Classes

Preparing Your Members for Retirement

1:30 - 3:00 pm
2025-Ed-Seminar-Tuesday, April 22
Location: Meeting Room A-D
Speakers: Bruce Anderholt, Tim Valencia

Planning for retirement should begin when you’re hired. We’ll review 6 steps along the way and share information you should have when life happens. We will cover the essentials of LEOFF 2, getting ready for retirement, and post-retirement issues.

View Materials Here

About the Speakers

Bruce Anderholt

Bruce joined the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems in 2022 and worked in financial services for the previous two decades.  Bruce has a BA in International Relations from Claremont McKenna College and lives in Salmon Creek, WA with his wife and daughter. His father is a retired Undersheriff from Imperial County, California and...

Tim Valencia

Mr. Valencia is the deputy director for the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ (LEOFF) Plan 2 Retirement Board, a policy-making board with the responsibility to study pension issues, set contribution rates and recommend pension policy to the state legislature. Mr. Valencia has 30 years of experience in public pension policy and...

Today's Classes

Shift Change – Peer Support
7:00 - 8:00 am
Location: Board Room
Shift Change, our peer support program, will occur each morning from 7:00 to 8:00 in the Board Room. These gatherings provide an opportunity for you to start …
BREAKFAST
7:00 - 8:45 am
Honor Guard Training
9:00- 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room E-H
This two-day course will prepare Honor Guard members to perform ceremonial duties with the utmost precision and respect at official events, including bell ceremony, Color …
Welcome & Introductions
9:00 - 9:15 am
Location: Great Hall BD
Dennis Lawson, WSCFF President
Labor Studies – The Importance of Unions
9:15 - Noon
Location: Great Hall BD
Drawing on history as well as current events, this presentation will discuss the importance of labor unions, now and into the future. Speakers include: Andrew …
LUNCH
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Location: Great Hall AC
Preparing For Negotiations
1:30 - 3:00 pm
Location: Great Hall B
An in-depth look at what you and your team should be doing to be in the best place possible when you start bargaining your contract. …
MERP/IAFF Health Trust
1:30 - 3:00 pm
Location: Great Hall D
Few challenges are more pressing than pre-65 health care costs and options for retirees. This class will focus on the design of the plans as …
BREAK
3:00 - 3:30pm
Utilizing Breathing to Improve Mental and Physical Performance (Class Portion)
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room A-D
Gain an understanding of how the use of proper breathing mechanics and focused breath work can improve mental and physical performance. View Presentation Materials Here
Discipline – Doing it Right
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Great Hall B
Course instructed by Ricky Walsh, IAFF 7th District VP. View Materials Here
Wildland Fire & Mobilization App & Update
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Great Hall D
Jen Pennington, Jeff Wainwright and Kevin Haughton will demonstrate the features found on the newly created Wildland Fire App. Megan Durham, a developer with Rhizome …