ex-commish

Doesn't surprise me.

First to Seth....good post. Makes lots of sense. Now to DonMoose. I think you need to read Seth's poat again. He wasn't telling anyone what they can or can not post. Maybe I am used to an era when a probie was told to keep quiet and learn but that was 27 years ago and times have changed I guess which at times reading some of the posts in here I have to scratch my head. There are people who post on here who have forgotten what I have yet to learn and all is asked is some respect as would be in any firehouse.

PVAC has been a great help to us. Today proved it again.

Amazing what our youth will do to amuse themselves. Lucky there weren't shot.

As I have posted before in other forums I have been a big advocate of reform with officers both in selection and in training. The election process needs to go. Period. I have seen to many unqualified people in charge because they were either popular or others felt it was owed. Officers should be appointed based on training and experience. Career officers have to attend FLIP school which consists of : Educational Methodology, Fire Behavior and Arson Awareness, Fire Cause and Origin Determination, Haz Mat First Responder Operations, Fire Instructor Level 1, and Fire Officer Level 1. Someone correct me if I left anything out. These courses can be obtained over a period of time. Raz, good post.

Piels? Worse than Pabst Blue Ribbons...LOL

I don't think the military's only purpose is to blow up other countries and your statement does a dis-service to our members of the Armed Forces. I do believe besides protecting our country they also spend alot of time in peace keeping missions and helping those who can't help them selves. We have lost alot of good Americans doing all of this. While what we do may be patriotic they are the true patriots as they defend our freedom. Alot more than just blowing up countries.

How is it non existent?

And I believe Cindy Mccain is being compensated quite well as a result of this transaction.

Seth has presented a good topic. I have often said every citizen has an obligation to serve wether it is in the fire department or ems squad, coaching little league, or belonging to other civic organizations. I believe we have become a "what's in it for me society" unlike those who came before us who simply wanted to help. I was never a big fan of JFK but I do agree his quote about asking what you can do for your country and George Bush also made a plea after 9/11 for citizens to volunteer in thier communities. Unfortunately I did not see any significant increase in membership after 9/11. Besides firefighting and ems one of the most rewarding things I have done was coaching little league baseball. You are not just teaching kids how to play but also how to be men and women and I have seen the product of that as I watch my son and his friends enter his junior year in high school and will be varsity ball players.

AN excellent baseball player and also a gentlemen. He will be calling the shots with Thurman, The Scooter, Billy and the rest of the crew. May he rest in peace.

Just one question...does it really matter how many vol or career there is or who protects more or who does more, etc? Shouldn't it matter that the end of the day we are home safe with our families? I think there are more pressing issues we are and will be facing.

The fact that we are having this conversation on fuel supports my belief that those we elect are selling us out. They are so out of touch with the working class it's pathetic. And the reason is they have become too comfortable. Talk about perks...Charlie Rangel who is a Congress man in NYC leases an Escalade at the cost of $777.00 per month which we pay for and he is one of many and I am sure the gas used is paid for by us as well. I have sent several FOIL requests to both Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House and also Nita Lowey to see how much is spent total on members of the House of Reps with thier lease cars and have not recieved any response. Stands to reason why they have had approx 40 hearings on alternate energy uses and nothing has been accomplished. They don't have to pay for thier own gas so it's not an issue for them. The US gives away approx 7 Billion dollars per year to other countries for resources we have right here in the US. Besdies more drilling there are other options on the table such as natural gas, wind, and solar. I have been following a person named T. Boone Pickens who is an oil man in Texas who recently testified to Congress about alternative energy uses. I invite all of you to visit his website at: http://www.pickensplan.com/ Read his bio and his plan. Maybe he has motives as well but if whatever he proposes results in paying less at the pump I think it is worth looking into.

I don't recall ever being compensated as a volunteer in my 28 years. When I first joined all we recieved was a dinner once a year. The company picnic we also had came out of our own pockets and when you died your family recieved a benefit from the benevolent association. I will agree over time certain perks have been introduced but to say we have always been compensated is simply not true.

Put him in a hot, sticky jail cell where he belongs.

May he rest in peace.

[i do see that we ALL need to start advocating for ALL of us and fighting for better conditions for ALL of us regardless of what we do or dont do. Very good point. I am not sure of how many firefighters, emt's, paramedics, law enforcement, etc. there are in this country but I would bet it is in the millions. We all belong to unions, state, sectional and national orgainzations who bark loud when we need something done. Maybe it is time that we bark at those who we put in office who keep selling us out instead of barking at eachother. Oil is bouncing around $145.00 per barrel. The politicians are arguing and blaming each other for the failing economy while they use tax money to lease cars, phones, gas, etc. Life is good on Capitol Hill as well as Albany. We are all struggling. Lets make those we elect do thier jobs and work for us and fix this economy.

FASNY is no different than any other organization that lobbies greedy and self serving politicians to push it's agendas.

May he rest in peace.

Good point Chris. I think they are going too far with perks but than again I began in an era where you got nothing and a simple thank you was enough. I can understand the frustration with rising gas prices. I just filled my tank today and cursed as I watched the pump but I don't think it is fair to keep asking those who also pay high gas prices and high taxes to shell out more. Again, we choose to volunteer. If volunteering is really putting a financial burden on you than maybe it is time to make some decisions.

I agree. I believe a town board has more important things to discuss than silly string.

Pathetic coward got his. First he swindled investors then the govt. Hope he had a nice July 4th....

This is not a crack on CSEA but the problem is they represent a wide variety of the labor force. The issues and stress a dispatcher may have is not the same as a secretary, plumber or custodian. We were part of CSEA many years ago ( before I was hired) and chose to go on our own and for the most part it has worked out fine.

This is so true.

I don't know about that...remember when Roseann Barr sang the National Anthem in a mocking fashion than spit on the ground after? She is still in the limelight and people actually defended her disgusting mockery of the National Anthem when she should of been dropped out of a plane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean but than again why polute the water...