What voluntary service do you work with?

Warrior011

Just wondering what services people are volunteering with. I myself am with the Order of Malta, Carlow Unit.

triple-M

I volunteer with the Dublin civ defence search and rescue unit and love every minute of it,and to top it all off i've a c licence so i get to drive the old fire brigades and ambulances around which is really interesting

Leo Demidov

triple-M wrote: »

I volunteer with the Dublin civ defence search and rescue unit and love every minute of it,and to top it all off i've a c licence so i get to drive the old fire brigades and ambulances around which is really interesting

Aren't you required to have a D1 licence to drive those ambulances?

Civil Divil myself, million years service, jack of all trades but unfortunately master of none. That has to be the one disadvantage to a multi-skilled org, as a volunteer you dont have time to train to the relevant levels in all skills.

Jammyc

Order of Malta here, just coming up to 1 year in the Order now!:D

watsgone

Order of Malta here,

long in the tooth I am afraid

Delancey

I was in Civil Defence ( Rescue ) back in the 1980's - only got called out for real on 1 occassion and that was New Years Day

civdef

Raglan House?

Delancey

civdef wrote: »

Raglan House?

Yep , thats the one

tinsop

New unit of the Missing Persons Limerick,
http://www.limerickblogger.ie/blog/

Elessar

Order of Malta in Dublin here. Over 4 years and loving it. My life changed completely since I joined. For the better I might add.

kensey

Reserve Garda

Shield

kensey wrote: »

Reserve Garda

Really!

Like/Don't like? How are you treated by the regular members?

kensey

Like! Very much so. Treated very well by full time members and management alike. Been attested now just over a year and I find that the more time goes on, the more respect is given and your efforts recognised.
Fri or Sat nite tour of service is highlight of my week!

Shield

kensey wrote: »

Like! Very much so.

Are you thinking about applying to the force full-time now, or will it remain a voluntary thing?

kensey

Will definitely go for full-time when the chance comes around. Just have to wait it out!
Fortunately I'm getting alot of support and encouragement from my full-time colleagues which helps keep spirits up in the time being.
I find it a meaningful and rewarding experience

Leo Demidov

Fair play, I'd imagine the reserve can be thankless enough, all the crap that goes with the job and no shillings for it.

kensey

Well, like any job it can have it's downsides but I think there's far more positive aspects in total. Like any volunteer organisation, a few shillings each week/month would be great, but hey... That's the way it goes!!
It puts the volunteering in volunteering!

sgt.bilko

Member of St John Ambulance since 1988, was told "it's only a few hours a week" :rolleyes:

Absolutley love the org, it's a great feeling to know that you have the training to help someone in their hour of need. Sadly, I've had to do cpr and it was on the way home from Lansdowne on the night of the riots but at least I tried !

It's a great organisation to join or at least do the 1st aid course cos you'll never know the time nor the place.

I met the missus in SJA and now am an Officer in the Division that I joined many, many, many years ago.

Elessar

sgt.bilko wrote: »

I met the missus in SJA and now am an Officer in the Division that I joined many, many, many years ago.

That's the thing I've noticed the most about OMAC, the amount of couples who met in it! It seems every couple I meet have met in the order! And then I keep hearing about engagements and weddings of people who met in the organisation. It's like a big matchmaking service!

sgt.bilko

Elessar wrote: »

That's the thing I've noticed the most about OMAC, the amount of couples who met in it! It seems every couple I meet have met in the order! And then I keep hearing about engagements and weddings of people who met in the organisation. It's like a big matchmaking service!

well where is do you get to practice mouth to mouth and actually enjoy it

47

SJA myself :cool: looking at joining the Civil Defence in the coming months if work permits

sgt.bilko

47 wrote: »

SJA myself :cool: looking at joining the Civil Defence in the coming months if work permits

What Division are you in?

Tango Alpha 51

SJA myself, 47 why are you looking to get out of SJA & into the CD??.

47

buzzman wrote: »

SJA myself, 47 why are you looking to get out of SJA & into the CD??.

I`m not leaving SJA i`m staying in i`m looking at the afs in the civil defence they train on a different night to my division

civildefence

wexfjord wrote: »

Aren't you required to have a D1 licence to drive those ambulances?

Nope, an ordinary car licence covers one to drive them, a C1 is only needed for the new box-body ambulances with the ramp (they are over 3.5ton), and a D1 is for minibus only.

Leo Demidov

Many ambulances that cd have are fitted with seat belts along the stretchers, if you have capacity for more than 8 passengers you must have a D1

Thanks for the lesson in driving licences. I have one for each day of the week.

civildefence

wexfjord wrote: »

Many ambulances that cd have are fitted with seat belts along the stretchers, if you have capacity for more than 8 passengers you must have a D1

Thanks for the lesson in driving licences. I have one for each day of the week.

I would imagine that "old" meant 4x4 ambulances. Unsure of the tone of that response so i'll leave it at that.

Leo Demidov

There was no tone intended, but the statement that D1 is for minibus only is factually incorrect.

You may be right in assuming that 4x4 was inferred but its certainly not indicated by triple-m's post. I also made an assumption that it was a regular ambulance that was being refered to, we shall see.

There does seem to be confusion even among cdo's as to what licence is required for what vehicle.

Ps, I dont really have a licence for each day of the week.

touge_drift

omac myself, about 8 years service. started as a cadet now im the duty officer in my unit.. and your right its a giant match making service haha

yeroulfella

Im in Dublin AFS


As far as I know the 4x4 ambulances are a B license. Think its because they are basically jeeps/offroad and they are a B license. may be wrong

civdef

They are class B. <3500kg, <7 passengers.

Leo Demidov

They are a B, but as i said i assumed we were talking about real ambulances!

SkyFest Airshow

Crew & PRO with Banna Rescue, Co. Kerry. We're a CRBI Unit (Community Rescue Boat of Ireland) - a declared resource to Irish Coast Guard and working under IrCG paging system.

www.bannasearescue.com

coolmoose

Red Cross myself, 15 years and can't get away! have done bits and pieces with other orgs when asked though.

jumpguy

Irish Red Cross for 2 years now I think (or is it 3...can't remember now!), have had to pass on nearly all duties this summer though, as they mostly fall on weekends, which nearly always clashs with the new-found part-time job. Really love it though, have met a great bunch of people through it.

miju

Elessar wrote: »

That's the thing I've noticed the most about OMAC, the amount of couples who met in it! It seems every couple I meet have met in the order! And then I keep hearing about engagements and weddings of people who met in the organisation. It's like a big matchmaking service!

theres also the partners who have to join OMAC to try and spend time with their other half.

My OH is in OMAC for 13 years and brought me into OMAC after I bitcced about missing the involvement of being in a vol org with SJA. So joined her OMAC unit and I love it (though have been given more and more responsibilities so time is getting even more precious for me, still wouldnt complain though )

HWRower

Order of Malta, South Eastern Region

Civil Defence. Joined my local unit when I was 17, and when I went to college in Dublin I joined up there too (I'd call myself "on attachment" to Dublin CD). about 8 years experience in total.

Tango November.

Im in the Red Cross for a year now and i enjoy it but i am thinking of civil defence...

blondie7

miju wrote: »

theres also the partners who have to join OMAC to try and spend time with their other half.

My OH is in OMAC for 13 years and brought me into OMAC after I bitcced about missing the involvement of being in a vol org with SJA. So joined her OMAC unit and I love it (though have been given more and more responsibilities so time is getting even more precious for me, still wouldnt complain though )

Ah dont be complaining, you do more than i do now LOL. Been in OMAC 13 years love the organisation and meeting new people constantly from it

miju

blondie7 wrote: »

Ah dont be complaining, you do more than i do now LOL. Been in OMAC 13 years love the organisation and meeting new people constantly from it

See can't even post on boards.ie without the OH finding my posts LOL. Anyways I'm not complaining especially as it looks I may well be getting even busier again EEK

cbwex

Wexford Civil Defence here myself, lads its the best craic ever. you meet loads of people and it looks good on the c.v and of course theres nothing like the feeling of helping somebody who needs you.

Morpheus

Does RDF count as voluntary service!? 65th Bat A Coy swords, 6 years now.

Delancey

My own personal opinion would say Defence Forces ( permanent or reserve ) are not Emergency Services.
Having said that I would accept that in many emergencies the military do assist , floods , gorse fires , etc.

RadioRetro

Hi, new in this forum, only just discovered it.

I'm involved with the OMACs in Wexford, not as a full member but as an auxiliary driver. Am also an OFA and CFR, which I think is enough seeing as my involvement has been drastically curtailed owing to work commitments. Last year, out just about every weekend, this year since shift pattern changed to cover weekends, very little.

miju

RadioRetro wrote: »

I'm involved with the OMACs in Wexford, not as a full member but as an auxiliary driver.

hey RadioRetro doesnt sound like you much of an auxillary member when your out most weekends.

Tell me though do the auxillary drivers in your unit get to drive that sweet looking silver car you guys have

RadioRetro

The Batmobile? Yes when necessary. It's usually in the possession of the 2IC who organises and runs the first aid courses.

But sadly I don't get out much any more due to work.

J.Ruff

omac, craughwell unit, been in it for almost year now, luvin it

mousehouse

In the OMAC kilkenny unit. Love it so far best decision I made was to go along to the recruitment night. You learn great skills and make new friends.

fluffysierra

I'm in the Civil Defence in Cork

Yopyop

St John Ambulance 14 years. Can't imagine what i would do without it