On October 16th, under the leadership of Rev. Rusty Halaus of the Lutheran Church, a temporary group of officers and committees were elected. The officers were: President Jim Rocco; Vice President Gene Mullaly; Secretary Kay Sloan; Treasurer Marge Jonas. The By Laws Committee consisted of Lil Costigan, Jimmy Albright, Henry Thollot. The Finance Committee was Marge Jonas, Jo and Stan Jackabowski. Public Relations was Kay Sloan and Paul Kival. Operations Jimmy Albright, Henry Thollot, Joe and Alice Scaturro, Jack Meyers, and Les Costigan were to become active members soon after. We remember Matt Oehlman Sr saying at this meeting, the population explosion in Dingmans Ferry in 1975 there were 776 residents of which 231 were students. These figures did not include the summer population which swelled to more than double the winter population.
In November 1975, a group of twelve of us started our training with Sharon Robinson of Tafton Ambulance Co. After completing advanced first aid, some of us went on to become instructors in first aid.
During a meeting at Anderson Hall in February of 1976, Les Costigan, Equipment Manager, showed up with a 1976 Cadillac Ambulance purchased for $800.00 - A donation by Jim Rocco, in memory of his parents.
Sometime in May of 1976, we finished our EMT training at Blooming Grove Firehouse. The state allowed 40 hour advanced first aid plus 40 hour special EMT course equal 80 hours plus 10 hours in the hospital. We were now certified for ambulance.
Harry Foos joined us at this time and being retired telephone engineer set up a telephone operators system. He also worked on the radio system. One base phone and six extensions cost $77.06 per month in 1976. Computed at a rate of $1 per 1/4 flight of air mile. Harry thought this rate was excessive and complained to GTE (telephone co.).
Still holding regular meetings at the Lutheran Church hall, we rented a small building for $200.00 a month. We prepared the building for ambulance operations by installing telephones and radio. We went into service on June 1st of 1976 at 7 a.m. The first ambulance was at 1:30 p.m. on June 1 for a code 45 (auto accident) on 01. Driver was John Bontz who later became President. Marge Whittaker was crew chief, Fritz Frey, crew and Mary Albright, telephone operator.
At the June 2, 1976 meeting, we split the corp into two divisions: Administrative section with a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasures; Operations section headed by a Captain, First Lt, Second Lt, etc.
Our first fund raiser on July 15 and 16 was at the Centennial Fair behind the old fire house on Rt 209. Jack Meyers was chairman and he and Kathy Quick recalls an ambulance by radio from the fairgrounds. All the members present cheered and felt very proud.
A "Knock-Knock" Fund Drive started in August of 1976. The drive was for two purposes: (1) Acquaint townspeople with our purposes; (2) To ask for donations to defray operational costs. Bill Holfelt and Johanna De-Weese, PR people at this ime got us coverage in The Dispatch.
Proceeds from our fund raisers, this is the Knock-Knock, 50/50's, direct mail ins, and the fair netted $7,419.37 as noted at the October 1976 meeting. We were finally on our way financially.
Another source of income was authorized by the Board on October 27, 1976. This was the memorial book in which names of family members deceased were recorded and a donation was accepted for the purchase of patient equipment for ambulance use. The first donation was in memory of Glynn Albright.
During the winter of 76/77, the ambulance building became a second home for Mary's helpers and the crew. Uno card games, deer hunters dropping in, even a New Years Eve party was held. With much snow that year we devised a snowmobile response with a first aid kit aboard.
A word about the gift shop. It was called Mary's Helpers after the lady in charge, Mary Albright. These ladies met every Wednesday and spent endless hours making hand crafted items at the shop and at home. They netted $6,000.00 one year. This group continues to this day under the leadership of Doris Foos.
Other fund raisers utilized were: Chicken Barbeque, Easter Flower and Cake Sale; Bridge Collections, Pike County Days, Block Shoots (Don Arner in Charge), and Donkey Soft Ball Game. Donations cans around town collections by Ed Denny.
With requests for transport mounting the purchase of another ambulance. A full size vehicle made by the Horton Co. was bought for $26,000 thru a loan with First National Bank.
Joe and Alice Scaturro joined us at this time on our building planning committee. Merging DTVAC with the Eger Center complex was discussed, studied, and rejected.
The April 1977 meeting was very eventful. One thousand dollars was appropriated for Cadillac ambulance repairs. Four hundred and fifty dollars was approved for purchase of an Army ambulance to be used as a rescue vehicle. Known as "MASH".
A quote from The Dispatch column of May 1977 said, "I am proud of my affiliation with DTVAC serving as Treasurer since its inception in 1975. We have had our ups and downs; the path was not a bed of roses. But with determination, we have advanced." Marge was our first Treasurer and staunch supporter as Supervisor and Commissioner.
According to "Our Town" column of August 1977, Vice President Harry Foos attended a township meeting on the construction of a new township building. One bay was set aside for ambulance use later if expansion of the township took place.
DTVAC held an old fashioned ox roast as a fund raiser at Mount Haven Lodge on August 14, 1977. The night before one could see the ox being cooked over an outdoor all night fire. The next day trophies were given for winners of shuffle board, basketball shooting, horse shows, golf, and rope pulling.
On the evening of December 23, 1977, members of DTVAC under the leadership of Dave and Rick Hutchinson drove around town singing Christmas Carols in the back of a truck. Fun Time.
Thirty four members of DTVAC traveled to Tobyhanna Army Depot Officer's Club on November 11, 1978 to celebrate the third anniversary of the Corps and installations of new Officers. Colonel Harry Foos said the new Horton ambulance has been paid off.
The DTVAC Board of Directors finalized purchase of five acres of land on Park Road October 1980. Sent a token gift to Bruce Pursell of Red Lion for ambulance storage. Bruce's wife Ruth is an EMT with the corps.
In February of 1981 a heart lung machine that does CPR called "The Thumper" was put in service. The MASH ambulance after many mechanical problems was sold for $350.00. We purchased a Dodge Van Type Ambulance 1974 vintage for $5,500.00. The Caddy was soon to be retired from duty.
We now had three vehicles. The Horton kept at ambulance building, the Van at the Red Lion Garage, and the Caddy at the Township Building.
The proposed budget for 1981/1982 was $33,180.00. By going ahead and spending, we stayed together and worked harder for the Corps. This theory worked.
The new ambulance on Park Road was dedicated on November 4, 1982. Those present were Pastor Neilsen, Father Capparelli, Jim Rocco, Jim Crellin, Jim Albright, Harry Foos, Jay Asper, Marge Jonas, Joan Gerland. Joan while President during 1983 and 1984 served on the new ambulance committee that purchased a new K&S Ambulance called Rescue 286.
"Our Town" of December 1984 told of the new dedication of the new K&S Ambulance in honor of Harry Foos at the Ambulance Building. This vehicle was to be converted later to a four wheel drive for winter use and called Rescue 287.
During the years 1982-1985, Hank Altvater as Captain started radio communications between the ambulance and Pocono Hospital and Newton Hospital. Also in service training for medical evacuation helicopters and mast trousers were accomplished.
During 1984-1985, the Ambulance Federation was organized in Pike County with the help of Corps members Wally McGahn, Hank Altvater, Rick Navickas, and Jim Mould, now a member of the Lackawaxen Ambulance Corps. The Federation Communications Committee became very important later when we joined Pike County Communications Center's paging system.
Between 1983-1984, Joanne Stovekin experiences a rapid rise in rank. She went from 2nd LT to 1st Lt then to Captain in a matter of months -this after just becoming an EMT. Joanne later served on the new ambulance recommending the purchase of our second K&S vehicle to be called rescue 286.
DTVAC now entered a down period. We needed people on crew and Corps. Posters were displayed, ads in newspapers were run, talks and word of mouth brought young people in. These people were trained by: Rick Navickas, Fred Catanzariti, and Joanne Stovekin. Henry Thollet trained new drivers.
During 1986-88, Rick Navickas, Paul Eppel, and Mary Donohue, and Henry Thollot with Board's approval issued summer and winter jackets, blue lights, and pagers to the crew members.
On May 1, 1990, DTVAC went online with the Pike County Communications Center, who became our dispatcher. Our telephone operators were disbanded after fifteen years service. They were soon to be reactivated.
Our telephone operator system was reformed for internal communications between crew members. Betty Boyle and Fred Catanzariti handled the training and leadership of this group.