: Fire 2020 :: Monthly E-Newsletter Issue No.6 :

November 2008

	Focus on Leadership Defining a New Way of Leading
		President-elect Barack Obama. “I think he is a transformational figure … and for that reason, I’ll be voting for Barack Obama,” said Colin Powell when he was interviewed on NBC’s Meet the Press. A lot of theories have been written about leadership styles. The two most often contrasted are transformational leadership and transactional leadership. A transformational leader takes a visionary position and inspires people to follow. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. The important factor is the leader buys into it, hook, line and sinker. Read more >>
	“Chief Robert King and I had the privilege of addressing 110 middle school students about careers in the fire service. We showed the Why I Chose Fire video. The school is outside of our jurisdiction. Our audience was mainly Hispanic and African American. We wanted to impart to the kids that the modern-day fire service is about more than simply putting out fires. We wanted them to consider the fire service as a choice within their grasp. Not one student mentioned any family members in the fire service so I am guessing there was no family tradition of passing on this career path as is typical with many fire fighters. “I truly believe a diversified fire department is a stronger fire department. If that is to happen we have to reach the youth in middle school. The Why I Chose Fire video gets the fire service as a career possibility on their radar screen and helps breach many of the cultural barriers that exist in getting the message across.” Lt. Joan K. Robinson, Kissimmee Fire Department, Florida

	This Month's Articles
	Ways to Maximize Why I Chose Fire^TM: An Overview of the User Guide Does your fire department, college fire science program, cadet/Explorer program have a value proposition for diversity? How Generation Y savvy are you? Why does it matter? How do you demonstrate your commitment to diversity when your organization has few minorities and women? Who can be your recruiting partners? The Why I Chose Fire User Guide has information that answers those questions and practical tips for planning and giving effective presentations that feature the video.

	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

Why I Chose Fire^TM Being Praised and Used As a Resource!

Thanks to email blasts by IAFC and FESHE and articles in IAFC On Scene and Firehouse.com, to date, we have had 329 downloads of the Why I Chose Fire video. Requests have come from 286 fire departments, 33 college fire science programs, and 10 cadet/Explorer programs.

We’re equally gratified by the Interest in our helping with recruitment efforts and inquiries about customization.

A customized webpage costs $1,500. A page on our website is “branded” for your career fire department, college science program or cadet/Explorer program with your logo, messaging, and contact information. From your customized webpage, visitors can view Why I Chose Fire. (To see an example of a customized website, click here.)

A customized video costs $1,500. We brand Why I Chose Fire with the logo of your career fire department, college science program or cadet/Explorer program, messaging in text or video (from the chief/program director), and contact information. Your organization gets a digital disc copy.

A customized webpage and customized video cost $2,500. This fee includes everything above! For more information about the process, please contact us at: ff@fire2020.org.

Mastering Change in the Fire Service^TM
Montgomery County
Fire Rescue Training Academy
Rockville, Maryland
November 11th and 12th

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 change.

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 have a workshop conducted in your area and for more information, contact us: info@fire2020.org.