What Seeds Are You Planting? Overcoming Misconceptions

Martin L. Novom, CFRE is one of several brilliant minds providing focused leadership to the philanthropic industry. In the popular industry text he edited, The Fundraising Feasibility Study: It's Not About the Money, he states on page 2, "I am still surprised at the frequency of telephone solicitations I receive from local police and fire fraternal organizations, which are generally conducted by companies that give back only a fraction of the revenue to these organizations."

You may read more about the Iowa impact of such perceptions and realities here. Like Marvin, I am still surprised at the number of times people comment on this perception of fire department fundraising when I start conversations with them about the focus of FlashPoint Fundraising.

This is a classic case of the challenge of perception being reality. The stories of fundraising efforts that provide maximum benefit to the people local fire departments serve aren't getting told often enough. Those stories include:

1. The Robins Fire Department hosts a pancake breakfast each May that includes amazing community participation. Most supplies are donated and all proceeds support education and equipment needs for this all-volunteer team.

2. The Waterville Fire Department hosts a smelt fire and car cruise event that provides significant support to this all-volunteer Northeast Iowa team and their coverage area of more than 100 square miles.

3. The Sigourney Fire Department conducts a successful annual direct mail campaign that has grown each year in its impact on the equipment and education needed to cover fire and EMS calls in their 110 square mile coverage area for this all-volunteer team.

These are just three examples of seeds the amazing men and women of the Iowa Fire Service are planting. With continued effort, these seeds will become strong trees that help overcome the negative community perception that comes with the impact of high cost telemarketing of fire department funding needs.

What seeds are you planting? Contact dawnsh@gmail.com to have your cultivation efforts featured in a future blog. Best wishes for your incredible calling!

Final Pager Calls: Another Way to Honor Your Firefighting Family

Anyone blessed to spend time among the members of the Iowa Fire Service knows it's truly an extended family. Nowhere was this fact made more clear to me than in the aftermath of the sudden passing of my father, Gary D. Svenson in July 2005.

Dad had been a fire engineer (one of three who rotated 24-hours on, 48 hours off, drove first truck to city calls and warmed up the truck/gave directions on rural calls) for the City of Decorah from 1965 to his retirement in 1999. During that time, he was also Treasurer and proud member of the Decorah Volunteer Fire Department. He loved every moment and deeply appreciated those he came in contact with throughout his time with the Iowa Fire Service.

When Dad passed away, his firefighting brothers asked me if there was anything we needed or wanted for the funeral. When I was growing up, Dad often had me help him lower the flag to half staff at City Hall whenever a Veteran or fire fighter passed away. When we did so, we would talk about what that person's service meant and say thank-you prayers for them. I asked if they could fly the flag at half staff at City Hall the day of his funeral. They happily obliged.

I also asked if Engine 1 might lead the funeral processional as it had when my dear Aunt Sally Svenson had passed away eight years earlier. Dad had really liked that at her funeral. Again, they happily obliged.

I was overwhelmed at how much further the members of the Decorah Fire Department took our requests. As honorary pallbearers, our family never walked anywhere between the funeral home, church and cemetery where we weren't surrounded by members in dress whites. They all wore a narrow black band across their badges since "Gary wouldn't want them grieving too much." They were right!

These amazing human beings looked into getting Decorah's Old Engine 1 running from the junkyard where it sat in the hopes it would lead the funeral processional. The work needed was too substantial, but the gesture remains amazingly heartfelt.

It seemed like every fire truck in Winneshiek County was part of the funeral procession, which only seemed appropriate given how many times Dad had hid from those same trucks when they were spraying water during Nordic Fest parades.

As we turned the last corner before the cemetery, it was the site above that truly took my breath away and will be imprinted on my mind until the moment I leave this earth. Firefighter Darren Sander, who stood with the ariel, saluted the hearse and our family vehicles as we passed.

The icing on the cake came after the military salute had completed at the cemetery. With so many heroes in dress whites surrounding us, one last pager call for Gary D. Svenson came across their voice-activated pagers. Perfection doesn't even begin to describe the way the Decorah Fire Department honored their extended family member in his passing.

If you'd like to receive a digital audio copy of this wonderful way to honor your firefighting family, email me at dawnsh@gmail.com.

May the memory of the incredible heroes of the Iowa Fire Service always be alive among us!