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Do the Right Thing

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I’m sure we’ve all heard, and maybe even experienced, how the world is “getting smaller every day.” There’s probably no other place that this phrase is truer than in the fire service.

The more we dare to explore outside of our engine room doors, the more we find that there’s a brave new world out there full of firefighters who, despite their differences, are very similar to every one of us. A friend once told me that, in the end, it’s only the name of the fire department that changes.

While our shapes and sizes, apparatus color and even, dare I say, terminology may be different – we’re all still very much alike. Our challenges and concerns are comparable. Our dedication to serve our communities runs parallel lines despite the distance between us. (more…)

Posted by on November 12, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Brotherhood, Firefighter Safety & Health, Funding & Staffing • Tagged: , ,

Missing a Mentor: What about Bob?

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State Fire Instructor Robert E. Newell

State Fire Instructor Robert E. Newell

January 22, 2008

 

My close friend and associate Bob Newell passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 22nd at his home.

Bob was a great educator, trainer, mentor and friend to literally thousands of firefighters in a firefighting and instructional career that spanned almost 40 years.

He started one of the first vehicle extrication training programs in Erie County several years ago, long before it was popular. It has since been modeled across the state. He did more for his Village of Hamburg Fire Department and our fire service than they or we will possibly ever realize. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Brotherhood, Funding & Staffing • Tagged: ,

The Lost Act of “Popping In”

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Me with my brothers and sisters

Me with my brothers and sisters. I'm the one with the big nose and the receding hairline.

I originally wrote this piece for my other blog at: http://buffalo.yourhub.com/~Tiger. However, a snarky friend suggested I post it on Fire Fighter Nation as well. And now, it has ended up here on my blog.

At first I wasn’t sure how it tied into the fire service, but eventually even I was bright enough to see a strong connection.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I had the good fortune of growing up in a neighborhood where regardless of which house you were at when the dinner bell rang, that’s the house you ate at. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: All Blogs, Brotherhood • Tagged:

Power of the Pen

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This article is one in a series of toolkits focusing on recruitment, retention, fire service marketing and leadership.

 

 

Here’s the deal: It’s past midnight, I’m 7+ hours past deadline and the piece I’m writing about another county-based recruitment clearinghouse example isn’t ready for publication.

Then I started thinking, this article is for the July issue. July means summertime. Everyone deserves a summer break. So, let’s take the summer off from talking about clearinghouses and discuss some tools you already have in your toolbox: The power of the pen.

Promoting Your Fire Department to the Public

Several years ago, I decided that firefighting wasn’t dangerous enough, so I took up public speaking. Since then, I’ve come to realize that everyone is not like me. [Now, that’s an understatement.]

It amazes me that the same people who will run into a burning building while all the sane people are running out, will also drown in a puddle of sweat when someone sticks a camera or microphone in their face. Some people fear public speaking over death itself, or closely correlate the two.

Does your fire department have a Public Information Officer – a PIO? Every FD should, regardless of size or call volume. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Command & Leadership, Fire Prevention & Education, Funding & Staffing, Public Relations, Technology & Communications, Training & Development • Tagged: , , , , ,

Part 3: Rockland County

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This article is one in a series of toolkits focusing on recruitment, retention, fire service marketing and leadership.

 

 

Earlier in our discussion of the clearinghouse approach to recruitment and retention, I outlined my theory that there are three levels of recruitment activities I’ve identified as “The Clearinghouse”; “T&E: Training and Education”; and lastly the “Trench Work.”

 

In discussing the clearinghouse concept, I stated my feelings that the role and responsibility of building awareness as to the need for volunteers falls on regional, state and federal fire service organizations or government itself.

 

So far we’ve discussed Pennsylvania’s revolutionary tactic to recruit new volunteers with www.rollwithit.com – their in-your-face movie trailer/music video targeting the next generation of first responders; and Erie County’s innovative efforts to ensure the survival and success of their 94 volunteer fire companies.

 

We’ve discussed some very creative approaches to addressing the recruitment and retention challenges of the volunteer fire service and what better way to continue this talk than to introduce you to Rockland County’s “Creative Approach to the Volunteer Fire Service” Committee. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Clearinghouse, EMS Topics, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, R&R Toolkits • Tagged: , , ,

Part 2: Samples of Success

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This article is one in a series of toolkits focusing on recruitment, retention, fire service marketing and leadership.

 

 

In Part 1 of our discussion of the clearinghouse approach to recruitment and retention, I outlined my theory that there are three levels of recruitment activities, three distinct angles of attack, if you will. I identified them as “The Clearinghouse”; “T&E: Training and Education”; and lastly the “Trench Work.”

 

In discussing the clearinghouse concept, I stated my feelings that the role and responsibility of building awareness as to the need for volunteers falls on regional, state and federal fire service organizations or government itself.

 

I introduced you to a revolutionary approach to recruiting new volunteers with www.rollwithit.com – the State of Pennsylvania’s high-tech, in-your-face movie trailer/music video targeting the next generation of EMS providers and first responders.

 

Here, I’ll introduce you to a few other successful campaigns in an effort to further demonstrate the value of attacking the R&R challenge at the highest level – the clearinghouse. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Clearinghouse, EMS Topics, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, R&R Toolkits • Tagged: , , ,

Part 1: What’s a Clearinghouse?

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In previous articles, I’ve attempted to present the fire service with real tools to use in improving their membership process and documentation including annual reports, prospective member guides and the interview process.

 

Recently, I’ve been working with a group of some 30 fire service leaders to offer solutions to the recruitment and retention challenges of their county’s fire service.

 

As part of that process, I’ve developed a three-tiered model to address what I call “recruitment and retention rescue and recovery operations.”

 

I call them “The Clearinghouse”; “T&E: Training and Education”; and lastly the “Trench Work” – where the hand-to-hand combat of recruitment and retention is won and lost.

 

For now, we’ll start to take a look at the bigger picture of recruitment and retention (R&R) problems and solutions. Here, we’ll talk about the top tier: the recruitment clearinghouse. (more…)

Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Clearinghouse, EMS Topics, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, R&R Toolkits • Tagged: , ,

Death Toll

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Here’s a hot topic that might set off some fireworks. Who knows, it might even incite a reader to leave a comment.

This is something very near and dear to me and something I feel very strongly about. I’ve wanted to write about this for a long time and a recent conversation with a friend prompted me to pick tonight to write it. And, now that I have the forum to do so, here goes.

I’ll be involved in at least two fire service funerals this week, and hopefully not a third but it’s quite possible.

In my role as Deputy Fire Coordinator, I’ve honestly probably attended perhaps hundreds of such funerals in my fire service career. We have more than 5,000 firefighters in our county, so that number isn’t probably too far off.

Let me start by saying that I mean absolutely no disrespect to any fire department for doing everything they can to honor their fallen brothers or sisters, regardless of the circumstances of their death, nor do I mean any disrespect to any brother firefighter who has gone before us, nor their family.

This is a topic that I have struggled with for quite some time and I’m frankly torn as to the right way to approach it. (more…)

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Posted by on November 11, 2008 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, All Blogs, Brotherhood, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Safety • Tagged: , , , ,
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