Ambulance Company Installs New Leaders, Honors Top Volunteers

Patch sincerely thanks the Community Ambulance Company for providing the story and articles of the event.

On Saturday, March 9, the Community Ambulance Company held its 63rd annual installation dinner at Hyatt Regency Long Island at Wind Watch Golf Club in Hauppague.

The annual dinner is the night when the members of Community Ambulance come together to officially install the officers for the new year. This occasion is also a time when the members of the company come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year and honor others for years of service and significant achievements.

This year’s dinner was yet another great success, and was attended by more than two hundred guests. Those who attended included representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Fire Rescue & Emergency Services, as well as neighboring ambulance and fire agencies.

Michael Kennedy, the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Community Ambulance, started the evening by welcoming the members and guests. Marc MacDonell, the Treasurer of Community Ambulance acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

After the opening remarks the MTA Police Pipe & Drum Band treated guests to a musical welcome. Jamie Atkinson, Chief of Community Ambulance, also delivered a welcome to the guests of the dinner, and highlighted some of the many achievements that the company made in 2012.

These included the overwhelming response by the members of Community Ambulance to the various natural disasters which occurred in 2012, including Superstorm Sandy. Not only did the members respond to emergencies throughout the storm, they exceeded the call of duty by collecting donations to help those in our community affected by the storm.

Also, a great move forward in patient care was the implementation of the BLS Nasal Narcan Program, further enabling the EMTs to effectively treat opioid overdoses. Atkinson expressed his sincerest gratitude to the members for their hard work and determination in 2012, and dedicated the evening to them.

Various awards were given at the Community Ambulance dinner, many of which were for years of service.

Celebrating five years of service were Rup Christensen, Scott Edwards, Nicole Ferrara, Alicia Flinn, Timothy Gozaloff, Christina Kelly, Palak Patel, Robert Verdone, Christopher Wagner, Valerie White. Receiving their ten-year service award and Life Membership status were Alfred Dieumegard, Jr., Michael Kennedy, and Steven Redding.

Donald Hester was also recognized for forty-five years of service to Community Ambulance Company. Awards were also given for top responders of the year and outgoing officers.

The final awards given were the Chief’s Award and Member of the Year. The Chief’s Award is given to a member who goes above and beyond to serve the company and the community, and this year was given to JP Latkovic and Shawn O’Sullivan.

The Member of the Year is voted on by the membership in December of the prior year, and was awarded to Jennifer Hartmann.

Perhaps the most touching part of the evening was when a real life “save” story was told. A woman that was in cardiac arrest in 2012 was brought back by the rapid response and interventions of a Community Ambulance crew, as well bystanders and Suffolk County Police Officer Vanessa Logan.

The crewmembers received a citation for their work, and the patient and her family came to the podium to personally thank the members for giving her a second chance at life. The patient and crew received a standing ovation by the crowd.

The Community Ambulance Installation Dinner was a fun time for all, and the Dinner Committee should be commended for their exceptional work. They put together a wonderful event with memories that will last a lifetime. This dinner is a time for the members of Community Ambulance to receive a thank you for the selfless work they do every day by volunteering their time to help others in need.