Donations
As an independent 501c(3) organization, we rely on donations as our sole source for operating funds. We currently rely upon all-volunteer staff and none of our Directors takes a salary or stipend for their services. Your financial support is vital to keeping us going! Our subscribing donors are the core contributors that make collecting, preserving and sharing our collective history possible. Please support YOUR history by supporting YOUR museum.
The Historical Society and Museum for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has four classes of membership Directors/Officers, Supporting Members, General Members and Corporate Membership.
Directors/Officers must be current or retired employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and current supporting members. Our current Board of Directors consists of eleven Directors who are elected from among the membership for terms of four years.
General members are those individuals, other than current or retired CDFFP employees, who wish to participate in the Museum by maintaining annual membership.
Supporting members are current or retired employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who support the Historical Society & Museum through regular payroll deduction or annual subscription. Supporting members may vote for Directors at the annual members meeting when vacancies occur or a Director fulfills his/her term of office.
Businesses or Corporations may support of the Museum as outlined in the Museum Participation Program, but receive no voting privileges.
Museum Patron Levels
CDF Museum Patrons are identified, at various levels, by the following the job titles from the "Large Fire Organization" system outlined in the original "Principles of Forest Fire Management" text by Clar and Chatten. Dues may be paid by cash, check or various payroll deduction programs. Levels of donations and benefits are as follows:
$24 one-time donor
"A Crew Boss will be assigned to the same crew unit during its entire operation on the fireline. He will be responsible for it's safety, welfare and performance, both one and off the line."
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
$60 annually or $5 monthly
"So that there is no breakdown in the unity of action when a fire reaches the size where several crews are used, it becomes neccessary to have someone to coordinate the work of these crews. This is the job of a Sector Boss"
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
$100 - $499 annually, once or cumulative
"The Division Boss is responsible for directing and coordinating all forces within a unit of the fire known as a Division. He supervises the forces assigned to his unit in carrying out the general strategy outlined by the Fire Boss, with latitude for making on-the-spot modifications when necessary for effective action"
• Thank you letter
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
$500 - $999 annually, once or cumulative
"The Line Boss position is filled when the Fire Boss determines the nature and scope of the fire is such that he cannot give sufficient attention to the coordination of fireline activities without neglecting the management of the total operation. The Line Boss is primarily responsible for carrying out the basic fire strategy outlined by the Fire Boss and is generally freed of responsibility for Supply, Service and long-range planning."
• Thank you letter
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
$1000 – $4999 annually, once or cumulative
"The Fire Boss is responsible for developing an organization, and then giving it direction in the task of controlling a fire. Every fire has one, and only one, Fire Boss. On small fires, the Fire Boss may actively and personally participate in any number of fire line jobs, but as the fire grows he will delegate authority and responsibility to other men."
• Thank you letter
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
$5000 – up annually, once or cumulative
"Rangers should always bear in mind they are serving the public and that cooperation is the most essential factor of their work. This can best be secured by a spirit of helpfulness. Nothing so galls the average man as an unwarranted display of authority. It is expected that Rangers will be firm in their determination, but their firmness will be made more effective if tempered by a due consideration of the rights and privileges of the other fellow"
• Thank you letter
• Newsletter
• Name recognition in Patrons listings
Deduction Authorization Forms
Both retirees and current employees of CDF/Cal Fire are eligible to sign up as regular donors by monthly subscription through a payroll deduction plan. Forms to sign up for monthly subscription are available for download in pdf format below or by contacting our office.
You may need software to view and print the pdf forms such as the free Adobe Acrobat reader available at https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Retiree payroll is administered by CalPERS, so Retirees should use the Retired Employee Warrant Deduction form. State of California employee payroll is administered through the State Controllers office, and current employees should use the Active Employee Payroll Deduction form.
If you were previously signed up as a donor as an active employee, but have recently retired, your State Controllers deduction will have been cancelled and you will need to sign up again as a new retiree donor in the CalPERS system.
We take your payroll security seriously and will only accept printed authorization forms with an original signature. Completed deduction forms should be returned to our main office in San Bernardino for processing at the address printed on the form.
For questions, contact us at (909) 881-6984 or Admin@CalFireHistory.com. THANK YOU!
One-Time Donations
As an alternative to subscribing as a member, donors may wish the option of contributing a one-time amount. We accept donations via Square, PayPal or directly via cash or check. We appreciate all contributions at any level to support our ongoing operations and preservation efforts. THANK YOU to our generous members and donors!!
Our online gift shop is now hosted by Square : Click Here
We are listed on PayPal as the "Historical Society & Museum for the CA Dept of Forestry and Fire"
or you can use the "donate" button below for a direct link.