Triplets! Three brand new ambu-lances are the big newsfrom Darien EMS-Post 53

this year, thanks to the extraordinarygenerosity of the Weatherstone, Zieglerand Bantle families. On January 23,2005, the three new ambulances werechristened at a ceremony that includedstate and local luminaries and, of course,Mr. Doble. However, getting those ambu-lances from donation to reality was theresult of the hard work of a 33-year Post53 veteran, Bob Dennis. For twelvemonths, Bob was the point man in set-ting the specifications of the ambu-lances, ordering them, picking them up,organizing radio installations, stockingthem, and getting final inspections andregistrations completed. And he did it allthree times, because each ambulancewas brought into service separately overa period of three months, so as not tointerrupt the 24/7 service. Also, as if thiswas not enough, Bob took the lead indismantling and selling the old ambu-lances. In gratitude for these efforts, andfor his 30+ years of service, Post 53 hon-ored Bob at the ambulance christeningby having the town of Darien and thestate of Connecticut declare January 23,2005 Robert W. Dennis day — a welldeserved honor.

2004 Vital Signs

• Total annual calls . . . . . . . . . . .1427

• Number of times two

or more ambulances

were needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

• Number of hours of training

classes taught at Post 53 . . . . .425

• Number of O2 tanks used . . . .218

Posties assist a patient

DARIEN EMS-POST 53 NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 2004/2005

Working To EarnThe 2004 Memorial Day Food Fair andthe Limette Doble Art Show (our 14thArt Show!) were both rousing successesthis year. As always, all of Post 53’syoung adults, parents and adult advisorsrolled up their sleeves and pitched in tomake both these events happen. At theArt Show, 88 artists displayed over 500pieces of artwork, a record number ofpeople attended and the proceedsexceeded those of any prior art show.

Veterans and NewArrivalsSeveral new adults joined Post 53 thisyear, taking the EMT class alongsidePost 53’s young adults, bringing the totalnumber of adult advisors to 31. In addition, three adult EMT’s took the

EMS EverywhereWhen the Post's ambulance arrives atthe scene of an emergency, it is verycommon to find a Post 53 trained police-man, fireman or passerby already givingaid. At any given time, there are approxi-mately 50 young adult members and 30adult members of Post 53. Also, thereare now scores of alumni and formeradult members living in Darien. Finally,over the years, Post 53 has trained thou-sands of people who live and/or work inDarien; 1,400 in first aid, 6,300 in CPR,and 600 emergency medical technicians.So, for example, when a Darien man col-lapsed in cardiac arrest at the YMCA, JillKeating Brannigan ('81), along withemployees of the Y trained by the Post,quickly began CPR. With additional help,and the aid of a defibrillator, the man'slife was saved.

Bob Dennis and his granddaughter, Kendra, atthe ambulance christening

Three new ambulances ready for duty

SEMS – OurParamedic PartnersPost 53 is a completely volunteer serviceand does not charge for its services.However, if Post 53 personnel determinethat a patient needs Advanced LifeSupport, (in accordance with state man-dated protocols) they request a para-medic from Stamford EMS (SEMS.) Thisarrangement has been in place since1996, and SEMS assigns a medic to theDarien/Stamford border in order torespond as needed in Darien. However,SEMS paramedics are a paid service andmust charge for their services. Althoughthe bill lists Post 53 as the transportingservice, the money goes directly andcompletely to SEMS.

We are grateful to SEMS for the addi-tional medical support and for the edu-cation and training they so graciouslyprovide our young adult crews when theyride with us.

EMT-I class this winter, and will soon begraduating to the Jeeps. Post 53 has sev-eral adults who have served the Post for20 or more years; Bob Dennis, DickKoch, Marilyn Vojta, Rob Clark, andSusan Warren. We are grateful to themany adult volunteers who give so self-lessly to Post 53, the community and ouryoung adults.

Young adultsPost 53 currently has over50 young adult members.12 seniors will graduate in

June, but 15 to 20 candidates are expect-ed to join over the summer and into thefall. There were 18 sophomores in the2004/2005 EMT class, and for the firsttime ever, thanks to some aggressiveclass scheduling, all will be certified andready for duty by the beginning of thesummer. In addition, seven young adultscompleted the extensive driver-trainingcourse and have been qualified to drivethe ambulances.

Post goes digitalThis year, Gayle Close, one of the Post’sadult advisors who has extensive televi-sion production experience, volunteeredto create a DVD about Post 53. The proj-ect was funded by a generous grantfrom the Marion Moore Foundation.Using a script written from the youngadult’s perspective, and editing footagefrom hundreds of hours of video takenover the years, they produced an excit-ing, comprehensive picture of the Post.Many of the seniors included the DVD intheir college applications.

Also in 2004, Post 53 moved farther intothe internet age. There is now a speciallink on the Post 53 website where mem-bers can access training documents, ros-ters, schedules, bulletins, protocols andother useful information. Members nolonger have to call down to the Post tofind out the schedule, or hunt down atraining packet on a particular topic. Itwill all be accessible on the website. Inaddition, thanks to the many generousdonations in memory of William T. Orr,Post 53 now has a state-of-the-art audiovisual unit for training.

Scholarship Award Winners

Post 53 Alumni Scholarship: Stephen Bloom

The Albert O. Hetrick Scholarship: Renata Shabin

Young Adult Editor: Sam Sinche, Adult Advisor: Catherine Ellis, Alumni Coordinator: Bob Meyjes

Did you know?

• Number of times the young

adults were called out in the

middle of the night in 2004 . . . . .187

• Number of sporting events

covered by young adults . . . . . . .250

• Number of MVAs the

young adults responded to . . . . .289

Posties work with the Noroton Heights FireDepartment to extricate a patient

Bud, Susan Warren and Posties gather on Nantucket

Graduating seniors planning to stay active during the summer

Seniors planning to come back as Graduate Reserves

Seniors planning to have a career in the medical field

47%

67%

75%

Seniors’ plans

Newly elected members of the Post relax afterthe ceremony in which they don “yellows” andrecite the Post 53 oath with the entire membership

Old officers (standing) welcome new officers(seated) the day after the May elections. Backrow, left to right: Carrie Ryan, Renata Shabin,Stephen Bloom, Ali Wilson, Clay Canning, AveryFinch. Front row, left to right: Scott Shear (treasurer), Kristen Tisano (VP, training), T.M.Gibbons-Neff (President), Katie Pearson (VP, programming), Mark Chiodo (VP, operations),Sydney Franklin (secretary)

Not so mellow yellowsFor many Darienites, the yellow turnoutgear that Posties wear to motor vehicleaccidents is a familiar sight. “Yellows”are a critical component of safety,because they increase the visibility ofthe EMS responders and they add extraprotection from broken glass, sharpmetal and spilled oil and gasoline.Needless to say, they get a lot of wearand tear. The Post is very grateful to theLions Club and the Marion MooreFoundation for funding replacement yellows and helping keep Posties safeon scene.

It’s not all workOn the fun side, the young adultsenjoyed an old tradition in December–the overnight lock-in! From dusk todawn, all the young adults (and a fewchaperones) enjoyed catered food, lotsof movies and games, and not too muchsleep. The young adults are also verygrateful to the donor of the foosballtable, which has quickly become asource of regular entertainment andcompetition.

Posties Victoria Irvine and Renata Shabin infront of the “yellows” rack in the garage.

Post alumni Reunion Notice:If you haven't already heard,our 35th Reunion /Anniversary is on Saturday

June 25th. We will having a casual,Nantucket-themed BBQ at WeeburnCountry Club, with live music, good foodand great company!

Our founder, Bud Doble has experienced afew health issues this year, which hasallowed him to both entertain and terrorizethe staff at one or two hospitals. Currently,he is recuperating and expects to be at thePost reunion and is grateful for all thecards and good wishes sent by the extend-ed Post 53 family.

More Doctors:In last year's inaugural edition of our alum-ni newsletter we highlighted how manyPosties had gone on to careers in health-care. The list was incredibly long, but notlong enough, because subsequent to ourarticle we found another 20 alums inhealthcare. This brings the grand total to70, or about 20% of past Posties. Here arethe new ones found;

Matt Handley ('75), MD, Seattle WASarah Banks McEwan ('75), MDJoan Corsiglia ('78), MDRuah Fuller Seidel ('79), RN, Las VegasJulie Lindenberg ('79), RN, AssistantProfessor, Family Nurse PractitionerProgram, Univ of Texas, Houston.Carole Crotty Fallon ('82), OccupationalTherapist, Yarmouth, MEJulie Meyjes Smith ('83), RN, DarienScott Ramming ('83), MD, Weaverville, NCBill Wood ('84), MD, Boston MABarbara Mitchell Weingold ('84), RN,George Washington University Hospital ER,Washington, DCGavin Cotter, ('86), MD, Infectious Disease,Hanover, NHBetsy Metzgar Harakaly ('86), RN, BSNHeather Gilmartin ('89), Nurse Practitioner,Vail Valley Medical Center, COTodd Wharton ('89), RN, ColoradoLisa Mills Dwelle ('90), MD, FamilyMedicine, Monterey, CAKimberly McGroarty ('90), MD, Richmond, VALaura Resnansky Jacob ('91), RN ClinicalDevelopment Biotechnology, Sr. Mgr,Genentech, San FranciscoAllison Himmel ('93), MD, InternalMedicine Resident at UCSFSarah Geyer Howell ('96),MD, Tripler ArmyMedical Center,HonoluluBecky Kowalski('00), SUNYDownstateMedical School

Posties in the military, law enforcementand fire departments:This year we thought it would be appropri-ate to highlight a few alumni who havechosen to serve in a different way -- byprotecting their country or community inthe military, law enforcement or firedepartments.

Mark Handley ('77) is a Captain in theUnited States Navy. He has served for 24years. He was commissioned through theNaval Reserve Officer Training Program atVillanova University where he graduated in1981. He is currently assigned as theCommander, Twenty Second NavalConstruction Regiment, Gulfport, MS. Herecently deployed to Iraq in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom where he oversawreconstruction efforts in Western Iraq. InJune 2005 Mark will move to Norfolk,Virginia with his wife and three childrenwhere he will be the Commander, NavalFacilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic.

Postie Chris Collins in his F/A 18 over the Persian Gulf

Chris Collins ('93) is a Captain in the UnitedStates Marine Corps. Chris is a fighter pilotcurrently serving his second deployment inthe Persian Gulf, assigned to the VMFA-323Death Rattlers. He earned a flight slot inthe Marines after attending NorwichUniversity. He is currently flying F/A 18s,stationed on the aircraft carrier USS CarlVinson. Chris was profiled in a CNN storyin 2003 (they filmed Post headquarters forthe story) as one of the pilots to participatein Operation Shock and Awe. At that timehe was based on the aircraft carrier USSConstellation. He has received a NavyCommendation Medal and two Air Medalsfor actions in Iraq. When Chris returns hewill be stationed at Miramar in San Diegoas an F/A 18 Instructor. He has a weeklyemail about his activities and observationsthat he blasts out to friends and family, so email him atchristopher.collins@cvw9.navy.mil if you'dlike to receive it. Sarah Geyer Howell ('96), MD, is a Captainin the US Army stationed at Tripler ArmyMedical Center in Honolulu. She graduatedfrom Georgetown University MedicalSchool in 2004. In July she will transfer toWalter Reed Army Medical Center inWashington, DC where she will do a 3 yeardermatology residency. She will then servefour years as a dermatology attending at amilitary facility.

James Swiggart ('02), is a Midshipman atthe US Naval Academy in Annapolis, classof 2007. He is a member of the VarsitySailing Team and majoring in PoliticalScience. His hope is that he will be selectedto be a Navy Pilot and his dream is to flythe F/A-18 jet. James says that the Postprepared him well for the rigors of theAcademy, especially the "lack of sleep, theduty schedules, as well as the teamworkrequired in such an organization." Clay Canning (‘05), US Military Academy atWest Point.

We are fortunate to have two formerPosties serving in the Darien PoliceDepartment, Officer Mark Cappelli ('82) andOfficer Chris Knight ('85). They have bothkept their EMT certification current.

Several Posties have chosen to volunteer inour local fire departments. In particular, theNoroton Fire Department seems to beswarming with alums including JamieHunter ('84), Jim O'Brien ('84), Dan O'Brien('84), Bill Gluck ('84), Ned Steinkraus ('86),Andrew Goss ('87), Bill O'Brien ('88),Brendan Keane ('04), Pat Rogers ('04), Clay Canning (‘05), Eric Stuart ('04) andB.G. Orr (‘05). The Post trains all membersof the Darien fire departments in emer-gency medical care.

Board Updates:Bob Weaver ('81), Jim Moltz and SteveMandel stepped down from the Board ofthe Friends of Post 53. Bob has been a gen-erous supporter of the Post for many yearsand a member of the board for the pastfive. We are grateful for his help and wewill miss his service. Jim and Steve arewell known in Darien philanthropic circlesas the guys to call when an organizationneeds some help. They originally got thecall from the Post when it was puttingtogether plans for the new headquartersbuilding 15 years ago. They spearheadedthe fundraising, pushed through the plans,and joined the board of the Post. Jimserved as the President of the Board foryears, and Steve specialized in separatingfriends from their money when the Postwas in need. We were lucky to have them.Bob, Jim and Steve will be replaced byDarien residents Chad Graves and MikeMurray ('81). Mike is a Post alumni andpast President from the class of 1981. Mikewill be the fourth alum on the board, join-ing Nancy Campbell Herling ('77), BobMeyjes ('81) and Annie Rodriquez McGuire('83). Also, Lissie Rodriguez Chandler ('80),has joined the Finance Committee of theboard to help ensure our financial health isin order. Lissie is married to fellow alum Jay Chandler ('80).

Stay in Touch

Please don't forget to keep your contactinformation up to date on the alumnilink at www.post53.org The websitenow has a gallery of old photos (clickon “Links” and then the Darien EMSPhoto Gallery at the bottom). Also, anyone who would like to help withnext year's alumni newsletter, or any-one with news you'd like to see includ-ed, please contact Bob Meyjes atbmeyjes@optonline.net

Darien EMS-Post 53Zero Ledge RoadDarien, CT 06820

Darien EMS - Post 53 is a private, non-profit servicewhich uses highly trained and state certified DarienHigh School students, as well as adult advisors, todeliver FREE emergency ambulance service to thefamilies and businesses of Darien.

President: T.M. Gibbons-NeffAdvisor: Susan WarrenAddress: P.O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820203-655-8980www.post53.org

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE

PAIDDARIEN, CT 06820PERMIT NO. 127

Donations to Darien EMS - Post 53 can be sent to

P.O. Box 2066 Darien, CT 06820