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"PROFESSIONAL OR VOLUNTEER"
Any of you who have access to the Buffalo News from Sunday (12-07-08) should read the article on the front page of the Niagara Section. I sent the following to The Union Sun for the 'Guest View' but they wouldn't put it in.
In nearly sixty-five years on this earth, I know I must have received several slaps in the face, both literal and figurative. I can’t, however, remember getting three from three people all at the same time. This happened to me on Sunday, December 7, 2008, when I read an article in the Niagara Section of that day’s issue of The Buffalo News, by Thomas J. Prohaska, with the headline, “Firefighting tug of war”. In the article, Mr. Prohaska quotes North Tonawanda Fire Chief Joseph Krantz, N.T. Firefighters Union President, Francis DeMart, and Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker. While their respective words varied slightly, the theme was all too familiar; Volunteer Firefighters are somehow inferior to our paid counterparts. Chief Krantz described North Tonawanda’s Department as “…adequate”, but went on to say, “If we were a fully paid department, we’d be a fully staffed department.” The article states there are 38 ‘professional’ and 75 volunteer firefighters in N.T. There it is, that’s the word I object to, “Professional” used as the opposite of volunteer, as if we were somehow second-class substitutes. Mayor Tucker, whom I had the pleasure of working along side as a UAW Committeeman in my Harrison days, used it too. He said, “I’ve always supported a professional Fire Department. I think a professional Fire Department is a great asset in the city. I’ve never felt the need to go to volunteers, ever.” What did you mean Mr. Mayor that it’s lucky that city residents don’t have to settle for second best? Mr. DeMart did no better when discussing training and drill requirements for his Department. He is quoted as saying, “When I’m in [a burning building] with one or two people, I’d like to be in there with someone with equal training with me.” He does not want to wonder, “Did he go to drill this month?” He outlined the training requirements of a ten to thirteen week Fire Academy course, and a monthly drill for all N.T. firefighters. New York State Volunteers are required to take that same training, but to make it a little easier for those who have not chosen the Fire Service as a career; it is broken into smaller parts. In my Company (Hartland) we hold weekly drills, not monthly. In my 32 years in the Volunteer Fire Service, I have taken a lot of training, ranging from basic skills training, to arson, hazardous materials, auto extrication, and specialized rescue courses. I was a New York State Emergency Medical Technician for 21 years, including nine years at the Intermediate level. It is significant that at a personal level, career and volunteer Firefighters work and play well together. We are all out there doing the same thing. In my opinion, and that of many I have talked to, the only difference between a paid Firefighter and a Volunteer is that while one has chosen it as a career, the other has chosen it in addition to a career. So please don’t use the word “professional” as the opposite of “volunteer”.
In nearly sixty-five years on this earth, I know I must have received several slaps in the face, both literal and figurative. I can’t, however, remember getting three from three people all at the same time. This happened to me on Sunday, December 7, 2008, when I read an article in the Niagara Section of that day’s issue of The Buffalo News, by Thomas J. Prohaska, with the headline, “Firefighting tug of war”. In the article, Mr. Prohaska quotes North Tonawanda Fire Chief Joseph Krantz, N.T. Firefighters Union President, Francis DeMart, and Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker. While their respective words varied slightly, the theme was all too familiar; Volunteer Firefighters are somehow inferior to our paid counterparts. Chief Krantz described North Tonawanda’s Department as “…adequate”, but went on to say, “If we were a fully paid department, we’d be a fully staffed department.” The article states there are 38 ‘professional’ and 75 volunteer firefighters in N.T. There it is, that’s the word I object to, “Professional” used as the opposite of volunteer, as if we were somehow second-class substitutes. Mayor Tucker, whom I had the pleasure of working along side as a UAW Committeeman in my Harrison days, used it too. He said, “I’ve always supported a professional Fire Department. I think a professional Fire Department is a great asset in the city. I’ve never felt the need to go to volunteers, ever.” What did you mean Mr. Mayor that it’s lucky that city residents don’t have to settle for second best? Mr. DeMart did no better when discussing training and drill requirements for his Department. He is quoted as saying, “When I’m in [a burning building] with one or two people, I’d like to be in there with someone with equal training with me.” He does not want to wonder, “Did he go to drill this month?” He outlined the training requirements of a ten to thirteen week Fire Academy course, and a monthly drill for all N.T. firefighters. New York State Volunteers are required to take that same training, but to make it a little easier for those who have not chosen the Fire Service as a career; it is broken into smaller parts. In my Company (Hartland) we hold weekly drills, not monthly. In my 32 years in the Volunteer Fire Service, I have taken a lot of training, ranging from basic skills training, to arson, hazardous materials, auto extrication, and specialized rescue courses. I was a New York State Emergency Medical Technician for 21 years, including nine years at the Intermediate level. It is significant that at a personal level, career and volunteer Firefighters work and play well together. We are all out there doing the same thing. In my opinion, and that of many I have talked to, the only difference between a paid Firefighter and a Volunteer is that while one has chosen it as a career, the other has chosen it in addition to a career. So please don’t use the word “professional” as the opposite of “volunteer”.
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Comment by Peter Scarborough on January 31, 2009 at 8:55am
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I took the following definition of “professional” from the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. While it is true that in some instances, professional refers to a career, in others it is clearly a gauge of how one performs, rather than whether or not one is paid. I have no quarrel with, nor any wish to disparage career firefighters. I simply object to the comments made in a news story by three individuals. These comments seemed to equate ‘volunteer firefighters’ with not being professional, or somehow not having adequate training. In my 32 years as a firefighter, I have worked alongside a number of career firefighters. I respect their dedication and professionalism, and some have been counted among my friends. I have a cousin who is married to one such individual. He is now retired, but while working, he never, to my knowledge ever made any negative comments about any firefighter simply because they were volunteers. I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone. My intent was to highlight an instance of what I consider a negative attitude.
Professional
Adjective:
1a: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b: engaged in one of the learned professions c: (1) characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2a: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs b: having a particular profession as a permanent career c: engaged in by persons receiving financial return
[ my note: this would seem to fit the professional ie. Career firefighter]
3: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession
[ my note: this is where volunteers fit]
Profession
1: the act of taking vows of a religious community
2: an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith or opinion
3: an avowed religious faith
4a: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation b: a principal calling, vocation, or employment c: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling
[ my note: number 4 seems to suggest that any person who prepares for and follows a calling should be called professional]
Taken from Merriam-Webster January 27, 2009
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Comment by Paul Montpetit on January 26, 2009 at 5:29pm
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I agree....Very Poor choice of words....One CAN be a Volunteer and Be Professional as well...Professionalism is how you perform your "job"...I can be a garbage collector and do it professionally....as A "career" Firefighter" in his acts and words be very Non-professional....So you need to choose your words a little more carefully...or rather they do...it shows their lack of professionalism in making a comment like this.....Stay safe and keep the Faith....Paul...(See Chief...I can be politically correct at times...) LOL
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Comment by Ben Waller on January 26, 2009 at 4:55pm
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Professional is a state of mind and how performance is demonstrated.
Volunteer = unpaid
Career = paid
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Comment by lutan1 on January 26, 2009 at 4:54pm
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Should the news agencies use consideration before they go to print, yes.
Good luck on that one!
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Comment by Engineco913 on January 26, 2009 at 4:51pm
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To the people who are volunteers it's a slap. To those outside the realm of firefighting, it's another word to describe a paid firefighter. Is it right, no. Should the news agencies use consideration before they go to print, yes.
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You're not reading into it?
Whilst I agree that a vol can be professional, I didn't interpret it the way I think you have....
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Comment by Chad Eason on January 26, 2009 at 1:41pm
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I totally agree. Last time I checked fire did not know the difference and did not act different whether you were a volunteer or paid.
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 26, 2009 at 12:44pm
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"Profession" is what we are paid to do. My profession is risk management. I am very professional at it.
I was a firefighter in the volunteer sector for 22 years. I was very good at it.
In my early days, when asked, I "qualified" my answer with "volunteer firefighter". As I improved my skills, got experience and trained to the level of my career counterparts, I simply became a firefighter.
We get too hung up about what others think and how others perceive us. It seems to be very important that we have the SAME respect as everyone else, but we know that respect is a very personal thing. If I make the statement, "I am every bit as good as you are as a firefighter", how does anyone know that that doesn't know me? I have seen people say "I respect firefighters everywhere". Really? I don't.
"We are all brothers and sisters". Are we or is it wishful thinking?
What defines us? What makes us different?
What difference does it really make?
TCSS.
Art
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Comment by BillySFCVFD on January 26, 2009 at 9:19am
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Peter,
I'm with you brother. It's just blind ignorance caused by a government paycheck. I don't take it too personal, I just understand it. TCSS
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Comment by FETC on January 26, 2009 at 9:16am
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Peter,
Even though the title of this blog "Professional or Volunteer" could be a loaded one, that the FFN WebChief will definately shut down if becomes unprofessional. I am willing to respond to your thoughts.
Is it really a poor choice of words in this day and age? Maybe, but it depends if you are offended by the specific word. But the terminology is used in many forums and/or arenas. In the northeast for example, the state labor organizations are called: PFFNH - Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire or PFFMA - Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts. So, I guess that must bother you as well.
The last time I checked, a professional football player who plays in the NFL was one who had chosen it as a career or better yet, was good enough to be afforded an opportunity to become a professional football player.... none of the which are referred to as a "Paid Football Player".
I am definately not a person who dislikes or would belittle any firefighter whether they are paid or not. Seen great firefighters, ones who I have entrusted with my life who were a volunteer, as well as some very bad or poorly trained paid firefighters. But reading into the comments that have stirred your agression towards the word, "professional" - if a person is a paid professional, he or she should definately be better trained as compared to a non-paid person (if that fire department is run appropriately) by this I mean I would expect that each and everytime you come to work, no matter what your schedule is, that you should be training daily, now that maybe upwards to twice or even four times more than your weely drill and 12 times more than a department which only does monthly drills. If you were to pull a computer printout of training hours for a paid or non-paid firefighters from within a combination department, unfortunately the con-ed numbers don't lie.
When you are learning or doing a training at your paid professional place of employment (ASE Auto Technician for example) he or she are gaining invaluable education that a paid firefighter is not, but in retrospect that same firefighter who is afforded the opportunity to be trained while being on-duty, he or she should definately be more familiar with his or her tools, equipment, apparatus operations and the proficiency of his or her job functions simply due to repeated repetition.
I am a professional career firefighter and a professional educator who does training in every imaginable environment, I have been to paid-city departments, paid-rural, combination, industrial, healthcare, paid-on-call, and volunteer and enjoyed working with all of them but truth be told, none of which are on the same level with paper certificates alone, it is what you do with your personal and professional development afterwards that makes the big difference.
Poor choice of words is in the eye's of the beholder, fundamentally though if they chose to say, paid department, their basis for the underlying justification would be the same even without using a word you personally dislike.
TCSS
FETC
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