vision2020
Re:Professional Firefighters of Idaho
Dear visionaries:
We, too, received a call from this "organization" sometime last week. I
requested any information available by mail, because we will not subscribe,
donate, etc. over the phone. He gave the usual response that it costs too much
to send materials to people who are unwilling to contribute. I asked for a
contact telephone number and address/website, and he then said he was only a
telephone service rep for a company calling on behalf of this group....
Anyhow, I felt a bit guilty not supporting firefighters, but would rather
contribute to a known entity closer to home!
Nance Ceccarelli and Paul McCawley
1031 Showalter Road
Moscow ID 83843
Tom Trail wrote:
> 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
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