Message from the President

Greetings Everyone,

I hope you all had a great holiday season celebrating with friends and family. It’s a New Year and the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads Inc. has hit the ground running.

We are so fortunate to have an amazing Office Staff, Edward “Bubby Bish Executive Director, Carol Gothard Administrative Assistant and Brian Bilheimer Training Coordinator. All three of these folks work tirelessly for Our Association. We have many Volunteers that also spend a lot of time at the office to assist wherever needed. Thank you to the Staff, Gary Dalton and Any Neagle for all your hard work and dedication.

VAVRS members and agencies have experienced much sadness in 2023 due to health concerns and the loss of so many of our individual agency members and the passing of several Iconic members of the Association. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who continue to recover and to the families of those who passed, may God bless you all.

On Saturday November 4th, 2023 we held an Officer Orientation Session at the VAVRS State office, facilitated by Steve Southworth. We had good attendance from the majority of the officers along with most Committee Chairs and an outstanding group of Junior Officers and Advisors. Some of the topics covered were Code of Ethics, Legal & Fiduciary Issues for BOD, Finance/Budget, Bylaws and Policies, Training Priorities 2024 and District VP Responsibilities and a lot of round table discussion on ways to move the Association into 2024.

I would like to recognize a group of the “Unsung Heroes” of VAVRS, that is all of our Instructors. These dedicated individuals spend hours upon hours in the field and classrooms all over the Commonwealth, usually on the weekends, away from their families, without compensation, other than expenses. In the VAVRS Mission Statement “Providing training to its members” is a bullet point. In my opinion we have some of the Best Instructors in the State. Thank you all, I know how hard you all work and it will not go unnoticed.

In closing, we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves, our crews and providers Trained and Safe, don’t let them down.

I’m honored to serve as your President, Thank you for the opportunity.

Stay Safe,

John

John H. Craig lll, VAVRS President

2023-2024 VAVRS Officers and Committee Chairs

President - John Craig

Vice President - Andy Neagle

Secretary / Editor - Gary Dalton

Treasurer - Tarry Pribble

Training Officer - Wayne Myers

Chaplain - Kenneth Williams

Immediate Past President - Wesley Melson

Parliamentarian - Scott Davis

Facilities Manager - Andy Neagle

I T Coordinator - Steve Ayers

District 1 Vice President - Jeff Grimm

District 2 Vice President - Matt Chiardia

District 3 Vice President - Kenny Frenier

District 5 Vice President - Heather Palm

District 6 Vice President - Lynn Hudson

District 7 Vice President - Ted Harris

District 9 Vice President - Tim Salyer

District 10 Vice President - Nancy Orndoff

Executive Director - Bubby Bish

Training Coordinator - Brian Bilheimer

Administrative Secretary - Carol Gothard

Lobbyist - Ed Rhodes

Bylaws - Scott Davis

Convention - Gary Dalton

Death Benefit - Andy Neagle

EMS Advisory Board - Kim Craig

EMS Advisory Board - Bruce Stratton

EMS Exchange - Wayne Perry

Facilities - Andy Neagle

Finance - Tarry Pribble

Hall of Fame - Ken Morgan

Human Resources - Andy Neagle

I T - Scott Davis

Legislative - Kim Craig

Life Member - Kevin Dillard

National EMS Memorial - Scott Davis

Rescue College - Ken Morgan

Rescue College - Steve Southworth, Co-Chair

Scholarship - Diana Wills

Strategic Planning - John Craig

Training - Wayne Myers

Youth Activities - Alfred Smith

Youth Activities - Brandon Baugus, Co Chair

2023-2024 VAJVRS Officers

President - Shade Johnson

Vice President - Christopher Skeen

Secretary/Treasurer - Haven Johnson

Historian - Koedan Murphy

Chaplain - Kaden Gray

VAVRS Junior Advisors

Alfred Smith - Bryant Skeen

Brandon Baugus - Steve Rohr

Deadline for future issues are as follows:

December 15 for the 1st Quarter Issue

March 15 for the 2nd Quarter Issue

June 15 for the 3rd Quarter Issue

September 15 for the 4th Quarter Issue

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.

HAVING AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR NEEDS AND GOALS IS THE WAY WE SERVE YOU

Scott Davis Elected President of the National EMS Memorial Congratulations to Scott E. Davis, VAVRS Life Member on his election as the President of the National EMS Memorial.