The Lebanon Rescue Department was honored to receive the 2010 Outstanding Non-Profit of the Year Award from Governor John Baldacci on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010. The ceremony was held at the State Capital in Augusta and was part of the 2010 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. Several members of the rescue department attended the ceremony held at the State Capital in Augusta.

“We are honored to have receive this award from the Governor and it shows the compassion and dedication of all the volunteers with the Lebanon Rescue Department. In 2009, 49 volunteers donated over 15,000 manpower hours to the community. I am so honored to lead such a dedicated and outstanding group. The members respond to these calls to help their neighbors in need and do not need recognition, but this means a lot to those men and women who do so much for the community. The Governor and the Maine Commission for Community Service have done so much to honor the dedication of volunteers within the State of Maine and we truly are honored to have received this award.” Lebanon Rescue Chief Samantha Cole added.
“This is the second year in a row that the Lebanon Rescue Department has received an award during the Governors Volunteer Service Awards. In 2009, Rescue Chief Samantha Cole received the Exemplary Service in Volunteer Administration award from Governor Baldacci. The members have been so excited since we found out about the award, it is a small token to thank them for their service.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added. “The volunteers have won several individual and group awards over the past 29 years that its been in operation, but this group award shows the true dedication the members show. They care so much about the community and enjoy helping their neighbors during their time of need.”
The department was presented with a plaque for the station, as well as a large poster to be put in the community announcing the award.
Both US Senators also gave the department a congratulatory letter as well that is framed and going to posted at the rescue station.
United States Senator Susan Collins wrote ” Dear Lebanon Rescue Department Members, Congratulations on receiving the Governor’s Outstanding Non-Profit award. As an all-volunteer force, the Lebanon Rescue Department has developed a well deserved reputation for going above and beyond with your volunteer efforts. From answering 700 calls annually, to donating 15,000 hours to the community in 2009 alone, you all exemplify the highest levels of community service. I commend you for your hard work and dedication. Again, congratulations on receiving this prestigious award! Sincerely, Susan M. Collins, United States Senator”
United States Senator Olympia Snowe wrote “Dear Samantha, It is my pleasure to take this opportunity to congratulate the Lebanon Volunteer Rescue Department on receiving the Governor’s Outstanding Non-Profit Award. As you know, this award is given to a non-profit group that exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and community service. Certainly, the tremendous contributions you have made professionally and personally to the residents of your community, make you all very deserving of this wonderful recognition. I am pleased to join with so many others who deeply appreciate your efforts to make your community and state an even better place to live. A special thank you to each of you for making a gift of your time and energy and please accept my very best wishes on this well-deserved award. Sincerely, Olympia J. Snowe, United States Senator”
The following is the press release given from the Maine Commission for Community Service and can be seen at :

http://www.maineservicecommission.gov/news/release.php?nID=1414

Governor John Baldacci presented five exceptional Maine volunteers, one outstanding business, and one outstanding nonprofit with a 2010 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.
The Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards are presented annually during National Volunteer Week, the annual celebration of citizen volunteer action and the impact it has on critical needs in communities.
The awards recognize individuals and community organizations whose donations of time and leadership have made a significant difference in the quality of life for Maine
residents.

The award for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was presented to Eileen Danforth of Lewiston. For 17 years- last year for over 2,000 hours- Eileen has inspired through example in multiple volunteer roles at Central Maine Medical Center. She includes volunteers of all abilities in activities and makes each individual feel welcome, worthy, and supported.
Emily Fitch of Portlandreceived the Outstanding National Service Volunteer for accomplishments during her AmeriCorps term of service with the Community Resource Corps. Fitch has dedicated her life to service logging more than 2,500 hours in the past year. Her efforts have impacted hundreds of families in the process.
The 2009 Outstanding Public Sector Volunteer is Frank Wallace of Cape Neddick. For 12 years, Frank has volunteered over 1,000 hours each year mentoring students, planning curriculum with teachers, and problem-solving with school administrators in one of York School Department’s four schools.
Bijou Umuhoza of Portlandwas selected as the Youth Volunteer of the Year. As a high school student, Bijou found time to dedicate over 1,000 hours last year to the Ubuntu Ministry, the Center for Grieving Children, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the NAACP Youth Council. She’s a shining example of a youth volunteer’s impact in her community.
Cited for Excellence in Volunteer Administration was Sue Bowie of the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. She grew the volunteer program from 25 volunteers to 187 adult volunteers who contribute 60,000 hours annually. Ms Bowie’s program is an integral part to the daily operations of hospital. Her insight, assistance, and counsel are often sought by other institutions and volunteer directors.
The awards presented to organizations recognize three categories of community volunteer engagement:
The Outstanding Non-Profit Award recognizes an organization that operates a high quality volunteer program that achieves significant and meaningful results. The 2010 award was presented to Lebanon Rescue Department. One of the busiest all-volunteer municipal ambulance and rescue departments in the state, the Lebanon Rescue Department provides lifesaving care, education, and community services through an all-volunteer program. Forty-nine volunteers contributed over 15,000 hours of service in 2009.
The Corporate Volunteerism Award was presented to UNUM. Last year, their 546 employees in Cumberland and York counties gave 35,522 hours to support education, disability awareness, health and wellness, and arts and culture. UNUM employees collect food for local pantries, coats for the homeless, school supplies for youth, holiday gifts for families, and cards and gifts for military members stationed overseas.
Immediately after the Hall of Flags ceremony, more than 700 volunteers were recognized by Governor Baldacci at a ceremony in the atrium of the Maine State Museum. Each of those individuals contributed over 500 hours to programs from all across the state. Their level of service resulted in their names being added to the Roll of Honor for the 2010 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards.
The Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards are administered jointly by the Governor’s Office and the Maine Commission for Community Service. Since 1994, the Commission has focused its efforts on building capacity and sustainability in Maine’s volunteer sector by funding service programs, developing volunteer managers, raising awareness, and encouraging an ethic of service. For more information visit MaineServiceCommission.gov or VolunteerMaine.org.
National Volunteer Appreciation Week runs from April 18th till April 24th, 2010.
Assistant Chief Jason A. Cole
Public Information Officer
Lebanon Rescue Department

Samantha J. Cole

Chief

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

UPDATE 03/29/10 – I was able to get the second part of the meeting that included the presentation it is available here

It would probably be best to right click and “save as” to save locally to view.

I pointed this extreme volume out during the Budget Committee meeting on the Transfer Station last evening and it was explained by Ronal Patch the Department Head / Selectmen, that these were simply tires picked about town left on the road.  I contend the tires are being hauled in by the Commercial Enterprise allowed to use our facility, and or businesses, tire dumps and junkyards in the surrounding area.  How many tires is 48 Tons you ask?  … it’s about 3600 tires!  I took the the volume of tires and applied the excuse provided, tons to miles, it’s ludicrous.

There is No Revenue into our Town for these “found tires” and there seemed to be little cause for concern by Mr.  Patch.  I explained and showed in detail how the entire two plus years earlier we had not brought in as many as we have in the last 3 months…and how even those lower annual numbers are alarming and excessive at, 48 ton so far for 2009, 10 ton for 2008, 39 ton for 2007 and 22 ton for 2006.

This totals 119 Ton of Tires or nearly 9,000 tires! If you spread these around evenly on our 90 miles of road, that would be 99 tires per mile or one tire every 53 feet!!!  If you only use the tonnage of the tires picked up since September of this year that is 40 tires per mile or one tire every 132 feet, We as residents would have seen these tires all over before they were picked up.  I am not making any of this up folks!  See Supporting Detail Here

Just to have these tires hauled away, It has cost taxpayers $18,000.00 this does not include disposal. This cost also does not include the alleged hours of hauling and pick-up by the sub-contractors to deliver them to the Transfer Station.

If you were to buy the explanation provided by Mr. Patch, to pay a sub-contractor to pick-up this volume of tires the Road Commissioner would need a budget line with it’s own expense. Think about it, If you used a 1 ton truck, you would have to make at least 48 trips this fall alone, plus they would have to find these scattered tires, stop toss one in, pull up, stop, toss one in, it would take endless hours. Did I mention most of the tires for this fall came in during December and January?  It’s tough to dig them tires  out of the snow…granted we haven’t had much snow lately, but at that time we did. How does one find them under the snow?

I believe the majority of  people when they get tires put on there car, have the garage they purchased them at keep the dead ones for disposal. The volume of tires we taxpayers have paid for in the last 44 months, is about 1.5 tires for every single person man woman and child in town! Occam’s Razor states in short “the simplest answer is usually the correct one.” The simple answer is…They are being collected and hauled in to the facility from junkyards, stations and tire dealers.

This only serves to strengthen the argument we can’t allow commercial haulers into our facility and we are not controlling the operation of the facility properly. The Lack of concern by the people in charge of managing the facility is troubling. How anyone can not see this a major cause for concern and not be alarmed is beyond me.  This warrants full detailed  investigation and as a minimum a moratorium on Tire disposal.

One Tire For Every 53 Feet of Road- Yes..Thats What You Have Paid For!

I know that rescue crews, Highway crews and EMA were out and about Thursday afternoon. Then when flooding and winds started, the FD got very busy with wires down and flooded basements. Highway,  fire and rescue crews helped clear debris from roads where they could, but so many poles and wires were down and roads were flooded, that both rescue and fire crews spent hours blocking roads also. Lebanon EMA did a great job setting up the Emergency Operations Center to direct all action to one central location. Tom Cravens and his staff did a great job through the entire storm.

Ray Davis and several road crews were out throughout the entire storm and then we got snow which added to the busy work they already had!!

Skip Wood and the fire department assisted with flooded basements and wires down and a lot of hours were spent!

Chief Samantha Cole and her volunteers went to over 250 houses door to door checking on people. They delivered drinking water, did well being checks, helped carry in wood to the elderly, delivered gas and kerosene for heaters and generators, helped deliver oxygen, blocked roads that were flooded, helped cut trees and remove trees from roads, and more. They also had multiple non-storm related rescue calls.

Town Clerk Laura Bragg and her husband Tony helped with gathering buckets for the rescue to deliver water to residents who could not flush toilets.

Recreation Director Jess Brewington and her family cooked a very large dinner for the volunteers who were out responding to calls and going door to door. This was the first home made meal any of us had in days and it was soooo good! We had a couple power crews stop into the station and also helped us eat!!

Now comes a lot of work for town hall crew with the bills and hopefully some federal assistance.  They work hard to get all the information together with the EMA director and all the departments to ensure the town gets reimbursed if they declare this a federal disaster.

We had a lot of very positive remarks from the rescue facebook page where road closures, power info, shelter info and more were posted. Technology has changed to allow us to give real time info.

The rescue chief sent out an email update to about 1200 email addresses for Lebanon residents on Saturday.  That was:

We also used our Facebook site to relay to residents real-time road closures and other important information. This plus our website seemed to be a great tool to get information out. We also received several calls from family members who live out of state who read the infoface bookwebsite and facebook and needed us to check on their family.