I found it intresting that Mr. Bonifay is no longer listed as staff for NEMSA. I would like to know if there are any NEMSA followers out there who may know why this is? There appears to be only Torren and some business guy listed as staff. If Mr. Bonifay is listed elsewhere then please enlighten me as I am curious.
It took too long to download tonight. I only saw Torren and that first guy, cant remember the name. I am glad to see the lies about CoCo and all the other propaganda gone. It has been a sore spot for many people.
The changes are very soothing, new age and harmonic. I hardly got through that soft site. I cannot any self respecting paramedic to stay on there for very long. It is more of an out dated management site. Sponsors usually set the tone.
There is less organizational structure than before. Alas, that does not mean that the site is ineffective among "EMS Professionals."
The new intro reminds me of a day time talk show, like "The View" or "Jenny Jones" or something. I miss the Knight Rider theme. Butnot as much as I'm going to miss their message board.
Thanks for the "validation" on my review of the NEMSA site. The NEMSA site has changed since then. The soft light of a scented candle illuminating the pastel center for "EMS only professionals" has been rested.
An attempt to reach a more rugged crowd is being used. Bold colors with a safe, non-base driven techno sound has replaced the soothing sounds of the John Tesh Muzac. While it is an attempt to reach a younger, more aggressive crowd, what it provides in safe standards it lacks in soul. One can only suspect that the cult energy used to start NEMSA is making a drastic change toward mainstream advertising.
An excellent tact to reach the early twenty-year olds who grew up in a mind-numbing school environment, void of any education on labor history, and spoon-fed world history in sound-bytes.
Some of us early to mid 20 year olds grew up in a challenging and productive education environment with plenty of education on labor history and we got our world history from reading as many books as we could get our hands on. All we hear from the NEMSA folks is that the young people are stupid and uneducated and I dont like hearing it from them and I dont like hearing it around this forum either. I can prove how much educated I am if you would like, but I would rather just be accepted as a productive and hard working member of this union regardless of my age. Just because I didnt grow up dropping acid in the 60's or 70's doesnt mean I have a simple and closed mind. From what I have seen two 25 year olds from Santa Cruz played a huge part in getting info to voters in NEMSA dominated counties. I didnt see any of the old guard out there helping support 250/IAEP outside the safety of their own counties so stop it with too young to be intelligent talk.
Sorry for being a little angry here but I thought that with the moving away from NEMSA i wouldnt here anymore of this "listen to your elders" and "you are too young to understand" garbage. If you feel that all people in their 20s are uneducated then you need to go meet some different people.
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"It's time to awake, get up and fight, fight for mankind, live for a cause" The Pilfers
Genuinely sorry to offend, points well taken. I had actually messaged someone here that when I do find younger people taking interest and getting it, I'm quick to include them in as much labor/work stuff as I can. Your county is definitely involved at all ages. Some of the larger counties have encountered a lot of apathy from this age group. In ours, it was a struggle to get them involved because most saw themselves working for fire soon.
I think that is changing, and I've never discarded this group. Again, sorry for giving you offence.
I was the one responded to on the private message board about recruiting young people. I will not share with you here what I said because it was highly offensive to an individuals personal credibility and how that person is able to relate to things other than young people. Therefore; in my large region where I work, we have many young people that are either apathetic about labor issues because they have better options or plans in their life. They rarely sacrifice personal time. Kind of like me. All I've ever done is coast and watch. This site is the most labor related conversation I have ever had. My lack of participation use to be the exception to the rule regarding union issues, now it is the other way around. Please do not take offense Snake, it is an issue that requires dialogue for coming to a solution and is not intended to alienate the new generation of EMS.
No one that wishes to be part of this local, that wishes to be heard, and have input on changes, will be stifled or censored. I don't care how old you are as long as you are attempting to help. Some of the most innovative changes come from people that are young, bold, and more willing to accept change than dinosaurs like myself. Hell, if it wasn't for interns and trainees, I would never keep up with the latest coming out of our paramedic schools. As far as the young versus the experienced, there is NO versus. We are the same team. Everyone must be willing to entertain the ideas of others, regardless of age. If you take a look at the demographics of my county, you have a large population of fairly new EMT's, a fairly large population of quite experienced EMT's, and somewhat of a gap in the middle. I've been through so many changes over the years, I trust in my younger partners to help me when I get the "what standing orders changed and are we doing it still this way confusion" blues. <laughing> You stay around long enough and you will come full circle.
Speculation only here folks, but I think we all are a little bit on edge. We had geared up for so long and now it's hard to re-adjust back to normal. C'mon, let's face it, none of us got into this business because we like things neat and normal. There is a lull in the action right now as we set up the pieces of this puzzle.
In the meantime, if I can make a suggestion, start reading other Con and By-Laws from different unions out there. It will definitely give you some ideas, which in turn will spawn other ideas, so on and so forth. There isn't one person in our union that has all the answers.
On a totally different note, anyone out there into skiing or snow boarding? It won't be that long before flyfishing ends and snow fun begins. Maybe we can plan an overnighter up to the Sierras. If you don't want to ski, there's always cocktails and a fireplace to be had <which is usually my starting point when skiing!>
Ive posted privately with PWMM and explained where I was coming from on my last post. Im not angry but it frustrates me to hear the ideas about 20 somethings not caring about anything beyond the TV and their wallets. And I will admit that I, like Forfend, had nothing to do with union issues at work until 6 months ago. I felt, and still feel a little, that unions are an outdated form of labor representation with little to no relevance in a highly skilled profession like paramedicine. We have something to offer an employer besides strong backs and tendancy to not complain about working long hours. I do know that in the past medics and EMTs were paid crap and sometimes not paid at all for working nights and 250 was a huge reason that many of those things were changed. I feel that we as employees though, in this new day of paramedicine shifting towards a "white collar" job, can get our needs know without the usual union rabbling, ie strikes, work slowdowns, lock outs, etc... In the past few months some of my opinions have changed and some have not. I have learned that our managment doesnt always see us a skilled and difficult to replace as we view ourselves, and with the medic schools churning out countless medics for the FD's we could be replaced with cheeper and less permanent people fairly easily were it not for union protection.
So long story short, Im not angry and Im trying hard not to be personally offended. I know that the comments werent directed at me for being young. If you want to talk about apathy then lets talk about that, it happens in all age groups. So, Im still going to be here working hard in Santa Cruz and as much as I can outside SC to make this union a powerful voice for us.
And I love snowboarding and would take whatever time off I needed to in order to go. Tahoe is great and the bars are fantastic. I little snow, a little gambling, and a little vino. Sounds like a party!!
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"It's time to awake, get up and fight, fight for mankind, live for a cause" The Pilfers
Torren has taken coursework in argumentation, rhetoric, debate, and negotation.
no kidding.. but what the heck is the difference between "argumentation" and "debate".. and what kind of course is "rhetoric"?? I've never heard of a course like that... please someone.. explain....
ToTrreTorren has taken coursework in argumentation, rhetoric, debate, and negotiation. n has taken coursework in argumentation, rhetoric, debate, and negotiation.
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"I have given my word to Amy, Aultum that if they get over 75 signatures that I will with drawl my petition. " Carlos 10/6 "I will not pull the petition. " Carlos 10/10
The opening song now bothers me as much as the accordian.
The nifty trucks are featured in all their glory. Multiple pics of the Durango. No dues were used to purchase the Hummer, a traveling billboard. You have to admit that it is creative.
The opening song is grating. I thought it was an improvement from the John Tesh new age theme, but I've changed my mind.
Since EMS people are afflicted with ADD at some level. we tend to beat a topic off into the weeds. I think the accordian notes rattled our nerves. Now I'm having a lucid moment. Tim Bonifay is listed under "community". He's named as the "labor Rep' who made a donation in nemsa's name to sponser a soccer team.
If not, okay then. It is disheartening to see NEMSA still supporting personnel capable of the hatred that is inside that man. I guess I shouldn't complain - it's only a matter of time before he melts down again. A man capable of that level of irrational thought is not in control of himself on many levels. How many times have we listened to the strategy of NEMSA to elevate our image; it is clear they have no real plan to do so as long as Bonifay still works for them. Can anyone, other than a die-hard NEMSA supporter, explain this?
So tell me why are you people so obsessed with NEMSA? I look at this board and I see 5 people whose object in life is to unceasingly tear into NEMSA, who for now does not represent you. Should you not be instead looking into the nuts and bolts of this unknown entity called IAEP?
It took 15 years to get to know 250. Are we all that eager to get into another SEIU trap? After all it was 250 that brought IAEP. As I recall not a single member had invited them before 250 had brought them to dinner.
So if we didn't trust 250 enough to want to throw them out then why are we so hell bent on embracing this other SEIU relative that the un-trusted 250 has brought us?
I look to this board to get a glimpse into the future of this "local" what I see is not leadership, but undignified, blather that does not lend itself to any sort of motivation to the rank and file.
NEMSA came along and ruined morale where I work. We were stuck with some real winners storming around like empowered business women. I got to see a lot of stare downs and arguments and intimidation of people. I was not one of them because I am a lazy person that only works and tries to stay out of trouble. I don't make waves. NEMSA made big waves. Waves of contention. NEMSA is a problem. NEMSA caused a civil war. Old Rhino said the civil war still exists today or something like that. The damage caused by a sneaky revolution that dropped out of the sky, by the lead stewards is going to have long lasting effects for me. I am not comfortable at work with the whiney 250 smoking reps vs the angry NEMSA people. I'm glad this is over. I don't want to see it come back. You say NEMSA is not our representation now. That is a threat to our working conditions. NEMSA made it clear that they would represent employees selectively. You see, when you are a "good" employee, people confide things to you like, "we aren't going to waste money on defending people like _______ anymore." We will decide how are money is spent. That is representation based on popularity. Representation for all, popularity for elections.
