Fighting Cancer is a community because it effects a multitude of people and brings people together for a common cause. Cancer attacks all races, genders and classes of people worldwide. These individuals come together in hopes of one day finding a cure and receiving treatment with positive results by participating in events such as Relay For Life.
Furthering development and enhanced research will help increase treatment options and hopefully one day cures. One of the strongest needs of this community is knowing that they are not alone. Many of them will loose their hair and go through many debilitating treatments that cause normal everyday life to change instantly. Values shared by this community mean much more to those who are either currently battling this disease or close family members. They now value the quality of time on this earth because they truly realize how precise life can be and have a deeper understanding and perception of how short life is.
Team fund raising competition is usually positive but at times can cause negative tension in the community. At times certain teams of this community may choose similar locations to conduct fundraising activity. This territorial behavior have resulted at times causing tensions and differences in the community.
I am an active leader in this community as a Captain of our team, "Ladders and Lattes" which is a partnership between North County Professional Fire Fighters and Starbucks. After seeing what the impacts cancer has on the person and their families throughout my 20 year career in the fire service I wanted to help make a difference by joining Relay For Life. Since organizing this team I have personally seen friends and family members battle this disease which now makes this community more important than ever to me.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Whats in a Fire Fighters Wallet?
So if you were to come upon a fire fighters wallet what would you expect to find? CPR card, Paramedic Certificate, a picture of a fire engine? All the above could be possible, but in my case its much deeper than that.
When you first open my wallet you would find my current drivers license. If you extract it out of the plastic holder and closely identified it, you would find out that i currently live in Stanwood Washington and that I'm 38 years young. As you continue to scan over my information, you would find that I am a organ donor. To me that means a last act of my body so others may live.
After placing the drivers license back into its home, you would find my North County Regional Fire Authority Battalion Chief Badge its own special holder. This would inform you that I hold a position of a Chief level officer in my organization and that I must have been doing this career for a long time. You could also conclude I enjoy serving my community.
Drawing your eyes upward you would find a Bank of Hawaii Debit Card. Now at this point you might be a little confused. Most people have airline mileage credit cards but usually not a debit card from a bank that resides in another state. You may also figure that I enjoy travel and there must be some special perks for using that card. The later is the correct assumption.
Next comes my black card with gold and red lettering. This would be my Costco card. Plan and simple this would tell you I like to shop in bulk and save money at the same time. You might also think I enjoy the very berry sundae. If you did assume that, you would also be correct.
Continuing to scan you would find a blue card with the title "Washington State Vessel Operator." This could tell you that I own and operate a boat. But then thinking back to the NCRFA badge, it could denote being a boat operator for the fire department.
Last but not least you would find a business card for the nearest Pet Emergency Center. Most people could guess that I had at least one animal and that I have had to take them there recently. Maybe the animal gets sick often, or a acute accident could have occurred. After guessing on all the above options, it would all make sense. Under that card is a picture of yellow Lab.
Next all stuffed in one pocket would be a Health insurance card, Dental insurance card and a gym membership. This should tell you I'm concerned about my current and future health.
Moving on you would come to a shinny gold beacon with a Starbucks logo telling you that I enjoy coffee so much I've gone ahead and put money away to Harold Shultz himself.
Last but not least a pride coin. On one side a logo of North County Fire EMS with our core values Pride, Honor, Integrity, Family and Teamwork. Flip it on over and discover a picture of solidarity of fire fighters with the American Flag in the background. This would tell you that my work is more than a clock in, clock out atmosphere. Its my way of life.
Based on the information above, I would assume people would believe I'm very passionate about my private life, dogs, work and of course my time off in Hawaii. All that would leave out how much loyalty and compassion I feel for my close friends and family. It would also leave out that i am an extremely devoted employee that truly goes the extra mile to make my department succeed and shine in the community. You could see I enjoy my dogs but not see the love I truly have for them. Overall, I believe my wallet does give a decent representation of who I am and what I'm devoted to. Like most things in life though, it takes much more to get deep to the core of me!
When you first open my wallet you would find my current drivers license. If you extract it out of the plastic holder and closely identified it, you would find out that i currently live in Stanwood Washington and that I'm 38 years young. As you continue to scan over my information, you would find that I am a organ donor. To me that means a last act of my body so others may live.
After placing the drivers license back into its home, you would find my North County Regional Fire Authority Battalion Chief Badge its own special holder. This would inform you that I hold a position of a Chief level officer in my organization and that I must have been doing this career for a long time. You could also conclude I enjoy serving my community.
Drawing your eyes upward you would find a Bank of Hawaii Debit Card. Now at this point you might be a little confused. Most people have airline mileage credit cards but usually not a debit card from a bank that resides in another state. You may also figure that I enjoy travel and there must be some special perks for using that card. The later is the correct assumption.
Next comes my black card with gold and red lettering. This would be my Costco card. Plan and simple this would tell you I like to shop in bulk and save money at the same time. You might also think I enjoy the very berry sundae. If you did assume that, you would also be correct.
Continuing to scan you would find a blue card with the title "Washington State Vessel Operator." This could tell you that I own and operate a boat. But then thinking back to the NCRFA badge, it could denote being a boat operator for the fire department.
Last but not least you would find a business card for the nearest Pet Emergency Center. Most people could guess that I had at least one animal and that I have had to take them there recently. Maybe the animal gets sick often, or a acute accident could have occurred. After guessing on all the above options, it would all make sense. Under that card is a picture of yellow Lab.
Next all stuffed in one pocket would be a Health insurance card, Dental insurance card and a gym membership. This should tell you I'm concerned about my current and future health.
Moving on you would come to a shinny gold beacon with a Starbucks logo telling you that I enjoy coffee so much I've gone ahead and put money away to Harold Shultz himself.
Last but not least a pride coin. On one side a logo of North County Fire EMS with our core values Pride, Honor, Integrity, Family and Teamwork. Flip it on over and discover a picture of solidarity of fire fighters with the American Flag in the background. This would tell you that my work is more than a clock in, clock out atmosphere. Its my way of life.
Based on the information above, I would assume people would believe I'm very passionate about my private life, dogs, work and of course my time off in Hawaii. All that would leave out how much loyalty and compassion I feel for my close friends and family. It would also leave out that i am an extremely devoted employee that truly goes the extra mile to make my department succeed and shine in the community. You could see I enjoy my dogs but not see the love I truly have for them. Overall, I believe my wallet does give a decent representation of who I am and what I'm devoted to. Like most things in life though, it takes much more to get deep to the core of me!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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