Central District

194 Member Organizations paid dues as of  this meeting.

3792 Individual members have paid dues as of this meeting.

Second Vice President Joe Whiteford announced convention dates of August 16, 17, 18, 2012 

Third Vice President Tom Bracken announced convention dates of August 15, 16, 17, 2013

25 Member deaths were reported.

The By Law Committee has proposed by law changes as follows:

    1. Require the President to appoint a Compensation Committee every three (3) years to review Officer's Compensation. By Law Article II Duties of Officers Page 6 Section 1. Line 2 add on to read after (committee) appoint a Compensation Committee every three (3) years to review and recommend officer's fees.

REASON : Create an Officer's Compensation Review Committee to meet every three years to review and recommend to the Board of Control updated officer's compensation.

    2. Change the method the Secretary is compensated. By Law Article II Duties of Officers Page 7 Section 15 delete the entire Section and replace it with new Section 15 to read: "He/She shall receive an allowance of Seven Thousand Two Hundred dollars ($7,200.00) per fiscal year to be paid in four (4) quarterly payments.

    3. Change the Compensation of the Treasurer. By Law Article II Duties of Officers Page 7 Section 23  to delete Section 23 in it's entirety and add on to read new Section 23 to read "He/She shall receive an allowance of One Thousand Five Hundred dollars ($1,500.00) per fiscal year to be paid in four (4) quarterly payments."

    4. Define the Duties of the Chaplain and set the compensation. By Law Article II Duties of Officers Page 7 New Section 24 to read: "Chaplain Section 24 It shall be the duty of the Chaplain to give the Invocation and Benediction at all meetings and other official functions of the Association, to render assistance in time of illness, injury, or bereavement to all members and their families when requested, to attend wake services and funerals of Line of Duty Deaths or the Death of a Past Officer of the Association when possible, to act as a liaison to the Host Department for the purpose of planning and participating in the Convention Memorial Service. The Chaplain shall receive an allowance of Two Hundred dollars ($200.00) payable annually.

REASON: At the 2009 Convention a Special Ad Hoc committee on compensation gave their recommendations for compensation of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain. In the case of  the Secretary an entirely different method was proposed. Also with a recommendation for compensation of  a Chaplain the was no By Law section describing the duties of the Chaplain and is/her compensation, the by law amendments cover those recommendations.

    5. To add the Compliance Committee to the By Laws in order to give it more authority. Constitution : Order of Business Page 2 add on to read "Naming of Sergeants-at-Arms and the Compliance Committee"

Constitution Article V Committees Page 4 add on to read "Compliance" Six members Appointed at the First Convention Session.

By Laws Article IV Committees New Section 22 Compliance Committee to read This committee consisting of six (6) Board of Control Members: Two from the Advisory Committee; two from the Lapsation Committee; and two from the County Vice Presidents. The President appoints the committee at the First Convention Session. This committee will enforce the rules and regulations involving the Camp Site, Parade, and the Alcohol and Drug Policy. They are to meet each day of the Convention to document any violations and report the to the Fall Board of Control for possible disciplinary action as per Article VIII Conduct of Members.

Old Section 22 becomes new Section 23 and old Section 23 becomes new Section 24 and old Section 24 becomes new Section 25. 

The fire prevention committee announced the 2009/2010 Fire Prevention programs may be submitted until the end of the Thursday evening first session of the Central District annual Convention Meeting.

Rule changes for the Pumping Contest were submitted by the host committee and upon a motion the rule addition has been adopted by the Board of Control. Please check the Efficiency Contest rules for the change. Rule #14

There was a report by Lenny Alwine of 2 fallen firefighter awards being presented.

Applications for Scholarships need to be submitted.

No charge for students has been assessed as of yet, printed material for students must be paid for at this time.

Kathie Snauffer representing the Auxiliary announced there will be a Sheetz Gas Raffle and the sale of shirts with the Central District logo on them. The shirts must be paid for at the time of ordering.

A bid was accepted from East Freedom for the 2014 Convention.

There has been interest shown by Snow Shoe for hosting the 2015 Convention 

    Katherine Kidder of American Income Insurance Company presented a insurance program that would cover all paid up members of the Central District Volunteer Firemen's Association with a $0.00 (zero) premium. This coverage at a no cost premium will be $3,000.00 for accidental death & dismemberment.

This insurance coverage is also available to your County Association as well as your home fire department.

    The Association has adopted  2 new policies for use as may be needed in the future, 1. Whistleblower Policy & 2. Conflict of Interest Policy.

    Logan Township United and Excelsior Fire Companies have offered a place to hold the 2010 Annual Meeting in place of a full convention if a host is not found by the 2009 Convention.

    A letter of request to host the 2013 Convention has been received and will be held for action at the Convention Meeting.

    A letter from Milesburg Fire Company was read requesting the use of Central District Battle of the Barrel equipment. Following a discussion it was determined the equipment is to be used at the Central District Conventions ONLY.

    Following a discussion on the web site for Central District it was decided to cancel the site at the http://www.centraldistrictvfa.org/ and use this site as the official site for the Association.

The Fall Board of Control Meeting was held on October 5, 2008 at Osceola Mills Fire Station.

The Secretary will send Ernest A Rojahn Jr a letter of thanks for his many years of excelent coverage of Central District Conventions in the PA Fireman magazine.

Family members of deceased members are to be invited to the annual Memorial Service at the Central District Convention.

As it comes available the Irvona Fire Company web site will post information for the 2009 Convention. Check http://www.irvonafirecompany.com/

Central District Volunteer  Firemen’s Association 

                  By Law Committee 2008 Report

           Greg Kline, Gary Talerico and Dave Wojick

Item # 1. Rewrite Dissolution Article to comply with Recent IRS Regulations

Delete Article VIII in its entirety and replace it with the following to read.

“ In the event that this Association should cease operations and dissolve its membership, The Board of Control shall after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association in such a manner to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational ,religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 {C} (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provision of any future United Sates Internal Revenue law), as the Board of Control shall determine. At no time shall any of the assets be given to a private individual for his /her benefit.”

Reason: Recent IRS Regulations caused our accountants to question our dissolution article. Their main

concern was the provision to give assets to individual members since we had a death fund. Such proceedure

would result in loss of our status as non-profit resulting in the Association to pay taxes on income earned from investments  and the amount received by individual would be considered taxable income.

Item # 2. Rewrite the Object of the Association and name it the Mission to comply with recent IRS Regulations.

Delete Article II in its entirety and replace it with a new Article II “Mission” to read

As follows

SECTION 1.It is the mission of the Central District Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a dedicated organization of individuals, that works and assist with other regional and statewide organizations for paving the future and the general improvement of the future generations in the Fire and Emergency Services throughout  the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Association offers an open forum for discussion and problem solving with peers on fire and emergency related issues. The Association shall lead and set a Fire Education and Prevention Program or theme, that can be used throughout the central region of the Commonwealth. The Association shall encourage a fraternal friendship among firefighters by means of competition and other activities. The Association shall also lead in a recruitment and retention program to assure the well being of the Fire Emergency Services in the Commonwealth .

            SECTION 2. To accumulate a Fund from the dues for the relief of members and their families in case of death, according to the by laws and finances of the Association.

Reason; Recent IRS Regulations involve in seeking additional information that must be filed on the 2008 Form 990  Which is due in May 2009. Additional documents which do not require by law amendments on Conflict of Interest Policy, Whistleblower Policy; Governance, Document Retention and Destruction and Compensation are just a few of the 12 additional schedules that must be filled out for the Form 990.