ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH EDITION |
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CAL FIRE Local 2881 wishes you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe new year. |
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In partnership with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), the IAFF has designated January as Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide fire fighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.
#FFCancerMonth #FightFFCancer
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In the recent IAFF Media Awards Contest, CAL FIRE Local 2881 received the following:
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First place tie for the Fire Front in Best IAFF affiliate newsletter, or magazine (circulation more than 1,000).
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Two honorable mentions for Best fire service photo (not previously published) taken by an IAFF member for the two photos below.
If you have an amazing photo taken in 2020, that has not been published via social media or other platforms and you'd like to submit it for the 2021 IAFF Media Awards, reach out to Communications Officer DeeDee Garcia.
Great job Bradley Ray!
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Bieber Helitack taken by L2881 member Bradley Ray |
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Bieber Helitack taken by L2881 member Bradley Ray |
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Top 8 heartwarming firefighter stories of 2020 |
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From firefighters going the extra mile for members of their communities to civilians paying it forward for their local fire departments, here are the most heartwarming fire service stories from this year.
Hint: CAL FIRE made the top 8!
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The fire service's dedication to serving and protecting the public has a way of bringing out the best in both its members and the communities they serve, and this is often the truest in times of adversity and hardship.
Despite the immense challenges this year has brought to fire departments across the country, the following stories show that the spirit of compassion and generosity is as alive as ever, with firefighters going above and beyond for those they serve and community members paying it forward with acts of kindness and generosity toward their local fire departments.
Well done CAL FIRE/Fresno County Fire!
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Interested in joining the L2881 Honor Guard Band? |
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CAL FIRE Firefighter Reyes returns home after 24 days in the hospital |
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Welcome home, Firefighter Reyes! We wish you a speedy recovery. |
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For the first week in the Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month podcast series, Doug and Mark are joined by Dr. Kenny Fent and Dr. Miriam Siegel from NIOSH to discuss the National Firefighter Registry (NFR). Listen along to better understand what the NFR is, the legislative efforts behind getting the registry created, why it was created, who can join the registry and how the registry can be used to better understand occupational cancer in the fire service.
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Have you recently moved? Make sure your physical/mailing address is updated with us so you always receive the Fire Front magazine and other important docs.
Update your address here:
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CAL FIRE ESS 24hr Helpline: (916) 445-4337
EAP 24hr Helpline: (866) 327-4762
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Thank you to MADE SF and From the Ground Up for supporting the CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation with your amazing gear! |
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As this unprecedented year ends, the Wellness Unit encourages you to sit down on this last day and spend a few moments unpacking all that happened in 2020. Below is an exercise to help you reflect on the past 12 months. Honor what you felt, celebrate what you survived, and most importantly let go of all that no longer serves you.
2020:
-What challenges did you face?
-What lessons did you learn?
-How did you grow?
-How did your heartbreak?
-How did your heart open?
-What do you want to remember from this year?
-What do you want to celebrate?
Then, open yourself to all the possibilities of the coming year. The 2021 questions are meant to guide you into the new year with a renewed sense of clarity. Take time exploring what you envision this coming year to be. (We certainly hope you have big plans!)
2021:
-How do you want to approach 2021?
-What qualities do you want to cultivate?
-What do you want to let go of?
-How do you want to grow?
-How do you want to take care of yourself?
-How will you commit to yourself?
-Where will you pour your attention?
-What habits or practices nourish you, and which of these practices will you focus on in 2021?
✨Please comment below something GREAT that happened for you this year, and ONE WORD that you would like to assign to yourself as your focus for the coming year.✨
Our entire team would like to wish you a Happy New Year! We have expanded our team and will be introducing our new members soon—stay tuned. We look forward to 2021 with you and thank you for joining this journey to wellness with us.
*exercise courtesy of The Calm App.
*via CAL FIRE Wellness Instagram
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Behavioral Health & Cancer Awareness Curriculum Series
Published: October 2020
More important SFT updates:
State Fire Training Fee Update
In 2019, the State Board of Fire Service (SBFS) and Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC) approved the State Fire Training (SFT) Fee Report (PDF) which outlined the need to adjust the fees for several SFT services. On September 3, 2020, these new fees were adopted into regulation and were filed with the Secretary of State, which will become effective on January 1, 2021.
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In the past 12 months, California has experienced the teeth of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as record-shattering wildfires. The man charged with guiding the state through the crises of 2020 is Gov. Gavin Newsom.
As he did a year ago, Gov. Newsom again sits down for a conversation with CPF President Brian Rice to talk about issues affecting the state, including COVID-19 and the promise of the vaccines, forest management, the economy and what it’s like to navigate a year like no other.
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From the CAL FIRE Department Safety Officer |
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Trouble the Dog
Where There's Trouble, There's Hope. Meet the dog who inspires and helps children beat adversity.
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The Kennek Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to bringing about hope, resilience and inspiration in the lives of those most vulnerable going through tough times.
The Foundation works much of its magic through the adorable plush pup, Trouble the Dog. Distributed to first responders through the generosity of Foundation donors, Trouble is a valuable source of comfort to children facing crisis situations — a “tool in the toolbox” — of police, fire, and ambulance personnel that can make all the difference to a child.
Sheila Duncan of the KenneK Foundation generously donated 50 Trouble the Dog plush toys to CAL FIRE Local 2881 in the hope that our members can give Trouble to a child in need or use it for themselves like other firefighters and first responders as seen in this video.
If you would like a Trouble the Dog for your station please email Communications Officer DeeDee Garcia. |
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What do you think about the single-layer pant? Share your thoughts with us via the survey link below.
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IF YOU ARE AN CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
ACTIVE MEMBER
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS
PROVIDED FROM OUR AFFILIATION WITH PORAC
IN ORDER TO VIEW AND ENROLL IN THESE BENEFITS
(INCLUDING HEALTHCARE AND AFLAC PROGRAMS)
WE NEED YOUR DATE OF BIRTH.
PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK TO UPLOAD YOUR INFORMATION:
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Did you just recently retire??
Make sure to sign up to be a CAL FIRE Local 2881 Retired Member and stay in the know!
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I previously mentioned the validation process employed by CalPERS to verify continued eligibility of benefits. This information adds a little more explanation of the intent to assure appropriate benefits continue for everyone eligible and to assure inappropriate payouts are canceled.
This statement is an excerpt of an information email I received meant to inform all the constituent groups of the continuing program.
“For the second consecutive year, CalPERS is validating the benefit eligibility of CalPERS payees by confirming their status as a living benefit recipient. For this year, the population being validated is a random sample of roughly 2,700 US based payees, representing a very small percentage of our annuitants, who have been retired at least 5 years. For a payee to be considered validated, they must complete and sign a Certification of Eligibility for Payment form in the presence of a notary or their allowance may be placed on hold. If a notary is not available to complete the form, CalPERS will also accept a letter from a treating physician stating that you are in their care, a letter from a care facility or a stamped certification from a bank representative.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.”
I also mentioned the IRMAA process for members currently paying additional premiums for your medicare coverage and also for members seeking additional reimbursement for the first time. This information has been updated by CalPERS and is shown below for your use.
Members may upload their SSA notification document(s) for themselves and their dependents/spouses online. To do this:
Log in to your myCalPERS account. If you do not yet have an account, you may create one by following this link.
· Go to the Health tab
· Select the Health Plan Summary tab and scroll to the Health Deductions section
· Select the Submit Documents link to upload your documents easily and securely
CalPERS has announced the following relative to the January 2021 posting date for all retired members:
“Direct deposit posts the first business day of the month after the monthly benefit is issued. Although the December 2020 monthly benefit is issued on January 1, 2021, the first business day of the month is January 4, 2021.
IRS regulations require that no more than 12 monthly payments can be issued in a calendar year, and no more than one payment can be issued in a month.
We post these dates for the calendar year through myCalPERS. You can also view these dates on the Pay Days page of our website.”
I am still working on my mailing list for distribution of information on a daily/weekly basis, depending on the nature of the information. If you have previously sent me your email address, you need do nothing more. I have all of your emails held in queue while I learn how to do this distribution without compromising your personal information. I expect to have this completed in a few days. When I do, there will be a general announcement so you know that the distribution has started. If then you have not received anything from me, resend you information to my email address and you’ll be added.
Best wishes to all and I do hope each of you have a very merry Christmas and a more prosperous new year in 2021. I know I’m ready to put 2020 in my rearview mirror.
Ray Snodgrass
State Retiree Director
As a reminder, all members can access their health information year-round, by logging in to myCalPERS, or learn more by visiting the CalPERS “Using myCalPERS” page.
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With Personal Exposure Reporting from California Professional Firefighters, firefighters can document exposures to toxins that can produce job-related illness.
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January is National Soup Month!
Here are a few recipes to create some cozy soup for you and your crew.
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30 Best Comforting Soup Recipes
From vegetable to chicken, creamy to brothy, this list of 30 best soup recipes shows why there’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of healthy, easy soup on a chilly day.
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Is your physical/mailing address updated with us?
Did you get the Winter 2020 Fire Front mailed to your home recently? If not, then we don't have your current address.
It's important for us to have it in case you are impacted or may be impacted by a wildfire or other emergency. Use the link below, call or email us to update it today!
(916) 609-8711 / dkelsch@L2881.org
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Has your marital status changed? Update your L2881 beneficiary information with us today and keep your loved ones secure. Fill out this form and send it to Danielle @ dkelsch@L2881.org
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Share your photos & videos with us.
What does your CAL FIRE look like? Help show the #AllRisk CAL FIRE. Send us a DM on social media or reach out to DeeDee, your Communications Officer at (916) 202-0553
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UPCOMING EVENTS
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 20-22
IAFF VIRTUAL CONVENTION
JANUARY 25-29
FINANCE TRAINING
FEBRUARY 9-12
NEW OFFICER TRAINING
FEBRUARY 16-18
REP CLASS 1
FEBRUARY 21-26
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
MARCH 16-18
REP CLASS 2
MARCH 21-26
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CAL FIRE BENEVOLENT
FOUNDATION
Provides funds for immediate life sustaining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.
Follow us on Instagram!
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CAL FIRE MUSEUM
Look in the winter edition of the Fire Front magazine for an update from the museum.
Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter too!
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For more updates, events, and news visit our website:
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