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The FOP Lodge #36 is comprised of 260 active officers and over 250 retired officers, with over 600 associate members; all play an integral part of the community, our Lodge and its function. For over 60 years we have been friends with our community, performing duties and extending assistance to people and groups in need. Special Olympics, MDA/A.B.A.T.E./H.O.G., Youth Recreation, Youth America, Riley Children's Hospital, Casie Center, Toys for Tots and "Santa Cause" have all been recipients of our help, just to name a few. We also have very generous and supportive friends of our FOP, here are just a few: Corporate Services, Policemen's Federal Credit Union, Frank Juliann (Attorney), Stress Core, Carl Kay Memorials, Southlawn Cemetery, Kaniewski's, Hanley & Sons, Mike Cohen, Between the Buns, Mittler, Bamber's Foods, Re/Max, South Bend Farmer's Market, St. Joseph Funeral Homes, Martin's Supermarkets, Kuert Concrete, Freedom Cycle, Patricia Ann Florist, Nadwe' Zibe Tattoo's, Dave's Garage, Club Fever, Rocco's.
Our most pressing concern as officers/FOP members is to attract and keep qualified officers on our department and in our community. Currently we rank 68 out of 145 municipalities in the state and we remain the 4th largest. We are far below in pay and benefits with comparable agencies and we're hoping that our honest and open communication with the City will move us toward the logical and appropriate rank. The City, led by Mayor Luecke and staff as well as the Common Council met with the FOP and together we continue trying to rectify issues within the department and our working agreement/conditions.
FOP Lodge #36 has several committees that address and act on various issues throughout the year. These range from, but not limited to: Fund-Raising, Uniform, Athletic, Honor Guard, Budget, Labor and Legal issues and Central Labor Council.
We have many ideas and plans but without the help of active, retired, related and associate members, things will not get done. I am pleading for everyone's assistance in pushing our Lodge to the highest level. We have the knowledge, experience and resources in order to accomplish this goal but we need the personal commitment to make it reality. Another goal is an increase in associate members. Our goal is 1,200. In years past our associate member total was well in excess of 1,000. We have the only public range in the area and it has been updated with safety features that other ranges will never reach; no other range can boast their fee compared to ours. We also have a yearly corn/sausage roast (held on our spacious grounds and updated facilities) that is FREE to associate members to thank them for supporting us.
I would like to take this time to commend my fellow brother and sister officers for their dedication, time and effort in building this Lodge and continuing concern to expand and modernize. Without the help and involvement of past and present members, the future members will have a tough uphill climb. Today we're all current members; tomorrow we're all future members. Remember (paraphrase JFK), "Ask not what your Lodge can do for you, but what you can do for your Lodge."
Scott A. Ruszkowski
President FOP Lodge #36
2009
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