Assembly Resolution No. 1171

BY: M. of A. Gallahan

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of North Seneca
Ambulance, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
applaud outstanding organizations within our communities whose actions
and accomplishments contribute to the health, safety, and well-being of
the communities of the State of New York and to the quality of life of
its people; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of North Seneca Ambulance, Inc., to be
celebrated at its 50th Anniversary Banquet on Friday, May 15, 2026, at
Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva, New York; and

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of those members of organizations within the State of New
York who, in the course of their responsibilities, perform acts of
heroic dimension and epitomize the best of humanity; and

WHEREAS, Serving over 23,000 residents in the northern half of
Seneca County, North Seneca Ambulance's service district spans more than
220 square miles and includes the towns of Waterloo, Seneca Falls,
Fayette, Tyre, Junius, Varick, Magee, Border City, Canoga, Dublin, and
Mays Point; in addition to these communities, North Seneca Ambulance
also services 33 square miles of water, the Montezuma National Wildlife
Refuge, 13 miles of the New York State Thruway, and parts of Ontario,
Wayne, and Cayuga counties when needed; and

WHEREAS, Before the popularization of dedicated ambulance services,
emergency medical services were typically provided by funeral homes, but
this model proved to be unreliable, expensive, and not profitable,
resulting in many funeral homes ending their emergency services in the
early 1970s; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the decline in emergency services, Harold
B. Sanderson, director of Sanderson Funeral Chapel in Seneca Falls,
made the decision to organize a service separate from his funeral chapel
that would provide a structured emergency services model for northern
Seneca County; and

WHEREAS, On July 14, 1975, North Seneca Ambulance, Inc. was
incorporated with Harold B. Sanderson, William J. Cousin III, Edward C.
McNamara, and George W. Mull serving as directors of the corporation;
and

WHEREAS, Operating out of a small barn on Routes 5 and 20, North
Seneca Ambulance commenced its first day of operations on January 1,
1976; in 1977, its second year of operation, North Seneca Ambulance
answered 1,067 requests for service; and

WHEREAS, North Seneca Ambulance was a pioneer in ambulance services
in New York State, and in 1978, it was one of only 27 certified

volunteer ambulance services in the State; powered by 120 volunteers in
1978, North Seneca Ambulance had an on-duty crew 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week; and

WHEREAS, With a commitment to better serving its community, on July
1, 1985, North Seneca Ambulance began Advanced Life Support (ALS) level
of care, which included intravenous access, electrocardiograms, cardiac
defibrillation, advanced formulary including narcotics, and esophageal
obturator airway (EOA); and

WHEREAS, To meet the increasing demands and modern advancements in
ambulance services, in 2008, North Seneca Ambulance invested nearly two
million dollars into a 15,000 square foot modern base in Waterloo, New
York; that same year, North Seneca Ambulance began hiring paid employees
in addition to its volunteer force; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its history, North Seneca Ambulance relied on
generous donations and billing revenue to maintain and upgrade its
services; in 2024, North Seneca Ambulance began receiving municipal
funding to better support portions of its annual budget; and

WHEREAS, In 2025, nearly five decades since its founding, North
Seneca Ambulance surpassed 4,000 requests for service, demonstrating the
necessity of these mobile lifesaving services in Seneca County; and

WHEREAS, Guided by its motto, "People Helping People," North Seneca
Ambulance serves its community with compassion, professionalism, and
unwavering dedication; its mission is to not just provide lifesaving
care, but to also strengthen the health and safety of its community
through education, outreach, and continuous improvement in emergency
response; and

WHEREAS, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are an
important part of the safety net of America's healthcare system; they
provide lifesaving care to those in need, 24 hours a day, seven days a
week; access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the
survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or
injury; and

WHEREAS, This vital ambulance organization would not exist without
the staff and volunteers who sacrifice time spent with family and
friends to put in countless hours to help a neighbor in need as well as
those passing through; and

WHEREAS, In the performance of their duties, the members of North
Seneca Ambulance have demonstrated their character and compassion for
the welfare of others; they are a tremendous asset to the residents of
Seneca County and the citizens of the State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Our unending gratitude and respect are owed to these
devoted individuals whose responsibility is the preservation of life and
who make that responsibility their own by serving in ambulance
organizations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of North Seneca Ambulance, Inc.; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to North Seneca Ambulance, Inc.