I read with amazement a story that appeared in the Sunday edition of the New Haven Register titled Volunteer firefighting is the real deal, but fewer answer the call. Some of the reader comments regarding the story make it crystal clear to me that public perception of both paid and volunteer departments still lacks understanding. Many folks are downright hostile about who we are or what our motivation is to be a member of the fire service.
PIO’s, I guess we need to roll up our shirt sleeves and start to learn to speak Neanderthalese.
Watch out for an angry mob at a fire station near you.
In all sincerity, how do we reach out to the public to offer continued education on the vital work we do and quell some of the underlying hostility that is still directed at our profession?
To many it appears that our sincerity is a smoke screen to the nefarious activates we participate in, such as perennial Octoberfests and Super Mario tournaments.
READ THE STORY WITH VIDEO HERE
Oh, by the way, the initial comment by “Angry Taxpayor,” proves that spelling is not a prerequisite to comment in the New Haven Register. I also suspect that the angry guy and John Adcox and some others postings are from one in the same, but still an interesting exchange of a citizens skewed views.
Also on The Fire PIO…
- The Fire Pio’s List of Awareness Months and Weeks – August 16, 2010
- PIO Product Review – MediaSync – September 16, 2010
- PR Distribution in a Social Media World – August 18, 2010
- Looks like we are getting some Respect – December 7, 2010
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