PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

Page 10 • PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 617-989-BPPA (2772) Treasury Notes: Robert P. Colburn, BPPA Treasurer Where has the year gone? G reetings Brothers and Sisters! Can you believe that we are at the end of the year 2016!! Where has the year gone? It has flown by for some and I’m sure dragged by for others. Now that the never-ending election cycle has concluded perhaps we can all sit back and enjoy the holidays without the endless barrage of candidate ads. We can now look forward to an endless barrage of Christmas ads! Which poison do you prefer? Speaking of the Holidays, let us give thanks that the prayers and best wishes of so many have been answered and that our brother Officers Matt Morris and Richie Cintolo have survived their horrific injuries, and are now home with their families for the holidays. Words cannot express the pride and the gratitude we have to ALL of the officers and EMTs who responded to East Boston on that fateful night. They, who performed so heroically, should take great pride in knowing that their actions saved the lives of two of our own. Our gratitude cannot be overstated and we salute you all. This would also apply to the wonderful team of Mass General surgeons, doctors and nurses, so supremely talented, who performed so admirably in saving the lives of Officer Morris and Officer Cintolo. The work of all the doctors, therapists, administrators, and staff of both Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital illustrates to not only us, but the world, just how blessed we are here in the City of Boston, the Mecca of Medicine! Getting back to year-end business, please know that our finances are in great shape. We are continually looking at reducing our expenses, streamlining our operating costs while maximizing our returns on investments. The capital expenditures for the rehabilitation of our new Hall are onbudget and on time. And speaking of our new Freeport St. home, I urge you all to stop and pay a visit! It is YOUR Union Hall and we know you’ll be proud of what WEALL have accomplished. We were happy to see so many officers, their families, and friends of the BPPAcome to the Red Cross Blood Drive for Matt Morris and Richie Cintolo. It was an amazing turnout. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this blood drive. Many of you have also attended the various training sessions that were hosted at the BPPAmeeting room. These included retirement seminars offered by the City of Boston Retirement Board.There will be many more in the future. Don’t forget the first Wednesday of each month we have representatives from the Smart Plan/ deferred compensation at the hall. As we are finishing up our transition into our new Union Hall, we look forward to what lies ahead in the transition of power in Washington and the state legislatures across the country. While it can be certain that there will be many who will struggle with the idea of a new administration and new political leadership, we can only hope that all of us come to realize that change is good, it’s exciting and hopefully very productive. And let us hope that going forward as the political climate changes so will the social climate change when it comes to treatment of all members of not only the law enforcement community, but those members of public safety, Firefighters, EMTs and Military. EVERYLIFEMATTERS! I would like to give special thanks to Phyllis at Doughboy Donuts, Sean at City Lock and BCA, our dental brokers. These three businesses have repeatedly stepped up in our time of need and graciously donated goods and or services – a very big thank you!! Another organization I have mentioned here in the past is the Hundred Club of Massachusetts. Since 1959, this organization has supported Police Officers and Firefighters across the state who have been killed in the line of duty or died while active duty. There is an application on page 19 of this edition of the PAX if you would like to join. The Hundred Club has recently partnered with the Boston Bruins Foundation. They are having the 1 st Annual First Responder Challenge on January 22, 2017 from 8:30 am to 1 pm at the TD Garden. First Responders will be challenged to climb stairs, and complete laps throughout the TD Garden. Please consider donating to the Boston Police Runners Club Team or you may participate individually or enter your own team. For further information visit: www.bostonbruins.com/firstresponderchallenge . As the the year ends I urge you to keep a close eye on your finances. Make sure your own financial house is in order by carefully checking your deductions, increase your saving to deferred income, no matter how small, and look to take advantage of any tax saving you may realized through medical expense accounts, IRA’s, mortgage rates (going up!) and others that may be available to you. Update your beneficiaries on all of your life insurance, pension and BPRA associations. Don’t wait until its too late! I urge you to pay particular attention in the months ahead as there promises to be changes in the tax rates, medical insurance rates as well as the interest rates. This is possibly going to be a very exciting time in our country when it comes to our economy. Finally I would like to wish each and every one of you and your families, AMerry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy NewYear! Stay safe out there.