LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Town of Liberty Volunteer
Ambulance Corps upon the occasion of celebrating its 40th Anniversary of
Ambulance Service and 10th Anniversary of Paramedic Service to the
community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who give
outstanding service to the people of the Empire State, and whose
extraordinary achievements save the lives of their fellow citizens,
should be recognized because their efforts so profoundly strengthen our
shared commitment to family and community life; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
congratulate the Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps upon the
occasion of celebrating its 40th Anniversary of Ambulance Service and
10th Anniversary of Paramedic Service to the community; this auspicious
occasion will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Corps'
headquarters at 178 Mill Street, Liberty, New York; and
WHEREAS, Access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the
survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or
injury; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer ambulance corps members 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; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TOLVAC) was
incorporated in March 1969 with 16 charter members; at the time, it had
one ambulance and no headquarters building; and
WHEREAS, Purchasing the "Catskill Shopper" building at 178 Mill
Street, TOLVAC subsequently constructed a second ambulance out of a Ford
van and redesigned the building with two bay doors on the street level;
and
WHEREAS, TOLVAC purchased a third ambulance and raised funds to
enlarge its headquarters building; by 1975, it had completed an addition
to headquarters, giving it three bays, a larger meeting room, and facil-
ities for the crews to use when they were on duty; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, TOLVAC was one of four Sullivan County
squads to become defibrillator equipped; these new life saving devices
quickly proved their worth and TOLVAC recorded the first "save" in
Sullivan County; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, TOLVAC obtained a "fly car" first response vehicle
to assist in helping patients even faster; it formed the basis of
TOLVAC's Advanced Life Support Intermediate program to deliver mid-level
ALS care to patients while awaiting paramedic response; and
WHEREAS, With an ever increasing burden on TOLVAC as the sole ALS
provider in Sullivan County, it applied for full Advanced Life Support
Paramedic certification; it received permission from the Hudson Valley
Regional EMS Council in May 1999 and went on-line with its first
paramedic response on June 20, 1999; and
WHEREAS, TOLVAC' s call volume rose to over 2000 annual calls by 1999;
it obtained a fourth ambulance and a second paramedic fly car; in 2000,
it raised the funds for a new 2 story addition to its headquarters
building; and
WHEREAS, Currently, TOLVAC has four ambulances, three ALS fly cars, 53
members and 16 paramedics; its 2008 call volume was 2578, and its
response rate is 100% of all dispatched calls for the past eight years;
and
WHEREAS, Proud of its service to the community, visitors and neigh-
bors, TOLVAC provides the best possible care in the quickest possible

time frame to its patients on a seven-day-a-week, 365-day-per-year
basis; and
WHEREAS, TOLVAC has undertaken and performed its critically needed
responsibilities without the need for a single dollar of taxpayer funds;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be recognized, applauded and honored by all the citi-
zens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps upon the
occasion of celebrating its 40th Anniversary of Ambulance Service and
10th Anniversary of Paramedic Service to the community; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 178 Mill
Street, Liberty, New York 12754.