Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Derek R. on October 1, 2009 at 1:46pm

hi.
Yes, that is one way to go about it. Maybe also, you could set up a type of "recruitment" booth at a local event. That way hesitant-interested people can actually talk one on one for instant answers or information. Have your most shiny truck sitting pretty in the background and have a stack of apps. right there with you.
Good luck to you, stay safe and have fun.

Permalink Reply by Kirk D. Baughman on October 2, 2009 at 12:12am

have you ever thought about when you go out places just set a table up and talk about your department? like car shows, fairs, in front of a store, or even the mall. thats how we try to get people.

Permalink Reply by Jack on October 3, 2009 at 7:43am

Chris,

I haven't heard from you in a while. Hope that things are well. I think that you and I have started talking about this before and how recruitment and retention is an ever-growing problem in the fire service especially in the volunteer ranks. Send me your email address and I can forward you a copy of or "quick" application. We have used this a various events and it allows potential FF's to have some information about us and us about them. This doesn't replace the formal application they still have to fill that out, but this truly gauges their interest. If they turn in this form and ask for more information you gotten hooked.

Permalink Reply by Brandon Jacobs on October 3, 2009 at 9:27am

I know That mt friend in school recruited me and brought be to the capt. and a few months later i am getting voted in this monday. if i know someone who is thinking about joining i bring them by to talk to the capt. there really isnt any right or wrong way to find applicants for your dept. hope this helps

Brandon

Permalink Reply by Chris Tomlinson on October 3, 2009 at 10:06am

Derek,

I think that's an option we need to try. In the past it's been word-of-mouth or via a newspaper ad. Our last newspaper ad garnered 6 applications for 5 positions and two of the app's weren't "up to par" if you get what I mean.

Every Halloween we host a free hot cider, kettle corn, hot dog and candy trick-or-treat at our station. We'll easily see 500-800 people and this might be an opportune time to try this out.

~Chris
Fire Department Web Design

Permalink Reply by Auxman on October 4, 2009 at 12:24pm

Simple things:

Make sure there is a flyer with information on meeting nights and times and contact phone numbers posted on the door of the fire station.

Put a big sign or banner on the front of fire station saying "Volunteers Wanted" when you're doing your recruiting drives.

When you do go to public events hang one of those big banners on both sides of the vehicle. People may not realize you're there recruiting, but that makes it clear.

Depending on how rural you are, flyers at the local gas stations have a very good chance of being seen by most of the residents.

A very, very simple web site should be mandatory. It doesn't need to be super elaborate, but any department that doesn't have a presence on the web is missing a lot of opportunities. Heck, a one page site with just the basic contact information and meeting times is better than nothing. Try to get every local government web page to link to it as well as any churches and social clubs.

Permalink Reply by Chris Tomlinson on October 5, 2009 at 8:32am

A very, very simple web site should be mandatory.
Oh, I can't agree more with that and buscofire.com has been online since about 2000. But you know what? I don't believe I have one single page dedicated to recruitment. How the heck did I overlook that!? *head desk*

Permalink Reply by Auxman on October 5, 2009 at 5:48pm

Nice looking site, but yep you do need a specific page
Have the minimum requirements to join, what you expect in terms of training, time committments, any local benefits to being in the FD, etc.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Scott Elsner on October 6, 2009 at 7:53am

Chris here in Caldwell and for Burleson County it is pretty much word of mouth, they come by the fire station usually when we have a meeting, get an application and the board will review and the department will vote. We also have lost many members. We used to have twenty on the roster, but now we have only eight to ten who really respond for an area of around fifty-thousand. There are nine departments in our county, and two of the smallest ones now have more members on their roster than we do, and Caldwell is the biggest city in Burleson County.

Permalink Reply by Chris Tomlinson on October 6, 2009 at 8:44am

Daniel,

Ouch, that is a very serious situation. I thought ours was dire with a population of about 2,500 or so, but if you have 10 or so people showing up for 50,000, that's almost impossible.

Auxman brought up our website and he's right, I need to get something on there ASAP.

~Chris

Permalink Reply by Brandon Eichenlaub on October 17, 2009 at 12:37am

i have found that any public event is good for recruitment. Every year we do a "Pankacke Supper" as a fundraiser.. but is also great for recruitment just because it raises community awareness to the department.