It seems that things are getting worse for a number of brigades, constant
defaulting and more crews leaving large areas unprotected.
Firstly, those of you that are struggling, has the service picked up on the fact
you are struggling, and are they offering assistance to you?
In general, "The Service" knows nothing if we volunteers don't tell it that we
have a problem. It employs administrators & trainers, not psychics !
Secondly, those that are struggling, what stratergies are you implementing to solve
the issue, this may in fact help others who are in the same boat. Also those that
have been in this boat in the past, and are now running well, what did you do.
Got a whole bunch of questions for you as you go down the page...
What is your Group doing to help the brigade ?
Has the Brigade captain contacted the Regional VSO ?
If so, what has been arranged ?
I would expect something along the lines of a meeting between VSO & management
committee to get an idea of the health of the brigade, its 'attractiveness' to
non-members (internal issues, exclusivity, etc), what has been tried so far,
what worked, what didn't, why the members think others won't join, what do
non-members really say are their reasons for not joining. In other words, a
brutally honest look at the brigade. You don't neeed a VSO to do this, but it
helps to have a referee present to keep order if there is actually a problem...
You may need to make significant changes to fix problems or make the brigade
more attractive. Moving training so it no longer clashes with footy training
and bingo night for example.
Or asking a problem member to find another hobby.
Then do something different to what you have been doing so far. Target the sort
of people you want in the brigade. Go to them, get involved in their lives.
Or something. Pounce on new people in the district with a welcome pack & invite
to dinner (followed by training down the CFS shed) before the Lions or Rotary do.
We aren't very good at this stuff ourselves yet. But we're working on it &, I think,
starting to make progress.
From my perspective it appears CFS HQ does NOTHINGto help, and seems oblivious
that they have large areas compleltly without fire protection. Those that are in dire
situations seem to be left to their own devices.
Tell us how things are going for you, we know CFS HQ reads this, might be a good idea
to let it all out ?
What have you folks actually done so far ?
How many of your people are actively on-board with attracting members ?
My philosophy is that CFS HQ have no magic wands.
In the end the brigade stands or falls on its own efforts & merits.
With help of Group & VSO as required.
VSO's *are* CFS HQ offering to help. Make use of them.
HTH
cheers
