Even a casual glance across
the rosters of the volunteer fire service reveals a pattern of family
involvement. Family values and
traditions play a large role toward an inherited desire to volunteer in the
local fire department. It is not uncommon
to see at least one father/son or brother/brother tandem on any fire department
roster. In fact, I recently examined my
region (60+ fire suppression agencies) and discovered a family tandem in over
75% of those departments. Many had more
than one pair of relatives actively serving.
The longevity and commitment to the fire service created by this type of
family-based value shows in the number of these relationships that included one
or more leaders of their respective organizations. My family, for example, includes a
grandfather, father, mother, sister, cousin and daughter who either serve, or
served the organization in some capacity, most rising to a successful position
of leadership.
On my sixteenth birthday, I
got a fire helmet from my parents. While
that may seem a bit presumptuous, it was one of my most memorable gifts I ever
received. I had already spent several
years watching and learning. You see, my
father was the fire chief; it was fairly certain that I would follow in his
footsteps.
Those of you who have
followed your parents into an “occupation” understand that often means more
hurdles than advantages. The volunteer
fire service is no different. The expectations
are set much higher, and you can’t simple “stay home” if you didn’t feel like
participating, without lots of explaining and guilt. Please understand that these represent the
“good” part of having family in the business; built in motivation, insights
into the behind-the-scenes issues, etc.
It makes me appreciate the “generic”, non-family connected volunteer
even more! Choosing to serve the fire
department takes a lot of guts and commitment…and sacrifice!
The challenges that are even
more difficult are the ones that come from outside the family, and
outside the scope of evaluation of a traditional member. It is the expectation and assumption of the
masses that an offspring of a leader has greater opportunity for advancement
and acknowledgement, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. While I will admit that having a family
heritage in the fire service certainly made me aware of the opportunities
available to me, the path to success was certainly as difficult, and even MORE
difficult because of the perceptions of nepotism that needed to be overcome.
I knew from the beginning
of my career in the fire service, that I would have to work harder, study more,
attain more certifications, practice more intently, be more uniquely creative,
and set my own personal bar higher than most simply to overcome the assumption
that I got something I didn’t earn. Hearing
the phrase “…because you’re the chief’s kid” was something that made me so
angry I could spit! That phrase was my
motivation to rise above the presumption through endless hard work and personal
accomplishment.
My father didn’t make it
easy either. His fire service career is
adorned with many great accomplishments that have made the Hostetter name well
known in the emergency services network.
I marvel at the number of people who I meet who give me that awestruck
look as they ask, “Are you related to Glen?”, as if I am some sort of heir to a
throne. It is a bittersweet feeling of
being directly associated with such a great community leader, while never being
able to step clear from the shadow he casts.
THAT, however, remains my
goal. In the words of Napoleon
Hill, “The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from
the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where
it is compelled to struggle for existence against the winds and rains and the
scorching sun. In an effort to be that
mighty oak, I have become so resistant to accepting help from the trees around
me. I have steered away from the support
and protection of one of the mightiest oaks I know in an effort to be strong,
resilient, and self-sufficient. I have
done so with such resolve that I have carried that independent characteristic
into professional relationships beyond those between my father and me. Sadly, this independent drive is sometimes
misinterpreted as isolation, unwillingness to work within a team, or
“standoffishness”. Wow, spell check
didn’t underline that word; I am glad someone understands me!
While it may seem noble and honorable to desire
acknowledgement and reward based solely on individual measurable achievement, I
have, once again, discovered that the world doesn’t always work that way. There is more than just black and white,
there are many shades of gray that come from blending the measurable with the
immeasurable. I can only hope that before
my career ends, I learn to dip my fingers in the paint and smear myself a new
opportunity that mixes my personal accomplishments with all those career
boosting, wheel greasing traits that I have trained myself to avoid for the
past 32 years. I just hope after all
these years, my paint hasn’t dried up!
