When I was blessed to be an instructor of Executive Planning at the National Fire Academy, we used a seven-part video series titled “Last Place on Earth” as a study guide in leadership principles. This was a 1985 film series based off Roland Huntford’s book “Scott and Amundsen,” later to be republished as “Last Place on Earth.”
The story focused on Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Scott and their simultaneous quests to be the first to reach the South Pole. In the end, Scott and Amundsen both reached the South Pole—Amundsen getting there first. Amundsen and his team survived, while Scott and several members of his team perished. Their contrasting fates on the same mission has long invited analysis of the leaders’ strategic planning and project management abilities—and how their different approaches produced monumentally different outcomes.
A strong approach
The 116th Congress begins on Jan. 3, 2019. All predictions are that Congress will be further divided, with the Democrats taking control of the House and the Republicans gaining more control of the Senate and, well, it is safe to say that the president is the president. What will the new policy direction be with a divided Congress, and how will this impact the fire service?
Tax policy and healthcare will remain at the top of the list. What does that have to do with the fire service? New legislation will be introduced related to high-rise fire and life safety. There will be attempts to make the technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would allow residential occupancies to receive tax incentives for improving fire and life safety. Associations can now offer healthcare plans across state lines, improve retirement benefits and collaborate more together.
Do you have a new governor, state senator, representative or assemblyperson? Do you have a new senator or congressperson, especially in a state that changed from a “D” to an “R” or vice versa? Invite them to an event! This was the great advice from Evan Davis—government relations coordinator for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)—speaking at the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) Symposium in the Sun in November 2018, right after the election. Davis underscored that your Congressional elected officials are spending more and more time in their districts. As such, take the opportunity to invite them to your open house or to participate in a ride along, or simply go meet them at their district office and get to know the staff. I would add, make sure you don’t go with a bunch of demands. Share how you have benefited from the FIRE Act Grants and offer to be a resource for information that involves fire protection and fire service issues.
How are your politics at the local level? There was an upset at the local level where I once lived in Tennessee that will be interesting for the community, as it brought back some members of the “old guard,” which, in my opinion, will be good for the little town. For the first time in the past six years, the fire department will be back in good standing with the town, or at least a majority of its elected officials.
You may be saying that the “old guard” needs to go, but oftentimes, the fire department isn’t familiar to those new to government. This may be in the local community or the internal politics of the fire company. I would just say be careful with labels or biases, because that may be what is polarizing our politics at the local, state and national levels—and even within our own fire departments.
Bridge the divide
Let’s not be “poles apart” as a fire and emergency service. Let us unite and let us come together more, even if our political leaders get further apart. We must ensure that our strategic mission takes the right path for the betterment of the fire service.
On May 5 and 6, 2019, the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, FL, will hold its 17th Annual Truman Legacy Symposium, a two-day educational conference. This year’s topic is Fire Prevention in honor of Truman’s 1947 President’s Conference on Fire Prevention. We hope you will consider joining the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in support of the Truman Legacy Symposium. For details, visit trumanlittlewhitehouse.com and click on Symposium for registration and details.
