COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
The year of 2000 has come and gone. Now we look forward to 2001. As we begin the year, you the leaders of your squad should make every effort to see that your members know what benefits the Association has to offer them. We still have members who are not familiar with the Brotherhood, the in-line-of-duty death benefit, the natural death benefit and our scholarship program. We hope that by July we can increase the amount of the Brotherhood to $5,000.00. With a few more members we can. Please read the information that is sent out to the squads very carefully and try not to miss a deadline. Let's communicate better in 2001.
VICE-COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
Myself, as well as the entire staff at the Rescue Association office hope you had a safe and happy holiday season. The December 31 deadline for filing your roster has passed. If your elected officers have failed to do this, get them to "DO IT NOW". It's better late than never. Don't let yourself or a fellow member be without benefits just because the new rosters and a nominal fee was not sent in.
While you are doing paperwork and starting a new year, now would be a good time to get the software and start using the Rescue Call Report. The software and information about this can be obtained by calling the Office of State Fire Marshal and speaking to Kim Dorman. She will be glad to assist you.
Don't forget to join the Brotherhood.
| BLS JUDGES EVALUATION | January 20, 2001, 10:00 a.m., Hickory Rescue Squad, Hickory, N.C. |
| DIRECTORS MEETING | January 21, 2001, 9:00 a.m., Hickory Rescue Squad, Hickory, N.C. | MOUNTAIN RESCUE | March 24 & 25, 2001, Stone Mountain State Park. Details at a later date. |
| Rescue College 2001 | April 28 & 29, 2001 - Gaston Community College, Gastonia, N.C. |
| May 5 & 6, 2001 - Gaston Community College, Gastonia, N.C. Details at a later date. |
BROTHERHOOD OBITUARY
| NUM | NAME | SQUAD | DOD | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #671 | Lois Hobson | Red Springs Auxiliary | 11/12/2000 | 79 |
| #672 | Charles W. Campbell | Rowan County Rescue Squad | 11/21/2000 | 69 |
| #673 | Leon Eure | Gates County Rescue Squad | 11/29/2000 | 50 |
| #674 | Glen E. Byrd | Four Oaks Rescue Squad | 11/30/2000 | 74 |
| #675 | Forrest W. Cash | Lincoln County Life Saving | 12/04/2000 | 76 |
| #676 | Okey Friend, Jr. | Nakina Rescue Squad | 12/07/2000 | 63 |
RESCUE PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Rhonda Creech of Shine EMS, located in Greene County, was honored on December 1, 2000 with the prestigious Rescue Person of the Year Award at the department's annual Christmas dinner. Rhonda is very deserving of this award due to hard work and dedication to the department and to Greene County. Rhonda is a full-time employee at University Medical Center as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. After her full-time occupation, she finds time to teach continuing education classes for the county and also responded to sixty-seven percent of the departments rescue calls.
COLLAPSE RESCUE OPERATIONS SEMINAR
February 10 & 11, 2001. Randolph Community College, Asheboro, N.C. Attending this seminar is a must for rescuers who may respond to a collapse operation. Regardless if they are a member of a team or not. Valuable information will be presented to the attendees, from the least experienced member to chief officers of a rescue group. Topics to be presented includes..........Building Construction Features Important During Collapse Operations, Safety During Collapse Operations, Incident Management During Collapse Operations. The cost is free to any North Carolina emergency service personnel, $55.00 for out-of-state attendees. It is very important that you pre-register. For more information, contact Tommy McNeill at 336/626-9948, e-mail trm68@asheboro.com or Mrs. Clara Barracato at 336/633-0221, e-mail cabarracato@randolph.cc.nc.us
Co-sponsors: Ash-Rand Rescue & EMS and Randolph Community College.
"OPEN ENROLLMENT" FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE FIREMEN'S AND RESCUE SQUAD WORKERS' PENSION FUND
The General Assembly enacted an "Open Enrollment" for membership in the Firemen's and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund. This provision will allow all eligible firemen and rescue squad workers to purchase prior service by making a lump sum payment of ten dollars ($10.00) per month retroactively to the time he or she first became eligible, plus interest at the rate of 8% compounded annually for each year of retroactive service purchased. Upon making this lump sum payment, the date of membership shall be the same as if he or she had made application for membership at the time they were first eligible. This provision will be available only during the period from October 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001. All applications to purchase such service must be received on or before March 31, 2001. Any fireman or rescue squad worker who has applied for prior service within the aforementioned time parameters must make payment no later than June 30, 2001. In the event payment is not made by June 30 2001, the cost will revert to the calculation based on the provisions now in place.
YOUR ELIGIBILITY MUST BE DETERMINED BY APPLICATION.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE MADE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 2001. FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATIONS PLEASE CONTACT
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE TREASURER
FIREMEN'S AND RESCUE SQUAD WORKERS' PENSION FUND
325 NORTH SALISBURY STREET
RALEIGH, N.C. 27603-1385.
The cost of prior service credits will be prepared by the State Treasurer's Office, Firemen's & Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund Division, Raleigh, N.C.