||| FROM AMANDA MONTAGUE |||
The open letter penned by the OIFR volunteer lieutenants to the Commissioners is unfortunate and frankly puzzling to anyone who has been involved in what’s been happening at OIFR over the past few years. The volunteer lieutenants come out swinging at the three new OIFR Commissioners (elected just over two months ago) with a litany of complaints, and yet have previously remained silent while serious allegations of harassment and lack of transparency have plagued the Department. They are appalled at how Chief Holly vanSchaick is being disrespected, but have remained completely silent as long-time female volunteers and career first responders in the Department have been publicly disparaged and had their serious harassment allegations ignored? Come on now.
As a former OIFR Commissioner, I can’t help but weigh in with some context to the issues that are raised in their open letter. In the past few years, career OIFR firefighters, paramedics and longstanding volunteers have been put under internal investigation or have been removed as volunteers for merely raising issues about OIFR leadership. People who cared deeply about OIFR and the Orcas community in which they lived who dared to raise a question about issues plaguing the department were publicly disparaged or worse.
For those who are unfamiliar with the history, it is helpful to understand the context in which the three new Commissioners took office. [Guest Opinion | When did questioning behavior at OIFR become personal? – theOrcasonian.com; Guest Opinion | Former OIFR Commissioner says Fire Department allegations are serious – theOrcasonian.com; Guest Opinion | In their own words: Dysfunction at OIFR as described by Commission – theOrcasonian.com; Guest Opinion | The rampant toxicity and failure of leadership at Orcas Fire & Rescue – theOrcasonian.com]. In light of all that has taken place at OIFR in the past few years, forgive me for not being distressed about the Chief taking direction from the Commission. Indeed, that is the actual function of their roles.
I can attest to the amount of time and work it is going to take for the new Commissioners to sort things out at OIFR. It has been an absolute mess with zero transparency for quite some time and it is going to require some time digging into what has taken place to get on the right track. I am curious as to whether or not Chief vanSchaick will take this opportunity to provide leadership to a fractured team and set an example for current volunteer OIFR members in having a respectful discourse with the Commission, or will she stand by and allow volunteer members to hold their own meetings with the public to complain about the three new Commissioners, as laid out in recent posts by OIFR volunteer lieutenants. I for one cannot imagine allowing volunteers in any organization to host their own meetings in rebellion to the organization’s leadership. If there are grievances, these should rightfully be aired at open OIFR Commission meetings, where they can be addressed and responded to in the appropriate setting with the appropriate people present.
There is still much work to be done to in order to correct course at OIFR, and I applaud the courage of the three new Commissioners for trying to do just that. I hope you will join me in rooting for OIFR and for the new Commissioners to help get OIFR back in to the 21st century with policies that support every member of the OIFR team and in bringing transparency into an organization which has sorely been missing daylight for some time.
Thank you, Amanda, for your past service and for your continued dedication to helping OIFR be the best it can be.
With all due respect, according to the Washington State Constitution:
SECTION 4 RIGHT OF PETITION AND ASSEMBLAGE.
The right of petition and of the people peaceably to assemble for the common good shall never be abridged.
All invitees are welcome to attend.
Tony, I’m curious if that is how it worked in the US Air Force? When you had a beef with Congressional oversight of spending and contracting (too many pesky questions perhaps?) would you band together with fellow Lieutenants in your unit to write an opinion letter where you identified yourselves as officers…and then invite the public down for tea and crumpets at the old hangar/community center for a chat about the letter outside the chain of command? And your superior officers were ok with that, because ‘constitution?’ Enjoy your Sunday coffee, be careful not to burn your tongue…
Alex, the volunteers are not hosting a meeting. It was my idea as a spouse of a volunteer who is deeply disturbed with the toll this is taking on our island community. As Doe Bay is a smaller community that has historically supported and taken care of each other, I thought about what might help bring us together in hopes of understanding each other. This is one tiny part of the island that I care deeply about. I fondly remember going to the Bond’s on Sundays for coffee and cookies as a little girl. I thought “that’s the Doe Bay Way,” and maybe we should go back to what our homestead neighbors taught us about conversation and listening to others (both sides). I then thought, maybe my husband could host a coffee and conversation in hopes of understanding each other and discussing somewhere other than social media? Haven’t we been encouraged to talk to each other? To reach out to our neighbors? Go to the source? This was truly meant to be a productive conversation among the neighbors and friends. We don’t have to agree, but we need to respect each other, and be willing to listen.
Unfortunately, someone took a screen shot of my online reservation through the community website and made incorrect inferences about why the room was reserved. Wow. This person obviously had my name and contact info and could have contacted me, but instead sent a screenshot to the commissioners? Those that got the invite clearly got the message that this is a community conversation and not in anyway affiliated with OIFR. Here we are trying to create a community space to come together, ask questions, and enjoy a cup of coffee. Hopefully, we can do this as the Bonds taught us and remember “The Doe Bay Way.” Please.
Ummmm, OK, in the spirit of “The Doe Bay Way,” one can only hope that ALL of the folks named in the “Vote of No Confidence” article posted anonymously on this site were invited to this “coffee and conversation in hopes of understanding each other and discussing somewhere other than social media.”
Well we just got home from the Doe Bay Fire Hall community meeting! I was impressed with the discussion, honest opinions/information, respect given to neighbors voicing concerns and most importantly getting to listen to others. It was really nice to have a discussion away from Facebook! (though here I am writing a comment on-line). My hope is that from this discussion that our community just had, we can help to facilitate and encourage discussion between the elected officials who we just put in place and the folks who have ‘boots on the ground’. Wow, they are passionate, hard working folks who need to be heard out and made to be feel listened to! Please join me in respecting each other and moving forward (there is a bunch of work to do)!!!
Thx for the cheerful comment Stephens. Not sure where you were in the past when other passionate, hard-working folks – also ‘boots on the ground’ – were looking to be heard. I only recall your silence.
Alex, where’s it written that one has to be first in line in order for their observations to be recognized, or their input heard? If there was ever such an undemocratic rule it would only ensure that he who speaks first gets to speak last… respect.
Listening and patience goes both ways. The bottom line is the tail can’t wag the dog. And the tail cannot keep hurling ugly insults and threats at the people that chose the dog because those are the ones that pay the bill.
Anyone that has engaged in this juvenile approach should have already been shown the door. That is what true leadership is and it has been sorely lacking.