KAEMT explains fundraising drive

By STEVE BECRAFT
President, Kentucky Association of EMTs

ELIZABETHTOWN — I would like to take this time to clear up a few issues that have arisen in regards to KAEMT.  It appears that there is a lot of confusion over the fund raising project that KAEMT has undertaken. KAEMT began with many goals for the EMS community. The main reason was to be a voice for the EMS profession. Through our membership drive this year we will become that voice. KAEMT’s fund raising project is a project that was looked at for several months before it was undertaken. KAEMT throughout the year for the past 4 years has provided many projects for the EMS Community such as the Kentucky EMS Olympics, a day for EMS Week, and this past year a Spring Education conference along with continuing education at Fire Schools through out Kentucky. These projects cost several hundreds of dollars and each year it becomes harder and harder to raise money through sponsorships for these events. A majority of the funds came from EMS supply companies along with Private EMS Services KAEMT wishes to continue to provide these events to the EMS community. But in order for us to provide these events it has become apparent that another source of income had to be acquired.  After a long discussion with John DeHaven from Community Safety and proposing this to the officers of KAEMT, it was decided to pursue this venture. Through my discussion with John Dehaven, I found that KAEMT is not the only group in Kentucky that is doing this. Another group is the Kentucky Chief of Police Association. Several references were given from John, and I followed up with a couple of them. One was the South Dakota EMS Association and they were very please with the outcome of the fund raising drive done by Community Safety Inc.

Now, what is KAEMT going to do with these funds? KAEMT set goals at our annual membership meeting held at the KAPA Conference in September. The first goal was to increase the membership and this is being done. There are over thirteen thousand EMS providers in Kentucky and in order for us to keep up with this list a costly programmed had to be purchased which will allows KAEMT to inform all the members of their current status. The other main goal was to provide a scholarship fund to help support anyone wishing to either become an EMT-FR, EMT-B or a Paramedic with some form of finical assistance. In KAEMT’s mission statement it states that KAEMT has a mission of providing education to all EMS personnel in Kentucky. With the shortage of EMS personnel in Kentucky I feel that we can do this and increase the numbers of EMS personnel by providing education either thru a scholarship fund, and continuing education. The Kentucky EMS Olympics will continue with these funds. Another major goal is to provide a conference for EMS education at a very low cost, with the conference being targeted towards the twenty-four hours required to maintain an EMT’s certification. Plans are underway for a conference in the spring of 2007.  I also feel that EMS Week is in place for a reason. It is a time for EMS personnel to be recognized and to enjoy a little time. Because of this reason and because KAEMT represents the EMS profession we will continue to provide some type of event for EMS Week. Last year KAEMT provided one hundred free tickets to Kentucky Kingdom. All of these projects are goals of KAEMT. But without appropriate funds KAEMT would not be able to host the events.

I know our citizens get hit everyday by some type of group asking for a donation, but has EMS as a whole every asked for their support?

I as president I encourage you take a part of KAEMT.  Get involved in the only state wide organization that represents you the EMS profession. For more information please visit our web page at www.kaemt.com

If you ever have questions about KAEMT or projects that KAEMT has undertaken please contact me by email at sbecraft@mrtc.com

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