UNION MEETING NOTICE
There will be a general membership union meeting held on Thursday afternoon, November 8th, at 2:00 P.M. (a rescheduled start time). Your 6 hour excusal time will begin at 12:00 noon and last until 1800 hours. A Special Order of Business will be to vote on submitted Constitution amendments. All delegates will be able to pick up their 2002 UFA vehicle I.D. placards at this meeting, or any other time from your borough trustee. Packages are given to delegates only. Back To Top FAMILY LAWSUITS OVER THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TRAGEDY
See letter in 65-2 mailing from Michael Block, UFA General Counsel, on the guidelines surrounding lawsuits from those families affected by injury or death at the World Trade Center tragedy. Congress passed a statute known as the “September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001" to deal with this issue. Back To Top ORDERED MILITARY DUTY
See memorandum in 65-2 mailing from the FDNY concerning members who are serving in Operation Enduring Freedom or who are otherwise serving on ordered Military Duty in connection with the events of September 11, 2001. Back To Top N.Y.C. Marathon - Running And Raising Funds - November 4, 2001
Firefighter Larry Parker of Ladder 129 will be running this year’s marathon for a dual cause. Beside his personal interest in the race, Larry will raise $5 for every person he passes during the New York City Marathon. He is claiming that he’ll pass 20 to 25,000 runners and raise at least $100,000 for the UFA Widow’s and Children’s Fund. This special effort will be sponsored by Chase Manhattan Bank.
All off duty members are invited to line the streets of the race to encourage Larry and the rest of our FDNY marathon runners. Wear bunker jackets or other FDNY apparel and try assisting at the water stations for ALL runners. Volunteer your assistance at this high profile media event to show the public that we appreciate what was done for US at the World Trade Center site for the last month and a half. Back To Top COMEDY SHOW FUNDRAISER AT GOVERNORS
There will be two shows on Sunday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown will once again host this effort to raise funds for the Thomas Elsasser Fund. Many top comedians from Long Island and New York City will participate. Tickets are free to all widows (with a guest or two) and to all firefighters (with spouse). All other tickets will be $25 and can be purchased by calling Governors at 516-781-3358. For show info call Firefighter John (Haz Mat) LaRocchia at 516-781-8295 or work (718) 476-6288. Back To Top SWIFT UPDATING OF DEPENDENT(S) STATUS - EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
As we explain to each and every proby class, you MUST update all changes in dependent status as soon as possible after marriage, divorce, births, student eligibility, etc. This must be reinforced by each delegate to all company members. Since the UFA and FDNY do not co-mingle any personnel information, changes in family status (or address/telephone) must be recorded with BOTH the FDNY and our SBF office.
We receive more and more calls that dependents are not covered for prescriptions, because the SBF was never notified of changes or additions. Seabury & Smith, carrier of our Wohler’s Catastrophic Major Medical plan, is especially strict when it comes to notification. Since Wohlers (and not the SBF office) is the administrator of this plan - you must also notify them directly of any births if you wish to have benefit coverage. If you do not let them know of additions within 30 days of an event, then that dependent will be added BUT the 12 month restriction concerning pre existing medical conditions only begins when that addition notification is made and plan coverage will not be retroactive.
In light of the recent tragedy, we see a number of members who failed to update their beneficiaries. Make sure your beneficiaries are updated after the death of any immediate family members. Benefits can not be paid out to people who no longer exist. This only ties up your benefits in court or to an estate. This will definitely be the topic of a future union meeting or delegate seminar. Back To Top CITY HEALTH PLAN TRANSFER PERIOD EXTENED
The City has agreed to extend the Health Plans Open Enrollment Period to November 30, 2001. Any changes selected during this period will become effective the first day of the first full payroll period in January 2002. There will be no mailing of Summary Plan Description Books. All health plan updates were inserted with the last payroll. If more information is needed, you can visit the City’s website at www.nyc.gov. Transfer applications can be obtained at fire headquarters by contacting Camille Issacs at the Health Desk, 718-999-2196. Back To Top FDNY 12 Step Fall Workshop In Memory Of Father Mychal Judge
Everything has changed! September 11, 2001 made all of our other problems seem childish, but our other problems can still destroy us and harm those around us! The Fall Workshop is open to all active and retired Fire Department personnel who are attending 12 Step anonymous programs. A room for the night is available if you want to sleep over. If you need a room RSVP by the day before (718) 987-6694. Tuesday, November 13th. 6:00 P.M. dinner, 7 - 10 workshop. Mount Manresa Retreat House, 239 Fingerboard Road, Staten Island NY 10305. (718) 727-3844. Look for FDNY signs in the lobby to lead you to our meeting place. If you need more information please call the follow friends: Everett W (718) 987-6694, Bill M. (718) 727-3426, Ed H. (631) 345-9318, Jim C. (845) 291-7055, Scott H. (718) 816-6948, Bill D. (516) 872-4219, Mike T. (718) 979-5498. The traditions of the 12 Step Programs will be observed and your anonymity will be respected. Any donations are appreciated and should be made to Mount Manresa Retreat House, with a notation that they are for current and future FDNY 12 Step Workshops and Retreats. Back To Top Auction
There will be an auction on Sunday, November 11th at Empire Hose Company # 3 (across from the Merrick Library), 2300 Merrick Ave in Merrick New York, to benefit the Merrick & Bellmore volunteer fire departments, FDNY Fallen Heroes Ronnie Gies (Squad 288 FDNY, Ex-Chief Merrick FD), Brian Sweeney (Squad 288 FDNY, Merrick FD), Kevin Prior (Squad 252 FDNY, Bellmore FD), Adam Rand (Squad 288 FDNY, Bellmore FD) and the UFA Widow’s & Children’s Fund. Featuring fabulous food by Outback Steakhouse of Merrick, silent & Chinese auctions, door prizes and a “Wall of Supportâ€. Cost is $35 per person which includes dinner, program and door prize ticket. Doors open at 4:30 P.M. Auction begins at 5:30 P.M. Please reserve your seats ASAP, we expect to sell out. Visit: www.geocities.com/FDBENEFITAUCTION. To reserve seats, for more information or to donate auction prizes, please call 516-816-6534 or e-mail: FDBENEFITAUCTION@yahoo.com. Items may be mailed to: fdbenefitauction, 1733 Rugby Road, Merrick NY 11566. Back To Top NEW MOTOROLA HANDI TALKIES ISSUED
Some units have received the (reissued) new handi talkie radios from Motorola. These are the same radios which were recently under fire for poor performance under our working conditions. The difference at this time is that they are configured to operate in the analog mode instead of digital mode. If you experience any operating problem in the field, please make the FDNY administration and UFA aware of it.
Back To Top SECURITY BENEFIT FUND OPTICAL PROGRAM
On January 1, 2002, we will be improving our present optical program. For your convenience the UFA will provide a vendor-direct on line system. Members will no longer be required to call for optical cards, return them to the SBF office, and then wait again for vouchers to be sent back through the mail. All you will have to do is visit a participating vendor, present proper identification, give them your social security number, and they will be able to determine you or your dependent’s eligibility and process your request. Those members who choose not to use a participating vendor will continue to have that direct reimbursement option, subject to existing plan limitations and exclusions. The list of participating vendors will be available on the UFA website by the first of the new year. NOTE: Effective November 30, 2001 we will discontinue issuing voucher cards as we begin this upgrade to our existing optical benefit program. Back To Top Fraternally, WILLIAM F. MIRRO
Recording Secretary, KEVIN E. GALLAGHER
President
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