Germantown Volunteer Firefighters Choose President
by Karen Louden, Staff WriterThe Gazette - January 29, 1997, Page A-36
Lt. Joe Chornock was chosen as the new president of the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department - Photo by Tom Roft/Special to the Gazette
The Germantown Volunteer Fire Department has chosen a 17-year veteran as its new president. Lt. Joe Chornock [1972], who was elected to the post this month, says he brings with him passion for community and camaraderie. "It has been the best station to work at," he said.
During his time there, Chornock has served as vice president and president-elect; he is currently the department's public information officer. Next month, the station's membership will elect a new vice president.
Chornock began his fire and rescue career in 1976 with the Wheaton Rescue Squad. His reason for becoming a volunteer is somewhat philosophical. "If I was to die today, what would I have contributed to the community?" he said.
Over the last 21 years, Chornock has delivered 13 babies and helped to save numerous lives. He lives in Gaithersburg with his wife, Jean, and has three children and two stepchildren ranging from age 6 to 18. Currently, Chornock is the director of sales and marketing for Forti Associates, a manufacturer representative firm in Kensington. Although he lives in Gaithersburg, Chornock has deep roots in the Germantown community. His past jobs in Germantown include working as a Giant Food grocery store clerk and running his own pet shop. Chornock was also an officer on the Germantown Jaycees and helped establish Seneca Valley's after-prom breakfast in the late 1980s.
"Germantown is a very, very special place," he said. Chornock, who turns 43 this week, grew with the Germantown department from its days as a substation for the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department in 1981. Germantown has grown significantly since then and so have calls for fire and rescue service. In 1981, the station responded to 342 calls. In 1996, calls exceeded 4,500.
With growth comes a greater challenge to run an organized department, while trying to meet the community's needs. Topping Chornock's agenda as president is working with Chief Michael Dmuchowski to get equipment and train staff for the rescue squad vehicle acquired in November from the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department. Also, Chornock is on County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's ad-hoc committee to smooth out residual issues from the Question E outcome during November elections. Question E was a proposal by career firefighters to elect a single fire chief to govern all county departments. The referendum was defeated. "It's a morale thing," Chornock said.
While mutual respect is the norm at the station, there are still some bad feelings among the volunteers and career staff, Chornock said. "Two years from now, we don't want to come up with the same problems," he said.
Also on his list of things to do is recruiting more volunteers, essential for Germantown, considering the continued development and population growth of the area. Germantown recruited 11 new members over the last two months, but it will be a year before the recruits are fully trained.
This spring, the fire department will continue its bicycle helmet fittings for children, and plans an open house for the community in October. Chornock emphasized the importnace of the department's ongoing relationship with the community. "These are the people we need to support us," he said.
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