Persons Showing up for a Call?

[JGallagher]

I am wondering, do you people in Volounteer Departments have trouble getting people to show up for a call? I know my self that if I am not the first to show up I am dam well one of the first most times. I am not going to comment on the particapation of our Department except say that it is the but I wish it was there more.

[Skidz]

We have lockers and t/o gear that is wasting away on some guys in ours. We have a core group that come out but would it be nice to see more than 10 (give or take a few) show up other than to a dinner meeting!! I guess though that it is better to have that core group that want to be there than to have all the guys and have half that don't want to be there.
Just my opinion!

[JGallagher]

I have to agree with you there. I mean I am un-employed so that makes it easy for me. But even when it is the weekend we get so few show up.

[iamvff]

Originally posted by Skidz
We have lockers and t/o gear that is wasting away on some guys in ours. We have a core group that come out but would it be nice to see more than 10 (give or take a few) show up other than to a dinner meeting!! I guess though that it is better to have that core group that want to be there than to have all the guys and have half that don't want to be there.
Just my opinion!

Hey Skidzy,
where do I fit in? I show up to the fires and seem to forget about the supper meetings:rolleyes: Somehow I think I may have it bassakwards. By the way....You should just take some of the yellow turnout gear.....R.M. wouldn't miss it:p

Be safe,
iamvff

[fireto412]

we have the same on my department, but the way i see it you learn more get to do more and see more. this way hopefully your captain or high ranking officers move you up. i have learned more stuff in two years then some have in ten years. i still encourage firefighters to go to the calls and training.

[Red_Devil]

Gallagher, Not everyone can respond cause they have fulltime jobs, no everyone has the luxury of being unemployed!

[wilderness]

Your first priority is family; Your second should be work; Third thing should be everything there after...
Now that being said, i have left my wife with my mother while we should have been in the hospitol, prepairing for the birth of our second child, to attend a structure fire and then return to her after having enough man power on scene... that took alot of flowers and chocolates and things to get out of trouble.. Now i have also had to miss a big structure fire, because work couldn't spare me, but as soon as i was free i would go to the station and help with clean up..
I respond to 98% of our calls and 98% of training nights.
Our hall has a good turn out for both 98% of the time...

[ndvfd_ff33]

I think every vollie dept has this problem..I know in my dept we got a core group of about 10-15 who show up to every thing day and night....Medicals..Alarms...What have you....Then theres the ones who show up just the right amount so they can keep their ff plates...Then the rest just come if its a major fire or maybe not even then....Theres a guy whom I have seen go to one call in my 4 years of being in the dept....I wish things could be changed to have the ones who don't show get the boot..But sadly I'll probably never be around to see that day

[DFCSmash]

I know it can be frustrating, when some members won't/ don't show up for calls and/or training. If they won't show for training, then what use are they at the scene? Just a liability.

The real question is: Why aren't we motivating them anymore?

However when the pool is limited as we have discussed before, sometimes we are more tolerant than we should be. They are assigned such tasks as changing air bottles and running the radio at the hall.

A very small percentage just want the alleged "glory" of being a firefighter and don't wish to participate in the hard work that is the reason why there emergency respnders are looked up to.

My first Chief said "Don't ever lose sight of the fact that you are a volunteer. This won't feed you or your family. Your priorities should be family, work then us. Some day you will be unable to make a call because of one of these greater priorities. Thats not a problem for me, so it shouldn't be a problem for you." He was a wise man, and when I was being critcal of someone who didn't show up, I would remember his words and be quieter. ;)

[cfergie]

My first Chief said "Don't ever lose sight of the fact that you are a volunteer. This won't feed you or your family. Your priorities should be family, work then us. Some day you will be unable to make a call because of one of these greater priorities. Thats not a problem for me, so it shouldn't be a problem for you." He was a wise man

We follow the same policy. We also have a full round table at least once a year to get every members input on what keeps them interested. A member with 1 or 2 years is more excited about the little things than a 15-20 year member. We try and provide a good cross section of training to interest everyone. Also on calls, we try and utilize our members instead of having crews standby at the hall while command investigates. Interest is self driven and when there is a lack showing we simply approach the individual and question why the lack. Sometimes its family related or other reasons. Before down talking those who don't show up, ask them why!

[Whitewater_419]

Wilderness and I are on the same hall and he's bang on both about your priorities (family then work, then the fire hall - and no, we still won't let him forget attending a structure fire while his kid was on the way :) )

As well as our turn-out; I'd say we've probably got one of the best turn out rates for a volunteer hall, when work and time-of-day is taken into consideration. (Though it would be nice to have a few more applications waiting for new FFs!)

[Brando]

I guess its the same across Canada. We have the core 15 or so guys that show up for everything. Then theres the guys that only show up to a fire. Then the odd guy that you see once every 6 months.


Lately more though Ive heard the "I thought you were dead" comment made.

[Hamp42]

Originally posted by ndvfd_ff33
I think every vollie dept has this problem..I know in my dept we got a core group of about 10-15 who show up to every thing day and night....Medicals..Alarms...What have you....Then theres the ones who show up just the right amount so they can keep their ff plates...Then the rest just come if its a major fire or maybe not even then....Theres a guy whom I have seen go to one call in my 4 years of being in the dept....I wish things could be changed to have the ones who don't show get the boot..But sadly I'll probably never be around to see that day

Sounds like us. Get the core members, the glory call members and the no-shows!!

[iamvff]

Funny though...evryone seems to make the free supper meetings, summer BBQ, and christmas party:rolleyes:

Be safe
iamvff

[Whitewater_419]

Originally posted by iamvff
Funny though...evryone seems to make the free supper meetings, summer BBQ, and christmas party:rolleyes:


So that's what we're doing wrong! Our suppers and pancake breakfasts aren't free!!! :)


( J/K, of course :) )

[JGallagher]

Originally posted by iamvff
Funny though...evryone seems to make the free supper meetings, summer BBQ, and christmas party:rolleyes:

Be safe
iamvff

Well even there I am suprised that we did not have more show up. If it was not for my being ill there would have been less free food.

[iamvff]

Oh yes, we have the odd supper meeting, also we have a BBQ get together in the summer, and a christmas party, and we have guys that have virtually never missed one of those, but they seem to make it to about three firecalls per year (usually the false alarms)
:mad: :rolleyes:

Be safe,
iamvff

[mcleodkent]

I think it will always be a problem! no matter how you motovate them. In our hall it works pretty good, we keep an excel sheet of who comes to calls and who comes to practices (exclude those with real reasons, work etc etc) if you are under a certain percentage then you get a letter, if that doesn't work then you are let go. it always works. Your Officers have to take a stand and say no to it. You can't have a guy on scene of the big structure fire when he hasn't been to practice in 6 months. its a libialty think about it!!!!!!

[shaneb]

It sounds like everyone has the same problem. We are a mining community and the majority of us work shift work. Because of that we have a mutual aid agreement with another hall in the Municipality 6km's down the highway. They respond to our calls and we respond to their calls. As for the training and meetings I can think of one guy who hasn't had a BA on for 5 months, I don't want him backing me up in a fire. We have 26 training sessions a year, the captain's decided if you can't make 10 of them you will be asked to turn in your pager. Volunteer or not you have to stay on top of your training to keep yourself and partner's safe.

[Hamp42]

Originally posted by shaneb
It sounds like everyone has the same problem. We are a mining community and the majority of us work shift work. Because of that we have a mutual aid agreement with another hall in the Municipality 6km's down the highway. They respond to our calls and we respond to their calls. As for the training and meetings I can think of one guy who hasn't had a BA on for 5 months, I don't want him backing me up in a fire. We have 26 training sessions a year, the captain's decided if you can't make 10 of them you will be asked to turn in your pager. Volunteer or not you have to stay on top of your training to keep yourself and partner's safe.

I agree completely!! I'll be dam#$@ if some ham-bone is going to back me up when he has not been there for 6 months!! The same as letting him operate the pump when he has no practice!! I have a family to think of first.

[JGallagher]

Originally posted by Hamp42
I agree completely!! I'll be dam#$@ if some ham-bone is going to back me up when he has not been there for 6 months!! The same as letting him operate the pump when he has no practice!! I have a family to think of first.


I must totally agree. If you are not active at all during the year. Be it on a call or during training. Then you sould not be responding to a call.

[ssifire]

To me it's all about practice. Like many others have said in this discussion, what good is a firefighter who's out of touch?

For us, when you join, you are giving up your Tuesday nights for practice. And while family things, or work can get in the way the ood time, in our dept. if you miss 3 practices or fall below 80% a year, you are deemed uninterested in the dept, and are asked to turn your pager in. (Except for Leaves and the like) Having said that, in a dept. of 35 members, we have had to ask for only 1 pager in the last 10 years. If guys/gals know the rules coming in, they'll usually play by them.

Further to that, if your members are trainied well, they'll want to show off their skills, and you'll probably see them out to more calls.

Just a thought.

[Scuba]

So.... now the question is how to get it through all our guys heads that even if the member that's slack in attendance is around durring the day, it's probably safer to be short handed with guys who know what they're doing & are current with the desire to be there, vs just having another body there.

[rescue1008]

LOL LOL LOL

Ya for sure.. i do agree with everything about members not showing up. We were called out to another district for tanker support so i guess about 8-9 showed up on scene and the other dept. had a few members and the problem was the other dept. basically lost intrest in what they were doing when we showed up.. but they sure got excited when the Fire Commissioner bought burgers.... then the other dept. showed up to do something.




Excuses are like A$$holes........ everybody has one :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[mutts252]

same universal situation on my (volunteer) dept - the core group of guys who wouldn't miss a call for the world (and you genuinely worry about them if they don't show up), the ones that show up to the 'convenient' calls, and the guys who just don't get seen except to go to meetings and training nights (if that).

you can always tell who's more 'into it' than others - they're the ones that show up to the shitty, early-morning, pissing-rain medical calls in the middle of freaking nowhere. the 0530 medical first responce calls aren't very popular on my dept, what can i say. funny how everyone and their uncle show up to 'fun' calls, though... :mad:

[Forest]

Originally posted by ndvfd_ff33
I think every vollie dept has this problem..I know in my dept we got a core group of about 10-15 who show up to every thing day and night....Medicals..Alarms...What have you....Then theres the ones who show up just the right amount so they can keep their ff plates...Then the rest just come if its a major fire or maybe not even then....Theres a guy whom I have seen go to one call in my 4 years of being in the dept....I wish things could be changed to have the ones who don't show get the boot..But sadly I'll probably never be around to see that day

Im not sure about other areas but in New Brunswick they passed a law for volunteer units stating that you must come to a set percentage of training and fire calls as well as be able to pass a written test once a year. They passed this to stop people from just joining for the radio and plates

[ndvfd_ff33]

Oh we got it too....30% of Calls,Meetings & Fundraisers and Training...If they don't do these they are supposed to have their plates removed etc...But we all know that people will find ways around these things...

[JGallagher]

I missed one last night but that is cause I was working. I cant control that. Tell then to wait until I get off to respond.

[firewhirly]

My department is pretty much the same.. there is a core group of members who respond. Usually the same who show for training and work nights around the hall.. same when it comes to any fundraising or "special events" at the hall.

We're very fortunate in that most employeers in the region will allow volunteer fire fighters to respond to calls. After all the majority of the area is protected by volunteer fire depts.
It depends on the nature of the call for some... second call for man power,etc...

[Owl5]

We have a core group of about 8 that if they are in town they are there. I live 4 blocks from the station sometimes I miss the truck. But in the past there has been times that the truck had to sit because there was not enough personel in town.

[mini_dunfy]

I am wondering, do you people in Volounteer Departments have trouble getting people to show up for a call? I know my self that if I am not the first to show up I am dam well one of the first most times. I am not going to comment on the particapation of our Department except say that it is the but I wish it was there more.
We never get many that show up for a call... always seems like just enough... but last night we got called to mutual aid for a woods fire and we have 27 show up...WOW! Its the most I remember showing up for a long time.

[firefighter26]

I think it is pretty much standard in most VFDs.

There is the core group, like you all have said, that come to every call and practice and when they miss one you swing by their house on the way home to see if they are feeling alright. http://www.firehall.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

There are the floaters that make it some of the calls when they feel like it but you can't count on making to any more than 60% of the practices.

Then there are the guys that never seem to show up, even when they're home.

----------------------------

My train of thought was that people are more than willing to volunteer, but there is a seemingly endless number of organizations looking take up their volunteer time. So how do you win out over all the others?

Easy, you have to make them want to the volunteer. Yeah, I know it is a new way of thinking, but it works!

First, you have to make them feel like they are making a difference and accomplishing something by volunteering. Make them proud to be putting in those extra hours. There are simple things you can do, like if you have a weekend duty crew for cleaning up around the station. Get the guys to wash up the truck and take them out driver training. Swing by a school or playground or other area with children and show off the truck and fly the colours for a while. Give them an avenue to be proud of by showing off a bit. It is alright, showing off is allowed! Besides, the more you are out in public, even if showing off at a play ground, the better the chances of gaining public support or attracting a few new members!

Second, you have to keep them interested. Going out and pumping water for a night is good practice, but how many times can you get away with that before attendance starts to slack? not very long! You need to organize practices that will both work their asses off and make them say "damn, that was a great practice!" or "Hey John, you missed a GREAT practice on thursday."

Third, and maybe an important one, is positive encouragement, re-enforcement and recognition. If you're an officer, say "thanks for coming out to practice tonight, you did a good job" to the guys or gals when they leave. It doesn't hurt and goes a long long way and ties back into #1. Tell a group they did a good job at a task they were working on together.

Fourth, use the core group of guys to our advantage. Split them into two groups for practice and supplement them floaters and pit them against each other in a friendly competition of relay pumping, or hose/equipment deployment, or SCBA donning. Let them work as a team and encourage each other. Get some of that "core group" material to rub off on everyone else!

Fifth, and possibly the hardest one for small volunteer department's, is to give them something tangible. A department near us has a pass to the water slides. Any member above a certain attendance percentage has access to for use with their family. The water slides gives it to them for free! Don't have water slides, how about a golf course? movie theatre? Sports Arena? Try to work something out with whatever you have locally. Spin it to be a win/win for the organization to get on board and contribute. It doesn't even have to be that hard. Got a spare bay? get some half decent tools and let the guys work on their vehicles. It doesn't get any easier than that!

The bottom line is that everyone has their reason for being there and each department is going to be different. Find out what makes them tick and give it a little bit of grease.

Give them a reason to want to be there!

Side note, I took over recruiting in late 2003 and tried all sorts of different things and got the other officers to buy in to the "encouragement plan" and attendance went up dramatically from having 10 FF per practice to 15-20! We also took 10 new members in during the 2004 year, so something must have been working right!

[Proby]

Our department is great to show up to calls on a regular basis. We have only a select few that have medical training to resond to medicals. These are our first responders. They respond to all the medical calls. All other calls everyone responds. In our contract with the city we have to make 60% of the training nights in a 12 month stint. We also have to make 50% of the calls that are not medical in nature, and we have only one year to get our D-Z . If you don't make all these criteria you can be let go.

[Beaner]

We have the same problem on our department.
We have a core of about 8 that run around the 75% + to calls and practices. Then we have some that run at less than 15% to calls and practices. But they show up to the free BBq nights and free picnic's etc. We have had officers meetings complaining about the slackers but the chief won't do anything. Not much you can do about it when the Chief won't deal with it.

We just keep showing up and hoping that someday something will change.

[Quincy]

From what I understand from all the different threads I've read up to now is all fire departments have a serious group of guys that take the job serioulsy. I've got to agree about the fact to know who to balance your life at home, work and at the firehall.

In our firehall we have a hard time with daytime response during the week and weekends

(RE. example : this friday afternoon approx. 2:00 house fire, response 6 guys (1 pumper operator, 1 tanker driver & 4 firefighters (including chief))

Evenings are still left to be desired depending on the type of call and at night still the same depends on the type of call.

Does anyone have any type of on call schedule ?

If soo, are the guys on call responsible to find a replacement if they can't cover that specific time frame ?

[MFDFF33]

Evenings are still left to be desired depending on the type of call and at night still the same depends on the type of call.

Does anyone have any type of on call schedule ?

If soo, are the guys on call responsible to find a replacement if they can't cover that specific time frame ?

Hey Quincy, we work on a pager system... so technically we are all on call at all times, and if you have the time free to respond you respond, I know what you're thinking well what happens if no one does?? well we always have someone show up at either station, and if not enough show up they put out a second page to show us that, because unfortunately we have people who chose their calls. I hate saying that because of where I live I have to and it sucks, but my situation is a little different because I'm limited by geography others are by laziness.