EMS Award for Patient Care

Do you remember back to 1991 when the Circle M was still in operation and an awards dinner was held there?

Far left; Ruth Gregg, Bill and Shawn Markey, Phyllis and Joe Moore, and Joyce Runberg. In the foreground is ........Mike McGinnity

Liz Clapham was St. James Supervisor and she spoke a few words.

Bill Markey had few words also as Joe and Phyllis and John and Joyce listen.

Don Vyse rose to give his testimonial.

Bill Markey, chairman of BIEMS, spoke words of praise.

Joyce Runberg rose to state why she submitted the recommendation for the award.

Joyce Runberg presents the Wayne McKenna EMS Award to recipient Joe Moore

The Award for Excellence in Patient Care

Speech of Thank-you for State of Michigan

EMS Award Received in 1991

(Sixteen years ago)

By Joe Moore

I want to thank so many people for this honor. I'll start by thanking Southwest Michigan Systems, Incorporated, District Health Department #3, and the UP EMS Corporation for creating this award for Emergency Medical Technicians in the State of Michigan .

If I had to cut this award into enough pieces to give each person who deserves a part of this award, one piece, it would take a lot of pieces. Those people on Beaver Island who deserve a piece begin with Mike McGinnity, whose vision it was to have EMTs on Beaver Island . When Mike thought about that first EMT class, little did he know that so few people who finished the class would stay living on Beaver Island . He realized the necessity of having another EMT class taught, and the way it worked out, Mike ended up teaching the vast majority of objectives for this—the second class. Mike McGinnity deserves an award for much more than just the vision that brought EMS to reality, but everyone knows how important Mike is to Beaver Island , so I'll move on.

The next example of caring for the welfare of this community comes from Jim Owens, our deputy. Up until this last year, Jim volunteered over 50 hours per week above and beyond the call of duty, and above and beyond his salaried hours. When Jim received “Officer of the Year,” I was very proud to have worked with him. Another example of caring comes from his wife, Jo Ellen, who continues to volunteer her time answering the telephone and the radio. We can count on JoEllen to be on the other end of the radio when she is needed.

The school board deserves thanks and recognition for their 100% support, not only of my training, but by allowing me to leave the building, no questions asked, when an emergency occurs.

Every other EMT on Beaver Island deserves a piece of this award. They are all dedicated, hard-working, and caring people in the field of EMS . I want you all to know that although our EMTs are not paid, you will not find a MORE PROFESSIONAL GROUP OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. I would like to thank them right now. John and Joyce Runberg—First for thinking that I deserved this award. Second for taking the time to nominate me. Third for organizing this dinner. Mostly, I want to thank you both for the wonderful example of caring that you have provided…….Ruth Himebauch, my sister-in-law, who always has a positive attitude….Bill Markey, our chairman, who continues to work for the funding for our EMS projects….Bill McDonough, an excellent example, one of those left from the first EMT class…..Jerry Sowa, who challenged me to take the EMT-Specialist class…After all, I thought, if Jerry Sowa can pass it at his age, I should be able to pass it too.

More thanks…..To Tom Dorais, Bill Fox, and Jerry Sowa for the efforts in raising funds for needed equipment (specifically the AEDs)…..To all of my students, who constantly remind me why I'm in teaching.

Dr. Phil Lange deserves an award for taking the “honorary” position as president of the Medical Center Board seriously. During Mike's absence, Dr. Lange provided the care that Beaver Island residents were missing. He was on call 24 hours per day. More than once, we took advantage of his expertise. Thank you, Dr. Lange….

I need to thank my father-in-law and mother-in-law, Phil and Lil Gregg for showing me through example, that caring for this community and its people has its own internal rewards that last.

My wife and family deserve more than half of this reward for putting up with the many hours I have been away from home, either taking classes, teaching classes, or on an ambulance run.

The Township Boards of St. James and Peaine deserve thanks for providing the funding for our EMS projects. I personally would like to thank them for not trying to re-define the word “emergency.” They all seem to realize that an emergency is an emergency whether it happens on Beaver Island or somewhere else.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of you, the residents of Beaver Island for putting your faith in a group of volunteer EMTs.