Fire Corps ... Is it for You?
NF&R News
CAMPAIGN HELPS YOUR RECRUITING
Sanna Mattson MacLeod advertising agency recently created a national campaign to recruit volunteer firefighters for the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
The ads ask the question, “Will you answer the call?” Juxtaposed with images of firefighters is a call to action, saying, “Make a difference. Become a volunteer firefighter.” The ads are being distributed in kits that explain how state volunteer firefighter associations can customize the materials for their own use. One section of the kit provides tips and guidance on how to most effectively purchase media advertising and deal with the press. The kits free the associations from the time and expense of developing individual strategic marketing plans and can be easily adapted for local campaigns. In addition to the national advertising campaign, the kits include posters, brochures, public relations content and community relations programs to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering.
“Sanna Mattson MacLeod really captured the heart of the issue—giving back to your neighbors and community,” said Heather Schafer, executive director of the NVFC. “Volunteer firefighters are on the frontlines protecting our families and property. Many people don’t realize what a vital role volunteers play in keeping us safe.”
The advertising agency has 20 years of experience helping organizations meet their business and recruiting goals, and recently organized a campaign for the Suffolk County (N.Y.) Fire Rescue and Emergency Services that increased its recruitment by more than 40 percent.
According to a U.S. Fire Administration census, only eight percent of the nation’s departments are staffed by career firefighters, while 71 percent are all volunteer and another 16 percent are mostly volunteer. For more information, visit the NVFC’s Web site at www.nvfc.org. NF&R
“Fire departments throughout the country are struggling with recruitment issues,” said Charlie MacLeod, president of the agency located in Smithtown, N.Y. “We created print, television and radio spots that highlight the emotional appeal of making a difference.
“We wanted to represent the spirit of volunteerism and the bravery of firefighting in every element of the campaign.”
Get a Fire Corps program started in your community. For more information, go to www.firecorps.org, where you can download a resource guide that includes extensive information on developing programs and offers case studies that detail how other departments are benefiting from citizen advocates. Once you have your plan for Fire Corps, be sure to register it at the Web site and alert your community to the program.
Fire Corps is a partnership between the VCOS, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). For additional information, you may also contact Susan Kalish at the IAFC office at 703-273-0911 or VCOS board member Larry Curl at wtfdcurl@comcast.net.
LEARN MORE LESSONS
The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center recently launched a newly redesigned version of its Web site, www.myfirecommunity.net, part of the center’s effort to provide a forum for people in the wildland fire community to share information and work together more efficiently.
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