SCHOLARSHIP
The America's 9/11 Foundation, Inc has scholarships available for family members of Fire, Police and EMS workers. For info and applications, visit their website www.americas911foundation.org. This is an essay application and the deadline for this year's applications is April 16, 2007.   Thanks to Tab Badders for providing this information!  Click here for other Scholarship Information.

Fire Fighters Worth Remembering
We received an email at the Union Office regarding a project to publish a book about "200 fire fighters worth remaining."  Obviously, here in Baltimore County, we are blessed with an abundance of incredible characters, brave heroes, and wonderful lifelong memories.  We have NOT "checked out" this information, but it looks legitimate enough to present it to you here to be followed up on at YOUR own discretion.  Click here for more information. 

Purchase U.S. Patriot Bonds -- "the All American Investment"
Following the tradition of WWI Liberty bonds and WWII War Bonds, the U.S. Department of the Treasury unveiled the new Series EE Patriot Bond on December 11, 2001 -- the 3-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.   The funds raised by the bonds will contribute to the federal government's overall effort to fight the war on global terrorism.  Click here for more information.

*CF Tags for Cars AND Bikes
For your convenience (and ours!), ALL CF union logo tags are now handled through the Union Office.  Please contact Elizabeth directly for an application, which can then be taken to any MVA office (or tags can be picked up in Glen Burnie).

Memorandum of Understanding
The 2007-2008 MOU by and between Baltimore County and Local 1311 can be found here in .pdf format.  It can also be found on the County's web site.  From the main page click on the County Executive's link (top left corner w/picture), then click on Labor Commissioner (left menu bar, under "In This Section"), and the next page has all the MOUs listed (in .pdf format).  If your link  has old info, you simply need to update/refresh your link!  (Thanks, George!)

The IAFF Wins Passage of the HELPS Retirees Bill
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. Click here to link to the IAFF's web site for more information.

JUST FOR FUN
Test your U.S. Geography skills at this site or this one ... and World Geography at this site!

BUYING A HOUSE?  REFINANCING? WORK WITH THE IAFF!
In addition to several local companies (Advance Realty, Atlantic Federal, and  Baltimore American Mortgage), the IAFF Financial Corporation is working with Nationwide Advantage Mortgage^SM Company to offer you the fastest, easiest way to get a new loan or refinance a current mortgage.  Through Nationwide Advantage Mortgage, IAFF members can access low-rate, low-cost mortgage solutions that offer several benefits that other mortgage companies can’t offer.  Visit the IAFF web site for more  info.

FIRE DEPARTMENT FORMS
Members of the Captains' Council made a list showing where to send forms and how the email subject lines are to be formatted. It is now in the BCNet Fire Library, under "Fire Department Forms," to assist any interested employees.  Here is a link to it:  http://bcnet/agencies/fire/fire_library/fire_forms.html .  Updates can be sent to the Fire Help Desk.

BE AWARE OF JURY DUTY SCAM
Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of scam has surfaced. Fall for it and your identity could be stolen, reports CBS.

In this con, someone calls pretending to be a court official who threateningly says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you didn't show up for jury duty. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Sometimes they even ask for credit card numbers. Give out any of this information and bingo! Your identity just got stolen.

The scam has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado.  This (scam) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they're with the court system.

The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

Check it out here:

• http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/juryscam.htm
• http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
• http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/16787.php

CELL PHONES -- INTERESTING NOTES from Al Brown
You can put your cell phone on the National Do Not Call List (and prevent costly unwanted telemarketing calls) by calling 888-382-1222.  Cell phone companies often charge $1 or more for directory information.  Save money and still get your information by calling 800-FREE-411 (800-373-3411).  You will only be charged for the minutes used per your own cell phone deal.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Looking for relief for that bad back?  Want to ease that neck pain?  Tired of walking slumped over?  You may need chiropractic care ... and you are in luck!  Dr. Nicholas Dezes provides special programs and services for our members.  Don't just live with that pain and discomfort - get rid of it and take care of yourself for once!  Click here for more details!

MOTORCYCLE CLUB
Looking for members interested in joining our Motorcycle Club, open to ALL members, regardless of what type of bike!
Call Jhett Lewis at 1-C or email him.

VICTIMS ASSISTANCE
Any member interested in participating in our community-service program, the Victims Assistance Committee (VAC), please contact LARRY BRISTER at the Union Office immediately.

BENEFICIARY FORMS
Visit our Survivor's Information page for links to Beneficiary/Survivors Forms for both the Baltimore County Fire Department (return to Retirees office at HQ) and the Baltimore County Professional Fire Fighters.

SMOKE DETECTORS
Please be sure to have citizens complete WAIVERS when they get smoke detectors (either from the stations or at their homes).  Stations should send waivers back to the Union Office in groups of 6-8 or more.  Once received at the Union Office, replacement smoke detectors are sent back out to the field.

This page last updated:  09/17/2008