Doogie
05-27-2002, 10:02 PM
I am a volunteer fireman. I have been so for the past ten years now, everytime I tell someone who isnt a volunteer or who doesnt know a blue collared worker/volunteer, they ask me the same thing. "Arent you scared?? Why do you do it for free?? What is the point of volunteering??"
The reason why I am posting this is that I need a few questions asked for myself. Why do people ask this. I mean I have my reasons why they ask. That being, they never heard of anyone volunteering there time. They automatically think every call is a house fire. They think of getting up at 3 AM to shut off that damn automatic alarm at that convience store and confirming that there isnt anything, and how it affects there precious sleep.
I have to admit these arent traits among people that I have noticed until probably last month whenever I mention that I am a volunteer. Some of the people I work with treat it like I have TB, as if volunteering is a sickness. Yet these are some of the few that would be screaming if there house is on fire yet would get nothing but kindness in return. An answer that is t the point and get them away from the scene so that we could do out job...save there home and family.
Do I sound bitter in my post with this?? Am I a bit lost in what I have been doing for the last ten years?? OR has the community in general lost what the sense of volunteerism in America is anymore?? And when I say the community I mean the country as awhole...have we lost what the meaning of volunteerism is??
I point out that trends in our enrollment points to bad economic times being the times of out hightest enrollment. Does this mean people only notice things when they are bad for themselves?? THEN , they suddenly have the courage to "want to serve my community"?? Why isnt it at the height of that economic high that people want to volunteer there time?? There is always that imminent danger of structure fire, and the Good Lord knows I have served in my share of a few. And God willing will serve is a few more. But to be honest, my only intention in doing so is just to, well, serve my community. Serve the people that I swore on the Bible to serve. Is that wrong, or am I lost soul on a modern quest of foolishness?? I believe in the former, in that I am serving people. I feel warmth when we respond to an automatic alarm at 3am and have a person say "thanks guys" for showing up. I think what hurts me is that the leadership changes soo much that there is no conitnutiy and it leads to firehouse politics. Or as the saying goes "there is no politics like firehouse politics". I think I wanna summarize by saying that I am happy to serve as a volunteer, especially for the last ten years. And that I guess I need some of my questions answered. What has happened to that spirit that treats volunteerism as a pariah today...
<IMG SRC=http://publish.hometown.aol.com/doogcool/myhomepage/rfnetdoogie76.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US>
"Are you going to bark all day little doggie, or are you going to bite??"- Mr Blonde
The reason why I am posting this is that I need a few questions asked for myself. Why do people ask this. I mean I have my reasons why they ask. That being, they never heard of anyone volunteering there time. They automatically think every call is a house fire. They think of getting up at 3 AM to shut off that damn automatic alarm at that convience store and confirming that there isnt anything, and how it affects there precious sleep.
I have to admit these arent traits among people that I have noticed until probably last month whenever I mention that I am a volunteer. Some of the people I work with treat it like I have TB, as if volunteering is a sickness. Yet these are some of the few that would be screaming if there house is on fire yet would get nothing but kindness in return. An answer that is t the point and get them away from the scene so that we could do out job...save there home and family.
Do I sound bitter in my post with this?? Am I a bit lost in what I have been doing for the last ten years?? OR has the community in general lost what the sense of volunteerism in America is anymore?? And when I say the community I mean the country as awhole...have we lost what the meaning of volunteerism is??
I point out that trends in our enrollment points to bad economic times being the times of out hightest enrollment. Does this mean people only notice things when they are bad for themselves?? THEN , they suddenly have the courage to "want to serve my community"?? Why isnt it at the height of that economic high that people want to volunteer there time?? There is always that imminent danger of structure fire, and the Good Lord knows I have served in my share of a few. And God willing will serve is a few more. But to be honest, my only intention in doing so is just to, well, serve my community. Serve the people that I swore on the Bible to serve. Is that wrong, or am I lost soul on a modern quest of foolishness?? I believe in the former, in that I am serving people. I feel warmth when we respond to an automatic alarm at 3am and have a person say "thanks guys" for showing up. I think what hurts me is that the leadership changes soo much that there is no conitnutiy and it leads to firehouse politics. Or as the saying goes "there is no politics like firehouse politics". I think I wanna summarize by saying that I am happy to serve as a volunteer, especially for the last ten years. And that I guess I need some of my questions answered. What has happened to that spirit that treats volunteerism as a pariah today...
<IMG SRC=http://publish.hometown.aol.com/doogcool/myhomepage/rfnetdoogie76.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_US>
"Are you going to bark all day little doggie, or are you going to bite??"- Mr Blonde