Thoughts from the Tailboard
Happy New Year. I hope the Christmas holidays were good to you and you were able to enjoy family and share some time together. Christmas is one of those times we seem to take a step back and think about a number of different aspects of our lives. Hope it was all good for you.
Ready or not here it is. The NEW YEAR. You know what that means don’t you? Besides taxes, calendar changes, and wondering where the past year went. It means lots of things in our lives change too. Some for the good, and some we just hate, and others the verdict is still out. The SD Firefighters Association is no different. The Board is considering some changes that in the short term a person may ask why? But in the long term, looking down the road and what is best for the firefighters of South Dakota it may be the best road.
When someone asks you why are you a firefighter, one of those reasons generally is to help others in their time of need. I mean besides the excitement of driving hot, or squirting water, or all the fun stuff. I’ve been in the fire service for 49 years. In all those years I’ve never had any serious accidents or injuries. Small cuts, twisted an ankle on a wildland fire, or slammed a finger in a door, Darn that hurts. However, about one month ago while helping move a patient down some steps on a medical call, I suddenly felt a pain in my lower back. To make a long story very short after doctor’s visits, injections, and some PT it is all good. However, at the end of my doctor's visit I asked him if I could go back to responding? He said no reason not to, but next time get some help. That made me think. We help the citizens we serve. Do we help our fellow firefighters? Think about the next time the pager goes off and you tell yourself, I’ll let someone else handle this call or I just don’t feel like it right now. Maybe, just maybe, it will be your firefighter that needs help. Lifting, carrying, doing whatever. We serve the public, but we also serve each other. Just a thought.
No monthly article, especially at this time of year would be complete without a pitch to remember to get your 2026 100% membership dues paid. I’m not going to list all the benefits your firefighters receive, but there are many. Some departments have already taken care of that, and we thank you for it. Ask the Chief or treasurer if your department has paid their dues. It’s well worth your time to be sure.
With that I’ll close for this month. If you made any New Years resolutions, we all know how hard they are to keep. I only made one resolution this year, not to make any resolutions. So far it’s working.
Denny Gorton, Treasurer