volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention strategy

Development and Housing – Specifically community and neighbourhood organizations,and social development organizations. Emphasize the opportunity to improve the safetyand quality of life of the community.Volunteerism promotion and support organizations – Organizations that recruit, train,and place volunteers and promote volunteering. Promote volunteer firefighting as anattractive and worthwhile volunteer opportunity.Religious Groups – Emphasize the ability to make a contribution to the community, andto use skills and experiences in new ways.A number of tactics can be utilized for engaging community groups: holding “open house” events; providing tours of the fire hall; hosting community events or meetings of other community organizations at the hall; exploring partnering options with local community groups; using the connections that existing volunteers have with other community groups as ameans of connecting with them; one-on-one meetings between the Fire Chief and the leader or senior manager of thesegroups; social media; distributing literature about the fire department; including groups in regular newsletter mailing; updating community groups on upcoming fire department events.8. Reach out to recruitment audiences with targeted messages.Volunteer firefighting needs to be positioned in different ways for different audiences. Whilethere are many messages and selling points that are “good for all seasons”, it is often necessaryfor a fire department to adjust the approach for particular audiences that have not typically beenengaged by the department in the past.The methods of engaging audiences also should depend on the audiences themselves. Whilebroad-based media such as newspapers and radio are often used, there is much “clutter”nowadays in print and on the airwaves. Specialized publications, media and approaches shouldbe explored to connect with target audiences.General ResidentsThis group includes traditional firefighter demographics which typically face fewer barriers tojoining the fire department. The most effective recruitment of this group will likely take placethrough traditionally-used mechanisms and tactics.Messages that will resonate with this group include ones that: Offer the opportunity to work as part of a team; Promote volunteer firefighters as community leaders; Note the opportunities for training and skill enhancement;Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Strategy & ToolkitPrepared by Volunteer Alberta for the Alberta Fire Chiefs’Association16