of grandeur - he had already quit for the third time when Bender took over. Even when he was with the VFD, when there was something he didn't like, he would threaten to quit. 

You're right, Pearl, the VFD has now gone to pot. They are not following bylaws - not even the old ones. There is nothing but conflict of interests going on, the Chief shouldn't be involved in the Board at all. People bitch and complain, but no one is willing to ever do anything positive. The ones who did were burned in a big way, maybe that's why good people don't want to get involved anymore. Maybe someone needs to ask the Attorney General's office to investigate?

And Pearl, sweetie, the "poisen pen" letter you accuse me of in the newsletter contained the truth, and truth is sometimes hard for some people to face.

lol Ginger, I'm confused too. The VFD is supposed to be separate from the Board. The Chief is supposed to take care of the day to day functions of the FD and answer to the Board who takes care of business. The Chief shouldn't be involved in the Board in any way.

Sand Canyon is broken down into 5 sections. Each section is supposed to have a Director and then two "at large" Directors to take up any slack (can be from any section). Each resident or landowner who pays $35 per year is allowed to vote - or supposed to have a voice. This ain't happening...

I don't know how they are doing it now. I know there was never a new election held after certain people demanded it last year, and it didn't remain status quo because of the mass resignation, so I don't know how or where the "new" board came from. But the Chief seems to be running it and that isn't right. Pearl was correct, his wife, a firefighter, is "President".

I don't know who cancelled the election, the Chief I suppose. The newsletter was put out by the old board who after organizing and cleaning up the SCVFD were pretty much hounded to quit.

The Chief has organized the selling of raffle tickets to try to raise money for insurance. Something the Board should be in charge of...

I'd say no, the average Sand Canyonite doesn't know what's going on...and that ain't right either!!!

Joty-thanks for trying to clear things up a bit-I'm still a little confused-but that's pretty normal for me!What a mess-I understand why folks would just get uninvolved after a while.All of the stories and accusations and drama just get to be more trouble than it's worth,and you can't force people to do the right thing it they don't want to.It sounds like the residents need to get informed and insist on elections and people following bylaws,but I've been there and realize that it's not that simple.Kinda like untangling string,sometimes it's worth it,and sometimes it's easier to just throw it away and start over.Good luck with it all!

Ginger  Thank You.  I think the SCVFD should be disbanded and maybe we could start over. We would have to donate all assets to another  non-profit organization, but that could be done.  The money from the county should be returned, and they could reapply at a future date, I think the previous officers jumped the gun in asking for a donation from the county to build the station out here as they did not have the promised land yet. It has been quit a few years since this land was promised and nothing yet and I don't think it is all  county Redtape. The SCVFD was organized in 1996, by a group of guys that saw the need for some help in the canyon should there be an emergency out here.  There were a couple of people trained in life saving techniques and they had the original patrol truck, which was put together by that original founding man Joty was speaking of. We all did what we had to, we were a bunch of  VOLUNTEERS run by VOLUNTEERS,who did the best we could. Our purpose was to get to the scene and provide what help we could until the county could get here, that 18 to 20 minutes was a critical time, a mobil home would be ashes by then. We were supported by dues and donations from the members and one raffle a year, and some help from Tehachapi businesses.  We built that Little Red Fire Truck, that gives all Kids rides.  We bought 2 additional Fire Truck, pretty good for a little Volunteer Fire Dept. Sure, we had no extra money, but we were here, if someone should call, we helped stuck horses, fires, and medical emergencies, just call and we were there.  Now, the trucks are parked, all the brass fitting are gone, the paint is fading, no gas or water, couldnt respond if there were any firemen to man the trucks. Every one has quit, to much turmoil and no leadership, just one man and his wife and a few "YES" men. I am afraid the rest dont care anymore, there a a coup[le of men on the Board  , who are hanging on for dear life, but I don't know how  much longer they can last.....Sad but true. I guess it was good while it lasted.

Joty  I will ignore that statement about me being uninformed,if so, how do I know so much? The Fire dept has not struggled for 10 years, you dont understand it was a fire dept built by volunteers, run and supported by volunteers, just doing the best we could.   We made due with what we had and according to you we were just happy in our ignorance. But, then we were able to respond to any emergency that happened out here, and we did, now the trucks set rotting in a field, no water in the tanks, no gas and no brass on any of the hoses, oh I forgot no volunteers to drive either. The semi-annual cleanups have been going on since the beginning and we have had pretty  some pretty good turnout s, some not so good.  The newsletter have also been since the beginning, not regular, but some of the Voluntees had real jobs and had to earn livings, but did the best they could. You seem to want to blame all of the Depts. problems on those two guys,but I think you give them too much credit. I think the members could see the writting on the wall without the help of these two guys.  There was a lot of questions that the officers did not think the members should have the answers to. I personall think the Treasure did a bang up job, she should not have quit, but I understand why she felt compelled to do so.  The President was getting to full of herself and the Sect. should have had her keyboard removed.  I mean those letters offended all of the Firemen and quit a few of the members, Truth, maybe as you see it, but should we all accept your truth.  I think not.  There are quite a few of us who have seen this Fire Dept. grow from the one Patrol to three Trucks and the cut lilltle Kiddie Truck, and now we are back to no Trucks and hardly enough men to respond.  Even if there was gas and water in the trucks, there ar no nozzels on most of the hoses, couldnt respond if  there was Workmans Comp. insurance.  The previous Officers should not have ask Mr. Maben for  any money for the Firehouse since there was no land to build it on.  The money should be returned, and applied for at a later date, when and IF the land is donated. This donateion has beeen in the works for a few years, a few different pieces of land, and nothing yet and I dont think it is all due to County Redtape.

Joty, I think you are bitter about how things turned out and everything you are mad about is in the past, we must move forward and try to get this Dept. on the right path or else close it down, and I dont mean parking the trucks.  I mean the chief and asst. chief get a new wardrobe and take the decals off of his Jeep(which I am sure is against the law).

The election that was to be held this May 10 was just as illegal as yours was.  By the way, the ballot box was not stuffed, how could you tell if it was, you forgot to put any identifing marks on the ballots to prove they came from members. This election was cancelled because there was the chance that the board could have ended up not in the Chiefs favor, same as yours. The only people ask to resign were the officers, not the board, which is pretty much the way it was when you left. Oh yes,one of the Board members quit with you, but she was not asked to.  She was probably fed up with the turmoil as I am sure many members are.

And Joty, SWEETIE, the gentleman WAS still on the Dept when Mr. Bender was appointed by the previous Chief(a good man) not elected by the board.  He continued for a few months, not attending every Sat training because of work, but he stayed as long as he could, all most 1 year after his wife quit. He just wanted to be a part of the Fire Dept..  But I guess his wife could not get him to jump, Huh.....? When he was a part of the Dept. he did quite a bit for them, worked on trucks, painted trucks cleaned the firehouse, put up address markers, normal things most of the guys did.,But came the day, he was tired of butting his head against a brick wall(Mr. Bender)

As a family we will not be sending in our dues this year, I refuse to support Mr. Bender and any of his hairbrained schemes.  He now wants to purchase a hook and Ladder truck, we have so many multiple story home out here.  I am no longer proud of  the Sand Canyon Volunteer Fire Department.     SAD, BUT TRUE FOR MANY THAT LIVE OUT HERE. 

Do you think the Attorney General might be interested?  I think he might, maybe the District Attorney would be interested in the misrepresenting of a public official?  And  Where did all the money go?

Um, I'm confused. What ever happened between the SCVFD and KCFD? I thought they were exploring becoming reservists for the Kern County Fire Dept.  Is this no longer an option? This really would have been the best thing for all the residents of Sand Canyon and the SCVFD.

Pearl, Joty considers anyone who doesn't agree with her uninformed. A couple of us tried to tell her ages ago that the SCVFD had no workman's comp insurance. We were told that we didn't know what we were talking about and we didn't live in SC so we obviously didn't have any clue about was was going on with THEIR fire dept. Yet now she is on here admitting that the fire trucks are parked because there is no workman's comp insurance. Hummmm, how do you feel about being lied to Joty? I'm glad you finally are getting parts of the truth.

Yeah, back when it was a 'good ol' boys club' it was a-ok, right? I'm sure initially the intentions were there, but the ball got dropped and bounced clean out of sight. It turned into a political battle when the focus should have been on doing things right and getting things done - but no one could agree. I am in no way negating the good things that were done in the past, but as you said it is all in the past.

No one was asked to resign from last year's board, officers or directors, just the opposite - they were asked to stay...but everyone resigned because of the crap caused by that small group (it just takes a couple of bad apples to spoil the barrel) led by the one former member and someone's wife. The majority of this little group realized later they'd been had. The treasurer did do a fabulous job - with the help of the other board members, in particular the president. 'Certain people' resented that president because she was a strong opinionated woman who got things done and took no prisoners. After the treasurer was attacked verbally and accused of dishonesty at the general meeting/election last year when she gave her report there was no way she was going to stay even though the man making the attack later apologized and admitted he'd been lied to. She was the first to submit her resignation.

Ginger, at one point it was suggested that it be started from scratch because it was such a mess, and everyone had a fit...

No, the blame is evenly distributed among everyone who was a part of the SCVFD for the department woes. Writing a check is easy...stepping up to the plate and trying to solve problems isn't. Or getting mad, screaming "I quit " and walking out of a meeting is pretty easy too (sound familiar? lol, yep - a couple of your comments have given away your identity, thanks).

"And Joty, SWEETIE, the gentleman WAS still on the Dept when Mr. Bender was appointed by the previous Chief(a good man) not elected by the board." No, he was not.  But to give credit where credit is due, even with all his complaining he was a hard worker for SCVFD. So are the men who have stuck with it to this day despite all the turmoil.

Under the law, ignorance may be bliss, but it's no defense. The founding members were well aware they were operating outside of legality by claiming to be a non-profit when indeed they were not for over 10 years. They were also misleading everyone by claiming the VFD did not need wc insurance!

I have no arguement with you regarding Bender.  Fauble was the best thing to ever happen to SCVFD, unfortunately he was spread too thin with his other jobs (5) and had to resign - but he was more than ready to, he was tired of all the crap and infighting too. The Chief prior to him was awful,  refusing to respond to a call about a lost hiker - a family member of one of our residents! Some of our volunteers went out anyway. It all ended well, thank goodness.

For the record, as you already know, Maben's office had been approached by a Chief (the one prior to Bender and Fauble) for money, but he could not outright ask for it as there was no 501c3 in place. The land has been given, taken back, a new location promised and so on and so on. Yes, Maben should take the money back and put it to good use elsewhere.

What about the fact that no background checks were done on volunteers? And gee, it turns out someone on Megan's List was allowed to be a firefighter. Talk about potential trouble and lawsuits! There were volunteers who resisted having these checks done, why? If you have nothing to hide, what's the problem with a bg check?

The election last year was very legal, the results were pretty much status quo with the exception of the new bylaws being voted in by a big majority and finally having all the positions filled. I didn't say the ballot box was stuffed, that was one of the accusations made by the little group of troublemakers. Each and every ballot was accounted for and identified. SCVFD is in direct violation of even the old bylaws by not having the May 10 election - but that's nothing new, is it? When has it been in compliance with the bylaws?

One more comment regarding the "poison pen" letter. Again, the negative comments were not made by me, I was quoting what I heard KCFD members  say and I stated that things had changed, their statements were no longer valid...what was so offensive about that? It's a moot point anyway, because thing have gone backwards.

lol, I'm not bitter, I've never been 'bitter', thoroughly disgusted is the term. Nor am I angry any longer. But like you I'm no longer proud of the organization and no longer support it with dues or time. I'm still disgusted at the behavior of certain people who have brought it to this point, past and present. I've also given up hope that this can be resolved. I no longer give a rat's arse. I've moved on...

So, Countygirl, how's the air up there? Saddle or bareback today? Oh - and you're still clueless!

OK-so things are a mess,and trucks are sitting and are now unuseable and you can't really move forward 'cause there's no workmans comp,bylaws are ignored and violated and some folks quit and some refuse to do so and the concept of regrouping offends some but they can't really go forward from here.Does anyone have the power to disband the VFD and insist that they stop and regroup?What about the reservist concept that Countygirl mentioned?Obviously some people really care about this and the associated issues.Is there any hope for a middle ground for those who care and who are willing to cease fire?I'm going from confused to concerned now.

Thank you Ginger. You're right - we need to find a middle ground. After I posted my last very wordy response, I started thinking that Pearl and I should set aside our difference of opinions, get together and plan a course of action - even if that means getting the Atty General's office involved - I'm afraid that's what it would take to dissolve and begin again. She said herself we need to go forward. I would be willing to work at getting it together again, our canyon needs the protection. I'm not adverse to eating my own words sometimes (like saying I no longer give a rat's arse, that's not true and I knew it when I wrote it!). When it comes to the protection and preservation of where I live along with my neighbors personal feelings shouldn't even come into play.

I don't know if the KC reservist thing was for real or not...and I don't think the TN gets both sides of a story before they print. All I know is there was an article about the Chief meeting with KCFD Chief and Mr. Maben. Did that meeting really take place or was it in the Chief's mind? I don't dislike Bender, I think he means well, but he doesn't understand the running of a corporation, and it really isn't his place to do so. He also is not a "people" person, he alienates too many with his dictator-style "leadership".

Thanks for caring!!!!!!

I am tired of this, everyone else is clueless and uninformed, no body  knows anything  but Joty.  The President you speak so highly of is a bully and you are a follower.  You don't know who I am, but I was at that meeting and I am ashamed of myself for letting you and the President back that woman(who by the way was a co-founder of the aux) into a corner. I should have said something that night, but I sat by and watched you belittle her, so Iquit soon after. She called and apologized for her actions and I agreed with her.  It is so easy to blame someone else, if it makes you feel better about yourself, so be it. Joty, you admited in your lasrt post, you were angry, let it go. Get on with your life. Wash the fireDept. out of your hair, I have.  I only spoke up, because you didn't know the truth about the election. But I see you have tunnel vision and I won' waste my breath anymore.

Well Ginger - there's your answer. If she's not willing to set aside differences and "move forward" as she says we need to, how can anything get resolved? Everyone's concerned with hurt feelings from the past. She's not the only one who is tired of it. I don't think she even bothered to read my last two posts, but - oh well. Ce la vie!

And Pearl, still lol, I do indeed know who you are, how could I not?

Pearl-in all fairness-and I can't speak for everyone else- I have to point out that I AM clueless and uninformed!I also was thinking that maybe future safety issues for your neighbors would be more important than issues in the past,but I can hold a grudge with the best of you,so I'm speaking from theory and distance,and am not judging anyone.I also live,and always have,quite a distance from a fire station and just accept that you have to learn to make your own area as safe and protectable as you can and hope for the best.At this point,with squabbling and issues,it sounds like that's about all that Sand Canyon residents can do too.Good luck!