Who Can Afford to Volunteer? That's the question asked by Don Grogg, a commissioner for Harris County Emergency Service District No. 9 in Texas in this article titled: "Suburban Fire Districts Sound the Alarm" in the Houston Chronicle.
Read More »REVIEW: 10 Step Guide to Volunteering
And while I think the author is right on the mark that prospective candidates should do their homework before signing on the dotted line, I disagree with emphasizing and entering fundraising into the conversation so early. There are too many other positive parts of our business that could be used to highlight the benefits of volunteering. Fundraising is one of those functions that some volunteers must do when they're not doing what they signed up to do -- fighting fires and providing emergency services.
Read More »GREAT NEWS: SAFER Application Period Extended
In order for all potential applicants to have sufficient time to consider this revised policy guidance, DHS will extend the 2009 SAFER application period. The new application deadline will be 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Friday, January 15, 2010.
Read More »VFDs Get Creative About Recruiting
Allowing interested candidates to specialize as fire police or pump operators is a great way to spread the work load. As the article says, not everyone needs to be the person running into the burning building as all the sane people are running out.
Read More »SURVEY SAYS? FD Youth Programs
There's apparently a heated debate going on at FirefighterNation.com as to whether recruiting high school students to join the volunteer fire service, in whatever capacity, is a good idea.
Read More »X-Box Firefighters
I wrote a magazine article for FASNY’s The Volunteer Firefighter titled: “From the X-Box to the Box Alarm” that addresses today’s generation of firefighters and firefighter candidates. Given recent news articles and discussions, I think it’s relevant to revisit and ...
Read More »PA Dips in the Fountain of Youth for Recruits
Here’s a link to a news story on FirefighterNation.com about some volunteer fire departments in Pennsylvania who are teaming up to reach out to local high school students for new recruits. Managed, trained and nurtured properly, Explorers and Junior Firefighters can be ...
Read More »VIDEO FILE: Erie County Boot Camp
I'll start at home with this link to our Boot Camp video developed by WKBW-TV (Channel 7 in Buffalo NY) which describes the 10-day intensive training that we offer every summer at the Erie County Fire Academy. This full length feature was first shown at the graduation ceremony for Boot Camp Class of 2006 during which it was filmed by WKBW Photographer Chris Couell and narrated by Pete Kenworthy, their news anchor who joined the Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department and was embedded in the class as a student.
Read More »Tonawanda Fire Explorers are Tops
The City of Tonawanda Fire Department’s (Erie County NY) Explorer Post’s motto is “Our Best Today for a Better Tomorrow.” Their efforts have not gone unnoticed ...
Read More »THINKING OUTSIDE THE FIREBOX: Get Creative
Here’s a creative charity fundraiser. We did a similar gig with a local ice cream shop several years ago. It only takes a little imagination… Tip-A-Firefighter Proceeds to Benefit the Connecticut Burns Care Camp December 2nd and 3rd 2009 5:00 ...
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