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EMS Capitol Day
1999 |
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On January 20th Kansas EMS personnel gathered at the State Capitol in Topeka for the second annual EMS Capitol Day. 61 people participated representing 43 EMS agencies. Field technicians, educators, administrators and staff all involved in EMS in some way were present for the activities of the day. Following registration and distribution of materials, Senator Larry Salmans of Hanston, a Kansas certified EMT, welcomed us and spoke to us regarding various issues of interest. Senator Salmans has been instrumental in the development of Capitol Day since its beginning and we look forward to working with him as this event moves into the future. Governor Bill Graves then spent over 30 minutes with us sharing information and giving us the opportunity to share information with him. This was definitely the highlight of the day. John Ralston, President of Region II, presented to the Governor a collection of matted and framed EMS patches and a bunny rabbit for Katie Graves in an EMSC bag. We are fortunate that Governor Graves schedule would permit him time to be with us. We will invite him again next year and be hopeful he will be available. Brochures of Kansas EMS information were handed out to all participants with a space in the brochure for an individual business card. These were yellow with black ink and they were everywhere, all over the building before the day ended. Contacts with Legislators were one of the most important activities of the day. We attended the House of Representatives session as a group sitting in the gallery. Following the session, Rep. Carl Holmes from Liberal visited with us regarding the House and how it functions. We appreciate this very much as Rep. Holmes schedule is busy the entire day. Rep. Holmes has been an advocate of EMS for many years. Speaker of the House, Rep. Robin Jennison was able to speak to us for a few minutes. He is from Healy and has been accessible to us throughout his time in the Legislature. He is aware of issues of interest to those of us in EMS, and wants to know how to help us as decisions are made. Following lunch, which many of us had in the Capitol Cafeteria, we again made contacts with Legislators. By this time in the day, almost everyone had an EMS brochure on his or her desk or in his or her pocket. They were saying "thanks, but I already have one". Our last activity of the day was to attend the Senate session. We sat as a group in the east gallery for this session in the afternoon. Senate President Dick Bond introduced us and Senator Salmans recognized us for our efforts as EMS professionals and the efforts we put forth for those around us. EMS Capitol Day 1999 is an activity that was participated in by a group of EMS personnel from across the state representing rural and urban agencies, volunteer, part-time and full-time, BLS and ALS. Virtually all types of Emergency Medical Services and all levels of personnel were represented. This was a KANSAS EMS ACTIVITY. It would not have been successful if YOU had not participated. Next year, EMS Capitol Day 2000 will be held at a similar time. If you participated this year, please join us again next year. If you did not participate, then please make plans early for next year so that you can attend. SKEMS - Region II, as sponsor of this activity, would like to thank everyone who assisted with EMS Capitol Day. There were a great many folks who worked together to make this day successful. We are proud that the day was successful and beneficial, and look forward to this activity next year. We will need your help again to achieve another successful event. |