MSP Fire Fighters Local S-6 are hosting a 1st Annual Golf Tournement benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association Thursday, August 12, 2010 at Oak Glen Golf Club in Stillwater, MN. Sponsored by Sun Country Airlines, Water Park of America, Nickelodean Universe from the MOA and the Mall of America.  The 4-person scramble will begin at 1:00 pm with a shotgun start.  The $100 per golfer fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, range balls, steak dinner and a goodie bag valued at $150!  Registration deadline is Monday, August 9, 2010.  Register now at www.MSPfireFightersGolf.com

For more information on the event or on available sponsorships open the flyer below.

The membership of International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 173 has passed a vote of no confidence against Tony Pogorels as Chief of the Hibbing Fire Department. While this vote is non-binding, it is important for the citizens of Hibbing to understand its importance. The membership of Local 173 states that on a day to day basis they have no faith in Chief Pogorels to lead the department. This vote has not been taken lightly, and is a source of great concern to our members.  For full letter, see article attachment below.

 Maplewood Fire Fighters Local #4470 announced their 2010 MDA "Fill the Boot campaigns.  This year's dates and locations are as follows:

August 6-7 at the Taste of Maplewood

August 20th: 5-8pm at Super America (White Bear Avenue and North St. Paul  Road)

August 21-22nd: 1000-600pm at both Maplewood Cub Foods locations as well
as the Maplewood Mall.

The MPFF is pleased to announce that we have added a new Team Liberty health benefit option available through the MPFF for all active and retired firefighters and their families. This new option will allow many to reduce their overall prescription benefit costs. A simple cost comparison of your current RX expenses versus those available through the new plans will quickly and easily allow you to see if this plan will work for you.

One of the most expensive health issues often involves prescription medications when one is required to take them over an extended period of time. The Team Liberty RX Plan offers access to prescription medications at substantially reduced prices. Prescriptions can be purchased via the Team Liberty RX Prescription card at almost all major pharmacies, or via their unique, unmatched Home Delivery program.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to check out the RX plan now available to you. You will find access to right now by going to http://www.enrolltlb.com/mpff . Soon you will be able to access it from the links column on the left side of our web page.

Our MPFF leadership team is always seeking opportunities for our membership that enhance quality of life, and help with life issues that affect us all. We are hopeful that you will be able to realize both through this new health benefit option.

Friday July 2, 2010:

This morning after screening 4 candidates for the office of Governor Tuesday June 29, 2010, the MPFF Executive Board after much discussion voted not to endorse a candidate for the Office of Governor at this time.  After reviewing the questionnaires and questions answered during the screenings it was decided not to endorse at this time.  The MPFF Executive Board will continue to review the information and will take the matter up again later this summer. 

Register now for the 2010 MPFF MALTS seminar in Saint Cloud, Minnesota on September 8 and 9, 2010 at the Best Western Kelly Inn.

After addressing the delegates at the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters Convention on May 3 and 4, 2010, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger took time out to visit the firefighters at  the Hibbing, Minnesota fire station.  Hibbing Local #173 President said it was an honor for his Executive Board and his members to have the General President take time out to visit his local members.  A couple of pictures are posted in the main gallery area of our photo gallery in the left column.

New Per Capita Forms for 2010-2011 are available for downloading in the Member Resource area under "Downloads".

The citizen's of Brainerd, Minnesota sufferred a huge blow for public safety yesterday when the city council voted to eliminate their 6 full-time firefighters in the combination department.  The recommendation was one of about $672,500 in cuts to all city departments brought forth by City Administrator Dan Vogt Tuesday in a pre-emptive move against $683,000 in local government aid cuts to Brainerd proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

It was approved Tuesday by the Brainerd City Council in a 5-2 vote. Voting against were Anne Nelson Fisher and Kevin Goedker.

Kevin Goedker one of the votes against the lay-off stated "police and fire protection should be the last thing considered by the council for cuts.
Right now I think the public sentiment, with people unsure of the economy and with unemployment so high, they're scared and the one thing they want to see from the city is police and fire," Goedker said. "I don't think that should be the first thing cut."

At the other overflowing council meeting several other community members spoke against the elimination of these firefighters.  Wendy Davis questioned whether the city had done a cost analysis of having full-time fire equipment operators versus more paid on-call firefighters. She wondered where staff got their information that fire protection wouldn't suffer with the change.

"I'm not very comfortable that we'll have the same fire protection just because you guys say so," Davis said.

Bill Mattson, owner of the First Street North house caught fire in Brainerd last Friday, said he lost a lot of things that were irreplaceable.

"But I have a lot because of the time and quickness that they responded," Mattson said of the Brainerd Fire Department. "I have great grandmother's quilt and bed that will be saved because there is still a structure there and I think as a citizen what I'm looking for from a community is I want to be safe from things that go bump in the night, I want my house safe and I want to educate the kids ... those are things that make a community."

Before the council's vote, Charlie Dunemann, full-time fire equipment operator and president of Local 4725 firefighters' union, addressed several points where the full-time firefighters disagreed with Vogt, his research and reports to the city council. 

To see a complete local news article, go to the Brainerd Dispatch:

http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/031710/new_20100317001.shtml

Children and stepchildren of active, retired or deceased Minnesota firefightersare eligible for Minnesota Fire Service Foundation Scholarships through the entire calendar year of reaching age twenty-eight (28).

The spouse of a deseased firefighter is eligible for a Foundation Scholarship for a period of up to five (5) years folowing the death of the firefighter.

All 2010-2011 school-year scholarships must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2010.

You can download your scholarship application below. 

On August 10, 2009 Minnesota Professional Fire Fighter President Tom Thornberg and Secretary/Treasurer Ted Vanderbeek presented Dr. Mohr from the Regions Hospital Burn Center and their staff with an additional check for $2500 to help support the Regions Hospital Foundation Children's Burn Camp and the Regions Hospital Foundation Family Burn Camp.  The monies donated will be used to help sponsor either children to attend the annual Burn Camp or a family to attend the annual Burn Survivor Family Burn Camp.  Additional Photos are available in our photos gallery, under our new listing, "Regions Burn Center".  Burn Survivor Camp photos will be coming soon!

Earlier this year the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters donated $5000.00 to help fund these two burn camps and one other Regions Hospital Foundation Burn Survivor program to help send Burn Survivors to the "Annual National Burn Survivor Conference".

With the help of the MPFF Members of our Minnesota Affililiate  Locals, our fundraiser Xentel Incorporated, and the Thomas Moore Foundation, the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters were able to donate $7500.00 in partnering with the Burn Center.  The Burn Survivors that attend these functions are not only from Minnesota, but come from both North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Much of this money was raised through Xentel's telemarketing and direct mail for the MPFF.  The Regions Foundation's Burn Surviivor Fund is just one of the Charitable organizations that the MPFF and our membership donate to each year. 

If you would like more information or would like to help us in sponsoring a burn survivor or a child at one of these events, please feel free to contact Secretary/Treasurer Ted Vanderbeek at s-t@mpff.org or contact us at our office at 763-545-8100.

Fire Fighter Licensing (H.F. 1805 - Atkins/S.F. 1219 - Rest.) (Laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 153.) Minnesota is now the first state in the country to license firefighters. This new law requires that beginning July 1, 2011 all newly hired, full-time fire fighters will be required to obtain a license from the Minnesota Fire Training and Education Board.  Current firefighters are grandfathered in and can obtain a license by paying a $75 fee for a three-year license. The primary requirements to obtain this license are that newly hired individuals must:

• attend a fire fighter course from a post secondary educational institute or accredited institute of higher learning or been in an apprenticeship program maintain by a fire department;
•  complete a skills orientated basic training course in fire fighting; and
•  receive a certificate for passing the test to insure competency in the area of fire prevention, fire suppression and hazardous materials operations.

For a complete legislative Report, upload the attachment below.

The Minnesota Professional Firefighters have partnered with the Regions Burn Center in helping to fund programs benefiting burn surviors and their families.  As part of this new partnership we are announcing their new cookbook Smokin' Hot Recipes that is available now!  To order your copy today, download the information below.

Stop, Drop, Control® is a high blood pressure community outreach program developed as a partnership between the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Novartis, a global leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for over 40 years.

The goal of Stop, Drop, Control is to increase awareness and encourage the successful management of high blood pressure control among fire fighters. In turn, they become advocates and educate their communities on the urgency of treating high blood pressure.

To learn more about the program click on the link below.

http://www.iaff.org/sdc/

The Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters is launching a new interactive program for teachers and students.  KidWise Safety is a comprehensive interactive school program designed to educate students about safety and fire prevention at school, at home, and in the community.   Log on the link and click on lost password to get one.

See the Events Calendar for more Information