The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
??Volunteer fund raising, tax dollars, saving lives and property??
I don't know about the rest of you guys but I'm sick and tired of working my ass of doing fund raising events.
As if it isn't enough that we answer the call, train like the paid departments (no offence intended) and still have to work to raise money to buy gear, apparatus, building supplies and the list just goes on and on. Who pays the price you and your family. Don't get me wrong I love getting out there and helping people but you hear of these billions of dollars of bail out money being spent. Then you find out it went to pay for some bank presidents’ salary. It literally makes me sick to my stomach.
My department DONATED an 85' Grumman engine to a needy department in southwest Virginia and now we are looking for a replacement. We have specked out the truck and it's in the neighborhood of 400K., but guess what we can get a loan at 7% interest. We aren't talking about a luxury vehicle hear we are talking about a vehicle that is made to help save lives. Every time I think about this my blood just boils. Then on the other hand you have departments that have plenty of money, so they have to think of creative ways to spend it so they can justify the request to some pencil pusher next year.
Comments?
Am I alone out here on this one, I certainly hope not.
As if it isn't enough that we answer the call, train like the paid departments (no offence intended) and still have to work to raise money to buy gear, apparatus, building supplies and the list just goes on and on. Who pays the price you and your family. Don't get me wrong I love getting out there and helping people but you hear of these billions of dollars of bail out money being spent. Then you find out it went to pay for some bank presidents’ salary. It literally makes me sick to my stomach.
My department DONATED an 85' Grumman engine to a needy department in southwest Virginia and now we are looking for a replacement. We have specked out the truck and it's in the neighborhood of 400K., but guess what we can get a loan at 7% interest. We aren't talking about a luxury vehicle hear we are talking about a vehicle that is made to help save lives. Every time I think about this my blood just boils. Then on the other hand you have departments that have plenty of money, so they have to think of creative ways to spend it so they can justify the request to some pencil pusher next year.
Comments?
Am I alone out here on this one, I certainly hope not.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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I like it Art. Fund raisers being combined into an open house will bring more kids to the event (which brings more paying parents into the fund raisers. If your having a pasta dinner, chicken bbq or any other dinner type event, run a bake sale off to the side. (you will be impressed at the reception you have and the extra money you make)
Get all members involved to some degree. (regardless of age)
Show the public what a TEAM you have at every event, and your perception in the public eye will improve drastically. Good PR makes it much easier to achieve needed purchases in the future.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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DT:
You would be amazed at how many departments that I have talked to who won't apply for grants because you "have to fill out paperwork"!
So, how can we feel sorry for a department that won't take the time to go after money that is out there, because they may have to sit in front of a computer?
Oh, wait; what am I doing right now? Damn; I could have already had the narrative done.
Everything takes an effort.
Even breathing.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Trainer on
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No BIVFD it won’t buy a truck, but it will allow you to borrow say 20 grand or so and pay off in a short amount of time. We have done this on our last 2 trucks to get some things we wanted that the trustees had deemed to costly.
Damthing, one reason we have fundraisers is to ease tax burden. Fully funded I do agree but, there is always something you want to better the department that you could do without, besides I’m not only a FF but a taxpayer as well.
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Permalink Reply by BIVFD 216 on
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The complaint was geared toward those fundraisers that do not make the amount of cash that is expected, not fund raising in general.
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We do the grant thing every year as I have said... We are looking at the Rural Fire Assistance grant / loan now. Even if we were to get the loan from the government the APR on the loan is 4.5%. Do you have any other grants out there that you could share? I'm use to the paper work, it seams thats all I do anymore.
There is no lack of drive behind my department just a lack of assistance.
Frank
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Permalink Reply by leigh anderson on
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do you try for the grants at your department? our texas forest service is very genreous with the grants- and have helped out a bunch. i don't know what state you are in, or the loc gov't has to offer, but you shouldn't have to shoulder this burden all yourself. i am sorry you are stressed out about it, and i know that's an understatement. i wish i could help out- but i do know someone that is very good at writing the grants, and if you ever need that kind of help- i can get that help for you... those grants are out there. i am going to take classes on that kind of thing to get more profecient in that area! seems like you just can't be "just" a fire fighter anymore- huh! you have to also be a medic, and then you have to have someone thats also a computer guru, a politician, a chaplan, and everything else. and all still be a fireman! I know you aren't alone in wanting the right equipment, and having the hard time getting the money. you shouldn't have to explain why you need 400K apparatus on here- we KNOW! nothing good is cheap!!!! we know that a 400k app. doesn't have a gold encrusted side step, ok!? HAHA. you have enough to worry about- like you said, all the worry and training and calls, just not the tax base that a paid dept has.
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We have done this on our last 2 trucks to get some things we wanted that the trustees had deemed to costly.
Pardon me, sir, but that is what I am underpaid to do for you taxpayers.
When you promote fundraisers to "purchase equipment", then that's what you do.
Some of that equipment must just fit on a fire truck; new or already in service.
Go back 20 years and tell me how "nice" it was! Did you get one of the license plate holders?
:)
Art
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well i have to say that i agree to an extent on this- you have to be willing to do the nfirs reports, and keep the records....yes the paper trail tells all. it is a necessary evil. but being nice about pointing it out, would be a more nice way to go about it!!!!!!! :)
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Now-now, 20 years ago we had to do fundraisers to buy things like…..gloves. Now I am getting older and my memory isn’t what it use to be, but I’m pretty sure you became a trustee after 99. And YES I do have a plate holder, got to be collectable, wanna buy it??
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April 22, 2003 I was certified to my first elected term as a trustee.
You did it.
Now, I am going to submit an app to get back on.
Maybe you'll stop treating me like a trustee.
See you at the interview.
Art
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Yes, we apply for grants when we are made aware of them. This was more or less a way for me to vent my frustrations and maybe get some ideas. I’m really not stressing over the whole deal. You hit the nail on the head when you said “seems like you just can't be "just" a fire fighter anymore”
We are probably going to put in a grant this year to replace our portable radios on the Fire Act Grant. If you know someone that can assist us with the narrative it would be great.
Thanks
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