The Professional Brotherhood™

Simple stated, do we appreciate our firefighters?   Do we let them know that they are appreciated?

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 18 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also served as chief of the Rock Hill Fire Departmen...

Are we being hijacked by imposters within the fire service?  Who are the leaders that are advocating for change and inspiring the future leaders of the fire service?

We can't be hijacked by volunteers that think they know the job, but have never actually done the job!  How are you guaranteeing the future success of your organization?   

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for ...

On today's episode Kara dives into the different types of leadership styles and how to work with leaders that fall into each category.

 
About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 18 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also ...

"Word of Mouth!"   Probably one of the best tools that we have in our recruitment tool box, but for some reason, rarely used!

 
About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 18 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also serve...

On today's episode Brian discusses "passion" and the volunteer fire service.  Tune in and share your thoughts! 

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 17 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also served as chief of t...

Prior to working with and on behalf of first responders, Dee racked up close to 20 years as a marketing professional, specializing in integrated “Experiential” programming (interactive experiences between brands and their consumers), working with clients like PepsiCo, UFC, Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, BlackBerry, Ford and Reebok. Following her agency years, Dee launched a consulting ‘collective’, where she led a team of ...

On todays episode we are joined by Mike France and Bill Purcell from MacBoston 18 Truck.

Mike has been a volunteer firefighter for 33 years, is a past chief (2x) and has been an active member fo MacBoston for the last 10 years.  He has been MacBoston's president for the last six.

Bill has been a volunteer firefighter for the last 19 years (across three states), is a New York State fire instructor and has been...

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 17 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also served as chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department from 2018 - 2020 and chief of the Monticello Fire Department from 2001-2002.

Soller has also been ...

**Listener Request**

Aaron, who's a volunteer firefighter in the mid-west emailed us and asked the following:

"I've decided to throw my name in the hat this year and run for line office.  My friends, who all seemed very supportive in the beginning now seem like they are turning on me in support of the other guy.  What should I do?" 

Listen in as Brian gives his thoughts on this very co...

Fire Prevention Week is here!

This week Kara discusses thinking beyond “Dalmatian Education” and how fire prevention is the “Unseen Grab” in firefighting.

Be aggressive with ALL your tactics, including community risk reduction.

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the ...

You're a volunteer firefighter and you have goals, but sometimes you think that those goals are only achievable if you're "on the job".  You have heard us say it before, NOBODY CARES if you're career or volunteer, so why are you letting your volunteer status hold you back.

Got goals? Awesome!
Get out there and GO FOR IT!

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunt...

On today's episode Kara and Brian discuss the "brotherhood".  Are we paying attention to our team? Do we recognize when a brother or sister is going through a tough time? Are we checking in on them?

Are we truly behaving like a brother or are we just tossing that word around like it doesn't mean anything?

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ yea...

On Friday, July 29, 2022 I had the opportunity to be a guest on WRCR’s “Who Wants to be a Volunteer?” 

Thank you Chris Kear and Gordon Wren for having me on the show and thank you for all you do for the fire service.

The interview begins at approximately the 25.00 mark.

About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of...

At one of our recent seminars a student asked me, "Why do so many career firefighters hate volunteers?"  It's not the first time I've been asked this question, but it's a topic I have always chosen not to address on the show for various reasons.  After pondering my own personal feelings and beliefs along with the input of others, I feel like we've finally addressed the topic in a very respectful way.

Have you ever heard a volunteer firefighter refer to themself as "just a volunteer" or maybe you've even referred to yourself in such a way at some point in your career. 

On today's episode, Brian dives into the "just a volunteer" mindset.  Listen in with an open mind, because this one may sting a bit.


About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the l...

On today's episode Brian and Kara take a trip to rural small town American with lieutenant Bill Smith and firefighter Evan Spaulding from the Erieville (NY) Fire Department.

Small town volunteer fire departments face even greater challenges to when it comes to the recruitment and retention of members and the ability to respond to all types of emergencies when called. 

About our hosts:

Brian Soller h...

On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, the Liberty Fire Department (Sullivan County, NY) was dispatched to an activated alarm at Buckley Garden Apartments.  While en-route command was notified of a smoke condition with the possibility of victims entrapped on the upper floors.  The incident quickly changed from "just another AFA"! 

On today's episode Brian and Kara have an open conversation about the incident with lieut...

Let's take a moment to discuss two works that can defeat you before your even try....

"I can't!"


About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 17 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also served as chief...

On today's episode Brian and Kara discuss the recent "Join Sullivan Fire" event in Sullivan County, NY and the future of the podcast.

Tune in and check it out! 


About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 17 years has been a New York state fire instructor ass...