The members of Butler City Firefighters Local #114 have organized a benefit motorcycle ride for one of our own, which has become seriously ill. Captain Pete Stewart has served the City of Butler as a firefighter for over 32 years. He has dedicated his career to the citizens of Butler and his fellow firefighters. Now in his time of need, we intend to help Pete fight the cancer.
The City Firefighters have organized a ride for Saturday, August 16th 2008. There will be a donation request of $15 per bike and $10 per passenger. Registration will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Butler Fire Department located at 110 N. Washington St. in Butler, PA.The ride will consist of a 3 to 3 ½ hour loop including several stops. The ride concludes at ButlerMemorial Park with a cookout. See the download area for a flyer and registration form on the event.
Posted
On: Jul 23, 2008 (22:28:42)
Posted information in the download area on MDA event in Bethlehem on August 7th and Northeast Professional Fire Fighters Association Golf Tournament in Scranton on September 9th. Also posted June Central Pennsy meeting minutes in the Central Pennsy Meeting Minutes area.
Posted
On: Jun 30, 2008 (22:14:26) It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Local 22 President Emeritus Les Yost. Les died of natural causes on June 29, 2008. Local 22 will be having a memorial service in the future for Les, details will be announced. The family will hold a private service in North Carolina where Les was living with his family. Please join with the PPFFA in remembering Brother Yost, his family and Local 22 in your thoughts and prayers.
In a historic vote just a few minutes ago, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a straight up cancer presumption bill. This vote was significant in that the legislation was not amended in another bill...it was a cancer presumption bill. "We have spent the better part of the last few years concentrating on making sure our membership is engaged in politics and insisting on their developing relationships with their House members", said David Eckman, President of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association. "The passage of this legislation in the House is a direct result of that work. Members from across the State were in contact with their House members and used those relationships to pass this critically needed piece of legislation".
The legislation was introduced by Representative Tom Caltagirone from Berks County. "We would like to thank Representative Caltagirone for his committment to this issue and working with the PPFFA to make sure the legislation passed the House" Eckman continued.
All PPFFA members are being asked to call their House members and thank them for their support. We can now turn our attention to the Pennsylvania Senate.
Next week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be considering legislation that amends the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Law to include cancer as an occupational disease for fire fighters, which includes a presumption that the cancer was contracted from our employment as a fire fighter. Cancer presumption has long been a priority for the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Earlier this week, the PPFFA had mailed an informational newsletter to all House members at their Harrisburg office. The newsletter clearly explains why fire fighters in Pennsylvania need cancer presumption. That same newsletter has been mailed to all affiliate leadership today.
The legislation, House Bill 1768 is expected to be before the full House for its consideration on Wednesday, June 25. Prior to its consideration, it is expected to be amended to clean up some of the more confusing issues in the legislation by amendment number A07538.
All members and affiliates are being asked to call or email their Pennsylvania House member and ask them to please look for and read the fire fighters cancer brochure in their Harrisburg office, support and vote for A07538 to House Bill 1768, and finally vote for and support House Bill 1768 as amended by A07538. At this time, we are not aware of any other amendments and are not supportive of any other amendments. to the legislation.
Please make contact with your House members and discuss this very important issue with them. Ask them to stand with fire fighters on this issue.
Please drop Dave Eckman an email with the results of your conversations. He can be reached at deckman@ppffa.org.
The services for Brother Dan Miller of Greenville Local 1976 will be as follows:
Viewing will be held on Wednesday June 18 from 6pm to 9pm at the Thiel David Johnson Chapel, 94 College Avenue, Greenville, PA 16125. Funeral services will be held on Thursday June 19 at 930 am at the Greenville Area High School, 9 Donantion Road, Greenville PA 16125. Gathering for the service will be held at 9 am on the 19. At the request of the local there should be no fire apparatus at the funeral.
A memorial fund has been established for Brother Miller: Send and make checks payable to Greenville Firefighters Dan Miller Memorial Fund. 111 East Ave, Greenville, PA 16125. Flowers can be sent to the Greenville Fire Department, 111 East Avenue, Greenville, PA 16125. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Memorial fund. A special rate for overnight accomadations has been secured at the Radisson Hotel in West Middlesex, PA.
Radisson Hotel PO Box 596 - Route 18 West Middlesex, PA 16159 (724) 528-2501
The PPFFA is sadden to report the passing of Greenville, IAFF Local 1976 member Dan Miller. Brother Miller passed away today, June 16th form injuries he received in a motorcycle accident in Kentucky. Brother Miller was 40 years old and he leaves behind a 4 year old son Chalmer. As of this writing the local services have not been finalized. Please check back for details. Additionally, a trust fund is being set up for Brother Millers son. Details will follow on that as well. Please join the PPFFA in keeping Brother Millers family in your thoughts.
Brother Dan Miller, Vice President of Greeneville Local 1976, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident last evening (6/10/08) in Kentucky. He was found on the side of the roadway by passing motorist and was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He is currently responsive, but in critical condition. Our brothers from the Lexington Firefighters Local have been tending to Brother Miller and his family around the clock. They also have been assisting our brothers in Greeneville with information when they can.As more information becomes available, we will keep you all posted.
Please join the PPFFA Executive Board and Trustees in keeping Brother Miller, his family, and Greeneville Local 1976 and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
As reported in regional and state meetings the PPFFA has worked with Bucks County Community College in developing a recognition of the Department of Labor's Journeyman/Apprenticeship Fire Fighter Program. Several departments across the state have and still use the program for training of fire fighters. Bucks County Community College has developed a recognition for the program that will allow our members to use the journeyman/apprenticeship certification as the equivalent of Fire Fighter I and II. Any program that requires Fire Fighter I and II as a prerequisite can now use the the Journeyman/Apprenticeship program for the prerequisite.
For those PPFFA members who have completed the Journeyman/Apprenticeship program the process for getting the recognition is simple. All that is needed is a copy of the certification from the Department of Labor and Industry. If a member can't find their certification then the Department of Labor and Industry can be contacted and a replacement certification issued after a name search is done to confirm that the program was completed. The copy of the certification needs to be sent to Bucks County Community College with a brief cover letter requesting the recognition. The address to send the certification and cover letter to is:
Bucks County Community College, Attn: Rob Freese, 1760 South Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18901
