Dave Simpson Is Ambulance Corps Volunteer of the Year
Clark Township
By Amy Polk

Chet Kasper Jr. (left) received a longtime service award, Dave Simpson (center) was named Clark Township Ambulance Corps' Volunteer of the Year for 2007, and Mark Merchberger received a plaque to commemorate his many years of service as the Ambulance Corps Captain before he turned the position over to Kathy Kasper this year. (Photographs by Ken Drenth)

Dave Simpson of Hessel is the 2007 Clark Township Ambulance Corps Volunteer of the Year. He received a plaque commemorating the honor at the volunteer corps' annual meeting and dinner Saturday night, December 8, and was nominated for the award by fellow volunteers.

"One of the best things about Dave is he'll fill in wherever possible, wherever it's needed most," said Ambulance Corps Captain Kathy Kasper.

Mr. Simpson is a three-year ambulance corps member. Mrs. Kasper said she was actually recruiting his wife, Claudia, when he also decided to join. Mrs. Kasper and her husband, Chet, met the Simpsons at church, and they learned Mrs. Simpson was already a medical officer in the United States Coast Guard, and would have been an asset to Clark Township's corps. While Mrs. Simpson, who worked on the cutter Mackinaw that was retired last year, was then transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey, Mr. Simpson has remained with the corps, proving himself to be a great asset, as well, she said. He voluntarily earned emergency medical technician (EMT)-specialist certification through a course taught by Allied EMS Area Manager Mark Wilk in St. Ignace.

Clark Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps members at the December 8 annual meeting and dinner include (back row, from left) Dave Simpson, Carl McIntire, Chet Kasper III, Dave Crockett, Frank Arnold, Dave Kasper, Zach Rye, Tracy Reichlin, Carl Ter Haar, Mark Merchberger, Chet Kasper Jr.; (center) John Bullman, Shelli Arnold, Donna Smith, Keith Kester, Tammy Cruichshank, Norm Smale; (front) Lisa Carrington, Sue Drenth, Kathy Kasper, Liz Merchberger, and Clark O'Brien. (Photographs by Ken Drenth)

The certification made him only the third EMT-specialist in the corps, along with Frank and Shelli Arnold. EMT-specialists have more advanced training than EMTbasics, which comprise most of the corps, Mrs. Kasper said, and can provide fluids, start intravenous treatment, and place endo-tracheal tubes in patients. Mr. Simpson paid for his own training, Mrs. Kasper added.

In addition to his service as a volunteer, he works full time for Perot Systems Government Services as a contract network engineer at the United States Coast Guard Electronics Support Detachment in Sault Ste. Marie. He also serves on the Bethel Lutheran Church Council and the Cedar Commons Board, which oversees operations at Cedar Cove Assisted Living Community in Cedarville. Regardless of the time he puts in at work and as a volunteer, Mrs. Kasper said Mr. Simpson often responds to emergency calls when he is not on call, "even if it's in the middle of the night." He logged the second highest number of hours on ambulance calls this year.

Mrs. Kasper added that Mr. Simpson is always looking for ways to improve the way things are done, to provide the best patient care possible.

Fellow volunteer Tracy Reichlin called Mr. Simpson "an inspiration to us all," and added that he is compassionate and "continues to display a positive attitude."

"He not only does his night shift as EMT, but will gladly run as a driver when needed and will take day calls when he can," she said.

Mr. Simpson said since he is a newer member, he was surprised by the award, "and at the same time, I felt undeserving that my fellow volunteers had selected me."

"Each of the names engraved on the Volunteer of the Year award plaque for the last 16 years have set a standard for all of us to achieve. They are the example that demonstrates what Clark Township Ambulance Corps is all about," he told The St. Ignace News. "I am proud and honored to be associated with the men and women of the Clark Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps, men and women who are dedicated to their community and to providing a quality service, and who sacrifice themselves, and at times their families, to answer the call."

Recognizing some of the other names that appear on the Volunteer of the Year plaque, he noticed the names of Norm Smale and Sue Drenth appear twice.

"Both continue to serve our community and the ambulance corps," he said. "Three names, including those of Shelli Arnold, Mark Merchberger, and Kathy Kasper, belong to people who have served as corps captain. At least one, Tracy Reichlin, has served as assistant captain. Keith Kester continues to serve the corps as our maintenance officer, and this year logged more hours in an ambulance than any of us, with over 200 hours."

He also cited the longtime service of corps members, noting three recognized this year, including Chet Kasper Jr. for more than 20 years of service, Donna Smith for 25, and Mark Merchberger for six years as Ambulance Corps Captain.

Mr. Simpson said all of these people demonstrate the idea of "passing the passion," a speech given by the keynote speaker at the 2007 Emergency Medical Services conference in Marquette this fall.

"I think I can speak for each and every one of us [EMS volunteers], in that we do what we do for our community simply because of passion," he said. "The fuel for our passion is that person who comes up to us in a local business or a community event, or sends us a card that says, 'thank you for being there.' Just knowing we've made a difference in someone's life, that we were able to help someone who wasn't able to help themselves, that in itself is the ultimate reward."

Mr. Simpson is grateful to serve with EMTs and First Responders on the ambulance corps whose passion is contagious, he said.

"I'm living proof," he added.

Also during the dinner, Mrs. Kasper welcomed Rhonda Piazza, Valerie Huffman, Dave Crockett, Dave Yeager, Dave Kasper, John Bullman, and Becky McFarlane.

Two new corps members obtained emergency medical technician basic licenses, including John Bullman and Dave Crockett. Mike Kasper was reactivated as a medical first responder.

Kathy Kasper, Keith Kester, and Zach Rye received awards for perfect attendance at meetings.

The Clark Township Ambulance Corps responded to 193 calls this year, up from 180 in 2006, and 130 in 2005. The year's calls included 115 medical emergencies, 45 trauma calls, 19 runs to motor vehicle accidents, five lift assists, four fire assists, three transfers, and two miscellaneous calls.

Of those calls, day shift emergencies comprise most ambulance responses, with 120 in 2007 coming in between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. By comparison, there were 73 night calls between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. The numbers demonstrate the Clark Township Ambulance Corps' ongoing concern with having enough volunteers on call during the day, Mrs. Kasper said, since most of the volunteers work at other jobs during the day. New members interested in serving during the day are always welcome, she added.

Six people were recognized for logging the most hours on ambulance calls, including Keith Kester with 213, Dave Simpson with 143, Kathy Kasper with 135, Tammy Cruickshank with 114, Tracy Reichlin with 102, and Norm Smale with 95. Mr. Smale is only here half the year, Mrs. Kasper added.

The corps awarded a longtime service plaque to member Chet Kasper Jr., who hit the 20-year milestone last year, and was commended for his dedication. Mr. Kasper is also the Clark Township Volunteer Fire Department chief.

"When you hit a 20-year mark, it is to be commended," Mrs. Kasper said. "The average career of a volunteer working in EMS is about five years. I think it is a credit to our corps and our community when about half our roster is approaching, or has passed, the 10-year mark."

Donna Smith, who marked her 25th year in 2007, received a longtime service pin.

Mark Merchberger received a plaque for serving six years as ambulance corps captain before passing the title to Mrs. Kasper.

"He signed on for five, and held on for six," she said. "He's been an invaluable asset filling in as driver or EMT whenever he can, as well as a regular night shift driver."

Ambulance Corps officers were recognized for their work, and include Assistant Captain Tracy Reichlin, OSHA officer Tammy Cuickshank, secretary Sue Drenth, Training Officer Frank Arnold, and Maintenance Officer Keith Kester.