 |
 FSNA London Branch, P.O. Box 244, Lambeth Station, London, ON N6P 1P9 1 (519) 439-3762 ("H-E-Y-F-S-N-A") |
 |
|
ON GUARD – The London Branch Report
Winter 2007/2008 From the Membership Desk Did your membership card arrive late this year? Some of our members who are not using the convenience of having their dues deducted each month from their pension payment ($2.85 for single, $3.70 for double) have complained that their membership cards are arriving quite late, in some cases not until March or April of each year. The reason for this is that dues payments and the distribution of membership cards are carried out in two different ways. Total FSNA membership today has reached or exceeded 150,000 members. Taking care of all these individual membership cards places a great strain on the National Office staff, one which they have been handling remarkably well. When dues are deducted from pension payments, referred to as Dues Deduction at Source, or DDS, the membership cards can be prepared and readied to mail from the National Office directly to the member's home address early in the new year, since the money for membership dues has already been received through deduction. Paying by cheque, however, is slightly different. In addition to DDS paying members, the National Office prepares membership cards for all cash and cheque paying members that are on record for the previous year. These cards are mailed in batches to the Branch Membership Secretary. If the member attends a Branch monthly meeting and pays for his or her membership by cash or cheque, he or she will receive their membership card at the meeting. If the member cannot attend the meeting, he or she would mail the cheque to the local branch, where their name is checked against our computer records, the cheque is deposited and the membership card is mailed to their home. Obviously this will take more time than getting a membership card mailed directly from the National Office. The past year has been particularly difficult for our Branch since a volunteer for the Membership Secretary position could not be found until early in the month of February, and there was a great deal of "catching up" to do. Currently we have over 200 members who pay their dues by cash or cheque and processing their membership means extra time and effort for our volunteers. So we encourage members to pay their dues by DDS because it is simple, convenient, safer and easier than writing a cheque and waiting for your membership card. The small deduction goes almost unnoticed in the monthly pension amount you receive, you do not have to pay the full amount once a year from your bank account, and you do not have the hassle of worrying about lost cheques or wondering if you have paid your dues or not. With DDS, you will always be a member in good standing and always have access to all the benefits of being an FSNA member. It's worth considering. Planning to move this year? If you have plans to change your residence, please remember to call us at 519-439-3762 anytime of the day or night to let us know when and where you're going, and if your telephone number will be changing. It will save our volunteers the time-consuming task of trying to find you and it will make sure you keep getting the latest news and updates on pensions, health and other important matters that FSNA wants you to know. You can telephone or write to us at: FSNA London Branch, P.O.Box 224, Lambeth Station, London, ON N6P 1P9, or just mention to one of the executive at a Branch meeting. It's that easy.
You may have noticed an ad on CBC television, which tells you that Nothing stays the same, Not for a day, Not for an hour, Not for a minute. Well, actually, some things DO stay the same. Your branch constantly needs volunteers. For there is much to do and the same people doing it get worn down. Won't you do your bit to keep your Branch alive and active? Call today – 519-439-3762 and help make some things stay the same for you. Paying Your Dues by Direct Deduction If you are currently paying your annual membership dues by cheque or by cash you can still switch to DDS – Deduction of Dues at Source – an easy and convenient way to keep your membership renewed every year with no effort on your part. Although many members are not familiar with the system and have some concerns that their bank accounts may be affected in some way, the fact is that nothing is safer than using DDS to meet your membership dues. When you fill in your request form, the FSNA National Office notifies the Public Works & Government Services Canada that you have elected to go onto the DDS system. Public Works & Government Services then deducts a small amount each month from your pension ($2.85 for single memberships, $3.70 for member and spouse). That's all there is to it. You never have to worry about your cheques clearing the bank. In fact, you never have to worry about paying your dues again – it all happens automatically – because members who are already on DDS do not need to reapply every year. Paid-up members will see their deductions start at the beginning of the next membership year. Why not consider going DDS – just fill out the form below and mail to: FSNA, 1052 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON K1K 3B4 Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _________________
Pension Number: ____________________ FSNA Member Number:______________ LONDON BRANCH
Pension Source: ? Canadian Forces ? Public Service ? Royal Cdn Mounted Police
FSNA Membership Category: Name: ______________________________ First Name: _______________________ Spouse's Name: ______________________ Spouse's First Name: _______________ Address: _______________________________________ Postal Code: ____________ Phone Number: ______________________ Email: ____________________________ Provision of pension information requested on this document is voluntary. You may, without prejudice, decline to respond. This information is being collected to enable deduction of membership dues from your pension payments or survivor's allowance and will not be shared with anyone other than Public Works and Government Services Canada. (Please note: DDS is not applicable to RCMP survivors, to federally appointed judges, nor to Associate members) * * * ON GUARD - The London Branch Report |