PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

I, along with the entire BRPBA Board, wish and pray for a happy and healthy New Year to all our members, widows, and families. 

2022 was a busy year for the BRPBA. We worked for and achieved a Healthcare guarantee for all Baltimore City retirees and spouses. We worked towards helping our members receive a rebate from the pension lawsuit, and we began and are still working on helping our widows who should also receive pension rebate money (tax free). In November and December, we sent out Gift Certificates on Thanksgiving and Christmas/Chanukah to our widows we have helped in the past. We began a bit of fun work obtaining a template and working out prices for pewter mugs for our members. They are still available to purchase ($50.00 plus $18.00 shipping and handling). They are beautiful (I have one and I love it). Email us and we will send you the company’s email address. We held two clothing drives for McVet’s (June and December), both of which were a huge success and McVet’s was extremely grateful. And, we protested about the Baltimore City Council getting a full-time pension for only eight (8) years of service, when Fire and Police have to work 20-25 years. Not to mention that both Fire and Police put their lives on the line each and every day they are on the job. They aren’t sitting in an office at City Hall with guards. 

In 2022 we also continued our work to obtain a beneficiary form from every member. Unfortunately, many didn’t care, and we still have 207 members without forms on file. I guess it’s okay for some people to just give up $1250.00. 

February 7, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at the Christ the King Church, 1102 Hard Road, off of Providence Road, was a service for the fallen. Mike May invited many dignitaries. It would have been nice if all the people who were invited had shown up, but they didn’t. Why? Because they do not care. And after we retire, some of us are in pain every day from the job. We are has-beens in the City officials eyes, but we have a surprise for them. We are not has-beens. We have a vote and a voice and even though many of us do not live in the City anymore, we do care about the City we worked hard to protect every day. We care about Baltimore and those Brothers and Sisters who still live there. We must use our voice and our vote to make Baltimore City better, safer, and make our schools better. 

Traditionally, the BRPBA gifts a needy family at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sadly, in the past, we never once received a thank you for this, so in 2022 the Board decided to change the way we do things. In the name of the BRPBA, we made nice donations to Tikua House and Ronald McDonald House, both in Baltimore City. This time, we received wonderful thank you notes. It’s nice giving to those who appreciate the thought. 

In 2022, we lost 42 members. We gained 35. We would love to see our membership climb, so if you know a retiree, please mention us! Remember, there is strength in our numbers, so bring a retiree to a monthly meeting and let them see what we are all about. Let them know they can enjoy a free meal! Remember, we still have the $50.00 finder’s fee for any member who brings a new member on board. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Hope the rest of your winter is safe, and you enjoy a beautiful spring.

Daryl