Allison Rostad
As another year has come and gone, Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company acknowledged their past year’s accomplishments at their annual banquet and awards ceremony, held January 28, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., in their social hall. Members, family, and special guests enjoyed a catered meal provided by Bollinger’s Restaurant, with background music DJ’d by John Zeigler prior to the evening’s speakers and presentations.
Emcee of the night, Eric Stackhouse, introduced special guests of the evening. Guests included members of surrounding companies; Mayor Don Briggs, who gave his appreciation to members when announced; and Eric Smothers, president of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association; among many others. Smothers began the evening identifying the importance of volunteers, “We’re the frontlines of our homeland security…you never know what’s coming to your front door, whether it’s a mass shooting, a major fire, or a horrific accident. Our volunteers are the first showing up to answer that call.” Nearly 93 percent of the nation’s Fire, Rescue, and EMT departments are volunteer, and 2,000 volunteers are in Frederick County, alone. Wishing the company well and much success in the upcoming year, Smothers turned the audience back over to Stackhouse who proceeded to introduce 2017 re-elected president, Mary Lou Little.
“We had another very successful year of fundraising,” Little addressed the audience as she took stage. Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company had been fundraising strictly through bingo for the past several years. The successes from their weekly bingos and their sporadic special bingos have not only helped to raise well over $300,000, but they’ve been able to reinvest money back into the Community. In 2016, they were honored to donate to the Eric Latini Memorial Ride Scholarship Fund, Emmitsburg Community Heritage Days for their fireworks, Emmitsburg Community Food Bank, The Lions Club Christmas food baskets, The Seton Center Outreach Program, and The Angels Above Scholarship Fund for Mother Seton School.
Selling over 1.3 million game tickets during bingo, Little said has helped pay the bills tremendously. “We continue to chip away at our mortgage. We started this building payment at $2.3 million dollars. We’re now in the $1.5 million dollar range,” Little enthusiastically congratulated supporting members. The ambulance company will continue fundraising through bingo again this year in the hopes to keep continual success.
Stackhouse and newly-elected 2017 Chief Amber Zimmerman took the stage together to give an overview of the past year’s stats and accomplishments, as well as the goals for the year ahead. Stackhouse noted that of the twenty-eight company members, there had been a combined 11,000-plus volunteer hours given, not including meeting hours for 2016. With a significant rise in calls run in 2016, of 1,056 total calls, volunteer hours were necessary, and the ambulance company’s members showed up not only willingly, but happily.
To meet the predicted increase of call volume for the current year, Zimmerman announced the planning phase for a “good neighbor” policy between the company and the National Training Academy. “The academy has graciously extended the offer to have qualified and licensed providers from the state of Maryland to assist us in answering the calls during their stay in our beautiful town,” Zimmerman shared with the audience.
The company also looks forward to implementing an official mentor program to help newcomers adjust, learn, and grow within the company. They’re also looking forward to replacing Ambulance 269 for a new, up-to-date, state-of-the-art ambulance, to better respond to calls and transport patients.
The evening brought several award presentations. Linda Miller was presented the Donald B. Bower Humanitarian Award. Pam Ellison received the President’s Award. The Jamie Eyler Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Chad Zimmerman. Seth Delarchic was awarded the Top Responder for Frederick County. Rookie of the Year was Ashley Grimes. Nicki Burriss received the Driver of the Year Award and Lisa Eichelberger was presented the EMS Provider of the Year Award. The Chiefs Award was shared between Amber and Chad Zimmerman.
Top Responders for the 2016 year were Amber Zimmerman, Chad Zimmerman, C.N. Burriss, Brandon Murdorff, Lisa Eichelberger, Rose Mercandetti, Rose Latini, Eric Stackhouse, John Ruppel, Brandon Burriss, and Ashley Grimes.
2017 Administrative Officers: (from left) Linda Miller, Vicki Long, Pam Bolin, Eric Stackhouse, and Mary Lou Little. Not pictured: Beth Ruppel.
2017 Operational Officers: (from left) Brandon Murdorf, Lisa Eichelberger, Ed Little, Chad Zimmerman, Eric Stackhouse, and Amber Zimmerman. Not pictured: Beth and John Ruppel.
