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Isn't it strange just how little interaction volunteer brigades have with each other? Especially since we all spend so much time trying to solve many of the same problems...

WHAT IS VOLLYNET?

"VollyNet" is a seven-year old established community of people discussing NZ volunteer firefighting issues using internet email. Anyone can subscribe, and then can send messages to everyone else on the list simply by visiting this webpage. Its open to anyone, and is for the completely free discussion of equipment, training, big calls, fundraising, safety, administration, politics... whatever. You will be assumed to be on the list as an individual speaking personally, rather than officially representing your brigade or any other organisation, so you'll be able to speak your mind freely.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

VollyNet is completely unedited and uncensored. Anyone can join automatically, and anything they post will be immediately and automatically distributed. The List Administrator has the technical ability to throw members off the list, but will only ever do so either after a vote or in an egregious emergency (eg. someone is posting 100 ads an hour). If it ever happens full details will be immediately posted to the group.

This is a service provided by volunteer firefighters for volunteer firefighters. Although the group is known about and possibly read by various people within the UFBA, the NZPFU and Fire Service management, it is definitely NOT controlled by or answerable to these or any other organisations. We're completely independent. You'll find a very wide span of opinions and perspectives in this forum, and that's the idea.

VollyNet is administered democratically. If at any time you as a list member want a policy changed you should post a message to the group with the subject heading starting "POLICY: " outlining the issue you are addressing and the options you see. When this has been discussed I'll organise a vote.

Many, maybe most, brigades nationwide have at least one member on the list. Other than going to a UFBA conference, VollyNet is definitely the only way to make yourself heard to such a large number and range of colleagues.

And its working! I've just come from reading the latest posts as I type this. Here's some of the issues already under discussion:-

• Ultralight pumps... speedy and economic or cheap and nasty?

• Officer selection... democracy or by appointment? what works best?

• The new pager system... will anyone turn out for the shitty calls?

Where else can you find out what your colleagues around the country really think about these sorts of issues? Who can you ask for a different perspective? Is there anyone out there who has found an answer to that impossible problem your brigade have been wrestling with? Now you can find out - on VollyNet. Let's stop wasting energy and time re-inventing wheels, and start helping each other out. Let's work together to build a better fire service.

CONDUCT & RULES

Rules and regulations are boring, aren't they? I'll keep it short... the list is non-commercial - discuss equipment if you like, but don't sell it on "VollyNet". Fire Service bigwigs may also be politely discouraged if their presence is intimidating anyone - this is an open, free, frank conversation. Overseas firefighters can join if they want to discuss New Zealand VFB issues. The group has recently voted to allow members to remain anonymous if they feel they need to, but please be aware that anyone can automatically obtain a list of the email addresses of all VollyNet members.

The value of this list comes from the freedom people feel to express themselves honestly. Please respect the value of this free expression. Any action you take designed to shut someone up because you disagree with something they said here is NOT cool. If you have been on the receiving end of any pressure along these lines please let me or the list know about it, and we'll do our best to help.

As a VollyNet member YOU are completely responsible for anything you say here. You might be criticised for it. You might be angrily denounced. You could even be sued. In other words, its just like life. We're all grown ups... please behave accordingly.

I WANT TO JOIN!

To join right now, simply CLICK HERE.

You can now send messages to the group by emailing them to this address:-

vollynet@vollynet.org.nz

We want to hear from you, but REMEMBER that literally hundreds of your busy colleagues worldwide will get what you say in their inbox... are you REALLY sure you want to press "SEND"?

If you have any reasonably sophisticated email software (even Microsoft's Outlook Express!) you can set it to intercept all incoming VollyNet messages and sort them into a special folder to keep them out of the way of your other email. Set your software to look for "vollynet@vollynet.org.nz in the "To:" field.

Please note that you must post from the same email address you subscribed with, otherwise VollyNet won't recognise you, and so will not distribute your message. This is an anti-virus measure.

I look forward to talking with you soon on VollyNet!

Tony Sutorius
VollyNet List Administrator