True public service has been lost in Greenwood

Volunteers?

I wonder what my late husband Vic would think? The original Greenwood Township Fire Department was a group of volunteers organized to provide fire protection and later emergency services to Township residents. Vic thought of his volunteerism as a public service helping his neighbors, never considered any payment necessary, and only received a very small pension in return. I understand times have changed and personal demands make it difficult for the fire department to maintain adequate membership, but it seems as though the meaning of the word volunteer has disappeared. Today, our fire department members get paid for meetings, drills, training, mileage, and calls. What is left that is a volunteer activity? I believe I know what Vic would think. We now have a paid on call fire department not a volunteer fire department, and true public service has been lost along the way.

Kathy Vogh

Greenwood Twp., Minn.