Brothers and Sisters,

I realize it has been a while since the last Presidents Message, but I hope this letter finds all of our Members in good health and spirits. I hope everyone's holidays were good. Theresa and I got to spend time with family and it was great to catch up and share our lives with them. I trust the time spent with your loved ones during the holidays was just as meaningful as Theresa and I.

It is the start of a new year and a fresh beginning for our lives. I know we all stay very busy most days and I would like to thank all that have taken time during the last year to attend a meeting or help with a project. This year we need to ramp up our efforts on many fronts; as well as boost attendance at our meetings. Involvement and participation are the keys to our success and growth. The future of our Union rests squarely in our hands.

As we all know our Union agreed to "status quo" contracts for the 2010-2011 contract period. This was done in part to show the County we want to be part of a solution and not part of a problem. Much research and discussion was had before coming to that decision. A look around the State showed a trend of other Locals that were looking at pay cuts, layoffs, station closures, etc. so that their Departments could balance budgets. We do not have much "fat to cut" but some may have been possible. That was last year, and we have done our part to show the professionalism of our members. Our future contracts will not have that focus. Recently a draft copy of proposed changes went out to the membership for review and input. Very few members replied. We have taken the input received and worked into the draft. The final draft is ready and will be brought to the body for review at the February meetings. Please make arrangements to attend one of the days. At this point we will have to decide which articles to open for this contract period. We will do that for the next few years until we are satisfied with the results and our contracts truly reflect our goals and the future we want to create.

We will also be initiating a public relations campaign through electronic media to educate the public on our organization. This action if deployed correctly can create many friends in the public which will help us at the negotiations table and beyond. This program coupled with the adoption of a charity by Local 3529 will allow us to be highly visible to the public. All of the actions will be how the public and Administration perceives our Union and it will be how we define ourselves now and in the future. It’s time to get into the game with an action plan so that when we go to the negotiating table or voice an official or public opinion, we have the respect of our audience and they know we are professionals with the best interest of the citizens in mind.

Unions started out to create better working conditions and help employees gain better wages, fire unions were no different. Fire unions though are so much more than that; we are what I define as a true brother and sisterhood. We come together when one of us is in need and help bolster that member. Right now your Union needs you. It needs you to be involved, attend meetings, voice your opinions, but most of all, stand together to create the environment we want. Our February meeting will be filled with a large agenda, many items of which will be voted and acted upon. Your attendance is appreciated.