ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THIRD EDITION |
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CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
Trademark Committee Update
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What does your CAL FIRE look like? |
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Upload your photos and videos so we can show California and beyond how CAL FIRE is California's All Risk Fire Department! |
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Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
CAL FIRE Local 2881 Fresno Kings Unit
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Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation held their annual Burn Relay. Fire Engines drove around the valley to participating fire department headquarters collecting monetary donations for @aarbf. The funds will be used to send 20 burn survivors to Champ Camp this summer! Champ Camp is a week-long, residential summer camp experience for child burn survivors ages 5-17, who have been treated at California hospitals or are current residents of California. Each year, approximately 150 children attend this week long summer camp at Wonder Valley in Sanger, California. |
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CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881 HAS A
NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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President Edwards would like to announce that we have hired a new Communications Director, Kelly Boyle.
We are very excited to welcome Kelly Boyles to the CAL FIRE Local 2881 staff to manage our Communications Department,. Kelly has been in Communications for 9+ years with three of those years working at Aaron Read & Associates and Marketplace Communications. Some of you may remember Kelly from our CAL FIRE in Crisis Rally where she put together the communications and signage for the rally at the Capital. She also helped put together the CAL FIRE Local 2881 “50 Years of Protecting California” history book.
Kelly recognizes the importance of Union Membership and has a good understanding of CAL FIRE. Kelly will be a strong addition to our union staff.
Please join us in welcoming Kelly to the team!!
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Reminder to the membership from CAL FIRE Deputy Director Favro Regarding 2022 Leave Buy-Back/Cash-Out Program
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On April 25, 2022, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) updated its Policy Section 2104 - Leave Buy-Back Program for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year, authorizing all State departments to allow for an annual leave cash-out of unused leave credits, subject to the availability of departmental funding.
Pursuant to most Memorandum of Understandings/Bargaining Contracts, on or before May 1, the Department Head or designee must advise employees whether the department has available funds to participate. As such, this is to advise that CAL FIRE has determined its availability of funding and intends to participate in the 2022 Leave Buy-Back/Cash-Out Program.
We are currently awaiting additional information from the State Controller’s Office, and once we have that, we will roll out this program for 2022. Additional information and instructions on how employees may elect to participate in the 2022 Leave Buy-Back/Cash-Out Program will be forthcoming.
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CAL FIRE Local 2881
Sports Spotlight - Let's Go!!
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CAL FIRE Softball Tournament Pictures
Teams: CZU, SLU, SCU, & MVU
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CAL FIRE Hockey Scrimmage |
Left to Right:
Nick Hancock - Surveyor Sac HQ
Marshall Goodwin - FFII NEU
Derrick Alvestal - FAE AEU
Ryan Smith - FC Specialist NEU
Gary Nagle - FFII Medic AEU
Daniel Bluford - SSA Sac HQ
Justin Rhames - FC AEU
Bryan Carter - FC CNR
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Wildfire Preparedness Week
Being ready for wildfire goes beyond our own homes. Community involvement can make all the difference if a wildfire strikes. Plan with your neighbors and help make your community more fire safe.
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CAL FIRE holds event to remind San Diegans importance of being prepared for wildfires |
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ABC10
Governor Newsom’s proposed budget for CAL FIRE allocates more than $3 billion for fire management, prevention, forest health, and home hardening.
RAMONA, Calif. — Cal Fire kicked off wildfire preparedness week at the Ramona Air Attack Base, reminding residents to take precautions as we head into wildfire season.
"We haven't seen a whole of of big fires in San Diego recently, but the grass is all dying, the brush is drying out. Moisture levels are dropping, so we have a lot of potential for a big fire to happen," said Captain Thomas Shoots of Cal Fire.
Monday's event was the first of several events across the state Cal Fire is holding this week. Cal Fire will also hold events in Ventura County, Monterey County, Sonoma County and in Fresno County.
On display Monday were helicopters, airplanes and fire trucks.
Captain Shoots said residents should take advantage of cooler temperatures in the mornings or evenings to clear defensible space around their homes. He encourages everyone to have a go-bag ready and an evacuation plan in place.
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RJE Scholarship Application Reminder
Must be in by June 15th
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If you or your family uses Amazon for shopping, shop Amazon Smile and support your Local 2881 sisters & brothers! |
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Head to Smile.Amazon.com and select the CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation as your charity and start shopping!
*The Foundation may also be found listed under its previous name,
CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation
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Cal Fire SLO responds to climber in need of rescue on Avila’s Pecho Coast Trail |
The Tribune
Cal Fire San Luis Obispo is attempting to rescue a climber who got stuck Saturday afternoon on the Pecho Coast Trail near Avila Beach. Cal Fire was notified at 2:28 p.m. An agency spokesperson said someone climbing either up or down the hill, above Harford Pier, was stuck and needed assistance.
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Did you know the
CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation is on Instagram?
Give them a follow today!
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From Your State Retiree Director,
Brian Burger
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Transitioning to Medicare health insurance as a CalPERS Retiree |
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Unknown or Overlooked when Planning for Retirement-
Choosing a Retirement Option
In addition to your desire to serve and wanting to have a job you enjoyed, one of your reasons for choosing a fire service career may have been the excellent retirement benefits the job offers. If it was not initially, maybe it was when you got married, but at some point, you had to consider your retirement benefits. You are probably aware you receive a certain percent for every year you work up to a maximum of 90% for most members.
When you finally sit down and start filling out your retirement papers there is a question but asks you which retirement option you wish to take. Suddenly, you must decide, do you want the unmodified amount or one of several options that offer varying amounts during retirement and how much you want to leave to your beneficiary and your survivor should you pass first. You may then ask yourself “WHAT?”.
Beneficiaries, Survivors, and Survivor Continuance: The terms "beneficiary" and "survivor" may sound like the same thing, but at CalPERS they have two distinct meanings.
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A beneficiary can be anyone you choose to receive a lump sum or lifetime benefit and is not set by law. It’s important to note that if you’re married or in a registered domestic partnership but do not name your spouse or partner as your beneficiary, they may still be entitled to a community property share of your retirement no matter who you name as a beneficiary.
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A survivor is defined by law. State law determines who, if anyone, is eligible to receive benefits as a survivor. The survivor and beneficiary can be the same person and often are, but don’t have to be. For this benefit, survivors are defined by law in order of eligibility as:
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A spouse or registered domestic partner if the marriage or partnership was effective one year prior to your retirement date. A domestic partner must be registered through the California Secretary of State’s office.
- Unmarried children under the age of 18.
- Unmarried child who is certified disabled prior to age 18 and continues to be disabled
- Parents who are dependent upon you for 50 percent or more of their support.
Survivor Continuance is an employer-paid monthly benefit payable after your death in retirement to an eligible survivor. It is provided by law to all state and school members, but public agency employers must contract to provide this benefit. The survivor continuance amount does not depend on the retirement payment possibility you choose. The amount of the option survivor continuance is 50 percent for POFF members. If you have employers with different survivor continuance percentages, PERS will prorate the amount.
You should never make a snap decision when choosing your retirement option. This is something you should discuss with your spouse before you retire. The options may seem complicated when you first look at them. Fortunately, if you get a formal estimate from PERS, they will give you and approximate amount for each option before you make a decision. Such as:
- Gross monthly amount
- Amount for you if your beneficiary dies before you (if you included a beneficiary)
- Amount for your beneficiary after your death (if you named a beneficiary)
- Amount for your survivor after your death (if you have a survivor)
Important things to remember:
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After thirty days in retirement, the option choice you make cannot be changed unless you have a qualifying event such as a death of a beneficiary or divorce and you must be awarded your full pension as part of the settlement.
- If you named someone besides a spouse as a beneficiary, your spouse must sign a Spousal Consent to Beneficiary Designation.
Next month - a closer look at the different retirement options.
Submitted by State Retiree Director Brian Burger. Email him here.
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STRONGER TOGETHER
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
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Have you checked out the historical footage dating back to the 1940s?
The digitization of the California Revealed project is online and available to view.
More films will be added soon!
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IF YOU ARE AN CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
ACTIVE MEMBER
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS
PROVIDED FROM OUR AFFILIATION WITH PORAC
IN ORDER TO VIEW AND ENROLL IN THESE BENEFITS
(INCLUDING HEALTHCARE AND AFLAC PROGRAMS)
WE NEED YOUR DATE OF BIRTH.
PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK TO UPLOAD YOUR INFORMATION:
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Have you recently moved? Make sure your physical/mailing address is updated with us so you always receive the Fire Front magazine and other important docs.
Update your address here:
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CAL FIRE ESS 24hr Helpline: (916) 445-4337
EAP 24hr Helpline: (866) 327-4762
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FIREFIGHTER ADVANCEMENT AT
CSU SAN MARCOS
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Did you just retire?
Make sure to sign up to be a CAL FIRE Local 2881 Retired Member and stay in the know!
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With Personal Exposure Reporting from California Professional Firefighters, firefighters can document exposures to toxins that can produce job-related illness.
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Check out the Exposure Reporting section on the L2881 Member Benefits page. It has tons of links and information on the importance of reporting, how to report, and historical air quality data for to use in your reporting.
Check it out now and document your exposures!
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Is your physical/mailing address updated with us?
Did you get the Winter 2021 Fire Front magazine mailed to your home recently? If not, then we don't have your current address.
It's important for us to have it in case you are impacted or may be impacted by a wildfire or other emergency. Use the link below, call or email us to update it today!
(916) 609-8711 / dkelsch@L2881.org
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Has your marital status changed? Update your L2881 beneficiary information with us today and keep your loved ones secure. Fill out this form and send it to Danielle @ dkelsch@L2881.org
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Share your photos & videos with us.
What does your CAL FIRE look like? Help show the #AllRisk CAL FIRE. Send us a DM on social media or reach out to Communications Officer at
(916) 277-9889
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UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBER SUPPORT 101
MAY 16-19, 2022
CPF CONVENTION
MAY 18-21, 2022
L2881 PAC Training
May 23-25
CA MEMORIAL
JULY 30, 2022
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CAL FIRE BENEVOLENT
FOUNDATION
Provides funds for immediate life sustaining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.
Follow on Instagram!
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CAL FIRE MUSEUM
Look in the winter edition of the Fire Front magazine for an update from the museum.
Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter too!
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For more updates, events, and news visit our website:
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