Worcester Fire Chief Dio to retire - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Worcester Fire Chief Dio to retire - Worcester Telegram & Gazette - telegram.com

WORCESTER — When Fire Chief Gerard A. Dio retires at the end of this year, he will end a 35-year career with the department marked most distinctly by his efforts surrounding the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building fire in 1999.

Chief Dio was an incident commander on Dec. 3, 1999, the day the massive structure fire killed six local firefighters. In the days that followed, the soon-to-be fire chief put back-breaking, physically and emotionally exhausting, work into the site, searching for his colleagues. Then, in the evenings after grueling days, he would head over to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union to handle administrative work.

At the office, Chief Dio would oversee the processing of thousands of contributions pouring in from around the world for families of the lost firefighters, totaling millions of dollars in the end. When honored with a community leadership award in 2000 for his efforts, he notably downplayed his efforts.

Chief Dio, 61, announced Friday he will step down after 15 years as leader of the department. The Worcester resident joined the ranks in 1980 and moved up quickly from there. He was appointed to a district chief spot in 1992 and then to a deputy position four years later before taking over as chief in 2000.

Comments

Why Avoiding "I" in Marketing Presentations Matters

Grant Sheehan, CCUE | CCUP | CEO NCOFCU You know how things just stick with you? Well, many years ago, my marketing professor started off his class with the following, and it has never left me. The Power of Perspective: Why Avoiding "I" in Marketing Presentations Matters In the world of marketing, effective communication is paramount. One valuable piece of advice that often comes from experienced instructors and industry veterans is the importance of avoiding the use of the word “I” in presentations and reports. At first glance, this may seem counterintuitive; after all, many individuals feel that personal anecdotes and experiences can enhance a message. However, upon deeper reflection, the reasoning behind this approach reveals itself as essential for achieving impactful communication. Building Objectivity When marketing professionals present their findings or insights, it’s important to establish credibility. Utilizing data, surveys, and feedback from cu...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Open Banking To Hit $94B By 2029—But U.S. Lags Amid Global Surge

NEW YORK—By 2029, open banking is projected to surge globally to a staggering $94.14 billion in value. Yet despite its rapid evolution and expanding global footprint, adoption remains uneven—hindered by inconsistent regulatory frameworks across countries. According to GlobalData, this disparity poses a key challenge for the sector’s success, with the U.S. notably trailing behind global peers in embracing open banking. The U.K. pioneered open banking and continues to be one of the leaders globally. The country has seen the number of users increasing, with there being 12.09 million active users of open banking in 2024 and 223.9 million payments made. This is an increase of 72% compared to the year before. “As open banking continues to flourish, it is positive to see that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have outlined how open banking can expand further in the U.K., and also be used in variable recurring payments and e-commerce. With this move,...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Agencies Issue Exemption Order To Customer Identification Program (CIP) Requirements

WASHINGTON--The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, and NCUA, with the concurrence of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, issued an order Friday granting an exemption from a requirement of the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule implementing Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The CIP Rule requires a bank or credit union to obtain taxpayer identification number (TIN) information from its customer before opening an account, and the exemption permits a bank or credit union to use an alternative collection method to obtain TIN information from a third-party rather than from the customer, the agencies stated in a joint release. The order applies to accounts at all entities supervised by the agencies. "Since the CIP Rule was issued initially in 2003, there has been a significant evolution in the ways consumers access financial services, along with a rise in reported customer reluctance to provide their full TIN due, in part, to...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Letter to Federal Credit Unions (25-FCU-02) Federal Credit Union Post-Examination Survey

Letter to Federal Credit Unions (25-FCU-02) Federal Credit Union Post-Examination Survey Dear Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officers: The NCUA has been using a voluntary post-examination survey for examinations of federal credit unions since 2021. This feedback is very important and helps the NCUA evaluate our examination processes; credit unions have used the open-ended questions to submit numerous useful suggestions. To further improve the survey process, the NCUA has arranged to have the post-examination survey administered by an external vendor. The external vendor will begin administering the survey starti...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reading - What is the Declaration of Independence?

What is the Declaration of Independence ? The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American colonies' break from British rule. It laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American democracy, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people ( read summary here ). Although Thomas Jefferson is often remembered as the sole author ( read initial draft ), extensive collaboration shaped the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams made small but impactful revisions— including Franklin’s reported suggestion to change “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable” to “self-evident”—before submitting the draft to Congress. On July 4, 1776, the final text was adopted and sent to printer John Dunlap, who produced an estimated 200 broadsides that night—but that wasn’t the actual day of American independence . Congress had voted for independence two days earlier, ...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Firefighter Credit Union Newsroom

Search This Blog