April 7, 2009
Dear Fellow Hamden Fire Department Retiree,
For some of us, the Annual Dinner is the only opportunity we have to meet and reminisce with our friends and former colleagues - to keep up with the latest personal news and talk about old times. And as much fun as the Annual Dinner is for most of us, it only happens once a year and goes by very quickly.
For the past couple of years, some of us retirees have discussed the possibility of forming a loose organization of HFD retirees, to get together socially each month for an hour or so, with no particular agenda – just like the retired cops do. This would not be meant to take the place of the Annual Dinner, which is held to honor our fellow active Hamden firefighters and new retirees, but would simply complement it.
Now, with the events of the past few months, there is an even more compelling reason for fire department retirees to stay connected: the health and future of the Retirement Plan under which we receive our pensions and related benefits. There may or may not be any reason to be concerned about this right now, but we really don’t know.
Given the recent economic downturn, we believe it is a good idea for all retirees to be better informed about the condition of our pension plan, and other retirement benefits. We also must be prepared to be heard, should it become necessary. We have some ideas, and we’re sure some of you do, too.
So please join us for an informal gathering on Monday evening, May 11th at 7 p.m. Ralph Purificato has offered the use of his meeting hall at Liberty Community Church, 540 Washington Avenue in North Haven (right behind Dino’s).
If you no longer live in the area, you can still be heard. Just contact any one of us and we’ll share your thoughts with the others when we meet.
Let’s get together to share ideas, and to discuss possible plans to form an organization of Hamden Fire Department retirees.
Sincerely,
Mark Barletta
Tom Doherty
Ed Doiron
Jimmy Dunlop
Dave Johnson
Rich Maybury
Ralph Purificato
Bob Viglione
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