Welcome 18/10/2012

1. What the Welfare Society offers to members.

2. The Role of each officer holder.

3. The Responsibilities of office holders.

4. You may need to read the rules & board policy in conjunction with this presentation.

At the end of this presentation you should have a better understanding of the Society and the role that you and other office holders will perform.

The New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society

is there to look after its members and their families.

We are an organization run by Firefighters for Firefighters.

Our motto is

“firefighters helping firefighters”awhi atu awhi mai

The Fire Service and Firefighters are good at protecting

the community.

The Welfare Society is there to support their Members and families

in their times of need.

The New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society office

holders are there to support and help members and their families

in their times of need.

Reimbursement

The Society will reimburse any cost incurred by a Office holder as per

our board policy.

It is important that you know this as we want you to give your

time and effort only.

Claiming expenses

• You will need to keep receipts.

• Fill out a expenses claim form.

• Add receipts to claim form.

• Send off to office for action.

• Reimbursement will be made ASAP.

Make-up of Welfare Society

• Membership. • A.G.M.• Board. + Decision making committee.• 6 Regional Rep’s. = Board members.• Chairman - Secretary – Treasurer.• D.E.R.C.• Office Staff.• Area WSSR.• WSSR.• Roving Rep’s.

Along with the office staff, to help with the day to day running of the Society the Board has introduced committees to over see certain areas.

Healthcare 99 committee.Decision making committee.Budget committee.Promotional committee.

Day to Day running.

Board Policy Responsibilities

Welfare Society office holders have certain responsibilities under the Act, Society Rules, Board Policy, Procedures , Employment agreements, Business Plan and agreements, M.O.U’s & Accords with other related organizations.

Office holders should have a understanding of the above, all of which are available either on our company website, our website , “dropbox” or in hard copy.

Please take some time to look at the above so that you will have an understanding how the Society operates.

Act – Rules – Board Policy Procedures etc.

• You will need to know about the makeup of the Society. NZFS Welfare centre Christchurch earthquake 2011

• Acts

• Rules

• Board Policy

• Business Plan

• Procedures

• Station Information Folder

ACT NZFFWS Rules 2009

The Act• Board members should

have a understanding of the Act that our Society is registered under.

• The Secretary should have a clear understanding of the Act, especially those parts that he/she is obligated to carry out.

The Rules• All office holders of the

Society should have a clear understanding of the Society Rules.

• The Board, Secretary, Treasurer & office staff should have clear understanding of the rules.

BOARD POLICY & PROCEDURES

• Members of the Board, Secretary, Treasurer, D.E.R.C. & Office staff should have a clear understanding of Board Policy.

• They all should have a clear understanding of those parts that they are required to carry out.

• Members of the Board & D.E.R.C. should have a understanding of the office procedures.

• The Secretary, Treasurer & office staff should have a clear understanding of the office procedures

Business plan & Station Information folder

• Members of the Board, Secretary, Treasurer should have a clear understanding of the Business Plan.

• Office Staff & D.E.R.C should have a clear understanding of those parts of the business plan that they are required to carry out.

• All office holders should have a clear understanding of the what is in the Information folder.

• This folder is available on our website or can be obtained from the office.

Benefits Optional Benefits

• The Society has a numberof benefits that it offers.

• We have some mandatorybenefits such as the Funeral Benefit and some everyday benefits such as Birth of a Child Benefit

• Have a look at the Benefit poster and information folder.

• Holiday homes are also convalescent homes.

• The Society also has some optional benefits

• Healthcare 99, our healthcare plan, (A Mutual Fund NOT an insurance).Have a look at the HC99 booklet.

• We also have some insurance plans that members can opt to take up.

• Have a look at the insurance posters.

One of the most important persons –The Welfare Society Station Rep.The Area Welfare Society Station Rep.

Appointment of a Welfare Society Station Rep

• A WSSR is appointed either by a Regional Rep or the Chairman of the Society or is chosen by members of that brigade to be their WSSR.

• Once appointed the WSSR is the main contact between the Welfare Society office, Regional Reps and Welfare Society members.

• The Society asks WSSR for their time ONLY.

• Any cost accrued by the WSSR will be reimbursed by the Society. (Expense Claim Forms & Receipts)

Board policy

Area WSSR Appointment.

3 Area Welfare Society Station Representative (AWSSR)

a) The Chairman and or a Regional Rep/Board member may appoint an area WSSR in areas that they think would profit from such an appointment.

b) The Area WSSR will have specific fire station/brigades assigned to them to look after and to help the WSSR at those stations/brigades.

c) The Area WSSR should arrange promotional visits to the assigned station/brigades at less once a year and as required.

d) The Area WSSR responsibilities, apart from the above, will be those as set down in board policy under WSSR responsibilities.

Promotion of the Society

The promotion of the Society is the responsibility of all office holders.

There is a promotional committee that is responsible for:

• Producing material for promoting the society

• Arranging & helping to arrange promotional visits to potential members.

Membership is open to:

•Members of Volunteer Brigades•Employees of the NZ Fire Service•Rural Firefighters•Airport Crash Fire Service Employees•Employees of the Society•Employees of the UFBA•Persons who have retired or left the NZ Fire Service.•Once a member you remain a member until you resign or stop paying your contributions.

Who can apply for membership to the Society?

Membership is also open to:

•A members Child, upon reaching 19 years old.•Member of an Ambulance Servicewithin NZ – Paid or Voluntary.•Appointed Office Holders of the Society•Members and employees of the NZFFCU•Employees of the Firefighters Union•Employees of EMQUAL•Any other person as approved by the Welfare Board

Who can apply for membership to the Society?

• Funeral Benefits – up to age 60 – Adult $3000.00 – Child $1000.00

• Holiday/ Convalescent Homes - $65.00 a night

• Gift Baskets –Sickness at home or in hospital

• Discretionary loans and Grants – $500

• Ambulance Assistance Benefit – $500 pa

• Home Visit – from WSSR

• In Hospital Visits – from WSSR

• In Hospital TV rental – where available

List of Benefits of MembershipAvailable on our Website & Station Folder

List of Benefits of MembershipAvailable on our Website & Station Folder

• Corrective Lens Benefit – First Pair $150 - $300 pa

• Hearing Aid benefit - $250 pa

• Birth of a child Benefit - $50 per new born

• Disaster Fund• Also assistance with the following cost• Travel cost with out of town medical Visits 30c per km

- $100 per claim - $ 250 pa

• Hospital Parking - $150 pa

• Home Help temporary incapacitated - at $20 per day - $250 pa

• Counselling - $150 pa

• Adoption - $250 per claim - $500 pa

(A Mutual Fund – This is NOT an insurance)

One of the main advantages of being a member of the Welfare Society means they can apply to Join

Healthcare 99, there are two options:

Option ACovers In and Out of Hospital costs

Option BIn Hospital costs only

The Board of the Society are the Trustee of the fund,Aon is the Claim Manager.

Healthcare 99 - Optional benefit

More information on Website & Station folder.

Healthcare 99 - BenefitMore information on Website & Station folder

These rates are subject to change from time to time.Contribution rates per person effective Oct 2011

More about this benefit further on.

Members have the opportunity to rent one of our Holiday homes for $65.00 per night,

plus a refundable care deposit of $50.00.

The homes are used also for Convalescing

for members & their families. They sleep up to 8 persons.

There are Five Holiday/Convalescent homes from which to choose.

Taupo, Kapiti, Nelson, 2 in Queenstown

The Firefighters Welfare has reciprocal agreements with the NZ Army and the NZ Police Welfare.

It also has some agreements with some Holiday resorts in Australia.

Holiday/Convalescent Homes

Holiday/Convalescent HomesTaupo - Kapiti - Nelson

Queenstown

Taupo Kapiti

Nelson Queenstown x2

The Welfare Society also offers

Optional Insurance Benefits

Members of the Welfare Societyhave the choice of optional insurance benefits,

these include:

General Insurance

House, Contents, Car & Boat

Accident and Trauma Insurance

Life Insurance

Income Protection

Members must state that they are members of theNZ Firefighters Welfare Society.

Contact Aon0800 50 51 52

Website & Forms

• Most forms can be found on our website on www.firefighters.org.nz

• Membership Application Form

• Healthcare 99 Membership Application Form

• Direct Debit Form

• Expenses Claim Form – Office holders only

• Members Welfare Society BA1 Claim Form

• Healthcare 99 Members Claim form.• Or you can contact the office & request for them to be

sent to you.

Station Information Folder

• This information folder is designed to help people with everyday questions and how to make claims and fill out forms etc.

• You can view or down load the information folder from our Website.

• You can down load this folder and keep it some where yourself for a quick reference.

• The folder has most of the information you should need for normal day to day activities, If members need further help they contact the office on our free phone 0800 OK FIRE (Show Folder)

NZFFWS InformationFolder

• Station Information Folder.

Members can get informationby Downloading it off our

Website Visitwww.firefighters.org.nz

Or Contact the office

0800-65-3473 – 0800 OK FIRE

Office Hours 0900 hours to 1500 hours

Free Phone 0800 65 3473 – 0800 OK FIREFree Fax 0800 65 3475

Email thesec@firefighters.org.nzWebsite www.firefighters.org.nz

Postal Private Bag 31999Lower Hutt 5040

Physical 45 Percy Cameron StreetLevel One

Avalon Towers

As you can see, there are a number of ways that members can get information or help about the Society.

Our Contact Details

Q: Who owns the Welfare Society?

A: Members own the Welfare Society.

Q: Who Can join the Society?

A: Anyone who has a close associationWith the Fire Service and is approved as a Member by the Board.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Only $3.00 per week.

Q: How do I pay?

A: Either Annually, monthly or fortnightly

In advance by direct debit, cheque or through the Fire Service Pay roll.

These are some of theFrequently Asked Questions

Q: How much is the Funeral Benefit?

A: $3000 for the member or spouse, $1000 for each child.

Q: What happens when I turn 60, can I remain a member of the Welfare Society?

A: YES when you reach the age of 60 you onlypay ½ the contribution and the FuneralBenefit ceases.

Q: What happens if I decide to leave the Fire Service?

A: Once you become a member you can retain membership as long as you wish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who Owns Healthcare 99?

A: Its members, it is run as a Mutual Trust.

Fund – NOT an Insurance Scheme.

Q: What do I need to take with me when I use the holiday homes?

A: Food, Linen and toiletries.

Q: By paying $3.00 per week will my familyenjoy the benefits as outlined?

A: Yes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to be a member to join the optional schemes?

A: Yes.

Q: What happens when my children get older?

A: When your children reach 19, they can applyto become members themselves and get full member Benefits.

Q: If I die will my family be looked after?

A: Yes, your family will have 12 months freemembership from the date of the last payment received from you.They can then join themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you

Board of the Society would like to thank you for making yourself available and for taking on this position within the Society.

“firefighters helping firefighters” awhi atu awhi mai