BY CRAIG A. HAIGH
I have been immeasurably blessed! I started my fire service career in a small volunteer department in Illinois where we didn’t have a lot of fancy resources or specialized tools. Our budgets were small, and pancake breakfasts and chili supper fundraisers were a necessary mainstay of our operation. Funds were so tight that planning was essential. We didn’t have the money to spend unwisely, and we carefully scrutinized decisions to ensure that we were being the best stewards of the residents’ hard-earned dollars.
Chief Larry L. Anderson annually led his leadership team through the process of planning and project status reviews before strategic planning became popular in government. As a young firefighter (really more a kid), I saw the benefits of community risk assessment, budget planning, revenue generation, and careful project management. I got to feel the excitement build with the accomplishment of each small objective and the pride associated with bringing a long sought-after goal to fruition. It taught me to work hard, keep my eye on the ball, and not be distracted by the latest fad or what cool new tool our well-to-do neighbors just purchased.
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