Update from the NCSFA
COMPROMISE AND CONCILIATION AMID IMPERFECTION Tim Bradley, Executive Director, North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association
W
hen many benefits seem to be taken away from public workers and responders, the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association recently moved to increase benefits for our membership of 50,000 firefighters. Effective July 1st, our line of duty death benefit has increased from $50,000 to $100,000. (This is separate and in addition to the State Line of Duty Death benefit.) If the line of duty death resulted from an accident, it would be $125,000 because of our 24-hour death and dismemberment coverage that covers firefighters 24 hours a day for accidents on or off-duty. In addition to the increase in LODD, we increased the seatbelt benefit to $25,000, added a $25,000 safety vest benefit, added a new repatriation benefit for transportation of remains over 100 miles, and made several other improvements. Our new carrier is VFIS of North Carolina, and with
their local office here in our state, the new partnership will allow them more hands-on service capability. Check out our website at ncsfa.com for a complete listing of benefits. The NCSFA Board, elected by the membership of our Association, work together with staff to provide the best support and benefits for the firefighters they serve. In an era where many organizations and governments are gridlocked and unable to accomplish much, working with a group that keeps its eyes focused on the goal is refreshing. They are a great example of working together until solutions are found. Then, they find programs that best serve our members and make things work. Often you don’t find meetings where everyone agrees on everything. Some are more cordial than others, but how do effective fire and rescue service leaders deal with issues when two evenly matched sides can’t agree. When dealing with legislative issues, how do we handle the conflict of
political parties that weighs into whether we get our measures passed or not? How do we handle fire service legislative issues when different associations have different opinions on the legislation? Unless there is a clear majority, particularly in government and regulation, realistically, compromise is the only mechanism of ever getting anything done. The balance between two groups of individuals is rarely uneven. In most discussions, you will find that one side feels it is infallible, while the other believes it is never wrong. To get things
Michael J. Fox summed it up great when he said, “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business.” done, most of us must come to grips with the fact that few of us are completely right all the time. Call it compromise, conciliation, or concession. We each have to pull a little and give a little to adjust the line correctly. As a wise man once told me, you must admit that someone else is right occasionally. How do we get opposing sides to make that admission? I was talking on the phone with an individual years ago when he suddenly screamed into the microphone. After I recovered and asked him what happened and if he was ok, he replied “yes” and told me some dummy talking on his cell phone just cut him off in his lane. When I replied, “can you imagine the nerve of these nuts talking on their cell phones while driving” he found an excuse and got off the phone. I’m not being critical. There have been times when I’ve screamed at the guy in front of me because he wouldn’t move over and gave dirty looks to the guy riding my bumper when I was running the speed limit and wouldn’t move over. On any given day, I could be both people. On every given day, I am imperfect. Perhaps we shouldn’t believe in the perfectibility of man. In history,
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only one has met that mark. Most of us recognize that we aren’t perfect, and we ask and expect other people to excuse our imperfections. We, however, are often intolerant of imperfection in others. It’s not that we expect anyone to be perfect. We don’t like it when they make mistakes. There is a thin line between tolerating imperfection and lacking initiative. There is also a thin line between pursuing perfection and being fastidious or persnickety. The question is, how do we fall within the correct boundaries. Waiting
until we can get it perfect may prevent us from getting it right because we can’t get it done. What is the adage; that perfection is the enemy of good. Michael J. Fox summed it up great when he said, “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for, perfection is God’s business.” When I read the news this morning, I couldn’t help but worry about the state of our country, not from a Republican or Democrat point of view, but from the inability of the government to move forward on key issues that we need to resolve. When decisions are made to oppose ideas before they are heard, you wonder if your leadership seeks to get anything done. In 1787, Benjamin Franklin was considered the wisest man in America. He had been dispensing wisdom for years in a well-known published column in Boston called “Poor Richard.” Nevertheless, he harnessed lightning with a kite, convinced France to come to the aid of America in the revolution, and negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which made England finally recognize America’s sovereignty. Second, George Washington was considered one of the legendary WWW.CAROLINAFIREJOURNAL.COM
