I want to thank Vice President Jim Fossos for chairing the October meeting and the two speakers from Seattle Firefighters Union Local 27, Dallas Baker and Secretary- Treasurer Dennis Karl who spoke on Fire Fighters Family Medical Insurance.

I requested Local 27 to send someone to address our group on the recent major changes in the administration of our Family Medical Insurance Program and to answer the many questions that were being asked.

We were all quite surprised with a relatively short notice, that the negotiations were completed and the decision was made to retain an outside administrator for our medical insurance program.

In hind sight it would have been nice and, I think, appropriate, if we had been notified that this was being considered and to learn firsthand why, when and with whom the negotiations were with. Were the discussions with one firm or broker, two, or more and how were the firms selected.

It would have been a lot easier to accept the results if we would have had the opportunity to comment during the discussions and to perhaps offer items to be included in the negotiations. Four of the most frequently asked questions are:

Is there a cost saving in having an outside claim administrator over our in-house claims people? Was there any discussion during the negotiation process to have one of our staff transfer to the new firm or broker as a claims agent for our plan? Will the moratorium be lifted to allow new retirees from around the state, outside of the Seattle Fire Department to join?

In the future would it be possible to have a member of the Retired Firefighters of Washington on the board or as a trustee?

It is just a little difficult to understand, without being aware of the issues, why a program that started in the late thirties, in a firefighter's basement and continued successfully for all these years, even though the insurance companies and brokers said it couldn't be done, had to change on such a short notice.

Perhaps it could have continued on its own outside of the active firefighter's medical insurance program. I have personally served as both a Local 27 board member and as President of Local 27 on the hospital insurance board for over twenty-five years, and the only real controversial question I can remember was whether or not we were going to pay for a vasectomy.

The RFFOW will now again have to canvas insurance companies and brokers to compare benefits and premiums and to see if there is a plan, or if a plan can be established that will offer insurance to our dependents as a group under a group rate. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

We have just completed negotiations on a new dental program provided by Washington Dental Service. The plan will be identified as the Retired Firefighters of Washington Dental Plan, Group No. 00650. The plan will be open to all firefighters, police officers, and other public safety employees and their dependents. It is not mandatory that the retired member participate to sign up a spouse or dependent. A surviving spouse and or dependent can continue coverage after the death of the retiree.

The premium for the retiree is $65.00 per month; retiree and spouse is $124.00 per month and so on. The annual benefit is $1,500 per year per enrollee. For complete details on premiums, coverage, deductibles and to request an enrollment form please call Don Jacobson at (253) 862-2122.

If you enroll for a start date of January 2010, any waiting periods are waived. Enrollment forms and two months payment must be received prior to December 10, 2009. Enrollment forms received after this date will have a February 1, 2010 effective date and Class III benefits (crowns, bridges, dentures, etc) will be subject to a one year waiting period.

Much to my surprise, a few pension boards have not sent out the enrollment forms or information for the new survivor benefits in the Prior Act. Please let me know if your board has not notified you of this new option for Prior Act members who married within one year of retirement or after retirement.

If you are interested in this new benefit, you should send a registered letter to your board indicating your interest in receiving information regarding the new survivor benefit option and an enrollment form, as you may only have one year from the effective date of July 26, 2009 to make thisselection. I want to thank President Fox and the Washington State Council of Firefighters for the professional booklet they sent out and congratulate the Council of their 70 years of service.

I also want to acknowledge that after 48 years of involvement, 30 years as an active member and 18 years as a retired representative, I believe the State Council of Firefighters has the best legislative programs that I have seen in recent years.

Again, I want to remind you that the November meeting will be at St. John's Lutheran Church, 5515 Phinney Ave N, Seattle.

We are still searching for a meeting location for 2010 and have narrowed it down to three locations: The Nile Temple on Ballinger Way NE (NE 205th), just west of I 5 in Mountlake Terrace, the Lake City Elks on NE 145th & Lake City Way in Seattle, and St. John's Lutheran Church on Phinney N in Seattle.

As I discussed these possible meeting places with the facility managers, I find that with most churches and other meeting venues, Saturday meeting dates are somewhat of a problem.

Many of these facilities have conflicting activities on some Saturdays, weddings, parties and other events. If they have a large function scheduled for a particular Saturday, they may need the room usually assigned to us. If they schedule a function like a party or auction that may be quite loud, it could become difficult for us to conduct our meeting.

As a result, I have decided to consider changing our meeting day from Saturday to a weekday. This change may in fact be a benefit to our members as it would free up the Saturday for a grandchild's sports activity or other family functions.

We are a retired group, most members not working, and the meeting time on a weekday would keep us out of peak traffic. We could consider Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, so as not to conflict with any long weekend trips. Most importantly, a weekday meeting would open up additional locations for our meetings.

I want to share with you a new addition to my family! The reason I was absent at the last meeting was that I drove my motor home and pulled my 22' car trailer to Syracuse NY to pick up a 1939 Deluxe Ford.

I previously purchased the Ford with 56,000 original miles from the third owner. In addition, I was able to attend a high school reunion in Detroit. With the help of computers, I was able to locate and put together a luncheon with a group of about 7 childhood friends, some of whom I had not seen for 60 years.

While in the Detroit area I was able to visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village where you can stroll down the street past Henry Ford's old house and visit several interesting places like Alexander Graham Bell's workshop and Benjamin Franklin's shop. I also visited the first factory in Detroit not owned by Ford but where the first Model T's were manufactured. While in Michigan I intended to visit our past RFFOW President Jim King and his wife Betty, but was unable to do so because of his rescheduled surgery. Jim underwent a very serious surgery and he has since reported that they were able to accomplish everything as planned. Jim is beginning a long recovery with physical therapy. He is optimistic and maintains his upbeat personality.

After leaving Michigan I went to Syracuse to pick up the car, visit my widowed sister and do some repairs on her house. I then went to Hershey, PA to attend the granddaddy of antique and classic car shows, and a parts and memorabilia swap meet. After 4 days of walking I began the long drive home arriving safe and sound, with no new scratches to the motor home, trailer or '39 Ford.

Don't forget to make your reservations for our Christmas Luncheon, and please remember you may not want to see anyone, but they to see you!