Read all of the “Owning the Job” articles here
After writing the first part “PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP. PART I – SELF EVALUATION” I have had a lot of time to think. The eyes are looking this way (this is a good thing). Hopefully, I can pull off what I am hoping to do. I need feedback! I need to know that you are thinking the same things, or different things. I need to know what is working for you, or isn’t working.
One note, While I use “Pride and Ownership” in the title, these articles are about what I took from the class and how I am using what I have learned. There is no official affiliation with Chief Rick Lasky or Pride and Ownership.
Pride and Ownership – Past, Present, and Future…
In order to understand what is missing, we must understand what was here before us. None of this is about placing blame. Do you know your departments history?
As I said in the “self evaluation”, I know our history. I wrote a book about it. Our department was formed from 4 volunteer fire departments (actually there were a couple more, but 4 major players). Volunteers is part of our heritage, but it is more than 100 years removed. Basically, we are a fully paid fire department and have been since 1903 (March 1, 1903 to be exact).
These men were here way before me. Roanoke Firefighters pose in front of their engine...very proud. When was the last time you took a photo of your company in front of your apparatus?
I have pictures of our Firefighters doing everything from building props at our Zoo to collecting money for MDA, from fighting 100 year fires downtown to fighting for our citizens needs.
Our firefighters gave up their vacation to implement the 3rd platoon back in 1972. I cherish the work schedule I have now, and it didn’t cost me a thing.
Our firefighters fought for many of the benefits ALL of our City employees take for granted. I may have had some battles since I have been here, but the ones before me are the ones who fought so hard!
To what do we owe the men who founded our department? The honor, respect, dignity, integrity, pride, tradition, loyalty, and brotherhood that created it? Why am I sitting here almost 125 years after the first fire department in Roanoke was created seeking ways to bring back the best of what it has been? What has been lost? Where can we find it?
This is going to be a long uphill battle…yeah, I am used to that. I don’t like failure, but realize that this thing is bigger than what I am capable of. I need help. Will others get it?
Walk into one of our firehouses and ask them how things are…
You will hear all types of stuff, not much of it will be good. However, I know that each of them loves what they do. They just want it to be better. They want it to be the way it should be. Are they willing to make changes?
Our firefighters don’t believe in our management, our IAFF Local is broke, and our leaders accept mediocrity. Our firefighters are our best asset. You put our guys in front of anything burning and they will put it out. They can figure out and fix anything…except their fading department. What we lack is a blueprint. We have leaders, we have some great leaders. They just aren’t focused on saving our department.
We have had numerous bumps in the road…and championed them with being excellent stewards in our community…in the past. We still have battles, but we don’t champion them with being stewards anymore. We are paycheck collectors through and through.
We have excuses. That is all…excuses why we don’t do this or that, why this is that way, why we aren’t who we should be.
We are not involved. We should be. We should be seen here there and everywhere doing great things.
Hell, even the ones who take the time to lead or try to create change are beat down. I have never understood it.
So where do we go from here?
Unfortunately I do not know. I am going to start with my company. I know of another Brother who did the same in my department. I understand it was well received. That is a great start.
I know it needs to start with me…Whatever I do, I have to start it with me. It isn’t about me, I just have to begin the change within myself to effect change in others.
Wish me luck
What about you? Does any of this hit home with you in your department?
What will you do?
The video below is of Retired Captain Pete Price. He passed away a couple of weeks after I filmed this at one of our retirees breakfasts. He had great stories and shares some of them in the video below. This is some of our history…
Brother I feel your pain , and have been in the same battle for some time …
My dept is a one station dept. with about 40 something members , we use to be volunteers now we get paid for 24 hr tours as well as per call if responding from home , I’ve been there for over a year but was with 2 depts prior to that (one in Peru where I’m from and one in the same county ) , I’ve been with the fire service for some amazing 8 years .
The battle for what you are looking for isn’t easy ….and last week I felt I had lost it …
We had the awful situation of a LODD last week in a near city in the same county , I heard the news while at hospital after dropping off a pt (I’m into the EMS for our neighboring county to the south ) nurse friend of mine asked me for details about it …to which I answered “what are you talking about?!?!?”
I literally run to the EMS room and put the news on to find it was true , an LODD had happen so close to home , as the night went by a couple of my friends from different departments called to talk about it followed by my mom begging to change carriers …
I got home after work , found my class A uniform and got it ready to send to the cleaners and then spent an hour polishing my shoes and shining my badge …
Fast forward a few days and after a few updates from the dept question had all the info for the services including the contact info for those organizing it , proceeded to call my assistant chief to find out what arrangements had been made up to that time …I was amazed at the response ” do we have to send someone ? , I don’t think we are going to send units …., if you want you can go, but you won’t get paid for it”
I was livid , feeling so heartbroken, upset at my asst chief even thinking that I wanted to do it so I could get money , and overall angry at the lack of respect given to a fellow brother .
I kept trying but the help was non existent from my dept .
I was the only one that showed up to the services , we had brothers and sister from Canada ,NY, California , Texas , and towns all over the state , rigs from city’s as far as 7 hours away from the north , south and west , as we saluted the casket I stood alone . I had different brothers give me compliments for still going even tough I was alone , but I didn’t want that .
The Procesion and memorial took about 8 hrs , the truck I asked to detail out for it stood at the station , crew less and empty as there was no calls during that time . We were the only department In the county to not have a rig there , the only department in the county to not have a unit for the procession .
I was taught years ago by a now retired captain ” always no matter where u go or who you meet , your department , your rig and your crew is the best , always take pride and represent where u are from ”
And tought there’s been many times I’ve been angry and upset when I saw things gone or done wrong , I always stood by that saying and took pride …but I just can’t do it this time , not after this .
I will be done with the class I’m taking in April (as a matter of fact on my birthday) after that I will switch to a different dept , I had the chance to switch before but I had the hope that I could do great things where I’m at now , now that’s not a possibility .
Brother this isn’t an easy road , it takes a lot of patience to take it , but the results are priceless
Be safe out there
RFB – DTRT – KTF – FTM
Rhett, I think that you are on the right track. We have to start within, we have to identify others who are trying to rebuild the honor, pride, tradition within themselves as well. We have to support each other and lean on each other when the bastards beat us down. They guys who fought for change a 100 years ago couldn’t have imagined where we would be today. Let’s remember everyday how grateful they would be for all the we are blessed with, and keep working to bless the future firefighters with more than they can imagine.
Keep doing what you are doing, we are listening, we are learning, YOU are bringing about change! Good Job.