| 2026 2nd Quarter Member of the Quarter Award
On Friday night July 10, 2026, Carolyn M. Chambers, Odenton Volunteer Fire Company was awarded the AACVFA Member of the Quarter Award for the 2nd Quarter of 2026.
Since she joined OVFC in August 2021, Carol has worked diligently supporting many of the important administration functions of our company. She always answers a call for help, and always with a smile.
Carol was elected as our treasurer in December 2025 and took office in January 2026. The treasurer is a voting member of our Board of Directors and is one of the most demanding positions in the company. The treasurer is also the chairperson of our Finance Committee. Carol seamlessly took over the duties from our previous treasurer. The position requires almost daily work to review bills and invoices, prepare checks, make bank deposits, reconcile accounts, monitor credit card usage, and manage the petty cash fund. The treasurer provides detailed reports of incomes and expenditures in numerous accounts to our Board of Directors and at our membership meetings. The treasurer also prepares financial reports for fundraising programs and grants and oversees the preparation of our annual tax returns.
Recently we held our annual carnival. Every day Carol set up the cash boxes for the numerous food and game stands. After the closing of the carnival each night, she oversaw a team of members who counted the proceeds. The following day she made the bank deposits and provided daily reports to the Carnival Committee. She even helped serve food and wash dishes when needed. As usual, she performed this work flawlessly.
Carol also serves as the “secretary” of our Membership Committee. OVFC has over 150 members. Carol maintains the digital membership database, adding new members and updating member records, as well as maintaining the hard copy member files. Carol sets up folders for new members containing their physical packet and New Member Task Book. She tracks the processing of the application paperwork of new members and advises leadership when there are outstanding actions. Carol also makes sure that new members’ personal and emergency contact information are added to our database, and that they schedule and complete their fingerprinting and background investigations. She greets each member at our monthly company meetings and makes sure they sign the meeting roster. In short, Carol keeps the membership process humming.
She is also a very active on our Commissary Committee (the “Kitchen Brigade”) and seldom misses an event. The Commissary Committee provides meals at our company meetings and special events, as well as working at our annual carnival. Carol also steps forward to help with selling drinks at the Thursday Food Trucks events when needed.
Although not a member of our Ladies Auxiliary, Carol helps the Ladies with their fundraising events, such their annual November Craft Fair. She assists the Remembrances Committee by providing addresses of members for sending condolences, get well and congratulation cards and flowers. She supports the History and Archives Committee in maintaining one of their databases. She is on our Membership Retention Committee and serves as our company license tag chairperson. Finally, Carol assists the Awards Committee with researching members’ files for information needed for award nominations. |
