I am one year in the fire service (FF1) in a rural Volunteer Department in Wisconsin and I have a few questions I am hoping this group can help with…

I hear the platitude, “We are like family”, in my department, issued almost as an excuse instead of a point of pride. Families are typically gracious, welcoming (warm even), supportive and fun.

Now a year in my department of less than 25 Members, I am not made to feel welcome or useful or needed. Almost no one greets me or says goodbye, or speaks a word to me at all. It took me almost a year to learn everyone’s names because no one introduced themselves or others - or ever asked me my name or a single thing about me.

We have a group of actual family who has been there forever and their 20-something (and arrogantly immature) sons and their girlfriends are there and one of our officers that work for them during the day -
When those 5-6 grab incoming calls, they do it all together - and after our last structural fire together with that group, I’ll never run on another fire with them being the only other members of this group along.

This area and community desperately need this department and I feel compelled to do because I am good at it and can physically do the job.

(This is an area where I have been on fire grounds where firefighters (from other department) walking up the 1/4 mile driveway went right to rehab, and then on to the ambulance, off to the hospital for over exertion!)

Our SCBA is heavy, old, steel MSA gear, our newest truck is 20 years old, the turnout gear is used and expired (all other member have brand new turnout gear), I’m the only member without a radio, the list goes on… but I also knew these things when I joined.

In my life I am a well-liked, respected and valued member (often leader) of projects and organizations, boards, and committees - all said how lucky the Department is to have me when learning I joined.

At no point at the FD have I been allowed to contribute anything of value, my opinions and ideas are immediately degraded and dismissed at business meetings… and on the fire ground I have developed good relationships with firefighters from other departments as I end up with them instead of my department.

I know how adverse to change departments are, and I’m not easy to bully away or intimidate at all. But I am also not passive aggressive, which means I typically confront things appropriately head-on and that is my desire - but I can’t imagine it’d be well received or respected.

What can be done? Is this just me?