RE: Professional Firefighters of Idaho

["Tom Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com>]

Greetings -

Two major "thumbs up" to both Jon Carlson and Rep. Tom Trail.  There is
absolutely nothing that irritates me more than unscrupulous individuals
taking selfish advantage of a person's good nature.  I, too, was called by
this "organization".  After I asked the caller a series of questions
(concerning the legitimacy of the Professional Firefighters of Idaho) and
receiveing generic non-responsive answers, I simply hung up on them.  If
someone wants to contribute to local firefighters (which I believe is a good
idea), the Moscow Fire Department is located at 603 South Main Street.  I am
certain that they accept "walk-in" donations.

See you there,

Tom Hansen

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Trail [mailto:ttrail@moscow.com]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 11:30 AM
To: vision2020
Subject: Fwd: Professional Firefighters of Idaho


Visionaires--John Carlson shared this report about the so called
"Professional Firefighters of
Idaho."   The group sounds very suspicious and a possible scam.   I've
requested the Idaho
Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division to investigate.

Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 5
>
>
>>From: "JOHN CARLSON" <fjontrr@turbonet.com>
>>To: <RepTrail@infotrail.com>
>>Subject: Professional Firefighters of Idaho
>>Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 18:46:44 -0700
>>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1
>>X-Envelope-To: reptrail@infotrail.com
>>
>>Dear Tom,  yesterday evening I recieved a second call from an organization
>>called the "Professional Firefighters of Idaho" soliciting
>>contributions/donations for their organization.  I asked them what the
>>funds were going to be used for and the young lady said for support
>>services and equipment and such.  I asked her to send me information or
>>literature on this group and she said there was none to send and that they
>>were a legitimate organization registered with the state.  I asked her why
>>they would need donations for safety equipment and whatever because OSHA
>>administration would be able to review their organization and suggest any
>>violations in work safety and in faulty equipment - no response.  I asked
>>her if this organization had insurances such as workmans comp. to cover
>>injury or death of an employee and that in my experience of 55 years in
>>Idaho, those who voluntarily fought forest fires for the usual fire season
>>of 4 months for the high wages which are reportedly up to $40/$80. and hr.
>>dependent upon the job accepted those risks as occupational hazards for
>>that pay and had insurances in the event of injury or catastrophe.  I
>>could hear various noises in the background of the caller and it sounded
>>like a very lively place she was calling from.  She appealed to me by
>>asking if I'd heard of the four people who died fighting fires last month
>>and I said of course but they were people on a job who had accepted those
>>risks for pay and that it was a terrible thing because they in essence
>>became like baked potatoes in their shelters.  This young lady said that's
>>why they needed donations and I again declined without first having
>>recieved literature on goals, purposes for accountability and she said
>>that "I guess you don't want to help the firefighters then"  and then I
>>got pissed.  What kind of young con artist this gal is to beg for money,
>>then to try to give a guilt trip when refused, the little bum.  These are
>>very serious jobs and usually worked by people who want to make serious
>>money doing that job!!!!!   I have many years experience working in the
>>mining, logging and farming industry with all of the hazards and dangers
>>which accompany those jobs, I had insurance, union support and still
>>worked to raise and support a family in an honorable fashion while facing
>>risk of injury or loss of life for more than 4 months a year and more like
>>a constant 12 months for nearly 15 years mining.  This organization needs
>>to be scrutinized and their campaign begging for money at this time of
>>year working on peoples fears of fire, playing on sympathy at the loss of
>>4 young people doing a job they elected to work at and lost their lives
>>for does not make "this organization" an honorable cause to give
>>money.......  I hope you can look into this organization and into their
>>fundraising tactics before they con a lot of unsuspecting people who in
>>good faith want to help but aren't legitimately and accurately informed of
>>the intentions of their donations.....  Thanks for listening,  John D.
>>Carlson, 1601 Texas Ridge Rd., Deary, ID 83823..  877-1390.
>

Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail@moscow.com