Lifeline conference 2014

VIRGINIA LIFELINE

2014 VAVRS CONFERENCE ISSUE

Photo used with permission from the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau

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Deadline for the Upcoming Issues of the LIFELINE Articles may be submitted by any member of the VAVRS, AVAVRS and VAJVRS. Feature articles are encouraged. Photos and/or Graphics are acceptable and can be returned if requested. Contact the Editor if you need assistance in writing an article at gdalton@vavrs.com Deadline for future issues as follows: October 1, 2014 for November/December Issue December 1, 2014 for January/February Issue February 1, 2014 for March/April Issue April 1, 2014 for May/June Issue June 1, 2014 for July/August Issue

Thank you for allowing me serve the VAVRS as Editor!

Gary Dalton

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THE VIRGINIA LIFELINE ISSN 0279-6023 is the official bimonthly publication of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. Editorial material should be sent directly to the VAVRS Editor at P O Box 522 Woodstock, VA 22664 (H) 540-459-4849 (W) 540-536-2758 (FAX) 540-459-4925 (C) 540-481-0125 Email-gdalton@vavrs.com Requests for advertising rates, material specifications and deadlines should be directed to the Editor.

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VAVRS Conference Committee The 2014 Conference Committee thanks the following for their participation and/or sponsorship of awards and events: The City of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach EMS, West End Trophies, Chesterfield Insurers, AVAVRS, VAJVRS, All Exhibitors, and all those who sponsored trophies or special events.

The 2014 Conference Committee Rickey Hodge

Andy Neagle

Sharon Campbell

Roger Bryant

Cora Fearnow

Lin Matthews

Bubby Bish

Kelly Southard

Ronnie Slough

Bill Camm

Jack Jones

Scott Davis

Mike Moore

Stuart Davis

Vickie Arnold

Tom Gwaltney

Shelia Gordon

Jim Fontaine

Scott Johnston

Doug Eberhardt

Judy Matthews

Bill Hankins

Steve Grayson

Gary Ryan

Todd Southard

Kathy Eubank

Wayne Myers

Jerry Barnes

Cecil Leach

Aubrey Taylor

John Craig

Beth Jones

Frances Brooks

Vernon Wilson

Ford Wirt Conference Committee Chair

Special Thanks to our Sergeants-at-Arm: Carlton Hudson, Reg Greene, Jack Morgan, John Pauley, and Jerry Whitlock Page

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VAVRS Nominating Committee Report Submitted by Bruce Stratton, VAVRS Nominating Committee Chair

President Rickey Hodge Vice President Kim Craig Treasurer Steve Grayson Secretary Scott Davis Chaplain Mike Smoot Training Officer Cecil Leach

AVAVRS Nominating Committee Report Submitted by Ruth Swicegood, AVAVRS Nominating Committee Chair

President Sharon Campbell, Cave Spring Aux, Southcentral District Vice President Harry Householder, Loudoun Aux, Northeastern District Treasurer Patsy Wingfield, Cave Spring Aux, Southcentral District Secretary Dolores Hudson, Franklin County Aux, Midwestern District Historian Linda Berkstresser, Lexington Aux, Western District Chaplain Ailease Short, Brunswick Aux, Southeastern District I encourage others to run: it would be nice to have two people running for each office.

I hope to have the slate of officers in the Lifeline as well as sending out the slate to all Auxiliaries prior to the Convention.

P. S.

I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and cards that I received while I was sick.

Thanks to your prayers, I am doing okay!

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The 60 Second Parliamentarian Tip Submitted by J. C. Phillips, VAVRS Parliamentarian

of the BOG? They should attend all of the meetings of the VAVRS which take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the Conference. Each BOG must sign in each day at the tables in front of the meeting room at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. Take notes as to what transpired during each of these meetings so a report can be given to your organization at their next meeting.

WHAT IS A “BOG?�

When referring to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, a BOG is the Board of Governor or sometimes referred to as a Delegate who represents the squad or crew at the Spring BOG Meeting and the Conference Meetings. This person is either elected or appointed by their squad or is the President or Chief Operations Officer of the squad.

A BOG is free to vote as they see fit unless they are instructed by their squad how to vote on certain matters.

Squads should avoid telling a BOG how to vote on issues

What are the responsibilities Official

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because certain information may come up on the floor that would change the perception of the whole situation and the BOG would still have to vote the way he or she was instructed.

Some squads tell their BOG how to vote in elections. A good BOG will vote the way they feel that their organization would want them to vote, even though they personally might not agree with it.

Remember, a BOG is representing their entire organization and should not take that responsibility lightly.

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UPCOMING VAVRS EVENTS Spring BOG Hospitality House Hotel & Conference Center 2801 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg VA 22401 Rescue College June 12 -21, 2015 The Inn at Virginia Tech Skelton Conference Center Blacksburg, VA Camporee Glen Maury Park, Buena Vista VA May 7,8, 9, 2015 2015 Instructor Update VAVRS State Office, Oilville, VA March 7, 2015 81st VAVRS Conference Virginia Beach, VA September 23-28, 2015 Page

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AVAVRS OFFICERS 2013-2014

VAVRS OFFICERS 2013-2014 President ~ Rickey Hodge District 1 V. P. ~ Steve Southworth District 2 V. P. ~ Carolyn White District 3 V. P. ~ Kenny Frenier District 4 V. P. /Editor/Webmaster ~ Gary Dalton District 5 V. P. ~ Frank Smith District 6 V. P. ~ Doug Adams District 7 V. P. ~ Coby Fizer District 8 V. P. ~ Steven Reynolds District 9 V. P. ~ Darrell Beavers District 10 V. P. ~ George Langford Secretary ~ Scott Davis Treasurer ~ Steve Grayson Training Officer ~ Cecil Leach Chaplain ~ Darleen Ferguson Chaplain Emeritus ~ A. Page Entsminger Immediate Past President ~ Edward “Bubby� Bish, Jr. Parliamentarian ~ J. C. Phillips Historian ~ Dreama Chandler Facility Manager ~ Lin Matthews Legal Advisor ~ S. Craig Lane Medical Advisor ~ James R. Dudley, MD, MBA Lobbyist ~ Ed Rhodes Office Manager ~ Frances Brooks Training Coordinator ~ Kathy Eubank Administrative Secretary ~ Shirley Bagby Official

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President ~ Sharon Campbell Vice President ~ Harry Householder Midwestern V. P. ~ Nancy Linkous Northeastern V. P. ~ Debbie Smallwood Southcentral V. P. ~ Clara Craig Southeastern V. P. ~ Fay Browning Southwestern V. P. ~ Valarie Becker Western V. P. ~ Debbie Rohr Secretary ~ Dolores Hudson Treasurer ~ Patsy Wingfield Chaplain ~ Ailease Short Historian ~ Linda Berkstresser Parliamentarian ~ Maxie Skeen Immediate Past President ~ Fern Puckett VAJVRS OFFICERS 2013-2014 President ~ Cora Fearnow Vice President ~ Victoria Gaudin District 1 V. P. ~ Emily Snyder District 3 V. P. ~ Cora Fearnow District 4 V. P. ~ Connor Smith District 7 V. P. ~ Patrick Jones Secretary/Treasurer ~ Elizabeth Pittman Chaplain ~ Montana Looney Historian ~ Danielle McCormick Advisor, Chair ~ Alfred Smith Advisor ~ Brandon Baugus Advisor ~ Woody Connor Advisor ~ Micky Grodski Advisor ~ Steve Dove Page

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VAVRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2013-2014 Membership / Human Resources ~ Kim Craig Nominating ~ R. Bruce Stratton Life Membership / Camporee ~ Ronnie Slough Bylaws / VRSWAG ~ Bruce Edwards Rescue Hall of Fame / Conference ~ Ford Wirt Lifeline / Website ~ Gary Dalton Finance ~ Steve Grayson Rescue College ~ Rickey Hodge Rescue College / Course Development ~ Wayne Myers EMS Advisory Board ~ Dreama Chandler EMS Advisory Board ~ Wayne Myers Strategic Planning ~ Karen Wagner Scholarship ~ Carolyn Brand EMS Memorial Service ~ Kevin Dillard Recruitment and Retention ~ Fran Phillips Volunteer Management ~ A. Page Entsminger EMS Exchange Program ~ Jane LaVerne Grant ~ Elizabeth Papelino Legislative Chair ~ Dreama Candler Information Systems ~ Steve Ayers

For a complete list of the current courses being offered by the VAVRS go to www.vavrs.com Page

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AVAVRS COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2013-2014 Conference ~ Vickie Arnold Conference Co-Chair ~ Sheila Gordon Nominating ~ Ruth Swicegood Life Membership ~ Carolyn Brand Emergency Care ~ Laura Booze Resolutions ~ Maxie Skeen Membership ~ Patsy Wingfield Finance ~ Harry Householder Roll Call ~ Donna Porter Roll Call Co-Chair ~ Valarie Becker Fundraising ~ Stacey Frame Conference

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Good Luck to All the Competition Teams! from

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A Look at the 80 Year History of VARS / VAVRS Submitted by Karen D. Wagner In 1935, when Julian Stanley Wise started the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads, one has to wonder what he believed the future of the organization would be. Did he think the VARS would last for a DECADE much less 8 DECADES? If he had to place a bet, would he have risked taking the overwhelming TENTO-ONE odds that faced being a successful business in an unknown environment of emergency medical care?

Welcome to the 80th Annual Conference of the VAVRS. On the next few pages we are going to take you on a journey….a journey back through the DECADES of conventions and notable or not so notable events of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads. We Official

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are taking the odds that TENTO-ONE you will find this journey amazing, amusing, informative and hopefully entertaining. So come along for the ride and enjoy this brief journey….Back to Our Future………

II, no Convention was held in 1945, but the Board of Governors did meet on September 25, 1945 at Virginia Bridge Company to conduct business and elect officers.

The subsequent minutes referred to the 1946 Convention as #11 and not #12.

This numbering system that skipped 1945 continued until the 1980’s when the 1945 meeting was again counted as a Convention. In any event, 2009 marked the 75th meeting of the Board of Governors of the Association, thus in 2014….we celebrate our 80th anniversary.

Before we start…here’s a little history on our annual convention. One of the most interesting facts about the convention history has to do with the numbering of the Conventions. Due to World War

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So buckle your seat belt for Our 1st Decade….. Doc, set the time machine to Sept 29-30, 1944 To all the members of the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads—the 1944 Convention is on! To you, your wives, & sweethearts, we extend a most cordial invitation to attend the 10th Annual Convention of the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads to be held at the George Mason Hotel in Alexandria VA. Please make your hotel reservations as soon as possible: Room with double bed, lavatory, toilet but no bath—$5 per day Room with double bed, toilet and private bath—$6 per day Room with twin beds, toilet and private bath—$8 per day Seven teams registered to complete in the First Aid Contest. Prizes were $50 cash for first place; $25 cash for second place and $15 cash for third.

The Board of Governors meeting began at 8:00pm on Friday night; the entire Association met on Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m.

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Don’t miss the viewing of the sound movie “Before the Doctor Comes” which will take place in the auditorium starting at 1100 am on Saturday.

Make sure to attend the new equipment demonstration of the Iron Lung and Life Line throwing apparatus presented by the Jefferson Rescue Squad.

was not occupied by any of the convention attendees.

Nobody wanted to stay in that suite.

The parade was held on Saturday afternoon followed by a social where ladies were required to be escorted or not attend.

The first aid contest was held at 3:00 PM on Saturday.

And finally, get your tickets early for the Convention Dinner and Dance (cost $1.25 per person).

Our 2nd Decade…..Doc, Set the time machine to Sept 23-25, 1954 The 20th Annual Convention was held in Abingdon at the Martha Washington Inn Room cost for the conference was $22.00 per night- today packages at the resort hotel start at $465.00 per night Room 217- believed to be haunted by the Yankee Sweetheart- was reserved for dignitaries, however, it

BOG Meeting held a long discussion on a volunteer rescue squads being formed at town firehouses, one even had an ambulance and 15 volunteers.

Our Silver Anniversary…..Doc, set the time machine to Sept 25, 1959 Welcome to the 25th Anniversary VARS Convention held at General Shelby Hotel in Bristol VA-described as “Bristol’s newest and only fireproof hotel” There were 37 squads present and voting The main point of business was the approval of the (Continued on page 22)

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The 32 parade entries were to “line up at Sears and Roebuck at 6:15 pm.

Participants were invited to attend an informal party following the parade at the Lee Jackson Hotel here parade awards were given out with music and plenty of beer on tap” The most coveted award was the VA Highway Users Association First Aid Awardawarded to Bristol with “a near perfect score”.

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VARS logo (state emblem) was presented and accepted with the cross to be GREEN. (Legend has it this is where “the GREEN coat” was established as the official officer color).

Our 3rd Decade…..Doc, set the time machine for

On Saturday, from noon to 6:00 pm attendees were encouraged to have “lunch on your own, visit the exhibits, visit the historic spots around Winchester, go shopping, visit with a friend, or just relax if you can’t find anything else to do”.

The following treasurers’ report was accepted…..

Our 4th Decade…..Doc, set the

Sept 25-27, 1964

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The 30th Annual Convention was held at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester VA-and was opened by the Mayor of Winchester giving the Key to the City to VARS president, Kimball Glass.

Sept 5-7, 1974

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The 40th Annual VAVRS Convention was held in Roanoke.

The registration desk welcomed 1411 attendees to the conference.

A resolution was passed to build a state office for the VAVRS and “hire a secretary who could help the president maintain the day to day correspondences” of the

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The pouring rain canceled the Friday night parade…”however we would like to thank all the great groups that served the “beer” at our Friday night affair.

A motion was made and tabled for a later date to establish a membership status for associate members. More information was needed to find out why they wanted to join if they were not actually answering calls.

The VAVRS state Chaplain Bennie T. Rice passed away suddenly one week after this convention….at convention he spoke of his faith in God and the dedication of his family to the Christian way of life….”I am on my way to a greater life because I have a greater love and the rest of my life will be the best of my life because the test of my life Is God’s love”.

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Death Benefit Plan.

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Our 5th Decade and Gold Anniversary….Doc, set the time

A lengthy discussion was held on the future plans for the state training center which was to be located in Lynchburg. This project was abandoned several years later due to conflicts among ownership.

Our 7th Decade…..Doc, set the

The Friday night parade lasted 1.5 hours followed by the social and dance, where it was reported that water from the men’s restroom spilled over into the dance floor….No one saw anything happen.

The 70th Annual was held at the VA Beach Hotel and Conference Center in VA Beach. “A little over 1950 persons attended the convention”.

machine for Sept 27-29, 1984 The 50th Anniversary Convention of the VAVRS was held at the Hotel Roanoke, in Roanoke VA. Full registration (included banquet tickets) for the convention was $25.00 per person, Partial registration was $15.00 per person.

There were so many teams signed up the EMT competitions were held at the Roanoke Civic Center There was a total of 141 awards given out 2400 registrants attended the event….with 138 squad delegates voting Motion was passed to issue 2 association flags to each District VP so they could be given to family of deceased members of the VAVRS

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The past presidents dinner became an annual event to be held at each convention thereafter.

Our 6th Decade…..Doc, set the time machine for Sept 28- Oct 1, 1994 The 60th Annual Convention of the VAVRS was held at the VA Beach.

2391 persons attended the convention After a lengthy discussion the BOG’s voted to support the continuance of the To the Rescue Exhibit. The contract with the Roanoke History/Transportation Museum was extended to May 31, 1995 to allow the JS Wise foundation to locate a new facility to house the exhibit. The exhibit was moved to a store front in a shopping mall.

time machine for Sept 22-25, 2004

18 hours of Cat 1 CE seminars were added to the selection of activities convention participants could attend The Rescue Ranger made his first official public appearance flanked by the “Hooters Girls” in the Friday Night Parade As a result of a vote held at the Spring BOG, the Friday night social was abandoned and no longer held at convention to help reduce expenses and prevent an increase in the registration fee It was reported that 426 certifications were issued at the 2004 Rescue College It was reported that as a result of the BOG action at Spring BOG meeting, the VAVRS State Office and Training Center was (Continued on page 24)

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updated with the addition of new AV equipment in the downstairs training room.

We’ve come a long way through some of the history over the past 80 years of the VAVRS, but now it’s time to go back, BACK TO OUR FUTURE IN 2014……

In 1953 Colonial Beach Rescue Squad was the first squad in the state to allow women to run as full members….. In 2014 it is estimated that 55.4% of Virginia’s EMS workforce are female.

In 1969 the BOG’s voted to expel a squad from membership because they had paid members…..in 2014 it is estimated that over 78% of our current membership has or utilizes paid staff to meet their service needs.

In 1972 the VAVRS lobbied the General Assembly to approve “RS” license tags for squad member vehicles; in 2014 JC Phillips still has the honor of owning the tag “RS 1” and it is displayed on his car to this date.

In 1975 a resolution was approved to divide District 4 into 2 districts making a new District 10….effective Official

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Sept 2014, the BOG’s voted to dissolve District 4 and merge it into District 10 In 1984, the association voted not to support a bill in the general assembly that would allow agencies to turn in expenses incurred from answering calls for vehicle crashes to insurance companies for reimbursement….in 2014 the VAVRS provides training and support to help member agencies develop fee for service/revenue recovery programs as a smart business practice and method to reach financial stability Well here it is 2014 and as a result of the vision and leadership of JS Wise, and the continued professionalism that has been carried on by each of the Presidents of our unique service organization, today we celebrate 8 DECADES of unification, 80 years against all odds. Through our nations’ war, changes in leadership, changes of our name, the development of the Office of EMS, the addition of paid providers, and billing for services we are proudly standing tall because through it all the VAVRS continued to focus on being….

THE VOICE OF EMS…. the advocate for Virginia’s EMS agencies and providers. We link members and agencies VAVRS

for the purpose of sharing ideas; we give them a voice at the General Assembly, on state advisory boards, as well as on state and local committees. When our members have training issues or needs, they can come to the VAVRS. When our members need assistance from leadership to planning budgets they come to the VAVRS. We help the rescue squads throughout the Commonwealth thrive and succeed so that they can provide prompt, effective patient care to the communities that they serve.

So what will the future hold?

What impact will VAVRS make on the EMS system in the next 80 years? Whatever the future embraces, one thing for certain, we will do it together.

Like Marty McFly stated….”I guess you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it”……Thanks Julian Wise for having the vision, accepting the odds, and setting the path for the VAVRS to be the key that unlocks the doors of EMS service.

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Bound Tree Medical, LLC Chesterfield Insurers Inc. Excellance Inc. Fesco Emergency Sales Inc. Fire & Safety Equipment Fire Engine Collectibles Fisher Sportswear Goodman Specialized Vehicles Hast Large Animal Rescue Equipment Henley Board Co. Henry Schein Medical EMS Marine Sonic Technology Inc. MD Associates Inc. Medical Claims Assistance Inc. Medix Billing Services Middle Peninsula Insurance & Financial Municipal Marketing Services Inc. Northwestern Emergency Vehicles Penn Care Physio Control Public Safety Services Select Custom Apparatus Southeastern Emergency Equipment Stryker EMS Vest Sales & Service, Inc. VFIS of Virginia Whelen Engineering Company, Inc. Official

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District One

District Three

James Marshall Bright Jr. – Staunton Augusta FA&RS

Herman E. Andrews Jr. – Hopewell Emer. Crew

Chester Campbell – Waynesboro FAC James H. Creger – Staunton Augusta FA&RS Treva Crites – Broadway Emer. Squad Aux Lawrence M. Hamas – Staunton Augusta FA&RS Jacob Bertrand Hinkle Jr. – Covington RS Robert D. “Bob” Leech – Glasgow LSFAC James R. Mac Donald – Scottsville VRS Judith Miller – Waynesboro FAC Aux Evelyn B. Persinger – Clifton Forge RS AUX Scott Scudamore – Lake Monticello VRS Grant N. Sensabaugh – Goshen VRS Chester Sullivan – Waynesboro FAC Dean Ernest Sutton Sr. – Staunton Augusta FA&RS Shirly B. White – Goshen FAC Rhoda York – Staunton Augusta FA&RS

Barbara L. Attema – West End VRS Howard T. Jones – Surry VRS Patricia Ann Jones – West End VRS Aux Robert F. “Pete” Luck – Forest View RS Harvey L. Mahoney – Holly Grove VRS Frances Jefferson Mc Donnell – Forest View RS Aux James “Jim” A. Nogle Jr. – West End VRS Donald W. Parr Sr. – Hopewell Emer. Crew Melvin Wade Smith Sr. – Forest View RS James V. “Jake” Srolz, III – Bensley Bermuda VRS Philip Herman “Phil” Williams – West End VRS Henry Vida – Holly Grove VRS

District Four Marjorie Anderson – Millwood Station Aux Gilbert C. Campbell – Luray VRS Benjamin Endicott – Luray VRS

District Two Gleenie C. Bower – Brunswick VRS Aux James Douglas Dickson – Virginia Beach VRS

Gleen “Reiff” Lesher – Loudoun Co. Betty F. Stultz – Woodstock VRS

Robert Spencer Hill – Davis Corner Robert Ingram – Brunswick VRS Emory Heath Lucy – Brunswick VRS Charles Barnes – Brunswick VRS Official

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Names of VAVRS members that lost their lives since September 1, 2013 and to be recognized during the Memorial Service as submitted by the VAVRS Chaplain Darleen Ferguson Page

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District Five Rayford Wiseman Daniels – Danville LSC Jack Ryan Ezell – Southside RS Betty Clary Hall – Southside RS Phillip Earl Hicks – Mecklenburg Co. LSC Herbert Preston House Jr. – Danville LS&FAC Josephine Compton House – Danville LS&FAC

District Seven

Lee Logan – 640 Community RS

Avery Dale Dolinger Sr. – Giles LS&RS

Lynch Manly – Bedford LSC

Robert M. Grant – Blacksburg VRS

Rebecca “Becky” Mason Morgan – Campbell CO.

Frank E. Martin – Floyd Co. RS

Buford Hunter Nash – Citizen Emergency Crew

Virginia Walters – Christiansburg RS Aux

Dewey Neese – Prince Edward VRS Jimmy Powers – Bedford LS&FAC James Gordon Reese – Chase City RS Henry I. “Happy” Slayton Jr – Danville LSFAC Vernon Franklin Smith – Chase City RS Daisy Marie White – Gretna RS

District Six Lillie Matherly Adkins – Cool Branch RS Jerry O. Custer – Callaway VRS Gene Elisha Moyer – Franklin Co. RS

District Eight Jean Bailey – Middlesex Co. VRS Aux

District Nine Glen Adkins – Wise RS Melody Davis – Glade Spring VLSC James E. Hensley – Big Stone Gap RS Donald Roger Odle – Nickelsville VRS Harold “Squeeky” Roller – Bristol LSC

District Ten Fred Bays – Fredericksburg RS Gertrude B. Bo Jonny – Stafford VRS James D. Brown - Madison Co. RS John H. Burke III – Dumfries – Triangle RS Dr. Harold Madison Jenkins – Madison County RS Brian Kramm – Fredericksburg RS Patrick Francis Sullivan – Lake of the Woods F&R Co. Mary Thurman – Madison Co. RS

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Dear Rescue Ranger

Dear Rescue Ranger, When you meet someone for the first time, is there a way you can tell if they are involved in EMS? Looking for Someone to Talk to Dear Bubby, They night be in EMS if…

• If they discuss dismemberment over a meal and it seems perfectly normal to them.

• If they have the bladder capacity of five people.

• If they have their weekends off planned for a year in advance.

• If they say, "great veins" when they meet complete strangers.

• If they ever refer to someone's death as a "Celestial Transfer".

• If they say their favorite hallucinogen is exhaustion.

• If they think that caffeine should be available in I.V. form.

• If they have recurring nightmares about being run over by a portable X-ray machine.

• If they say their shoes have ever seized and quarantined by the Centers for Disease Control.

• If they tell you they hear "I love you" more from the town drunks than they do from their spouse.

• If they answer 10-4 when you ask them to do something.

• When you ride with them in a car and they yell "clear right" at every intersection.

• If they carry at least three forms of communication on them (ie: pager, cell phone, radio, monitor) Official

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