We have five new recruits for our annual banquet in January. I'm having trouble developing a "friendly" plan to welcome the reservists to our volunteer dept. If anyone has any suggestions how we can initiate these guys without hazing or hurting them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Please do assume that I am ecouraging maltreatment of anyone at anytime. Just some playful jokes amongst friends.

Thanks, 

 Vern

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People are still reading into this way to far so again I edited the discussion.
The term torment was used in a playful exaggurated manor and absolutly not in its original definition.
Just let the the rookies mess up themselves and give them crap for it after the fact. When I was going through basic one of my friends opened up a line too qucik and it shot him back about 10 feet. After making sure he was fine, we had a laugh about it and a good lesson was learnt. But, he is still known as twinkle toes and has many stickers too prove it. Soon enough it will be someone else doing something stupid and they will have their turn in the spotlight. Having a laugh is one thing, messing with gear and putting a person in danger is completely different.
Why would you ask this question. They put their pants on the same way you do. Instead of shying away from them be their mentor and help them. Set the positive example. I can tell you in the long run you will not regret helping them.
What ever happened to introducing the new "Johnny's" into the organization in the traditional manner (or at least the tradition that some of us are familiar with). Introduce them to the membership, including all the shaking of hands, pats on the back, etc. Then introduce them to the kitchen, serving the meal, handing out the drinks and cleaning up after the event. One of the membership who is respected, can explain "this tradition" and its importance in the evaluation, training and the getting to know one another that it offers. This can include house duties, apparatus cleaning, etc. New members should be treated with respect, however, they should "deserve" to belong, especially for the long haul!

Stay safe, say a prayer for the troops (especially the USMC) and "God Bless America!"

MAC
p.s. hazing is illegal... it is considered abuse of an employee... that is wtf is wrong with it !!!
to much time spent in the fire house !I THINK HAZING IS A WAY TO SEE WHAT THEIR MADE OF !not that iam for it.hee hhe eeheeeh
that is what happens when you give us freedom of thought and freedom of speech
p.p.s - Thanks Heather, but I am very aware this. That's why I followed up with the statement afterwords. Sarcasm: Just one of the many services I offer (for fun & for free).
p.p.p.s. - Yes, and stating the obvious for those that still may not understand the obvious is one of the services that I offer for fun and for free...

that and my cute smile...

And it is a cute one! C-Ya!
I disagree with alot of the post on here. Like Jack said, there's a difference in 'tormenting' and 'hazing', also there is a difference in 'bullying' and 'hazing'. I know when I join the department I was, they messed around with me, embarrassed me a few times too. But I'm still there, and I feel welcome to be there. Think about like when you were in high school, who did you play pranks on and joke around with the most, your friends/people you liked or people you didn't know/didn't like. And I'm not talking about bullying or pushing around someone you didn't like here, I'm talking about having fun mutually joking around and playing pranks. Granted I wouldn't do it to the new on his day, maybe not even his first week or month. However, once he started to get comfortable, then it's time to get him. Well I don't know, they got me within my first or second week. But I feel like I fit right in, plus I had my nickname my first or second training I attended.

I guess when you get right down to it, it depends on the guy who is getting pranked and what the prank is, as to how well he'll take it. But, I think it's all apart of it, kinda like tradition.

Well, there's my 2 cents. Happy Holidays..
J. West | Huntsville Fire Rescue #81
Why would you do anything like that at a banquet?

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