Check out this topic in the meet and greet section"VFD - Are we our own worst enemy?"

[FireGuyNeil]

Go to the meet and greet section and check out the topic on The Volunteer Fire Service - Are we our own worst enemy? I would love to hear some more replies from FF's from all over the nation.

[hctrouble25]

I have said this time and time again...if you don't speak up about the issues in your department then nothing will ever be done and you can keep bitching until you turn blue. If you don't have a set big enough to speak up for yourself then keep quiet. The problem is that there are too many whiners and not enough members willing to put their butts on the line in front of the whole deparment and speak up. I don't have this problem...I work as a manager in corporate America so I deal with people every day..and I speak my mind every day, it is what I get paid to do. So at the firehouse I do it too. I may not always be right, but at least I let my feelings be known that way no one can fault me for not speaking up when the time was right. I crack up when we have a meeting and no one opens their mouth, then after I see this group huddled in that corner, that group huddled in another one, etc. and they are all talking about how unhappy they are about what happened at the meeting. For God's Sake..speak up people! We are adults. Adults say what they need to and take responsibility for their actions and words also. If you can't or won't do this then it is your own fault. Last time I checked none of us read minds...so you need to open up your mouth and speak. If there are double standards, document it and bring it to someone's attention, if there are not enough or good enough standards or procedures then do something about it other than bitching and moaning. We are only our worst enemy as long as we continue to allow ourselves to be. Take care out there.

[hctrouble25]

Surprised more people have not responded to this topic.