30 Years as an Alpha will teach you a thing or two — or 200 — as evidenced by this month’s profile of firefighter Cliff Lutz. As you will see, what you get out of Alpha is equal to or greater than what you put into it.  As our final profile of 2018, take a moment to see how the deep tradition, community value and family spirit of the Alpha Volunteer Fire Company doesn’t change from year to year, or decade to decade. About Clifford Lutz: Firefighter & Chauffeur Education: Penn State B.S. Administration of Justice, FBI National Academy Certifications: Lots of them Alpha Since 1988

Tell us a little about you, where you’re from, your family. Residing in State College since 1971. Married 40 years to Diane, with a son and daughter-in-law presently living in Florida.

Why did you become an Alpha? There are a couple of ways to make a difference in the community. The most common method is to write a check to support a worthy cause. Another is to donate oneself, as “sweat equity” if you will. For Alpha, I chose the latter because I knew there is always a need for firefighters. Several of the members at the time were friends who always talked about Alpha being a great organization that does more kinds of community service than just firefighting. That intrigued me, so I joined. What is your “day job?” Full time Retired! Except that my calendar is just as busy as it was when working! What do you like best about firefighting, the community, the company, and actually being an Alpha Volunteer? There is never a dull moment at Alpha. We are always busy doing something to be ready to help our community. With training activities, equipment maintenance, managing the business side of the organization, performing public education, supporting town and gown events and responding to about 1400 calls a year, there is plenty of activity to keep it interesting. A plus for me is that the youthful energy of our student members is contagious! What one piece of advice would you have for someone thinking about becoming an Alpha? You can do this! It takes commitment and good time management, but the intrinsic rewards alone make it worthwhile. What one thing would you like people to know about the Alphas and about volunteer firefighting they might not understand? We are just what the recruiting advertisement says; we are your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. People just like you who give a little of themselves for the community. And we become a second family to one another by doing so. Quick Sparks—Cliff’s Favorite … Movie:            Casablanca Book:             The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Color:             Blue Food:              Did someone say STEAK?! Equipment:    I like all the apparatus, especially since I get to work on them. They are really big toys for a guy who has always liked trucks. The power tools we have on board for firefighting are appealing because, at my age, I like to work smarter, not harder. Season:          All four Hobby:           Camping Teams:           Penn State Wrestling Cliff’s Parting Thought: As I near the end of my career with Alpha, I sincerely hope that we can solve the dilemma of finding enough volunteers willing to serve their community. It would be such a shame to see an organization that has been here for nearly 120 years fade away. The consequences will be the creation of another government agency, large tax increases, and the loss of a part of the community’s identity.