Delhi News Bureau

DELHI — A dinner honoring Emergency Medical Services volunteers Friday was the beginning of what organizers say they hope will become an annual tradition.

"We are going to do this every year," said Glenn Morrison, deputy director of the Delaware County Emergency Services Department and the county's EMS coordinator. "Because of funding problems, the appreciation dinner has been skipped some years, but we have taken steps to make sure that funding is in place in the future.

"It's vital to honor and thank these people," Morrison said. "We need to let them know how much we appreciate them so we can keep what we have and encourage more people to join them. All the providers deserve a big round of applause."

Morrison said this is the last year that the Rural Health Care Alliance is funding the dinner. In the future, funding will be generated through the sale of advertisements in an annual dinner booklet and by charging a fee for the dinner.

Five county EMS volunteers were named as honorees and were to receive plaques for their dedicated service, Morrison said.

The 25 emergency squads throughout the county were given the opportunity to nominate members for the awards. The number of nominees in each category ranged from four to eight people. A panel of five people decided on the finalists, Morrison said.

The winners and categories were:

• Joseph Bussiere of Grand Gorge, Non-EMS Driver of the Year, or in other words, a firefighter.

• Robert C. Burgin of Bovina, Basic Life Support Provider of the Year.

• Dr. Peter L. Row of A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, Hospital Provider of the Year.

• Erwin LaTourette of Walton, Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year.

• Shawn E. Kauffman of Delhi, EMS Provider of the Year.

Morrison said Kauffman received the highest honor, EMS Provider of the Year, for his outstanding work and overall level of dedication.

"Shawn went above and beyond," Morrison said. "He also received several nominations for Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year."

The dinner was scheduled to coincide with National EMS Appreciation Week, which was this week. About 190 people were to attend the dinner and awards ceremony at the Delhi American Legion.

Harpersfield Supervisor James Eisel, chairman of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors, praised the EMS crews.

"They are a great group of dedicated people," Eisel said.

"For the most part, they are all volunteers, and they are always out there, putting themselves on the line for their fellow man," he said. "I admire the commitment and service they provide. I don't know what we would do without them."

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