THE CHATHAMS – It was a time not only to reorganize for a new year, but to recognize the service of longtime volunteers.
The Chatham Emergency Squad presented its elected officers for 2020 on Saturday, Feb. 8, at its annual Officer Installation Dinner, held at the Wyndham Hamilton Hotel and Conference Center in Florham Park. Serving their second year in their positions are Capt. Steve Davenport, Personnel Vice President Joanne Howden, Operations Lt. Mike Lemons, Secretary Abigail Maddi, Equipment Lt. Jim Martinm President Evan Skinner, Facilities Vice President Jeff Stanton and Finance Vice President Cathy Warbrick. Newly elected officers this year include Communications Vice President Craig Alperowitz and Training Lt. Nicole DiMaggio.
The squad also hailed several members for their continuous years of service. Carol Grant, Tom Patterson, Kumar Paul, Evan Skinner and Carole Wilmot were recognized for five years of service, and Steve Davenport was applauded for 15 years of service. In addition, 30 members of the Chatham Emergency Squad were recognized for earning 100 Length of Service Awards Points (LOSAP), which is a New Jersey State incentive benefits program recognizing volunteers who actively serve their regular and weekend shifts, and positively contribute through additional volunteer hours.
The evening’s tone of appreciation to its membership base for the past year of service was captured by President Evan Skinner’s opening remarks. “There are a lot of squads in New Jersey, but there aren’t many like ours,” Skinner said. “There aren’t many all-volunteer squads that can cover 10 calls in a 12-hour Thursday day shift, including a mutual aid to another town. There aren’t many all-volunteer squads who could cover two or three simultaneous calls 108 times in a year. And there aren’t many all-volunteer squads who can attract nine new members in a single year. But we can — and we did.”
Special Recognition
The evening also was marked by standing ovations for Peter Herslow, who recently announced his retirement following 36 years of active service. In addition to serving as president in 1999 and 2000, captain in 1993 and 1994, and in many other roles throughout his tenure with the squad, Herslow is perhaps best known for teaching thousands of Chatham residents, teachers, police, fire and squad members how to perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Past Chatham Emergency Squad officers Jerry Medina, Ricky D’Costa and Rich Crater along with fellow crew member Dave Elliot paid tribute to Herslow’s dedication to the squad and the Chatham community, recalling their time riding with and learning from Herslow.
“It’s impossible to know how many lives have been saved thanks to Peter’s devotion as an active squad member and proponent of effective CPR instruction,” said Jerry Medina, auxiliary member and former captain of the Chatham Emergency Squad in 2002 and 2003. “Although he is retired from active service, Peter’s work is not yet complete, Medina added. “Undoubtedly, he will continue to serve the residents of Chatham by training them in effective CPR, which in turn will continue to save countless lives.”
During the ceremony, the evening was further marked by the formal renaming of the squad’s Chatham High School Scholarship Award to be known as the “Christine K. Grobert Chatham Emergency Squad Scholarship Award.”
Established in 2014 by Grobert while serving as squad president in 2014 and 2015, the annual award is presented to a Chatham High School student who has been committed to volunteerism in the Chatham community and has displayed an interest in the field of medicine or science.
The renaming of the award honors Grobert, who retired from active service in December 2019 after 21 years. During her tenure, Grobert held many positions beyond that of president, including vice president for communications, secretary, uniforms manager, archivist, weekend crew chief and more. Grobert was also the recipient of the 2019 EMT Excellence Awards by the Overlook Medical Center.
“Being a teacher in the Chatham School District, and as our former president, Christine had the foresight to help students reach their potential by formulating this scholarship six years ago,” said Skinner. “She represents the best of the Chatham Emergency Squad for her years of service and countless positions held. It’s only appropriate that we cement her legacy by naming this scholarship in her honor,” she added.
Representatives from the Chatham Borough Council, the Chatham Borough Fire Department, the Chatham Borough Police Department, the Chatham Township Committee, the Chatham Township Police Department, the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Green Village Volunteer Fire Department, the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the New Vernon First Aid Squad and the New Vernon Fire Department were all in attendance at the annual celebration. Also represented, the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad responded to calls in Chatham overnight so that all Chatham Emergency Squad members could have the evening to celebrate.
The Chatham Emergency Squad is an all-volunteer organization funded nearly exclusively by donations. Skinner noted that in 2019 the squad responded to 1,246 emergency calls in Chatham Township and Chatham Borough and provided mutual aid to the neighboring communities of New Vernon, Madison and Summit on occasion. The Chatham Emergency Squad never charges for its services. The squad provides stand-by support for community events, such as the Chatham Turkey Trot, the Fishawack Festival, and school sports events. The squad also provided free CPR training to more than 400 residents, teachers, coaches, school crossing guards and emergency personnel, including fire and police. To learn more, to donate or to volunteer, visit www.chathamemergencysquad.org.
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