General Discussion > Women of the Fire Industry
Why?
kat:
What's wrong with "come and try days" and "focus groups"?
We had one member come back from last weekends new members day very, very keen and motivated and wishing to nominate for BA and RCR. Now I have been asking her (yes, irrelevantly a female) to consider these courses for quite some time with no success. So this day was of immediate benefit to our Brigade and community straight away.
And during my time condicting sessions during the Women in CFS come and try days I encountered many, many success stories from women who had been inspired to become active firies, drivers, BA opearators etc. Most have to overcome life long societal baggage that has given them the ingrained impression that they are incapable of doing these things. A lot of them had to face more overt and nasty (not to mention unlawful) disincentives.
If Many Brigades are (and I believe they are) experiencing volunteer recruitment and retention problems and they have, say 2% female membership and women are 51% of available potential volunteers why wouldn't you welcome an initiative to make membership more attractive to that sector? (Particularly when there are distinct barriers to this sector). Similarly if the Brigade membership average age is 50, why wouldn't you try to attract younger members with specific programs?
Look forward to your answers :-)
Firefrog:
That's a great post Kat!! and so true!!
Mike:
Cant disagree with that Kat......
strikeathird:
I think its time H/Q or someone up top formulate some sort of Recruitment package! Help the services not only recruit, but retain there members..!
Who out there actually recieves any help from group or region when it comes to recruitment!! ????
oz fire:
Recruitment is part of the "Volunteer Management Branch's" role from SAFECOM.
At a Regional level this is facilitated by the VSO - Volunteer Support Officer, who if requested can provide Brigades and Groups with assistance, advise, material, banners, posters, brouchers, strategies for recruitment, retention and a number of other ideas to help us keep our brigades active!!!
Just give the region a call - some VSO's are allot more proactive than others, however they should all have the promotional material and heap of info.
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