How do you keep track of those lifelong friends and associates you built over the years? How do you keep track of changes to you pension? There is no place in your Department or City where you can get advice or answers to questions. Being retired you are not even in your local union anymore. Your only remaining connection is with the Department of Retirement Systems in Olympia. They are mostly good folks but provide little in the way of resources and no connection back to you or your department.
That is where the Retired Firefighters of Washington comes in to play.
The Retired Firefighters of Washington was originally established in 1932 as the Retired Firemen’s Association, representing those members who retired under the “Prior Act”. In 1970, when the LEOFF Pension System was established, the organization changed its name to the current “Retired Firefighters of Washington” and is the only politically active organization dedicated to, and representing, the interest of all RETIRED Washington State firefighters.
During the Legislative Session we spend countless hours lobbying on behalf of retired firefighters to protect and improve their pensions as they apply to the retired firefighter, their families, and their surviving spouses.
Members of the RFFOW pay $45/year for membership. For that they get monthly meetings, the annual RFFOW Christmas Luncheon, our monthly newsletter, and an organization dedicated to the welfare of all retired Washington State firefighters and their families and, most importantly, the preservation of the pension you worked so hard, and for so many years, to receive.
But wait, there is more! We maintain a web site so the members can stay up to date on friends and associates as well as what is going on in Olympia with the Legislature and with your pension. We work with, and stay in contact with, the numerous city and county Pension Boards statewide as a ready resource for the boards and their members.
Unless you win the lottery or are a very astute investor you will probably count your pension as the major financial element in your retirement. However, the Legislature likes to “tweak” that pension on a regular basis. Right now LEOFF II members have some strong organizations that are working to protect and improve that system. But, they are union based and active member based organizations. The RFFOW tracks pension legislation, and works with the advocacy groups to keep its members current on things that can impact their pension. Additionally, the RFFOW’s mission is to represent not only the retiree, but the surviving spouse and families as well, in matters regarding the maintenance, protection, and/or improvement of their pension benefits.
Finally, and as simple as it sounds, the RFFOW serves as a social venue to keep you in touch will all of those folks you worked with over the years of your career. New members are always amazed at the importance of this function and how rewarding it is to see these old faces from time to time.
Right now most of us in the RFFOW are LEOFF I but we have reached that point in time when LEOFF II members have started to retire. Our organizations motto states: “For, about, and in Support of all Retired Washington State Firefighters.” In that regard, our organization is poised to shift its focus to deal with the new issues confronting our LEOFF II members. LEOFF I members have always been blessed with a Pension Board and Pension Office that could answer our questions and help keep us together. LEOFF II members do not have that resource. Hence it is doubly important that the RFFOW fills that gap.
As you prepare to retire it is also time to join the RFFOW. For more information call or write Dick Warbrouck, 425-775-9080 (
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) or Bob Burtch, 425-226-3793 (
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). We will answer your questions and help you get signed up.
You can also visit our website at www.rffow.org where you will find information about our organization as well as our membership application.
We hope you’ll give us a try. You have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain with membership in the Retired Firefighters of Washington.
The preceding article was edited, with permission, from an article originally written by Mr. Jerry Taylor, President of the Retired Seattle Police Officers Association and published in the “The Guardian,” the publication of the Seattle Police Officers Guild.
