Jumpline magazine April 2024 - Flipbook - Page 6
6
1403 Of昀椀cers
Paul D Blake, Ret.
Treasurer
TREA$URER’$ Update
I enjoy answering the question,
“Why do I pay more than everybody else in the station
for dues?” First, it’s great that
you are together at the table. Second, dues vary by member based
on what they choose. The base
dues are $41.73 (this includes the
Local, the building, Florida Professional Fire昀椀ghters, and the IAFF. Unfortunately, I must say,
the dues that go to the local will be increasing by 3% on April
1st (not April fooling) due to the 3% COLA raise that members will be receiving. Some members have optional vision
coverage (single or family) and some choose to have Standard Life Insurance (varying amounts). Those are all added
to your base dues. The total makes some member dues different than others.
Once again, the Superbowl Raf昀氀e was a huge success! This
year we increased the availability of tickets, as well as the
number of cash prizes. The end result was that we sold approximately 892 tickets, even though we were capped at 800.
The real winner is Fire昀椀ghter Charities and the many 昀椀ghters
and organizations it supports. Between the Breast Cancer
Awareness and Veteran’s shirt campaign sales and ticket
sales to the Superbowl Party, we raised enough funds to
donate approximately $100,000!
Laughter Heals
Omar Blanco is running for Florida House of Representatives
District 115. One of the changes we were able to advocate
for in the ‘Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter’ was allowing county employees to run for and get elected to political seats without having to forfeit their careers. Whether you
live in either unincorporated Miami-Dade or a municipality, I
encourage you to step up and run for of昀椀ce.
I am always saddened to see the passing of a retiree, especially if I had worked for or alongside of them back in the day.
Paul Gurdak is no exception. “The Commander,” as he was
affectionately known as because taking command was what
he did best, was larger than life. He was a genuine individual
that was very imposing in stature, but in actuality, a teddy
bear. “Dropping the 5,” without being asked, was also something he was known for.
Captain Gurdak took pride in his station, equipment, and apparatus. This is why he always received a new truck. There
were things he did, that only he could do. Like requesting
police, only to be cancelled by them.
It was only 昀椀tting that the caisson used to carry his cof昀椀n from
the airport to funeral home was the Pierce Arrow Pumper he
once commanded.
I had planned to do a separate article for the Commander, but
then “305 Day” happened.
MR. RED
TICKET SALES OPEN MAY 2024
April 2024 | JUMPLINE Magazine