LY ILL YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS TO FILE A CLAIM IN THE FUTURE, SHOULD YOU EVER BECOME ILL FROM THE MYRIAD OF COVERED CONDITIONS UNDER THE 9/11 VICTIMS COMPENSATON ACT.

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THE FIRST STEP FOR THE UNION IN MAKING SURE WE ARE ALL PROTECTED IS TO ESTABLISH A DATABASE OF ALL COBA MEMBERS AND RETIREES WHO WERE THERE. THROUGH THIS EMAIL COBA ASKS ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED CORRECTION OFFICERS TO NOTIFY THE UNION IF YOU RESPONDED, EITHER AS A VOLUNTEER OR WERE SENT BY THE DEPARTMENT. THE UNION IS ESTABLISHING THIS DATABASE SO WE CAN ASSIST IN KEEPING ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED UP TO DATE ON ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE 9/11 VICTIMS COMPENSATION ACT. WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE REGISTERED, GET YOURSELVES INTO THE SYSTEM AND PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS GOING FORWARD.

**WE WOULD NEVER ASK YOU FOR ANY PERSONAL MEDICAL** INFORMATION.

WE ONLY WISH TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE ARE PROPERLY REGISTERED IN THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND THAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED GOING FORWARD.

IF YOU'VE EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO AVAIL YOURSELF OF ANY OF THE 9/11 PROGRAMS OR FILE A CLAIM WITH THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE TAKING RESOURCES FROM SOMEONE WHO IS SERIOUSLY ILL OR MORE DESERVING, YOURE WRONG. THESE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE.

IF YOU NEVER FILED A CLAIM OR UTILIZED THE HEALTH PROGRAM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEONE MORE ILL OR DESERVING GETS MORE OF A BENEFIT. IT SIMPLY MEANS THE RESOURCES WOULD GO UNUSED AND ANY POTENTIAL MONETARY COMPENSATION STAYS IN THE FUND.

To begin, we need know who was there:

Please send an email to the Union stating that you were a responder (including Volunteer) in the aftermath of the 9/11 Attacks and wish to be put into our database so we can help guide you through the process.

Verification of your attendance and duties at 9/11 will be part of the registration process down the road.

If you do not currently possess proof of your attendance, you should still include yourself in this database. There are several methods available to certify that you were there. Don't hesitate to be included in this program.

Our email address is:

NCSCOBA@AOL.COM

Or, you can call the office directly at 516-937-7800.

Look for further emails from us regarding this program as we move forward.