Meet the 2006 IAFF Local 68 Officers

Ray Steffens is our 1st District Vice President.  Ray is a 29 year veteran of Norfolk Fire-Rescue, serving the last decade in the Fire Marshal’s Office.  Over his career he has served primarily at Fire Stations 1, 9 and 13 and was the tillerman on Ladder 13-B when he was promoted to Fire Inspector in 1996.  Ray has spent half his career with the city working for Local 68 as a Trustee, Vice President and Executive Vice President, Since 2003 he has also served as Vice President of the Tidewater District of the Virginia Professional Firefighters.  From 1993-2000 he was also President of the Northside Civic League, which at the time was one of the most respected Civic Organizations in the City of Norfolk.  Because of his extensive work as both a Civic League President and Firefighter, he was selected as the 1998 City Employee of the Year by the Civitan Club, one of the premiere civic groups that serve the city.  In 2007 he was amongst those in the FPB that were awarded the Firefighter of the Year award from the Elks Lodge, which recognized the FPB’s efforts at protecting life safety through education and code enforcement.

During his career representing Norfolk’s Bravest, Ray is proud of a number of accomplishments that the Local has brought to it’s members.  But the Local is not resting on our past successes.  We will continue working to improve healthcare and pension benefits to our retirees, we shall continue to lobby for fair salaries and benefits of our members as well as strive for a safe workplace.  As one can readily see, success only comes with patience and support, and with your support we will see more successes in the coming year.  Remember In Unity There is Strength…

2nd District Vice President

John Merritt is our 2nd District Vice President.  He has been a Norfolk Firefighter for 25 years.  John graduated from JMU in 1977 with a B.S.  He then spent 4 years with a local land surveyor until being hired by the city in 1981.  In his 26 years of service, he has been stationed at #2, #7, #14, #10, again at #7, #13, #16, and now back to #14, and has been on both the “B” and “C” shifts.  A strong proponent for our union, John became actively involved 5 years ago, and is now in his 4th year of VP.  He is currently stationed at #14 on the “C” shift, where he serves as FAO on E-14.  He also serves as an elected member on the Fire ERC.
Currently, along with representing the 2nd Battalion, John’s main projects are the Spouse Seminar, and overseeing the Union Hall and the Web site.

Nick Nelson is our 3rd District Vice President.  I started my career in Fire and EMS in 1981 with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department in Vienna, WV.  During my membership with VVFD I was a firefighter/assigned to the department fire investigation unit and on the department bylaws committee.  I continued my career as an EMT dispatcher and paramedic with St. Josephs Hospital Ambulance Service in Parkersburg, WV from 1985 until moving to Norfolk, VA in 2000.  I was a police officer in Parkersburg, WV from 1988 until leaving in 2000; I was a Patrol Sergeant and served as Vice President of the local Fraternal Order of Police.  Currently, I am assigned to Rescue Company 2/A.  I am a Master Firefighter, Field Training Instructor as well as assigned to the departments technical rescue team.  I have assisted training of new fire recruits as an instructor for Tidewater Regional Fire Academies in both fire and EMS classes.  I have a Bachelors degree from Glenville State College in Glenville, WVA and I will graduate in May with a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Richmond.  My current responsibilities for your Union include Chairman of the pay committee, recruitment of new members, and the golf association.

John Doe is our Secretary and Treasurer.  BEGIN SAMPLE PARAGRAPH:  The following text is merely here as a placeholder, to be updated soon.  Please disregard its content.    By the time firefighters arrived, a group of apartment residents had tried in vain to rescue a 5-year-old boy who died and a 2-year- old who was in critical condition after the two were trapped in a fire in Binghamton Sunday morning.  

Trustee

Wayne M. Watson is our Trustee.  I have been with Norfolk Fire-Rescue since January 2002.  After TRFA I was assigned to Station 14.  I have been assigned to 14 my entire career.  I am a second generation Norfolk Firefighter, my father is Duke Watson who retired after 34 years with Norfolk Fire.  That sparked my interest in the fire service.  I have attended numerous fire/rescue classes and am assigned to Ladder 14A.  I am a member of the departments technical rescue team.  I am a trustee and look forward to serving you.

Walter Bernacki is our Trustee.  Originally from Western New York, just southeast of Buffalo, I started my fire service career as a volunteer in 1983.  I obtained my EMT-D certification in 1984.  Between 1983 and 2000 I served on three different volunteer departments.  During my tenure in one of those departments I held the positions of lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief.  In 1996 I accepted a position as a career fire chief for a combination fire department for a township in Delaware county Ohio.  After serving there I returned to WNY where I tried and was hired by NFR in July of 2000.  I joined the union in February 2001, and have served as trustee fort the last 3 years.  I regularly attend the VPFF legislative conference and encourage other brother firefighters to join the union and get involved because you can make a difference.