It’s about showing up
It’s 9:25 am. I’m sitting at my desk at my home office, reading a note from Beth Kanter's facebook page about creating movements.
Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep - my pager shrieks. I grab the pager, head for the fire station. It’s just the chief and me – a novice, heading off in the truck for smoke in a house. A couple of 50 some-things, to do whatever needs to be done.
Our town covers 45 square miles, and it takes us a good 15 minutes on the windy bumpy back roads just to get there. We size up the scene, head into the house. Fortunately it’s a minor affair.
In little towns like ours, we depend on ‘mutual aid’ – other towns' FD departments to help out if we need them. That’s easily another 20-30 minutes before additional help can arrive.
Bring whatever you have to the table
I’m new at this. I joined because there was a need for people to respond to Fire and Rescue calls, especially during the day. We don’t have any industry in our town, so most people work elsewhere. I work from home. Usually there are a half dozen people who might respond, but not today.
While I’m still learning the basics, I do have an able body, and smart mind. I just need a little guidance, training and leadership.
There is so much to learn. So much to try. I learn so much from people like Beth Kanter and Jeremiah Owyang. So when they post a question on Twitter, or questions on their fan page, I take the time to give back to them if I can.
Community, virtual or actual, is about bringing something of yourself to share, even if it’s just showing up.
What do you do to support all your communities?
It’s 9:25 am. I’m sitting at my desk at my home office, reading a note from Beth Kanter's facebook page about creating movements.
Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep - my pager shrieks. I grab the pager, head for the fire station. It’s just the chief and me – a novice, heading off in the truck for smoke in a house. A couple of 50 some-things, to do whatever needs to be done.
Our town covers 45 square miles, and it takes us a good 15 minutes on the windy bumpy back roads just to get there. We size up the scene, head into the house. Fortunately it’s a minor affair.
In little towns like ours, we depend on ‘mutual aid’ – other towns' FD departments to help out if we need them. That’s easily another 20-30 minutes before additional help can arrive.
Bring whatever you have to the table
I’m new at this. I joined because there was a need for people to respond to Fire and Rescue calls, especially during the day. We don’t have any industry in our town, so most people work elsewhere. I work from home. Usually there are a half dozen people who might respond, but not today.
While I’m still learning the basics, I do have an able body, and smart mind. I just need a little guidance, training and leadership.
There’s no need for me to go it alone. The system works because we learn, we share what we learn, and even though we think we don’t know much, we can bring something to the table. Talking through things together, the Chief and I figure out what we need to do. I feel like I’ve contributed in my own small way.
Social MediaThere is so much to learn. So much to try. I learn so much from people like Beth Kanter and Jeremiah Owyang. So when they post a question on Twitter, or questions on their fan page, I take the time to give back to them if I can.
Community, virtual or actual, is about bringing something of yourself to share, even if it’s just showing up.
What do you do to support all your communities?
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