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VolunteerFD.org Member News October 2007 |
| Volunteer Professionals | |
| Electing Volunteer Fire Officers | |
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By Jason J. Zigmont |
As another year comes toward an end, many departments are holding their elections or appointing new officers. This process can be difficult and requires a balancing act to make sure that the right officer is put into each position. While researching this topic, I found that there were more options for election requirements than I would ever have believed. Therefore, I will try to take a broad look at the issue, but will focus on firefighting officers only.  The one common denominator in all election or appointment procedures is some type of minimum requirements. These commonly include meetings, drills, calls, years in service and/or certifications. Some may say that minimum requirements aren't needed, as the best person will always win … Those of us who have been in the service for a while know that it is actually often the most popular, rather than the best qualified, who gets the job. So what requirements are fair? The answer varies by department, the number of members, number of calls, and duties of the officer. Minimally, the officers should be held to the same standards as any "active" firefighter. Ideally, they should be setting an example and be held to a higher standard. To require attendance at half of the monthly drills/meetings is reasonable. Exemptions can be made for extreme circumstances, but it needs to be the same for everyone.  Read Full Column Read more columns by Jason Zigmont
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