Mother of recent retiree Ron Brandin dies at age 86

Gladys E. Brandin
Gladys Elizabeth Wendel Brandin was born on June 20, 1921 in El Campo, Texas to Clifton and Anna Jane Crenak Wendel. As the wife of an Air Force veteran, she traveled and lived all over the world. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Leon and Milton (Jimmy) Wendel. Departing this earth on October 21, 2007 she is survived by sister, Lucille Taliaferro, daughter Marlene Kocurek and sons Ron Brandin, Retired SAPD and Wayne Brandin, grandchildren, Anita Rod, Paula Gabrysch, Denise Sather, Jennifer Kocurek, Angela Kocurek, Kevin Brandin and Sean Brandin, and great-grandchildren Keith Gabrysch, Kristen Gabrysch, Garrett Rod, Audra Rod, Cassie Sanchez, Katie Sanchez, Jack Sather. Interment will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1:45p.m., Tuesday, November 6, 2007. Funeral services provided personally and gracefully by Puente & Sons Funeral Chapel.

Any word on the 13th Check? Here is the latest

A response from those who are up to date on these matters.

Question: Any word to post on CoffeeCops regarding the 13th check?

Answer: The Board will meet on Oct 30 to vote on it. Although all the numbers guarantee it. Don't spend your money until after the vote. If it is passed 13th will be issued on around 11-09-07; the 14th check, if approved, will be issued on or about 11-16-07. The dates are not confirmed. They have done only once before and it is up for discussion.

A notice of appreciation for Legislators' Pension & Health Fund assistance

To all Police and Fire Retirees:

On October 30, 2007 the Pension Fund and the Health Fund will express their appreciation to Representative Ruth McClendon and Senator Jeff Wentworth for their assistance with the legislation benefiting retirees both on health care and pension issues.

These two individuals pushed both the Pension and the Health Fund Bills through both house chambers. Without their help neither bill would have passed. Some time in the future we may be asking them to again sponsor legislation. We must let them know that we do appreciate their efforts and help.

It would be really nice and a good show of appreciation if we could get a good number of retirees to attend these ceremonies. Mark the date and time on your calendar and make a real effort to attend.

The date is October 30. The time is 9.30AM. Location is at 311 Roosevelt
Ave.

Thanks, Henry Trevino

Velia Cernota celebrates 20 years of service to SAPOA and Retirees

Mark the calendar and come by if you can, or maybe send her a card if you like? Address is 1939 NE Loop 410, SAT 78217. Her email is velia@sapoa.org

VELIA CERNOTA

For TWENTY YEARS Of Service

in the SAPOA Office!

Members and Retirees are invited to

come by the Claims Office on

Wednesday, November 14^th (or any day)

and share memories

with Velia from the last 20 years!

Upcoming Health Care Changes

You should have received this letter, but in case you have not, here is the notice of changes.

Fire and Police Retiree
Health Care Fund
San Antonio

*** UPCOMING CHANGES ***

Effective November 1, 2007 our new Third Party Administrator will be WEB-TPA and the new Pharmacy Benefit Manager will be PatientChoiceRX (PTRX). With the change in administration all of the Retirees customer service needs, such as walk-ins, phone calls, prescription issues, etc., will be handled by the Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund office.

New ID Card will be mailed to you on the week of October 22, 2007. If you do not receive your ID card by the second week of November please give us a call at 1-866-652-4237

If you have any outstanding claims or issue not resolved by Fiserv Health, please call our office at 1-866-652-4237

Sincerely,

Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund
300 Convent Street Suite 2500
San Antonio TX 78205

Office: 210-220-1385
Fax: 210-212-4035
Email: faprhcf@swbell.net

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Subject: The three steps of identifying a stroke....

*STROKE IDENTIFICATION:*

This story could happen to you or someone you know:

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some neurologists say that if they can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours they can reverse the effects of a stroke...often totally. The trick is getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting the patient hospitalized within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (example: Is it sunny out today?)

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately, describe the symptoms to the dispatcher and get them to a doctor.

Be a friend and share this article with as many friends as possible, you could save their life.

'Live Long and Prosper'

CoffeeCops

A very short summary of recent laws that might affect you.

BILL SUMMARY - 80^TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION

/S.B. 338 (amended onto H.B. 2118) - "Senator Frank MadIa Jr. Bill" (Pickett/Van de Putte)

This bill was named after the late Senator Frank MadIa, at the request of his widow, Helen MadIa. In November of 2006 a tragic fire took the lives of Senator MadIa, his mother-in-law, Mary Cruz and his beloved granddaughter, Aleena. The bill requires the installation of fire alarms in newly constructed homes or homes where there is a transfer of ownership after January I, 2008. The bill also creates a new class of license for a residential fire alarm technician, with training focused on the requirements to properly install and service residential fire alarm systems. My personal thanks to the MadIa family and our San Antonio Professional Firefighters who worked tirelessly to see this legislation signed by the Governor.

***Free Smoke Detectors for Seniors***

If you are age 60 or older and live within Bexar County, you can get a new smoke

detector installed for FREE in your home. To apply for installation, call United

Way's 2-1-1 or the City's Senior Services Division office at (210) 207-7172.

H.B. 1344 Refund Anticipation Loans (Villarreal/Van de Putte)

H.B. 1344 requires facilitators to possess an Internal Revenue Service e-file authorization and to register with the Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner. This bill also requires refund anticipation loan facilitators to disclose certain information to customers, so that Texans can make responsible choices about high-cost fees associated with these loans.

H.B. 2524 - Haven for Hope Detox Center (McClendon/Van de Putte)

In Bexar County, a large number of people with mental illness or substance abuse problems are being "treated" through incarceration rather than through less-expensive options. H.B. 2524 authorizes the development of a pilot project in Bexar County, through which the Department of State Health Services will assist Bexar County in providing medical and mental health care through acute intervention and detoxification units. It enables the non-profit Haven for Hope Partnership to establish and operate a public safety triage and detoxification center. The center will provide a mechanism for more appropriate and cost-effective treatment for homeless individuals with mental health and substance abuse problems. This legislation will have a tremendous impact on the State of Texas by saving lives and taxpayer dollars. The idea for the Haven for Hope was sparked by former Councilwoman Patti Radle and the leadership of San Antonio business legend, Bill Greehey. It is a partnership of the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, University Health System and the Center for Health Care Services.

Retiree Armando Ynostrosa shows you how to erase data on your obsolete cell phone.

Subject: Erasing Cell-phone Data

Having some old cell phones that are obsolete? I came across this website that helps you erase all the numbers on your old cell phone all at one time. I guess if you have the patience you can do it one at a time. Some people donate them to different charities but forget all about the numbers in there memory phone book.

I had a Motorola and found the model number behind the battery.

http://www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/default.asp

Retiree & Health Care Rep warns of IRS scam.

Henry Trevino writes:

Couldn't take the chance not passing it on. Comes from a good source.
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10:20 AM

Subject: IRS scam

Today I received an e-mail from the IRS that I have a tax refund if I

fill out a form requiring my SS number and a credit card number so

they can credit the refund to that card. It sure is official looking

but don't fall for it. I called the TV station and they confirmed it is a scam.

PS: A follow-up note from CoffeeCops - This problem was reported on television a few days ago and an IRS representative informed the public that they DO NOT contact any tax payer by email to inform them of a refund. Do not give away your personal information to anyone you do not know or trust.

Michael Trainer reports on status of 13th Check & PreFunded Health Care.

Warning! Warning! Use Caution!
The month of October is an important month for all Fire and Police Retirees. The Fire and Police Pension Board of Directors will be voting on the 13^th and possibly the 14^th checks at their regular Board Meeting on the 30^th of October. The fiscal year ended the last day of September. Please remember as of today there is no guarantee this payment will be made until the Board votes. In other words don’t go to the bank just yet. Many people, including myself, have told some retirees that it is in the bag. Yes it does look extremely good for both the 13^th and the 14^th checks. Caution, it’s not in the bag until the BOARD VOTES. No other communication should count until the Board Votes!

The Prefund Health Care Fund is in the process of re-writing the Master Document. The Master Document is the document we count on to provide the rules for our health care. There are several different rumors already floating around that are not true. Again I’m saying Caution! It’s not true until you see it in writing. The status as of today is that the legislative changes to your Prefund Health Care deductibles and out of pocket expense will not change until January 2008 NOT on the 1^st of October 2007.

The “Ad Hoc” Committee has completed its assignment. The Committee has made recommendations to the full Prefund Health Care Board. The recommendations have been accepted by vote of the Board. CAUTION again! Don’t listen to rumors. The recommendations have NOT been written into the “Master Document” as yet. NO DRAFT of this document has been produced as yet let alone voted on by the Prefund Health Care Board. This should happen within the next two months. Please remember what the word “DRAFT” means. I’m sure there will be more than one draft of this document before it is voted on by the Prefund Health Care Trustees.

I can tell you with certainty that when the “Master Document” has been approved by Board vote ALL members will receive a copy of the Document in the mail. I can also tell you that the Prefund Health Care staff will be holding several meetings to explain all the changes in the new “Master Document”.

Last words on both subjects don’t believe it until you can see it writing straight from the horse’s (The Boards that represent us) mouth or desk!

I have been told that some people have had a hard time getting in touch with me by phone since I have returned from vacation. Bettie and I are in the process of moving. Our answering machines are not working right at either home right now. We don’t check the machines as often as we should, sorry. E-mail is the best way to keep in touch with me for the month or so. After that period of time I expect we will be in one place not two or three.

New address info:

1249 Hillside Oaks Dr
La Vernia, TX 78121-4734

830-779-5949

E-mail has stayed the same michael@trainerfamily.com or miketra@lavernia.net

God Bless each and every one of you and your families!

Michael Trainer