Is this the ultimate bunk-in program?

Last week’s release of the highly popular article: Can you afford to live without a live-in? garnered a lot of attention and peaked my own attention to the idea. Thus, the FireRECRUITER has significant plans to connect with www.fdlivein.com soon to expand on this innovative concept and share success stories of staffing firehouses with college students or other appropriate team members who live at the firehouse in return for volunteer service.

Before we get to that though, I thought it important to highlight a particular bunk-in program that claims to offer the “ultimate college based firefighting experience” — the College Park Volunteer Fire Department — located on the campus of the University of Maryland.

What caught the FireRECRUITER’s eye was the first line of College Park’s mission statement:

“Recruiting, cultivating, and retaining the highest quality diverse membership that remains committed to our mission and values.”

They had me at “Recruiting…” — but I have to say: I think they’re right on target with that opening line. It sounds like they’re looking for quality people to belong to their quality organization — which sounds good to me.

Check out their program, do some research, look for our follow-up article on bunk-in programs and you be the judge:

Is this the ultimate bunk-in program or is there a better “wheel” out there that hasn’t been invented or discovered yet?

However you grade their program — I give them an ‘A’ for the way they not only clearly describe the basics of their program but more importantly, the way they passionately and effectively sell the benefits of being a live-in at College Park’s “Sackroom.”

So, I’ll ask you again: Can Your Volunteer Fire Department Live Without a Live-in Program?