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Is it just me or should Volunteers be able to join IAFF???
I had emailed IAFF about joining as a volunteer and this is what was sent back..... I may have taken it wrong but, does anybody else think that it's a bit.... I don't know... Discriminative???? That may not be the right word to use here.... My feelings... If a firefighter, paid or volunteer, wants to join and be represented and pay the dues.... Then why not???? Any comments???? Or am I just whining? Which is a strong possibility! Here is what they sent me....
The IAFF Constitution and By-laws states that membership is reserved for full-time, paid, professional firefighters, paramedics and rescue personnel. The IAFF does not offer individual memberships. If you obtain employment in a department meets these criteria please let me know and I will then put you in touch with the appropriate person from the IAFF.
Let me know what your thoughts and feeling are about this....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sparky3317 on
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Its not discriminative. The IAFF was created for full time firefighters like they stated in the email.
Alot of states like Massachusetts have seperate call/volunteer associations that you can join.
Just quick if you wouldnt mind explaining why you wanted to join the IAFF? -
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Permalink Reply by Larry W. Lankford on
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No I don't mind.... They are an excellent organization! Our state has an association... But although they allow firefighters to join.... The paid guys get most of the attention... Don't get me wrong. Please! I used to be a paid guy! It's just that I feel like the volunteers get looked down on a lot... And sometimes it is understood why... You can watch some youtube videos of some volunteer departments doing some stupid stuff! But I have seen some paid ones do it too!!! I just feel that we are all in this together and I thought it would be a really neat option for individual volunteers or volunteer departments to be able to join also... But I am not well traveled. I am sure there are better systems in other states.... I just need to contact our state association and become more involved.... It would help if I had the time, but that is what needs to be done.... I didn't mean no offense to anybody if it was taken... By no means! I do apologize if I offended someone.... Like I said.. We are all in this together.... I have friends on paid departments in three states! And especially where I used to work, I have very good friends that I would put it on the line for right now. I may have been out of line by bringing it up... It just seemed like it should be different... I should look into things more before I post something like this.... If there is nothing here, then I need to send out messages trying to get something started, or more of a representation for the volunteers! Thank you for your post..... I was wanting feedback on this...
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You didnt offend anyone by any means. Im a volly myself. Ive been part of paid depts and like you said volly and call firefighters are looked down upon alot of the time but if goes both ways. There are some volly depts that I would put above any paid firefighter in the country. But again it goes both ways. Each group has its pros and cons. The biggest thing the volunteers and call firefighters can do is not be worried about being part of the IAFF. But getting more active in the asscociations we do have around the country including the national ones. If you contact the national fire academy in emmitsburg, md they will have a ton of information for you. Its one place you can go that full time, call or volunteer it doesnt matter.
Again you didnt offened anyone. And its good to see you are going to get more involved.
I think going the IAFF route will just be a dead end. But getting more involved to improve the associations we do have would be a great help. -
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I agree with you 100%. Just learned from a friend of mine about another association in our stat..... Crazy I had never heard of it... About to check it out... Thank you for your honesty.... I enjoy discussions like this... I am the same way... There are some vol. guys out there that are truly squared away! Much more than ALOT of paid departments in my area.... Thanks again and I think you are right... If we rally together by state and give a push in our state associations, I think things will change... And actually, as I look back over the past 15 + years, things have gotten better.... Have a good one and stay safe!
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I agree..... Their use of the word professional did not seem to apply to the volunteers at all.... What is their definition of "professional"??? And hang with that paid/ career gig.... You get paid for doing what you love! But never forget your volunteer beginnings.... That has helped me a lot.....
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Permalink Reply by Josh Gray on
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Yes Larry I myself once asked them the same question you did. I had also asked the guy what they meant by professional as just a question and got a very rude reply from him. To sum up his reply their meaning for the term professional is just repeating their statement prior to that of a full-time, or paid firefighter. So I sent him another e-mail thanking him for taking the time to reply and went on.
Also there is a IVFA that you can join for the short amount of time our dept. has been involved with them they have very helpful and seem to be well organized. -
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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IAFF is a union originated for the purpose of representing paid employees. The union would not offer any benefit whatsoever to a person who is not a paid employee. Why not join the National Volunteer Fire Council? Also check out your state's volunteer fire organization.
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Josh, thanks for the info! I will check them out and see if we can get signed up with them. It just doesn't seem right for the term "professional" to be taken out of context like that. Volunteers do the same job and it actually costs the volunteers their time and a lot of other things instead of getting paid for it..... Stay safe!
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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I think it depends on where you live to be a member of a organization for betterment of what you do or need.
Some areas might have a combination system and volunteers might be considered unpaid employees and are provided workmens comp, hospitalzation if your injuried on a call, free training, turnout gear.
I have heard of people that said there was a organzation that wanted volunteers to be part of a union organzation that would allow them to join and provide benefits that they could use for a certain amount of money paid for dues. -
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Permalink Reply by Gary Hammer on
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Why would you want too?
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Permalink Reply by Auxman on
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If the IAFF was just an organization interested in firefighter safety and fire-related policy, legislation, etc., then it would make sense to allow anyone interested to join. But, they are primarily a union organized for the benefit of their members who are full-time paid firefighters although they are also active in the policy stuff as well.
Unfortunately, from what I can tell the more generic firefighter associations that allow anyone to join don't have anywhere near the clout of the IAFF either at the state or national level. Probably because membership is voluntary and not everyone chooses to join and less members = less money = less clout. -
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