This can make managing and running the department challenging on several fronts. Include your people and make them feel part of the process by soliciting feedback; when changes must occur, explain the why. Chief – Christopher Jones Chris has served as chief of the Department since December 2014 is also currently the Volunteer Coordinator for Arlington County Fire Department. I found the class was very helpful and informative for a new "Fire leader. Volunteer Fire Department. Policies and rules are not effective … Follow all the way through with that task and let them know what the result is. Chief of Department. Captain 'Canutillo District' Bobby Reichardt Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Bobby joined West Valley Fire Department in 2007. Our administrative leadership team provides key insight into governance, fiscal and strategic matters whereas our line office directs all firematic and emergency medical operations. The administrative and operational leadership / officers of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department. Mike joined the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department in 2007 and currently serves there as Chief. Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department. To help rectify this, I employ what I call the “triple communication” method. Department Leadership; Members & Alumni; The John L. Bryan Fire Service Dormitory; Department History; Contact Us; Join. 7701 Landover Rd Landover, MD 20785 (301) 773-6033. Mike Wendt: President. Station 1. The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: More Thoughts on Leadership, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Ownership, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Succession Planning, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Becoming a Better Firefighter, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Take Five Minutes, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Theft Management, The Professional Volunteer Fire Department, Firefighter Training Prop: Modular SCBA Maze, The National Fireman's Journal, Nov. 17, 1877, How to Achieve Success When Short Staffed. They also have the courage to recognize that there are always people who might know something they don’t; who have a skill set above their own; and who understand that by ditching their ego and actually listening, an organization can flourish. Phone: Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 301-776-3600 William Patelis Station. Don’t ever ask your members to do something that you aren’t willing to do yourself. People want their leaders to be around. Crews on career fire departments may rarely interact on a personal or professional level with anybody above the rank of Battalion Chief. Treat firefighters like adults unless they act like children. Mailing Address: 7411 Cherry Lane Laurel, MD 20707. If you don’t, your reputation suffers. Volunteers do not have to be on our departments and if the leadership environment is not functional, good quality people will leave. Photos; ... College Park Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Officers . Meet our Operations Officers, Administration Officers, and Auxiliary Officers who make up the leadership of Station 27. Included in consistency is follow through. Kentland Volunteer Fire Department President Since 2018. The Church Hill Volunteer Fire Department and our community owe gratitude to all the men and women who have lead our organization over the years. 13900 Old Columbia Pike … PO Box 195 Upper Marlboro, MD 20773 Visits Today : Visitors Online : Total Visits : Most Visitors Online : Most Visitors a Day : : 814: 11: 1,290,727: 3830 on Apr 3, 2017: 9503 on Jun 21, 2018 He also is a fire dispatcher for the Amherst (NY) Fire Alarm Office. Firefighters who are volunteering their time to do a very demanding, stressful and dangerous occupation deserve leadership that is functional and supportive. Read the complete series here! 14815 Pratt Street Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. The members of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department and Board of Directors elected a new slate of leadership for 2021, a group of dedicated volunteers passionate about our organization and our future growth. Donate; Contact; Menu. The treasurer of your fire department is a vital link in the corporate chain. Photo courtesy of Erik Wood. Leadership. At the December annual meeting, Ryan Pidgeon was elected by the membership to a two-year term as Fire Chief. 13900 Old Columbia Pike … Leadership Administrative & Operational Leadership. Leadership. For an organization to survive and remain healthy in the 21st century, a highly skilled and adaptable work force is fundamental. Leadership; Station; Apparatus; History; News. The operational leadership team is responsible for ensuring that our members comply with all CVFD and Fairfax County policies related to training for and providing EMS and suppression services. Your members obviously have jobs and family commitments and are most likely not at the firehouse all the time. leadership affects how firefighters interact with self, peers, leaders, and organizational objectives. Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department. As the legendary Fire Department of New York Chief Vincent Dun said, “There are no new lessons to be learned from a firefighter’s death or injury. It’s understandable that certain things need to remain private and confidential, but whenever and wherever possible, keep the membership informed. Being consistent and following through shows that we care and are engaged with the membership — and that will go a very long way to department cohesiveness. Kentland Volunteer Fire Department Chief Since 2019. It is unacceptable for leaders to have their heads buried in the sand; this reflects very badly on them when they say things such as “nobody told me” or “I didn’t know.” When they say things like this it makes them appear out of touch with the membership. Department Leadership; Mission - Vision - Values; Past Leadership; Station Facilities; BVFD Auxiliary; Patch Requests; Department History; Volunteer Here. Drew Gilbert - EMT. Being interested makes you better informed and more prepared to take care of your people. Share. Our challenge is to actually apply the lessons they pass on to us. Inspire those around you by having an interest and caring about your people as well as what inspires and motivates them. Craig S. Baker 2009-2010 The Kohler Volunteer Fire Department. Members are encouraged to participate in standing committees by contacting the appropriate committee chair, listed here. Be interested! volunteer firefighters (N=20) as well as department leadership in the fire service (N=7). The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department is organized into operational and administrative sections; however, many members contribute to both sides of the department. He has conducted various fire service presentations throughout the Western New York area as well as at FDIC. The success or failure of leadership boils down to how functional that leadership is. Membership will become demotivated and disenchanted if it appears that their requests and recommendations are falling on deaf ears. Small scale fire departments or volunteer fire departments in small towns may only have one or two stations. Your people want to know what is going on; if an officer embarks on some type of secretive, need-to-know style of leadership, rumors, gossip and lots of false information can spread like wildfire through an organization. All personnel changes will be effective January 1, 2021. At the December annual meeting, Ryan Pidgeon was elected by the membership to a two-year term as Fire Chief. Current Page: … General Contact Information. The purpose of the leadership interviews was to discuss their perceptions of He can be reached at [email protected]. On volunteer departments, the Chief is very likely to be on the call. It also gains support for the leader. When I had to relay important information, I would do it three ways: I announced it at our department’s monthly business meeting, I reviewed it at the start of our weekly drill (what I call “housekeeping items”—quick tidbits of important information I cover in a few minutes), and I reviewed it in our monthly department newsletter. Remember, a leader need not be an officer, but certainly all good officers should be good leaders. Latest On Twitter; Multimedia. There are also additional roles seen in fire department if they have specialist divisions or the need for other leadership ranks. It’s possible that at some point, either in your professional or personal life or even in your department you have experienced leadership that was lacking, stifled, and demotivated to an entire organization. By Mechanicsville Volunteers. Fire Department. EMS Station 3 1069 St Ignatius Drive Waldorf, MD 20602 301-645-9292. Following are some additional leadership lessons that are time tested and battle proven. Support your members! Like most organizations, volunteer fire departments find success in consistency. Apply Today; Sackroom Membership; Membership Types and Requirements; Benefits; Application Process; News. In no way do they inspire their membership. 0. 4506 Long Green Road P.O. Box 699 Laurel, MD 20725-0699. Chief Massarotti has worked his way through the various Line Officers positions since joining the department. Consistency when it comes to personnel issues, especially discipline on a small volunteer department, will show the membership that even though we all volunteer to be here, there are standards that must be adhered to and that those standards will be applied regardless of relationship or rank. Be passionate! Fortunately, there are countless resources out there authored by proven leaders from the military, the business world, and the fire service, but we can learn only so much from them. Explain the why! For an organization to flourish, solid, effective leadership is paramount. News and Announcements Join Us Open Menu Close Menu. Humans are horrible at communicating with each other. Box 295 Sandy Spring, MD 20860 Admin Phone: 301-774-7400 … You will not only move your department forward in a positive direction, but the department will now be staffed with a more supportive, harmonious, and professional membership committed to providing a professional level of service. Part 2: Communicate (posting 8/15) In part 2 we are going discuss how consistent communication can go a long way towards building buy in and ownership on the department. Being consistent is a very key element to leadership in any profession but especially in ours. Member Portal Login. Commodore Vol. Explaining the Why can generate needed support and gain team buy-in that is critically important when moving an organization forward harmoniously. It’s hard work with little immediate reward for your efforts. He joined the FCVFRA Board in 2010 and was elected President in 2015. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, he joined the West Valley Fire Department in 2001, after a brief (20-year) stop in New Mexico while serving as a member of the United States Air Force. Leadership. The growth of volunteer fire departments comes through recruitment of the next generation, retention of the current workforce and replacement of leadership through thoughtful succession planning. In my previous article, I covered a variety of leadership traits that all quality professional fire officers should embrace to be a more successful leader in the firehouse and on the fireground. Vague communication also inhibits a leader from inspiring his team. Volunteer & Combination Officers; Bugle Partners; Partner. Holding 2&2, placing the rest of the box in service. The rank-and-file can be down and upset, but strong leaders raise them up. Remember, you are volunteering to do a job that can kill you and those under your command. Their passion and vision help drive the UCVFD forward in maintaining and fulfilling the organization's mission and goals. Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: (410) 592-8337 Non-Emergency: (410) 887-5772 We have been serving the citizens of St. Mary's County, Maryland for over 80 years. Members might still be upset, but they cannot say that they did not have input, and they certainly cannot say nobody told them it was coming or why it was happening. So often overlooked and downplayed by leaders in organizations everywhere; how many times have you heard the expression “lack of communication”? The best assurance fire department leadership can have of a finely tuned, safety-conscious firefighting force is training. In today’s fast-paced … A look back at 2020 for the Commodore Volunteer Fire Department in Indiana County PA. If something goes right, the troops get the credit. Ditch the negativity in front of the troops because it’s contagious and will affect the environment in your firehouse. Get the idea? Their passion and vision help drive the UCVFD forward in maintaining and fulfilling the organization's mission and goals. Leaders who care and who are interested earn the respect of their team, which builds department cohesiveness. Strong leaders possess strong situational awareness. Let’s continue on this leadership journey. Mike joined the Centreville Volunteer Fire Department in 2007 and currently serves there as Chief. Jake Chappell - Captain/EMT. Support them, listen to them, communicate with them, explain the Why to them, be aware of what is going on in the firehouse, demonstrate your genuine interest in them, exude positivity, personify humbleness, and show your passion. They are aware of the mood and the overall atmosphere in the organization and are in tune with not only what is happening in the firehouse but in their local and national fire service as well. If something goes wrong, it’s the officer’s fault and they seek ways to correct it and ensure it does not happen again. Celebrating 40 years of Volunteer Service. Over the next three articles we are going to discuss three easy ways to provide function leadership. Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. - Company 2. You owe it to them to be interested in what is happening in the fire service. Learn about their job, their family, and what is going on in their life. All good leaders are humble enough to accept that which they don’t know. The members of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department and Board of Directors elected a new slate of leadership for 2021, a group of dedicated volunteers passionate about our organization and our future growth. Sponsored by the IAFC Here in rural Oklahoma we don't have a lot o opportunities for leadership training or development as a officer. A Leadership Guide For Volunteer Fire Departments by Jack W. Snook, A Leadership Guide For Volunteer Fire Departments Books available in PDF, EPUB, Mobi Format. In a room full of fire service leaders, Steve Prziborowski, Deputy Chief of Operations for the Santa Clara County (CA) Fire Department, openly admitted he could have been a much, much better company officer – especially when it came to being a supervisor and a leader. Member Portal Login. PO Box 397 Puckett, MS. 39151 puckett.fd@gmail.com Facebook: Puckett vfd Commodore Vol. *Blog Written by Hayley Aguilar of TargetSolutions. See below and listen up! This is important when a long-standing way of doing things or a long-standing procedure or practice is modified or eliminated. Lincoln Bar; Lund Bar; Vulcan Hook; … When you visit Clarion Events (and our family of websites), we use cookies to process your personal data in order to customize content and improve your site experience, provide social media features, analyze our traffic, and personalize advertising. Remember, the next idea the members bring forth may actually be a very good one; if the members have been mocked, yelled at, or made to feel unappreciated, that good idea will never be brought up again, and the organization suffers the consequences. A strong leader must also show interests in the entire fire service, yet I consistently see so-called leaders who seem bored or bothered and acting completely disinterested in their profession. Be aware! The volunteer fire service is volunteer. 3 Leadership Tips For Volunteer Fire Departments. Fire inspectors need to know how to interpret and apply national and local codes and … 0. The best Fire Leadership Training about $40 per class. Leadership; SOPs; Department History; The Firehouse; Tool History. Mitch Dinowitz Fire Chief Brendan Bonita Battalion Chief Robert McHenry Captain Justin Stine EMS Lieutenant Administrative Leadership . He is a fire commissioner for the Snyder Fire District. Using the above example (where members ask for something that the leadership cannot or will not do), an effective leader will take the time necessary to communicate with the team that you considered their request and reached a decision. Fire Prevention … We drill several times per month, and can respond to as many as 100 emergencies per year. The department has three leadership groups that ensure all aspects of the department are running smoothly and efficiently while working together. You see and interact with these individuals professionally and perhaps socially on a regular basis. A look back at the year in video and stills. When members ask for something we must follow through if we’ve agreed to do it. Leadership; SOPs; Department History; The Firehouse Leadership is a continual evolutionary process no matter how long you’ve been in the fire service. You are volunteering to lead people into harm’s way and do incredibly dangerous work. He currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management from West Texas A&M, as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Leadership … Even if your decision was not to their liking, the members will appreciate that they received an answer and that their input was valued and considered. Operational Leadership . A look back at the year in video and stills. Billing Address: P.O. Good communicating is easy, and yet leaders fail miserably at it all the time. A skilled team of dedicated leaders work tirelessly to provide oversight and direction to our volunteer membership. A written definition of the organization’s mission and of the role of management is the place to start, because an effective organization manages expectations from the top down. Skip to Content Home About Current Page: Leadership Member Resources. Request Access. On the administrative side, the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company is a corporation governed by bylaws and run by a board of directors. Eddie has also served the department in multiple leadership positions during his 20 year tenure, most recently as a Captain and Fire Inspector. By choosing “I Agree”, you understand and agree to Clarion’s Privacy Policy. , MS. 39151 puckett.fd @ gmail.com Facebook: Puckett vfd leadership ; ;. ; SOPs ; department History ; News December annual meeting, Ryan Pidgeon was elected President in.. Be fired up and interested in what is going on in their own department corporate chain the Volunteer Fire was. Using them in everyday firehouse life, leadership success will follow come first, but leaders! 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