What follows is a REAL story and what this gentlemen is trying to do for the
future of all injuried firefighters, ambulance workers, and rescue squad 
members:
Dear Volunteer Department, Association, Or Squad President,
    My name is Tom Smuthwaite and I'm a member of the Webster Vol. Fire Dept.
in Monroe County.  I was injured in a house fire almost 5 years ago and 
recently
got caught up in the fight to get a cost of living increase for Vol. 
Firefighters and Ambulance workers.  Mike Nicholson from Bushnell's Basin has 
been working on this for 3 years and asked for some help on a mailing.  Mike 
recently had a bill passed into law that bring him up from $80.00 a week from 
20 years ago to the current level.  Mike and I do not want to quite there.  
WE need to get the bills passed that will help the 20 or 30 injured 
volunteers now and protect all Fire and Ambulance volunteers in NY State in 
the future. THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY WILL GO BACK INTO SESSION JANUARY 1ST.  
THE TIME TO SEND SIGNED RESOLUTIONS, LETTERS, AND POSTCARDS TO YOUR 
REPRESENTATIVES IS NOW!.
    Thank you in advance for your help and support, and please thank your 
County Fire Coordinator and their staff for making this mailing possible.
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Q. What happens if you are injured in the line of duty and end up with a 
permanent total disability?
A. You will recieve waht the level is at the time of yoru accident with NO 
cost of living increase!!
    A volunteer hurt in the line of duty and permanently disabled twnety 
years ago would still recive $80 per week today.  With no cost of living 
increase you will not keep up with inflation as the years pass and you may 
have trouble supporting yourself and your family.  This is not fun to read or 
think about is it?  Please help get the bills, sponsored Senator James Alesi 
and Assemblyman Paul Tonko, passed.  These bills will amend the volunteer 
firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers benefit law to allow for a cost 
of increase living in relation to the payment of benefits.
Q. How can all NY State Fire & Ambulance volunteers help to get these bills 
passed?
A. Please write a letter or postcard to your seven representatives liste 
below   now!
------------------------- SAMPLE LETTER 
------------------------------------
Dear ,
    I support the bills sponsored by Senator James Alesi and Assemblyman Paul 
Tonko toa mend the volunteer ambulance workers, and volunteer firefighters 
benefit law, in relation to the payment of benefits.
Thank You
Your name & Address (department and rank if available)
Tom LaBelle                    Pres Gunnar Neilson   Pres Jim McCormick
NY State Chiefs Association    F.A.S.N.Y.            Association of Fire Dist
1670 Columbia Turnpike         107 Washington Ave    21 Purdy Ave
Castleton, NY 12033            Albany, NY 12210      E. Northport, NY 11731
Pres Ronald G. Garrison             Pres David G Slater Sr.
County Fire Coordinators Ass.       N.Y. State Vol Ambulance & Rescue Ass
Edgewood Drive                      8 Arkansas Dr.
Palenville, NY 12463                Valley Stream, NY 11580
Your NY State Assembly Rep:________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Your NY State Senate Rep:__________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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If you have any questions about this PLEASE CONTACT ME!  Thanks
George Vaisey
Firefighter / EMT
Lake Shore Fire Department
--- GEcho v1.2 / FD 2.12
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