DALLAS, Texas -- The double meaning of "fully involved" was intended as new U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran compared fire organizations to wood: when healthy they can become ablaze with progress, but when petrified they can simply stagnate.
Cochran provided the inspirational speech during the Friday general session at FRI, issuing a challenge to firefighters to become involved in the issues that affect them all across the U.S. He said that by doing this, the nation's model of leadership could serve as a model for the world.
The administrator noted that the country has been through tough times before. "We have a history of overwhelming tough times, but we also have a history of overcoming tough times," he reminded the room, citing such examples as the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights movement.
Despite any troubles we've faced in recent times, "We've been in green pastures and have been acting like we're in a desert," he said.
Cochran went on to discuss the country's economic outlook and stressed that we can not afford to wait for the world to change, driving the point home by reading the lyrics of the song "Waiting on the World to Change."
"We can not afford to wait for the world to change as fire service leaders before we step up to the plate," he said. Although the economy is believed to have bottomed out in March, unemployment is expected to peak in a year, he said. Even after a turnaround, it is estimated that government budgets will lag by one to three years, fire department budgets by three to five years and corporate partners by two to three years.
Cochran went on to recite additional lyrics from "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," saying he always wondered about the voice, "Why doesn't he go get a job?" to applause and laughter.
Attitude and outlook were central themes of the discussion. "Moping and leadership don't mix," he said. "You cannot do both and expect your department to thrive." Those who do thrive in good times and bad have never forgotten what drew them to their careers in the first place, Cochran said.
"We are most creative in times of lack and least in times of plenty."
Coverage from FRI 2009:
