Monthly E-Newsletter      December 2008     
 
 

Focus on Leadership
Another Breakthrough in the Glass Ceiling
 

Rhoda Mae Kerr will become chief of the Austin Fire Department on February 1, 2009. Currently, Rhoda Mae is the fire chief of the Little Rock Fire Department.

When making the announcement of Rhoda Mae’s selection, Austin City Manager Marc Ott said that while all of the finalists were very capable chiefs, “Kerr stood out among them in community group meetings and during a site visit that city officials conducted for each of the finalists' fire departments. “Beyond her technical skills, she impressed everyone as a leader with the likability factor that translates into someone who will be both involved in and embraced by the community."

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In Spokane Washington, when the Spokane Fire Department responds to medical and fire emergencies, so does a two-person C.A.R.E.S. Team. The Community Assistance Response Team members are MSW (Master in Social Work) students from Eastern Washington University. (Other community volunteers will join the team in the future.)

The purpose of C.A.R.E.S. is to help with the emotional and practical needs of the fire department’s customers. C.A.R.E.S. is there for immediate crisis intervention and referrals to community agencies. C.A.R.E.S. also responds to referrals from the Department of people who repeatedly call 9-1-1. The Team assists these people with EMS and 9-1-1 education. C.A.R.E.S. also gives referrals to community resources to better meet their needs and get them out of constant crisis. The Team connects customers to existing resources that they may not know about. They also assist people who are in such a state of crisis they struggle to figure out the next step. “Until C.A.R.E.S., we didn’t have the resources to meet the needs of our vulnerable population,” said Erv Williams, Community Services Coordinator, Spokane Fire Department.

 
   
  This Month's Articles
 

Madison Fire Department Has Customized Why I Chose FireTMVideo

A customized version of Why I Chose Fire has just become another tool for Madison Fire Department’s commitment to recruiting and retaining a qualified, diverse, inclusive and safe fire workforce. Fire Chief Debra Amesqua is featured before the video and Division Chief Art Price speaks at the video’s conclusion. Art was also Madison’s program manager for the customization process. “We were able to get our identity into the process and the customization process was really easy.”

Mastering Change in The Fire ServiceTM Exceeds Expectations!

On November 11 and 12, FIRE 20/20 held its first Mastering Change in The Fire Service workshop at Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services training academy in Rockville, Maryland. Montgomery Country participated as well as NIH Fire Department, Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services and Anne Arundel County Fire Department. Developed and facilitated by Hanley Brite, CEO of Authentic Connections, with assistance from Larry Sagen, the overall workshop rating was 4.55 on a scale of 1 to 5!

 
 

 

In-kind sponsor, DiversityInc, publishes a monthly magazine and has an website that “provides news, resources and commentary on the role of diversity in strengthening the corporate bottom line.” While we're from the non-profit, public service world, we have found new learning and pearls of wisdom and had ah-hah moments! Take advantage of a FIRE 20/20 sponsored electronic subscription—at no cost—to DiversityInc magazine at http://www.diversityinc.com/fire2020.
   
 

Visit us online, anytime at http://www.fire2020.org

Copyright © 2008 FIRE 20/20. All rights reserved.

Recent and Upcoming Events

Tune into The Connection!

The Connection, a Fire Engineering radio program “spotlighting best practices and the people in the fire service who are creating positive outcomes,” will be featuring an interview with Larry Sagen, Director of FIRE 20/20.

The Connection is hosted by Division Chief Cheryl Horvath of the Northwest Fire/Rescue District in Tucson. Cheryl is also President of the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services (i-WOMEN).

You will be able to listen to Larry’s interview and the other podcasts since the program’s inaugural June 2nd episode on this link to i-WOMEN’s web site: http://www.i-women.org/sections_divisions.php. .

Mastering Change in the Fire ServiceTM
Arlington Fire Department is hosting a workshop for Dallas, Texas area fire departments on February 3 – 4, 2009.

Mastering Change in The Fire Service is a two-day workshop that provides fire chiefs and their command officers with the insights and tools for mastering changes in the workforce.

The workshop has been structured to have three-person teams from fire departments participate.

The $2,400 fee for a three-person team includes materials, lunches, snacks and beverages.

If you would like to host a workshop in your area, or for more information, contact us: info@fire2020.org.

Changing to a Quarterly Newsletter

Beginning next year, FIRE 20/20’s e-newsletter will be sent out at the end of each quarter. If an issue or event warrants a more timely communication, we’ll send out a special edition.