Operation Bryan

Recruiting for the Future

Operation Bryan, named after the Bryan Township that makes up the majority of our Rescue District, is a multi-tactic approach to recruiting new rescuers in the most challenging conditions. All volunteer agencies have struggled with finding volunteers, but Mountain Park Rescue Squad has faced one of the worst recruitment struggles that any agency in Surry County has seen. That doesn't change the need for technical rescue and emergency medical services for our jurisdiction. Hence, we are launching Operation Bryan to combat the ongoing recruiting crisis in Mountain Park.

Our Challenges

Scarce & Aging Population

The population of our rescue district is approximately 3,441 people. Mountain Park is known as both a retirement/ getaway community as much as it is an agricultural one. There are a number of residents who are willing, but not physically able to help due to age, health, and safety.

No Economy or Local Jobs

Mountain Park is largely defined by its agricultural industry. Beyond farmland and residents, however, there are very minimal job opportunities. This means that unlike other rescue districts, the volunteers have to regulalry leave the district to go to work. Even if volunteers could leave work to respond to calls, they still wouldn't be close enough in many cases.

Modern Work Requirements

The days of the single-earner household and 40 hour weeks are largely over. There are few stay-at-home mothers or fathers due to the modern cost of living. Additionally, consider those who can't leave for training or to respond to calls because they have children to watch at home. Many people also carry multiple jobs, have school work or class, and/or are a part of other volunteer organizations.

Need for Certifications

Rescue and medical providers have set curriculums to help first responders provider high-quality, professional care. This also means, however, that a certain level of literacy and educational attainment are required. While the standards are passable for anyone with at least a high-school education, Mountain Park's district is disproportionately under- or uneducated due to limited opportunities. Even today, only an Elementary School is present in our district, with travel required to access any higher level of education.

Physical Fitness Required

Having the education is one piece of the puzzle. Being able to physically conduct rescues, like climbing ropes or trekking through the woods, requires physical fitness. Federal and state grants have not only failed to invest in items like gym equipment or memberships, but have also restricted such investments and limited them to health screenings. Our district has no healthcare or fitness facilities, local access to fresh foods, nor outlet for health education. So not only does our community suffer, but we are not financially able to help solve the problem.

Our Response

Our response is to address the problems through three main routes, with each tactic addressing at least one of those routes:

Visibility: It's true, not everyone knows that our agency exists or that it is an entity not related to the fire department. Making ourselves visible is one of the initial steps to garnering volunteers.

Gap Filling: Providing opportunities that help bridge the gaps that keep people from volunteering, such as helping people with education.

Increased Access and Contact: The more we are around, the more prevalent we become. By creating more opportunities for people to meet us and speak with us, we create more doors for people to join.

Visibility Campaign

Our visibility campaign involves marking our district at the borders and throughout. The main feedback we have received so far is that many people "had no idea the district went out that far". Many people may not join if the don't know they are within our district.

Areas Affected:

Visibility

Increased Access and Contact

Our First Building

We are working to build our First (not new) building! This building will do more than hold our trucks and equipment. It'll function as a community center, class location, and potentially host county EMS resources to increase the response time for Advanced Life Support.

Areas Affected:

Visibility

Gap Filling

Increased Access and Contact

Tutoring

We provide tutoring to our members to help them make it through challenging courses. This is critical, because it may be the last chance members have to further their education and skill sets.

Areas Affected:

Gap Filling

Door-To-Door Recruiting

Not all members our community have social media; one of the cheapest and most effective ways to reach people. Door-to-door efforts are time- and manpower intensive, but allow us to talk to people we otherwise would have never met. It also helps us gather important information, learn our district, and make an impact with those who may one day need our services.

Areas Affected:

Visibility

Gap Filling

Increased Access and Contact

Mass Mailing

Though increasingly expensive, mass mailing is a good way to raise awareness and provide points of contact for those in our community. Mailing lists are expensive, so we have opted to hand package and mail letters, with the objective of reaching every household in our district.

Areas Affected:

Increased Access and Contact

Event Participation

We strive to increase the number of events we are participating in. This gives us the opportunity to meet our community, talk with them, and remain visible in ways that are fun, friendly, and help build activity in the community.

Areas Affected:

Visibility

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