Over the last year, Local 1377 initiated a program utilizing revenue from the Florida Professional Firefighters Foundation to support local youth programs around the county.  The program has been effective since it is a new stream of funding to a few nonprofit organizations that have seen their funding cut in the last two years.  The program has made a great positive impression on many local leaders regarding our outreach into the community.  Few if any labor organizations participate in local nonprofit youth organizations and we have been seeing benefits.

At the August Executive Board meeting it was decided to continue support of youth programs across St. Lucie County and to expand the Local's Public Relations efforts.  Local 1377’s Youth Program Support Plan would expand to sponsor up to 10 youth sports leagues in the county. 

There are several restrictions listed below to ensure fairness and the greatest benefit for the youths effected and our organization.  All of the funds for this program are from the Florida Professional Firefighters Foundation and must also meet their criteria. 

1.    The funds must not exceed $500 per league.

2.    The League must be a recognized and established LOCAL (in St. Lucie County) Sports league.

3.    The League MUST post a banner representing the Local at its Main Sports Venue for the year.

4.    The League MUST be an IRS 501C3 Charity, and produce the necessary IRS certificate confirming same.

5.    A member of the Local must ask for the sponsorship at the September 9th, or October 14th Union Meeting and present the IRS Documentation and sponsorship packet from the sports league.  (Directions to the Union Hall can be obtained from any Executive Board member)

6.    In the event that the number of leagues considered exceeds 10, the Executive Board will determine which leagues are to receive funding and to what amount each league will be funded.   

If you have any questions please contact Nate Spera (BATT 4A) @ 772-408-2901

     Voting Starts Friday July 23rd at 3pm and runs until 3pm Sunday August 1st.  If you do not have a login, Click Here to sign-up.  If you have created a login and do not remember your password or log in, simply Click Forgot Your Login?.  For those that have signed up but have had their e-mail address changed and are not recieving their password or login, contact Jeff Lee  772-528-2521 for assistance.  During sign-up, if you do not know your IAFF Member number just use your employee number instead.  In regards to having the ability to vote for this ratification, account changes will not be made after Friday July 30th.

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Here are the two By-Law changes that have been voted on.  Please review and call an E-Board member if you have any questions.

Tim and I traveled to Tallahassee to lobby our local legislators regarding two bills that could have had a terrible effect on firefighter retirements throughout our state.  The bills are designed to change the calculations for retirement from the best salary over four years to an annual average from your entire career.  Furthermore, they reduce the retirement multiplier significantly, and eliminate the addition of overtime and other compensation (Mustering Out) from retirement calculations.  These bills address both the Florida Retirement System and Chapter 175 plans such as ours.  Union members have been vocal and have flooded switch boards in the legislature throughout this session and have been very effective in getting the legislators attention.  One legislator from south Dade County complained about the focus on him as one who introduced one of these bills.  He felt singled out, that’s fine with us. 

Another effort was to end the Health Insurance Subsidy Program (HIS).  State employees and FRS members receive a Health Insurance Subsidy of up to $150 a month to offset the cost of insurance.  The subsidy has been around since 1987, and currently serves 257,000 retirees.  Although this subsidy does not apply to us and we have our own subsidy of $235 a month for retirees, this situation demonstrates what type of people we will be dealing with next year.  The initial House vote failed by three (3) votes, and subsequently the Republican leadership called for a “Do Over”.  They twisted arms by threatening their own with loss of privileges, that no bills they introduced would move from committee, and found four cowards to change their position and passed a bill that cut these benefits effective 12/31/2010.  Eleven Republicans were courageous enough to refuse to strip retirees of benefits and voted against the bill.  Not ONE Democrat supported elimination of the subsidy, including our own Adam Fetterman.   That said, this is not a Democrat/Republican issue, it is a moral one of broken promises. 

The bills now are in the Senate and all indications are that the Senators are not going to approve either of these bills. Senator Negron has indicated to us, a coalition from Palm Beach County, and 9^th DVP Tolley that he will not support this legislation.  Many of our friends appeared shocked the Republicans would take on this strategy during an election year.  Next year there will be no upcoming elections to deter the Republican leadership from passing legislation that slashes retirement benefits and cap tax rates forcing deeper cuts to local governments and our Fire District. The Florida Professional Firefighters is starting with strategy meetings immediately after this legislative session to head off the threat and respond to each bill that threatens our safety and benefits.  A great lesson learned this year was the effective use of electronic media particularly social web sites to motivate our members to fight bad legislation.  Lessons we hope to employ in our own defense against attacks on our members in the future.