R D P F F A   H E A D L I N E S
March 8, 2010
Moving Forward on Attempt to Form a Statewide Organization
Updated March 8, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association
On February 25, 2010 a number of interested retirees representing various departments met to discuss organizing a Statewide organization. Those in attendance agreed that there was a mutual interest and a need to organize and insure that retirees concerns and interest are conveyed to those that may attempt to diminish their benefits.

A committee was formed to discuss and attempt to put into place the official formation of such an organization. We are seeking input from retirees from other agencies in regards to such basic questions as; membership, Association name, Bylaws, Dues and voting procedure. Please submit your suggestions via email rdpffa@hotmail.com, prior to our next scheduled meeting on March 17.

If you were not available to attend the first meeting which took place, and would like to attend the March 17 meeting please notify the RDPFFA office 2525 E 14 Mile Rd Sterling Heights 586-795-1734.

RDPFFA members we are asking for your assistance in getting this message out. Please forward this information to as many retirees or retiree organizations as possible.

Protect Your Future
Updated March 5, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association
Hearings for Voting Rights on the Police & Fire Pension Board Continue in Lansing
We will be traveling to Lansing on Wednesday March 10th, to continue our hearing in the Labor Committee. We believe this hearing will conclude the testimony before the Labor Committee. It is important that you take an active role, participate and witness the process.

The hearing will begin at 12 noon in room 519 of the House Office Building. We will assemble in the cafeteria of the House Office Bldg at 11:00AM.

The RDPFFA will provide transportation to Lansing for our members, their family and friends. Eastsiders interested should be prepared to depart from the RDPFFA Office located at 2525 E 14 Mile Road Sterling Hgts, promptly at 8:30AM, Westsiders will meet and depart at 9:30AM from the Monaghan Knights of Columbus 19801 Farmington Road Livonia.

Please contact our office, and notify us of your intentions, so we can provide adequate transportation.

Office 586-795-1734

Proposed By-Law Changes
March 1, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

On February16th The Board of Directors approved proposed changes to our By-Laws and recommended that they be presented to members at the March 4th General Membership Meeting.

The following are highlights of the proposed changes.

 

Fiscal year - change to calendar year.

 

Association Trustees   - responsibilities change to more accurately reflect that Trustees no longer make the individual investments but work with professional investors hired by our Association.

 

Election of Officers   -   Change terms of office to reflect fiscal year.

 

Election of Officers - Entire membership to vote.

 

Amendments    -    Two consecutive General Membership Meetings, passed at both meetings and then to entire membership for ratification.

 

Dues increase   - Two consecutive General Membership meetings. 

 

The actual By-Law language will be distributed at our March 4th General Membership Meeting..


Pension Board Seat
Updated February 9, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

HB4917 Button

Do to weather conditions, the Hearing regarding HB4917 in Lansing has been cancelled and has been rescheduled for February 24, 2010 at 12PM. Any question contact the Association office.

It doesn't appear that the Active Associations are willing to allow us to get an elected seat on our Pension Board and they have left us no alternative but to pursue the passage of House Bill 4917. To that end we are asking our members to attend the Wednesday, February 10, 2010 hearing on this bill, in Lansing.

We will be providing buses to transport our members, family and friends to the Capital. The buses will be departing from our Westside General Meeting location at The Monaghan Hall, 19801 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI at 9:00AM, 2/10/2010. If you plan to car pool on your own, please contact our office at  586  795  1734.

We will assemble in the cafeteria located in the lobby of the House Office Building at 11AM where we will disseminate information and campaign buttons.


Retired Detroit Police Photo Identification Card
January 12, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

Clarification regarding the procedure to obtain your new I.D. Card.

 

Items needed

 

1) (Copy) of your Identification with photo.

 

2) Electronic photo of member.

 

*This photo is produced by taking a digital picture of the member requesting I.D.,

forwarding the snapshot by computer to the following email address:

 

henningm744@dpdhq.ci.detroit.mi.us

 

*Note - Personnel can only accept your electronic photo in (computer terminology) bits / bytes.

 

3) Member requesting new Photo Identification Card must return their I.D. received at retirement.

 

4) Send to Detroit Police Personnel with a self addressed stamped envelope.

 

Detroit Police Personnel

Attn: Sgt. Mark Henning

14655 Dexter Avenue

Detroit, MI 48238

Phone Number Correction
January 6, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

Starting today you should be able to verify your Blue Cross coverage.
 
Corrected Phone Numbers:

The BCBS Group number is 54731

BCBS phone number *** 800 951 2583

BCBS Medicare advantage  phone number 866 684 8216

RX Pharmacists prior approval phone numbers (Mich.) 800 437 3803  and (Non Mich.)800 239 1023

 To locate participating providers outside of Michigan 800 810 2583

Blue Cross Computer Problem
January 5, 2010
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

The computer problem for Blue Cross Blue Shield was larger than first thougth, 4000 names were kicked out of their system. We've been informed by a BCBS representative that "They are all back in the system as of 5:30 PM EST, 1/5/10". And the insurance cards will be mailed out on Tuesday the 5th and Wednesday the 6th.
Healthcare Rates for Dependent Children
December 29, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

Our attorney and the City are trying to clear up the dispute about Health Care Rates for Dependent Children. This may take a long time to resolve. This is an option you may want to consider. Here is a link for an individual health plan option for members who are looking for coverage of their child/children. The rates for the plan are also noted. http://www.bcbsm.com/myblue/plan_individualcareblue_benefits.shtml. The phone numbers are 313 225-8000 or 313 225-9000.

Healthcare Insurance Cards
December 17, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

For members that made changes in healthcare insurance coverage during the open enrollment period, Blue Cross/Blue Shield will be mailing out their new insurance cards the last week of December, so as to avoid confusion with your present coverage.

2007 Healthcare Booklet
November 3, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

If you have discarded or mislaid the 2007 Healthcare booklet, you can view a copy of the booklet online at www.dpfretiree.com. Click on Index of Settlement Agreement Exhibits or to go directly to it by clicking here. Exhibit 1, Section A is for Pre-Medicare and Section B is for those on Medicare.

Healthcare Open Enrollment
October 22, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

The City has notified our Association that Healthcare Open Enrollment Material will be mailed on October 26, 2009 and our members should start receiving the packets by the 28TH  or 29TH.
 
Healthcare Open Enrollment is scheduled to run from November 2, 2009 through December 7, 2009 and changes will take effect as of January 1, 2010.

Retired Fire Fighter Mugs & Travel Mugs
October 14, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

We have a limited number of Retired Fire Fighter Coffee Mugs and Travel Mugs available. Click on the Gift Shop button on the left for the order form.

House Bill 4917 
August 25, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

As House Bill 4917 works it’s way through committee, it is now time for all of us to come together and send a message to Lansing that we need this Legislation passed.

The funds in the Police and Fire Pension System are the property of current and future retirees. These funds were not meant to be used by the active unions to negotiate benefits for the active members. This is your Pension System and it is time for you to have a voice in it’s operation. Our interests have been ignored for too long. We can not sit back and let this opportunity, that Representative Durhal has afforded us slip away.

We must use all the resources that we have to push this Legislation through. This is not going to be easy, so we are asking that you, your family and your friends not only contact your Representative in Lansing, but you can also contact your local Newspaper Editor and ask them to run your letter to the editor and/or an editorial supporting Bill 4917 which would grant us voting rights.

We have Retired Police officers and Fire Fighters in nearly every community in the State and many hold elected or appointed positions within the local governments. We are asking for and need your assistance by speaking to your Representative and the Editor of your local newspaper to gain their support.

The Officers of the Association are ready to go out to any location to discuss this issue with your Representative. Just call us at the office.

We have prepared an editorial that you may want to use as a guide for writing a letter to your local paper or newsletter. Once your local newspaper publishes your letter please forward a copy to our office.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Retired Police Officers and Fire Fighters Fight for Voting Rights
SAMPLE LETTER

 
House Bill 4917 was introduced in Lansing By Representative Fred Durhal Jr.. This Bill would afford Retired Police Officers and Fire Fighters the opportunity to have an equal vote with active members of the Police and Fire Departments for elected positions on Police and Fire Pension Systems in communities with populations of 500,000 or more. Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters are affected by this legislation, many of which live in our community and they are asking for your support for this piece of Legislation. Contact your Legislator regarding House Bill 4917.

You can read House Bill 4917 by going to www.legislature.gov or if you have questions you may want to contact the Office of The Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association at (586)795-1734 or go to their web-site at www.rdpffa.org

THE PENSION BOARD NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE

Read the following articles which were published in the Detroit Free Press

            04/19/09 Shaky Deals Cost Detroit Pension Funds 90 Million

            04/20/09 Airline Investment Turns Sour for Pension Board

            06/14/09 Detroit Pension Trustees take Flight on Funds Tab

            08/24/09 Deal Makers Cash in on Detroit Pension Fund

House Bill 4917
Updated: June 2, 2009
Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association

Our bill to obtain the right to vote for elected pension board representatives has been presented in Lansing. It is House Bill 4917 sponsored and presented by Representative Fred Durhal Jr from the 6TH District.

 The following is a list of sponsors, co-sponsors and supporters of this bill:

Sponsor:
Fred Durhal Jr. District 6

Co-Sponsors:
Bettie-Cook Scott District 3, Bob Constan District 16, Mike Huckleberry District 70, Bert Johnson District 5, David Nathan District 11, Lesia Liss District 28, Jim Slezak District 50, Dian Slavens District 21, Harold Haugh District 42, Deb Kennedy District 23, Andrew Kandrevas District 13, Tim Melton District 29

Representative Durhal attended our May 7TH general membership meeting and you can view a video of his comments at http://family.webshots.com/album/571914863nWwLBu.
 
Now it is our turn to let our representatives know that we want them to sponsor and pass this bill. Elected Officials have told us that they are more impressed when their constituents contact them in person or by letter. Others ways to contact them would be by phone and/or email. To lookup information on your State Representative go to http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp.
 
Normally we would ask that you not share our correspondences with non-members but in this case we want everyone involved who can help us obtain our goal, i.e. family members, friends, neighbors and retired police and fire nonmembers, so please spread the word.
Pension System
On May 13, 2008 the City of Detroit, The Detroit Police and Fire Pension Board and the active unions entered into an agreement that afforded benefits to the City in the amount of $75,000,000 and increased retirement and sick time benefits for active members of the pension system. This was accomplished by allowing the City to forego making full pension contributions ($25,000,000 per year for 3 years). The retired members of the pension system were given no consideration during these negotiations.

On June 26, 2008 we filled a lawsuit, in Wayne County Circuit Court, against The City, The Pension Board and the active Unions, asking that this backroom deal be nullified and The City be required to make their full pension contributions. Our Attorney, Michael Stefani advised us the lawsuit has been assigned to Judge William J. Giovan's Courtroom.


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