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 FETC on
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A wise and very politically successful fire chief once said, "Men we need to befriend and gain control of just 51% of the current city council, then you will obtain EVERYTHING you want in your career."
Funny how all those free home cooked lunches or dinner at the firehouse, the many ride-a-longs, and gatherings at the nearby watering hole (after shift of course) paid off.
Most votes were 7/6 in favor, included contracts...
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Permalink Reply by Diamond Chief on
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Same here strtcopr. The potential is here in our county. We have a county OEM/fire service coordinator, but he has never been in the fire service, so we are slighted from the start. No incentive for anyone to take it because it pays next to nothing.
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Keep me posted on that fire district. I have tossed that idea around a bit. I like the idea of having a board that is pro fire dept. vs. city council. Although I will say we have a city councilman now that is on the fire dept., but a mayor that doesn't think we even should respond to an MVA. Go figure.
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Spoken like an oldtimer..... obscure reference. OLD TIME HOCKEY !!!
Art I love it.
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Permalink Reply by Tiger Schmittendorf on
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What's a platoon?
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Sounds great. Where do I sign up?
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Permalink Reply by Mary Ellen Shea on
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FYI....he'll be at South Queensbury FD giving a grant-writing seminar....FOR FREE.
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oh ditto that.
Brian Vickers, while talented, is considered the NYS FD grant-writer guru.
I beg to differ.
Vote for Pedro.Oh wait, no, I meant...Vote for Tiger
:)
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Permalink Reply by BIVFD 216 on
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Tiger, A couple of guys on the nation recommended you to for help with a fire act grant narrative are you interested in giving us a hand? Do you happen to know what the main focus for this years grant will be?
We were thinking about applying for replacement communication equipment since we got shot down for apparatus last year like many other departments.
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I'd be glad to help you folks. Please send me your contact info to: tiger@tigerschmittendorf.com and we can follow-up.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Stay safe. Train often.
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Permalink Reply by Bobby on
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I hear ya! and my wife really does. as with the grants, my dept has applied for at least one grant a year since 2003 and has got each one. no we didn't pay someone to write it for us either our chief done it and as far as i know he never took any class on it either. he also has helped other depts write them and i believe most of them got theirs too.
as for doing fund raisers we have two a year that we serve food, other than the occasional auction, and we do controled burns for the local farmers. the controled burns are what have paid for our portions of the grants and its good training, we now have fun laughing at Kansas City FD when we hear that they had to call a second alarm on 5 acres (if i remember thats about 12 ffs for them) because of the controled burn training we can knock out 30 acres with a 20 mph wind with 4-6 people and 2 brush buggies. so its a win win all around
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Permalink Reply by william burchit on
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have you thought about looking at grants.. like afg grant.
they are really big on training and health and fitness
they loan millions of dollars every year to depts. to get appuratus gear supplies etc etc. there are all kinds of grants out there to help us volunteers and paid as well.
it just a thought..
captain burchit
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