Leadership, sometimes it’s bestowed and sometimes grown into. For many members on Incident Management Teams it has grown organically from interest and need, and someone saying yes to be the first called to Oregon’s most complex emergencies.
Food Service Leader, Division Supervisor, Situation Unit Leader, Safety Officer and more, all leadership positions making up the team from those who are wildlife biologists, office specialists, planners and foresters in their daily work. It is pretty special how this group has been able to grow to fill such a critical need.
You may know some of these leaders or others who are ready to grow. Do you plan the summer picnic or winter potluck? Are you the chair of a professional organization or active at your church? When you see a need have you organized others to fill it? These are some of the seeds of organic leadership.
Our Forestry Local is also looking for leaders, Stewards, to fill a need at District Offices. As a Steward you will get additional leadership training to improve your skills and be more prepared to help your co-workers. If this interests you contact me or any of the Local Officers for more information.
Our next Forestry Local Statewide meeting is being held with the ODOT local on May 5th in Lincoln City.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Its Jobs, Jobs, Jobs and Many People Want Them
There are opportunities out there now that the hard hiring freeze is over but the word is that you need to work for them. Meeting the minimum qualifications for a job and being an internal candidate may not be enough to get you an interview, there are just that many candidates seeking jobs with Oregon’s Department of Forestry.
Current employees, to be successful in getting an interview, and that new job, you need to take the application, associated test questions and interview seriously. Look at your application has it been updated recently? Do your test question answers show how your work experience exceeds the minimum qualifications? When you come to the interview do you really sell yourself to the board as if they have never met you before? Our mangers have been overrun by applications and it is up to you to make yours stand out to move forward in the hiring process.
New contract language was added this year that allows laid off seasonal employees to apply for internal promotional jobs. It was a pretty big deal to open that door but it is up to you to do all you can to get through it. At our next Statewide Forestry Meeting on May 5, 2012 (Surftides Motel, Lincoln City) we will provide training on how to write better test question answers and do your best at the interview. See you there.
Current employees, to be successful in getting an interview, and that new job, you need to take the application, associated test questions and interview seriously. Look at your application has it been updated recently? Do your test question answers show how your work experience exceeds the minimum qualifications? When you come to the interview do you really sell yourself to the board as if they have never met you before? Our mangers have been overrun by applications and it is up to you to make yours stand out to move forward in the hiring process.
New contract language was added this year that allows laid off seasonal employees to apply for internal promotional jobs. It was a pretty big deal to open that door but it is up to you to do all you can to get through it. At our next Statewide Forestry Meeting on May 5, 2012 (Surftides Motel, Lincoln City) we will provide training on how to write better test question answers and do your best at the interview. See you there.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Forestry Local Meeting, We Made Some Changes
At our statewide meeting at the end of January we made some changes to our Local’s Constitution and By-laws. The Area Representative position was removed from our governing documents and elections will not be held to fill these positions. One of the Area Representative’s main job was to recruit Stewards in there Area and this duty was transferred to all of the Statewide Officers.
Elections are now open for the Statewide Positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Information about these positions and election information is available from Troy at barnardt@seiu503.org.
Doug Firoved reported that the Tent and Field Gear committee has been busy preparing tent, sleeping bag, pad and field pack recommendations for the Executive Committee’s review. Generally, here are the their thoughts to date: Tents would have a minimum of 42 square feet of floor space with a 3½ foot height, sleeping bags would be rated to 20, pads would be gray closed cell foam, and field packs would be large enough to hold 4 canteens and the next generation fire shelter.
Doug Decker, our State Forester, spoke to the group about lean budgets and listening to our customers. Training, always important to us, is one of the casualties of our current budget situation. When money for training becomes available it will be provided using a list of priorities currently being developed by Clark Seely. Decker is concentrating on listening to the different “communities of interest” that have influence on Oregon’s forests. When meeting with these groups he is thinking of it as an opportunity to “stand a little closer together” and find the common ground that already exists and making an extra effort to listen when that common ground is not immediately apparent.
Our next meeting will be a joint meeting with ODOT on May 5, 2012 in either Lincoln City or Newport.
Elections are now open for the Statewide Positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Information about these positions and election information is available from Troy at barnardt@seiu503.org.
Doug Firoved reported that the Tent and Field Gear committee has been busy preparing tent, sleeping bag, pad and field pack recommendations for the Executive Committee’s review. Generally, here are the their thoughts to date: Tents would have a minimum of 42 square feet of floor space with a 3½ foot height, sleeping bags would be rated to 20, pads would be gray closed cell foam, and field packs would be large enough to hold 4 canteens and the next generation fire shelter.
Doug Decker, our State Forester, spoke to the group about lean budgets and listening to our customers. Training, always important to us, is one of the casualties of our current budget situation. When money for training becomes available it will be provided using a list of priorities currently being developed by Clark Seely. Decker is concentrating on listening to the different “communities of interest” that have influence on Oregon’s forests. When meeting with these groups he is thinking of it as an opportunity to “stand a little closer together” and find the common ground that already exists and making an extra effort to listen when that common ground is not immediately apparent.
Our next meeting will be a joint meeting with ODOT on May 5, 2012 in either Lincoln City or Newport.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Forestry Local Elections Open February 1, 2012
Nominations for the Local offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer open February 1, 2012. Your Local officers serve as your executive committee and represent the Local’s interests at Labor/ Management, SEIU 503’s General Council and contract bargaining.
Nomination forms can be obtained from your SEIU 503 Field office or our Statewide Coordinator Troy Barnard at barnardt@seiu503.org.
Nominations must be received by 5:00 pm on 2/22/2012 at the SEIU Portland Field Office and candidate statements are due 2/29/2012 at 5:00 pm at the same location.
Ballots will be mailed out 3/7/2012 and are due back to the SEIU Salem Headquarters by 5:00 pm on 4/5/2012.
Absentee or replacement ballots can be obtained from the SEIU Portland Field Office no later than 5:00 pm on 3/29/2012.
New officers will be installed at the Local’s next statewide meeting tentatively planned for May 5, 2012.
The Area Representative offices will not be filled this year as a result of change to our Constitution and By-Laws made at our January 28th 2012 meeting.
Nomination forms can be obtained from your SEIU 503 Field office or our Statewide Coordinator Troy Barnard at barnardt@seiu503.org.
Nominations must be received by 5:00 pm on 2/22/2012 at the SEIU Portland Field Office and candidate statements are due 2/29/2012 at 5:00 pm at the same location.
Ballots will be mailed out 3/7/2012 and are due back to the SEIU Salem Headquarters by 5:00 pm on 4/5/2012.
Absentee or replacement ballots can be obtained from the SEIU Portland Field Office no later than 5:00 pm on 3/29/2012.
New officers will be installed at the Local’s next statewide meeting tentatively planned for May 5, 2012.
The Area Representative offices will not be filled this year as a result of change to our Constitution and By-Laws made at our January 28th 2012 meeting.
Friday, January 13, 2012
State Forester Doug Decker to Speak at Statewide Forestry Local Meeting, January 28th
Oregon State Forester Doug Decker will be the featured speaker at the next Statewide Forestry Local Meeting to be held January 28th in Portland. “It’s all about the people” will be the theme of the talk which should be very interesting considering these tight budgetary times.
Other agenda items include a general report on Local operations and finances, updates from the tent and field gear committee and on the hiring freeze, and discussion and vote on a proposed change to the Local’s By-Lays to remove the “District Representative” position. Forestry Local T-shirts for members and ¼ zip sweat shirts for Stewards (past and present) and officers will be available at the meeting.
The meeting will be held at the SEIU 503 Portland Field Office located at 6401 SE Foster Road in Portland on Saturday, January 28th. Light refreshments will be available at 8:30 am with the meeting beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch (provided) and adjournment are both planned for 12:00 pm. Please RSVP with Troy at 503-408-4090 who can also provide a conference call number for those unable to attend as well as lodging information. Mileage will be reimbursed at SEIU 503 rates.
Other agenda items include a general report on Local operations and finances, updates from the tent and field gear committee and on the hiring freeze, and discussion and vote on a proposed change to the Local’s By-Lays to remove the “District Representative” position. Forestry Local T-shirts for members and ¼ zip sweat shirts for Stewards (past and present) and officers will be available at the meeting.
The meeting will be held at the SEIU 503 Portland Field Office located at 6401 SE Foster Road in Portland on Saturday, January 28th. Light refreshments will be available at 8:30 am with the meeting beginning at 9:00 am. Lunch (provided) and adjournment are both planned for 12:00 pm. Please RSVP with Troy at 503-408-4090 who can also provide a conference call number for those unable to attend as well as lodging information. Mileage will be reimbursed at SEIU 503 rates.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Forestry Good to Great
What a good year.
Going chronologically Doug Decker was selected State Forester, firefighters kept ‘em small, Stewardship Forester positions were reinstated, the State Forest revenue slide was less steep, and our contract was ratified. ODF’s front line firefighters deserve a special note because they kept the fires small when lightning struck day after day saving both Oregon’s Forests and fire fighting budget. For the second year in a row ODF did not deploy a full IMT to an Oregon wildfire suppression incident.
Getting to great
As good as the year was there are ways to improve and move towards great. These are my observations from Labor/ Management meetings and other sources that I see as the trends, opportunities, and awareness items for 2012 and in keeping with the season’s traditions here is my list:
Tents and field gear: Let’s get this solved and off the table. Incident lodging has been contentious ever since we moved into tents more than 10 years ago. During bargaining this year a collaborative approach was developed to address the issue and the committee that just met has my support in developing good recommendations for the Executive Committee.
Position descriptions: This year look at your PD during your annual review and make sure it describes what you are currently doing. We are all doing “more” but when that extra work adds responsibilities you may be eligible for additional compensation.
Physical fitness: For professional firefighters and others seeking to participate in the fire program the primary path to that work is through the Work Capacity Test. A level of fitness is needed to safely be part of a wildfire suppression team.
Professional organizations: Join them if you can, attend their meetings if allowed, just share ideas and bring new ones back. Maybe you will discover a way to improve operations.
Prepare for advancement: Look for the leadership opportunities where you work. One leadership opportunity is to become the Steward of your District. Currently there are openings and developing your leadership ability is part of the training. Ask a local officer or your organizer how to become one.
For 2012 find something you love doing and do it.
Best wishes
Dave Wells
Forestry Local 629 President
Going chronologically Doug Decker was selected State Forester, firefighters kept ‘em small, Stewardship Forester positions were reinstated, the State Forest revenue slide was less steep, and our contract was ratified. ODF’s front line firefighters deserve a special note because they kept the fires small when lightning struck day after day saving both Oregon’s Forests and fire fighting budget. For the second year in a row ODF did not deploy a full IMT to an Oregon wildfire suppression incident.
Getting to great
As good as the year was there are ways to improve and move towards great. These are my observations from Labor/ Management meetings and other sources that I see as the trends, opportunities, and awareness items for 2012 and in keeping with the season’s traditions here is my list:
Tents and field gear: Let’s get this solved and off the table. Incident lodging has been contentious ever since we moved into tents more than 10 years ago. During bargaining this year a collaborative approach was developed to address the issue and the committee that just met has my support in developing good recommendations for the Executive Committee.
Position descriptions: This year look at your PD during your annual review and make sure it describes what you are currently doing. We are all doing “more” but when that extra work adds responsibilities you may be eligible for additional compensation.
Physical fitness: For professional firefighters and others seeking to participate in the fire program the primary path to that work is through the Work Capacity Test. A level of fitness is needed to safely be part of a wildfire suppression team.
Professional organizations: Join them if you can, attend their meetings if allowed, just share ideas and bring new ones back. Maybe you will discover a way to improve operations.
Prepare for advancement: Look for the leadership opportunities where you work. One leadership opportunity is to become the Steward of your District. Currently there are openings and developing your leadership ability is part of the training. Ask a local officer or your organizer how to become one.
For 2012 find something you love doing and do it.
Best wishes
Dave Wells
Forestry Local 629 President
Friday, November 4, 2011
Keeping Our House in Order
I am excited that new leaders have come forth, and have been elected in their work sites to become Stewards. The Steward is not just a title it is an action position. It's knowing your co-workers and being able to provide suggestions when suggestions are needed to help them stay on track for effective and efficient performance at work. Oregon expects that of us.
At Wednesday's (11/2/2011) Labor/ Management meeting our Human Resource Director shared a concise list, in understandable terms, of these expectations. Just as LCES can save your life on the fire line, many personnel problems can be avoided using this list as a guide for your actions at work.
Come to work: Be on time, let your supervisor know if you are going to be late
Be nice: use the working guidelines, respect co-workers, maintain your professionalism
Bring a lunch: Lunches are un-paid 1/2 or 1 hour long, 2 paid breaks per day they cannot be combined, combined with lunch or taken at the end of the day, code your time correctly
Do your job: Know what the essential functions, assigned duties and expectations are
No drugs or alcohol: come fit for work, alert and with full personal protective equipment, we are a drug free workplace, if you have a CDL random drug testing is a federal requirement
At Wednesday's (11/2/2011) Labor/ Management meeting our Human Resource Director shared a concise list, in understandable terms, of these expectations. Just as LCES can save your life on the fire line, many personnel problems can be avoided using this list as a guide for your actions at work.
Come to work: Be on time, let your supervisor know if you are going to be late
Be nice: use the working guidelines, respect co-workers, maintain your professionalism
Bring a lunch: Lunches are un-paid 1/2 or 1 hour long, 2 paid breaks per day they cannot be combined, combined with lunch or taken at the end of the day, code your time correctly
Do your job: Know what the essential functions, assigned duties and expectations are
No drugs or alcohol: come fit for work, alert and with full personal protective equipment, we are a drug free workplace, if you have a CDL random drug testing is a federal requirement
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