News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Deputy Fire Chief Andy Marceau, left, receives his honorary Kiwanis membership certificate from Rocky Roland, Kiwanis Club of Alpena president, on Monday at the 19th Hole in Alpena.

ALPENA — The Kiwanis Club of Alpena surprised Andy Marceau on Monday after he gave an emergency preparedness presentation at their noon meeting at the 19th Hole.

Kiwanis Club President Rocky Roland presented Marceau with a certificate of honorary Kiwanis membership for his continued community outreach and commitment to residents of the Alpena area.

Marceau is the City of Alpena Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief and Community Risk Reduction Officer. He often makes presentations regarding safety and preventative measures, as well as serving on many boards in the community.

“We in the Kiwanis Club of Alpena want to recognize and honor individuals in our community, who, though not Kiwanians, epitomize our ideals and goals of making the Alpena community better by service,” Roland said at Monday’s meeting. “These ideals are clearly expressed in our Objects of Kiwanis, adopted in 1924.”

The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International were approved by Kiwanis Club delegates at the 1924 Convention in Denver, Colorado. Through the succeeding decades, they have remained unchanged.

Objectives include:

~ To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.

~ To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.

~ To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.

~ To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.

~ To provide, through Kiwanis Clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.

~ To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.

Roland then talked about Marceau’s community involvement.

“In July of 2024, Andy was promoted to a new position — The Deputy Chief position is combined with the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Officer position. These positions were combined to improve the effectiveness of both roles,” Roland said. “The Deputy Chief role acts to assist the Fire Chief in daily operations, crew oversight, strategic planning, and general management. The Community Risk Reduction role involves community education and prevention activities. DC/CRR Marceau is certified by the NFPA, NPQS and the State of Michigan as a fire inspector, plan reviewer and a licensed fire code official. He coordinates all of the department’s safety education and outreach initiatives including the cooperative programs with the American Red Cross and MI Prevention.”

Roland explained that in 2022, then Fire Captain Marceau earned his diploma from Eastern Michigan University’s School of Fire Staff and Command Education and Training program.

“In the 150-year history of the Alpena Fire Department, only six officers have completed this program,” Roland said.

Marceau was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the State Fire Board, which oversees fire prevention activities across Michigan.

In his spare time, Andy is member of the Alpena Senior Citizens Center Board of Directors.

“Andy has been the face of the Fire Department for Community Risk Reduction since 1998,” Roland added. “This role predominantly features public education — essential to preventing fires from occurring and educating people on what to do if a fire emergency does occur. Andy represents the department and often conducts open houses and frequently speaks to the general public through service clubs, local schools, and community events about fire safety.”

Before presenting Marceau with the honorary certificate, Roland added, “We want to add to Andy’s collection of accolades by giving him maybe his top honor … making him an honorary member of Kiwanis.”