Oklahoma State Firefighters Association
The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association (OSFA) is the most unique association in the country
providing s
ervice
to fire departments. The OSFA has more than 14,000 members representing
union and non-union paid firefighters, volunteer firefighters, chief
officers and retired firefighters. Membership is available to all
active and retired firefighters in Oklahoma.
The OSFA was established in 1894 as the Territorial Firemens Association of Oklahoma. The charter was approved by the Governor of the Territory and made of record. The purpose of the OSFA is, in part, to create, maintain and perpetuate a fraternal spirit among its members, to suggest helpful legislation, to educate its membership and to enhance the value and dignity of their profession. These basic ideas were adopted on May 2, 1894, and have remained for more than 100 years. The early history of the OSFA is recorded in a book The First 40 Years, which is available through the Museum.
The
idea for a pension for Oklahoma firefighters dates back to the birth of
the association. In 1900, the idea was conceived that insurance
companies,whose profit was largely due to the work of the firefighters
in saving life and property, should be responsible for the relief of
firefighters. The Oklahoma Constitution contains two provisions about
firefighters. The first allows the Legislature to enact laws
authorizing cities and towns to pay pensions to disabled firefighters;
the second provides for fire insurance companies doing business in the
state to pay an annual tax on all premiums collected on fire insurance
for the benefit of those firefighter pensions. The insurance premium tax
is still in effect and the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension System is now
a state agency. The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association is the
watchdog of the system and the members convene at an annual convention
to discuss ways and means of improving the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System.
Membership
service to departments includes information on standards and operating
procedures, fire apparatus specification information; department and
money management; audiovisual library for training, medical, fire
prevention and public relations; 10 issues of our publication Oklahoma Firefighter;
assistance with interpreting state laws, annual state fire school,
assistance in organizing fire departments, in-line-of-duty death
benefit, interpretation and implementation of pension laws,
representation on the State Pension Board, assistance with the Public
Safety Officers Benefit, and eligibility to join the Brent Hatcher
Benevolent Fund. The Association has several active committees serving
the membership: Legislative, Educational Advisory, Safety & Health,
Fire Services, Financial Advisory, Memorial Committee and others.
OSFA serves as the umbrella organization coordinating for the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum and the Oklahoma Fallen and Living Firefighters Memorial.
Association staff are:
Herb Bradshaw, Executive Director
Elaine Griffin, Administrative Assistant
Rose Trent, Bookkeeper
Karen Laubach, Reception/Audio-Visual
Penelope Soldan, Editor of the Oklahoma Firefighter
James Edwards, Grant Coordinator
The Museum and Memorial staff are:
Mike
Billingsley, Museum Manager
Mike Brown, Memorial Maintenance
Andrew Burum, Museum Assistant