Movin' on up!

[SPFDRum]

Great, next he will be drawing up plans to absorb Eau Claire!! Congrats!!!

[Dickey]

WOW!

Thanks for all the kind words and the jabs too. Made me giggle, however gentle they may be!! Seriously, it really makes me humble to get the kudos from the group. Last Tuesday I had to buy a round at the local pub and will probably buy pizzas for the group this coming Tuesday. I have always told other guys not to forget where you came from and wholeheartedly will follow my own advice.

Talk about trial by fire, Tuesday get promoted, and Wednesday have a budget meeting with the city administrator on where to shave off $20,000 for this year and ideas for next year already. God I hate politics!! I feel I am somewhat lucky to have an administrator that will at least listen to what you have to say. Gonz...you are right...more plungers are needed for the crap you deal with!

[PaladinKnight]

You're only cutting $20K. Let's trade... I'm trying to find $200K. Lucky you.

[Dickey]

You're only cutting $20K. Let's trade... I'm trying to find $200K. Lucky you.

Oopsie....typo....$40,000 this year and a projected $60,000 next year. True, it's peanuts to larger departments but it all hurts, no matter how big or small you are.

[Chenzo]

Congrats Jason!

Pizza Tuesday you say... Hmm...

[PaladinKnight]

Oopsie....typo....$40,000 this year and a projected $60,000 next year. True, it's peanuts to larger departments but it all hurts, no matter how big or small you are.

I wasn't implying that it was peanuts at all. It's real money that affects people, whether it is the public or our guys.

I was hoping to get agreements from staff; overall it didn't happen. That is the slippery slope, sometimes you just run out of magic rabbits. I'm not going to win any popularity contests during the next few weeks.

Remember to do everything for the guys you serve and understand that there are times when you will not be in a position to fix some things. This will be the hardest part of your job. You will lose many hours of sleep. But I wish you well in your future mission my friend.

[ChiefKN]

Oopsie....typo....$40,000 this year and a projected $60,000 next year. True, it's peanuts to larger departments but it all hurts, no matter how big or small you are.

Just a thought, and it depends on your gang, but did you ask them?

Are there things they might work with admin on, so that they don't have to suffer from the cuts?

That's a big amount of money, good luck.

[LaFireEducator]

Was promoted to LT on my volunteer department before leaving for the NFA last week after a whooping 4 months of service.

Was put in charge of fire prevention, assist with training, RIT operations, starting an extrication and technical operations program and Haz-mat.

I basically joined the department to get away from many of the responsibilities I have at my FT gig on my combo department.

We see how well that worked out.

[hwoods]

LA, You're not alone. For almost all of my time in the Fire Service I've held membership in more than one VFD. In my Younger days, Glenn Dale was a "Couple of calls a Week" outfit, but it was also home and family, so I didn't just Move on, I also joined a much busier VFD to get Experience Quicker. It worked. All thru the Years of being an Officer, I would find time to help another VFD by riding in the back or Driving so I could enjoy being at a Fire, but not being at the Command Post. I still do today........ It's common for VFDs in my part of the World to have a few members who "Commute" to Volunteer in a much busier area than that where they live.

[LaFireEducator]

In this case, this VFD is much slower than my combo department. Their closest station is about 9 miles from my house, and the district line is about 5, so I'm generally not an initial responder.

I started doing some training for both specifically for them, and for their parish a couple of years ago. I found that I liked working with them a quite a bit and started volunteering with them this spring.

They are a very rural department, and quite young, especially among the captain and LT ranks. They currently do no vehicle or technical rescue, and do very little haz-mat, and they have asked me to help them assemble response capabilities in those areas.

[Weruj1]

Jason ....CONGRATS to you !~ as a quadruple Plunger Carrier for going on 12 years I can relate to all the posts ! Hang in and holler if I (or anyone else) can help ya !!!!!!!! AWESOME !!!!!!!!

[Blulakr]

I was debating if I should post this or not cuz I hate to toot my own horn.

But you tooted it anyhow!!!

Congrats, arse chief!!

Seriously, good luck to you. Be a good leader and your members will make you proud.

[FFFRED]

Congrats,

FTM-PTB

[CaptOldTimer]

Congts Brother. Good luck in your new position.


Remember one thing, "The higher you climb the ladder, the more arz you are going to show"!!!

You'll do very well.

[rescueraver]

congrats and i hope the best of luck to you.

[Dickey]

But you tooted it anyhow!!!

Congrats, arse chief!!

Seriously, good luck to you. Be a good leader and your members will make you proud.

Hmmm.....

You sound familiar, do I know you?

I always tell my guys to "make me proud" and just recently they have been calling arse chief....makes me think me knows you!! Where you at boy?

[Dickey]

Just a thought, and it depends on your gang, but did you ask them?

Are there things they might work with admin on, so that they don't have to suffer from the cuts?

Yes I did actually. What I did after getting promoted is send out an anonymous department survey and one of them was a budget question. I think we can do the savings and not be affected all that much. Currently we all have our own hourly wage based on training, rank and longevity. I think a "training wage" would be more accepted and least painful. Actually it has been suggested by a few guys. This would be a significant savings. Also we have a minimum 2 hour call in wage for any fire call. Similar to other city departments that have a 2 hour call in. So....on sounding alarms, we would be home within 45 minutes but get paid for 2 hours. Many guys have said we should get rid of that too. Any cuts suck, but these will be the least painful I believe and a lot of the suggestions came from the rank and file.

I would rather cut that than training or equipment getting cut.

[Dickey]

Jason ....CONGRATS to you !~ as a quadruple Plunger Carrier for going on 12 years I can relate to all the posts ! Hang in and holler if I (or anyone else) can help ya !!!!!!!! AWESOME !!!!!!!!

Thanks bud!! I will certainly need it sooner or later. Gotcha on speed dial!!

[snowball]

Congrats! Here's your cake.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Gary Gary Gary *shakes her head*

I can honestly say I've never seen a cake QUITE like THAT before LOL