Many years ago, the late Lt Jim Curran used to offer training classes at the Rock every four months on a Saturday, usually from about 10 am - 3 or 4 pm..
For a small fee, members of the FDNY would give training sessions on various topics from hose line stretches, ladder operations, haz mat, etc
The fee would also include a lunch cooked by other FDNY members, usually hot dogs, hamburgers, or subs (grinders), maybe a salad too.
I would always look forward to them and make arrangements if I was working that day
The featured speakers would donate their time to give these classes and all money collected was donated for the NYC Burn Center.
The programs were excellent and the class attendance was made up of both career and volunteer firefighters, as well as buffs.
It was a chance to meet others, make friends, and ask questions.
A great learning experience for all those who attended
It would certainly be a benefit to so many, if something like that could be done again.