LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service
upon the occasion of celebrating its 50th Anniversary on May 17, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to organizations within the State of New York which provide
vital emergency medical rescue services; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service upon the occasion of its 50th
Anniversary, to be celebrated at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, Rochester,
New York, on Saturday, May 17, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service (GVAS) has proudly
provided Emergency Medical Services to the Gates, New York, community
for 50 years; from the days of simple first aid in the back of an ambu-
lance to applying the modem sophistication of today's Advanced Life
Support, it responds to calls for EMS assistance whenever needed; and
WHEREAS, GVAS held its first meeting on February 23, 1964; Gates
Police Chief William Stauber, who originated the concept of a volunteer
ambulance service for the town, was elected president, along with other
company officers and a board of directors; and
WHEREAS, GVAS answered its first emergency call, an auto accident on
Chili Avenue on November 2, 1964; its services were available during the
evening and overnight hours on weekdays, with 24-hour coverage only
available on weekends; and
WHEREAS, On March 22, 1965, this esteemed organization responded to
its first maternity call; volunteers David Georger and Robert Ruemelin
delivered a baby girl in the home of a mother on Laurel Avenue; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1960s, GVAS expanded opportunities for its female
volunteers, going beyond serving as dispatch operators to such fields as
medics and drivers, which allowed the company to achieve 24-hours a day,
seven-days a week service for the community; over the years, the service
has been blessed by the contributions of numerous female members,
including Ruthe Neu, the first woman to serve as chief; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, a milestone for GVAS was reached when volunteers
Cecil Karley and David Quartley were the first members to reach 10,000
hours of service; they were honored with letters from President Ronald
Reagan, Congressman John LaFalce and Gates Supervisor Jack Hart; and
WHEREAS, In the same year, this distinguished ambulance service estab-
lished its Advanced Life Support unit to further serve the needs of its
community; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, GVAS responded to 5,673 calls, covering nearly 99
percent of all requests for service with an average response time of
just over seven minutes; its roster now includes 115 volunteers and 59
career staff; and
WHEREAS, GVAS maintains a strong commitment to providing state of the
art emergency medical services; of the 29 paramedics throughout Monroe
County who hold the higher Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI) certification,
seven are members of GVAS; and
WHEREAS, In January 2014, GVAS announced consolidation plans with the
Spencerport Volunteer Ambulance Service; with a goal of benefitting both
communities through improved service and response times, it will contin-
ue its mission for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, All of the courageous individuals associated with the Gates
Volunteer Ambulance Service, past and present, merit the highest commen-
dation for their contributions to the noble missions of this life-saving
organization; 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 celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service upon the occasion of its
50th Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service.