When Nathan Williams presented MEMSA’s 2008 Presidential Leadership Award to me at this year’s Annual Meeting I was astonished. To say it was totally unexpected is an understatement!

Surprised, and off guard, I could only briefly express my thanks before leaving the podium. When I returned to my table and sat down I wished I had said more –something in line with the thoughts that were beginning to form in my mind.

Had I done so, I would have acknowledged that the award goes for effort expended 25 years ago during the birth and infancy of MEMSA and that many others are deserving of appreciation and recognition too.

The members of the first MEMSA Board deserve special credit. It was 1983 and starting a new statewide EMS organization was a challenging task, especially since there were other well-established organizations that didn’t appreciate a rival.

Those who had the courage and foresight to start MEMSA were: our first President Gene Smith, Secretary Randy Everett, Treasurer William Barnes and Board Members Marilyn Evans, Ralph Kiesling, Jim Nadolski, Philip Salvati, Kathy Surface, Lee Turner and Chip Woyner.

During the next five years, as MEMSA’s Executive Director, I had the honor and privilege of working with other members of the Board including George Ziph, David Moore, Gary Elifrits, Eddie Coe, Rande McCrary, David Edwards, Ron Lapp, Gary Woodson, Rich Miller, Mike Krtek, Larry Croy, Donna Gillette, Greg Grooms, Mike Hicks, Bruce Grotewiel, David Cooper, Gerald Walton, Ruby Mehrer, and Tom Roper. The Board Presidents during that period were Chip Woyner, Jim Tune, and Mark Lockhart.

All of these individuals set the foundation and charted the course upon which MEMSA thrives today.

During these formative years MEMSA faced resistance from the medical and bureaucratic power structure too. There was political infighting and some harassment. And there was very little startup money for programs and staff needs.

But still we prevailed. By the time my service finished, the membership had swelled to over 1000 individual and 100 organization members. They were designated as  “Charter Members” in recognition of their early participation and support. They would always be honored as the founders of MEMSA.

With the help of Marcia Krech at the MEMSA office, I did some research and discovered that at this year’s meeting, in addition to my wife Cindy and I, there were fourteen other Charter Members in attendance. They too must be recognized for their 25 years of membership and service. Many thanks go to: David Deck, Bruce Grotewiel, Mike Hicks, Ken Koch, David Lomax, Rande McCrary, William Meeker, Marilyn Miederhoff, Jim Steele, Ruth Steele, Jim Tune, Nathan Williams, Ruby Mehrer, and Gary Woodson.

To them and all the other hard working and dedicated Board and general members, who over the years have committed themselves to making MEMSA the great organization it is today…THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!!

Larry Dahl