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What's in a title?
I know there is a lot of sometimes heated discussion over the terms we use in the Fire Service to describe paid and unpaid Firefighters.
The term, "Professional" in ordinary usage by anyone outside of the
Fire Service means someone who "Follows an occupation as a
livelihood." (Random House Webster's Dictionary, definition 1) by almost
any definition, firefighters who are paid to be Firefighters and make their
livings as Firefighters are "Professional Firefighters."
Of course "Professional" has other definitions as well, and the twelfth definition
is the one often cited by un-paid Firefighters, "a person who is an expert
at their work." Which certainly applies to most Firefighters, but
using Standard English conventions, this is a poor choice of words for un-paid
Firefighters.
So while "Career Firefighter" and "Professional
Firefighter" are synonymous, and can be used and interchangeably without
confusion or a change in meaning to not only those in the Fire Service,
but to the public we serve, the same cannot be said of the terms
"Volunteer Firefighter" and "Professional Firefighter."
For the term, "Professional" to apply to a non-paid Firefighter, s/he
would have to meet the same training requirements, certification and standards
as their paid counterparts. While there are many who take it upon themselves to
do this, and are "professionals" in the definition 12 sense of the
word, they are still not "professionals" in the eyes of the public we
serve, who generally use the first definition to define a "professional."
Also, in most states, "volunteer Firefighters" do not have the same
training requirements as "Career Firefighters." For example, in
Georgia, the Basic Volunteer Firefighter course is a 95-hour course, whereas
the Basic Firefighter course (Firefighter I only) is 340 hours.
After all, a baseball player who practices 6 days a week, consistently hits
home runs, and pitches a 90 mph fastball may be a great Baseball player, but
unless he's getting paid play, he is not a "professional Baseball player."
This is an analogy, I know what we do is much more important than baseball.
I propose we begin using a different term for Firefighters who perform their
services without pay, a term which is commonly used by other
"Professionals," such as doctors, lawyers and even tradesmen whenever
they perform their services without monetary compensation. That term is
"Pro Bono."
Pro Bono is the shortened form of the Latin phrase "Pro Bono
Publica," which means "for the public good," and I believe best
describes why unpaid Firefighters do what they do for their communities,
whether they meet the minimum training requirements for volunteers, or have
more training than many paid Firefighters. It even describes paid Firefighters
who then serve unpaid in the towns where they live when off duty.
"For the Public Good" even conveys more of sense of mission, and yes,
professionalism than the term "volunteer" does, especially in places where
"Volunteer Fireman" has been an abused term for years or decades.
Let's save the term "volunteer Firefighter" for our "T-Shirt
Members," "Yard Firefighters" and others who get into the
department and then never get fully trained.
The term may sound awkward at first, but if people use it, it will catch on.
So...are you a Paid Firefighter, or a Pro Bono Firefighter?
Greenman
© 2011
Add a Comment
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Comment by Russ Marks on March 21, 2011 at 12:13am
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intertesting thoughts, I will have to wull this over a bit
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Comment by Bob Kolva on March 20, 2011 at 7:56pm
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volunteer professional
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Comment by Greenman on March 20, 2011 at 7:20pm
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@ Jack: I like your suggestions!
@ Philly: no, not really, but it's fun.
Greenman
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Comment by WestPhilly on March 20, 2011 at 6:37pm
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I'm beginning to think Greenman is actually serious about this. Really, my advice is to stick with volunteer. But if you think pro bono has a snowball's chance in hell of cathing fire, you go, boy!
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Comment by Jack/dt on March 20, 2011 at 3:38pm
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Gratis (according to Wiki): It means "free of charge", "at zero price", "free", in the sense that some good or service is supplied without payment, even though it may have value.
Volunteer -
1.a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking.
2.a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.
dictionary.com
Pro bono publico (usually shortened to pro bono) is a phrase derived from Latin meaning "for the public good". The term is generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms. Pro bono service, unlike traditional volunteerism, uses the specific skills of professionals to provide services to those who are unable to afford them.
I offer the following suggestions/contractions:
progratateer - kind of sounds like mousekateer
volibonograti - an italian firefighter
graprobovo - a kind of wine
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I'm not arguing that paid Firefighters don't do their job for the public good, but the modern, English usage of the term is: "done or donated without charge; free." the derivation from "for the public good" implies that the doer does not gain any compensation for the act; it isn't for his own good that he performs the work. By getting paid we are doing the job for our own good, as well as the public's good.
Whereas "Volunteer" could be equally applied to both paid and un-paid Firefighters since we all voluntarily offer ourselves to do this job; nobody compels us to be Firefighters against our wishes.
Greenman
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Of course paid firefighters are paid for their labor. I'm simply pointing out that the term you believe should replace volunteer - Pro Bono - also applies to paid firefighters, as their service is also done "for the public good". The term "volunteer" applies more exclusively to, well, volunteers.
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Paid Firefighters, although they do their job in the public's interest are paid for their labor, therefore a Quid Pro Quo exists, and they are not doing their job "Pro Bono."
Greenman
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Comment by Tanner Eskra on March 19, 2011 at 8:40pm
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Paid On Call.
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Pro Bono (for the public good) describes what paid professional firefighters do as well. Better stick with volunteer.
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