5 members of local 1293 rode Motorcycles to Sturgis, South Dakota for the 1st annual IAFF Motorcycle Club international rally.  They were gone for 10 days and covered well over 3000 miles on their Harleys and Honda goldwing.  (George we are still waiting for you to go USA)  The ride was centered around 2 rides.  On 9-11 over 200 fire fighters from around the country and Canada rode from Sturgis to Rapid City which ended in Memorial park in Rapid City.  A service was held to honor the 343 FDNY fire fighters who lost their lives when the World Trade center was attacked by terrorist.

On 9-15 our L1293 members joined 500 more fire fighters on motorcycles to ride to the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the yearly memorial service for the 114 fire fighters from North America who laid down their lives this past year.  These names go on the wall at the memorial.  The families were honored and presented the IAFF flag.  It was a very moving service.

L1293 riders included Larry "Killer" Bowen, Joe Landrith, Jeff Loyd, George Winton, and David Holcombe.  Wow, what a trip!!

Thanks,

To all who showed up to shop with the kids at our Shopping spree thank you. We shopped with about 85 kids this year and once again Jerry Click did a magnificant job organizing this event. Thank you to all who volunteered and played in the Golf tournamnet as well since this is where some of the proceeds used to shop with were generated. We had several private contributions this year that greatly helped withthe number of kids we could shop for. Thanks to Council members Perky Cox, Larry Jeffus, Jackie Feagin, Preston Edwards and Mayor Jones for showing up and shopping with some of the kids. We touch many families lives through this event and its great to see their smiling faces as they get gifts that they would probably not recieve if this event didn't happen. Thank you again for making our Association one to be proud of.  Photos coming soon and you can also view photos at thegarlandnews.com

50 Years!!!

What a difference 50 years makes. You may not have realized that as of January 16, 2008  your L1293 is now 50 years old. I hope we all take a second to think about what the department may have been like at that point. There have been many changes in those 50 years, most of which many of us were not here to experience. For the members that have been on the department for 30 plus years we owe a big thanks for keeping the Association strong and bringing us to the level we are today. To the younger members I would say keep our eyes on the future and don't relax on pressing issues that will shape the direction and future of the Association. We tend to sit back and let things roll until a "hot button" issue comes up. It's been a while since we have had one of these issues, but there is always the potential right around the corner. If you have contact with retirees, let them know you appreciate their past efforts and thank them for laying the groundwork for the great Association and Department you currently have. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make things move forward and not stall out. We owe thanks to all those who served before us, and we owe dedication and perseverance to those that will follow us. Speak a loud voice and let it be heard so we will continue to be the BEST!!

                                                                                               Fraternally,

                                                                                                                Chad

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time--a tremendous whack.
--Sir Winston Churchill

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!!!

May brings further congratulations to 3 other members of the GFFA for their retirements. Robert Pinson, Rick Ellison and Mark Gass have retired and we wish them well in their retirements.Thank you all for supporting the GFFA throughout your careers.

January we had three of our long standing members retire. We would like to say thanks and wish Dean Waddle, Mo Swor and Rex Erwin good luck in their retirement. Feb. 23 Raymond Sparks and Randy Carter retired. Thank you guys for keeping the association moving forward through the years. We hate to see you leave gentlemen, but we wish you well in your retirement. Goodluck and Godspeed. We hope to see you soon. 

Do these name mean anything to you?  Should they?  You bet they should.  I do not know what the environment was like at the city or the fire department in 1958.  Some of you think I do, but I was only 4 years old at the time.  I know it took courage to put your name on this document. This is where it all started.

Lester Pelton, Cecil Nelson, Jack Abernathy, Thomas Cook, E.L. (Whistle) Hayes, Rudolf Garcia, Herbert (Fuzzy) Owens, Vernon Poor, Herbert Twyford, George Miller, J.W. Nelson, Bob Burkhart, Wilson Wright, George Melaun, Roy Schrick, John Rushing, Terry Harris, Owen (Bud) Bickel, Ted Cornelius, Calvin Herrin, D. R. (Shorty) Williams, E. J. (Buddy) Boren...

These are the names on the "Certificate of Affiliation" that chartered the Garland Fire Fighters Association, Local 1293 on January 18, 1958.  13 of these 24 members were here when I joined the GFFA.

Thanks to David Gott, Vice President and former President, who took our charter and had it very nicely matted and framed.  David presented it at the last association meeting.  I offered to reimburse him the cost, but David said he wanted it to be a gift to the GFFA from him to show his appreciation for what this organization has done for past, present, and future fire fighters in Garland.

Thanks David. 

Stop by and view this document for your self.  It is indeed a big part of our history.

IAFF Wins Passage of HELPS Retirees Bill

August 4, 2006 – The IAFF has won an unprecedented congressional victory in the successful passage of its HELPs retiree health care proposal and the elimination of early withdraw penalties from Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) accounts. Both proposals have been top IAFF legislative priorities this year.

“The joint passage of HELPs and the DROP language represent the most significant financial benefits ever provided by Congress exclusively to the nation’s fire fighters and other public safety employees,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “It is an enormous achievement.”

The bill, H.R 4, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, was passed overwhelmingly late August 3 in the U.S. Senate. The House had passed the identical bill last week. The legislation now heads to The White House for the president’s signature. All indications suggest that President George Bush will sign the measure.

Beginning in 2007, all current and future public safety retirees will receive a $3,000 tax credit towards the cost of health insurance or long-term care insurance premiums. Depending on the retiree’s tax bracket, this equals tax savings of between $540 and $870 per year. “The average retiree will see a lifetime in pocket tax savings in the tens of thousands of dollars,” says President Schaitberger. “The passage of HELPs is a real and measurable benefit to every IAFF member.”

The total cost of HELPs is in excess of $3.4 billion over the next 10 years.

Also included in H.R 4 is language eliminating the 10 percent penalty for withdrawals from DROP accounts prior to age 59 1/2. Beginning January 1, 2007, retirees can access DROP money at age 50.

“The passage of this bill is the result of 18 months of hard work and effective lobbying of leadership in both parties about the necessity of passing a pension bill that included our HELPs and DROP language.”

The IAFF’s proposal was supported by several congressional allies, including Representative Chris Chocola (R-IN), the bill’s principal sponsor who shepherded the legislation throughout the entire process.

“This victory is the result of our bipartisan approach to politics and lobbying,” Schaitberger says. “Once again, our union has delivered real results for our membership and highlighted the value and importance of political action.”