 |
VolunteerFD.org Member News May 2008 |
 Visit VolunteerFD Forums |
Visit VolunteerFD Topics |
Visit FireGrantsHelp.com |
| Volunteer Professionals | |
| Ensuring Success in SAFER Grant Applications | |
| By Jason Zigmont, VolunteerFD Columnist | |
 Each year a new cycle starts for departments to apply for SAFER Grants — and each year I wonder why more departments do not apply. Applications can begin Tuesday, and the SAFER Grants provide funds for increasing staffing either by hiring firefighters or implementing a recruitment and/or retention program.
 In 2007, only 1,728 departments applied for such a grant, and of that only 562 applied for a recruitment program. If you assume there's approximately 30,000 eligible fire departments in the United States, this means that just slightly more than 5 percent applied for these funds last year. I am sure that more than 5 percent of all the departments in the United States have problems with maintaining minimum staffing — so why don't more departments apply? While it may be impossible to say exactly why departments are not applying, general confusion or the lack of unique ideas for recruitment and retention probably plays a part. The lack of unique ideas may be complicated by the grant guidance, which specifically state that departments may not make cash payments to members. All too often, this is what departments want to use when they think of recruitment and retention. But cash payments have been found to have a limited effect. It's creative programs that the SAFER program is looking to fund.  Full Column |
|
| Read more VolunteerFD original columns
|
|
 |
|||
 |
 |
||
|
View all FlashoverTV Volunteer Videos
|
|||
|
Sponsored by Masimo
Have an interesting story about how you used the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-oximeter at an incident? We'd love to hear it! FireRehab.com and Masimo are looking for your stories about using the Rad-57. Tell us how the Rad-57 came into play in your incident and win a FREE Masimo duffel bag. Your story may also be posted on the site and potentially featured as our Case Study of the Month! 
Submit your Case Study today! |
 |
| News and Announcements: | |
|
Social club at Pa. fire company raided, 17 volunteers resign [Colwyn, Pa.] Ind. firefighter's death linked to stress in battling arsons [Eaton, Ind.] Rift leaves Pa. fire company at risk of disbanding [Delaware County, Pa.] N.Y. chiefs, departments, homeowner 'negligent' in 2002 LODDs [Pompey, N.Y.] La. department accused of faking numbers; discipline possible [Jefferson Parish, La.] Dwindling volunteers change Maine firefighting [Scarborough, Maine]
|
|
| Read more Volunteer Firefighting news and columns | |
 |
VolunteerFD.org eNewsletter 200 Green Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 (888) 765-4231 |
 |
|
If you are no longer interested in receiving the VolunteerFD.org eNewsletter, follow the Unsubscribe link below. DO NOT REPLY to this email. © Praetorian Group |