Do you have a Ladies Auxiliary in your Dept./Company ?

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Permalink Reply by Richard Michitsch on August 14, 2008 at 8:15pm

Dennis and all Firefighters,
My department has no established policies and procedures around the establishment and operation of a FD Ladies Auxiliary. However, as I have recently found out, there are the unwritten rules (made up as they go along) that pertain only to certain companies (like mine) only because of who they are. Our Ladies Auxiliary is made up of dedicated members (mothers, wives, daughters, girlfriends, and friends) that support not only our company and department, but all departments when on a fire scene. They provide rehab, water, towels, whatever is needed and to provide these services they ask for donations to support themselves.
Recently, the Ladies have started to ask for donations to purchase the company tools to support the fire department and community. Immediately, a select few members of the department started stirring the pot by making up rules that don’t exist to stop the efforts of our Ladies. All the while the cooks (the pot stirrers) make money hand over fist to support their own company, BUT none of these funds are used to support the fire department and community in the purchase of equipment.
I am appalled and embarrassed to be part of an organization that is made up of vile individuals that are only concerned with their own self interests and not the communities. I want to know of anyone that is in the same or similar situation as me and value any information that you can provide to assist me with our plight.
What rules do you have? How are your Auxiliary members governed? What do they do? How do you resolve issues like mine? Etc…..
DON’T be the next one, BE safe!
Respectfully
Lt Richard Michitsch