Kat Sayre

            Great input helped fill The Voice of OHIO EMS with useful information.  I have made some contacts with different departments that are contributing EMS related articles for our magazine.  Thank you to our members for their well written articles and to many of our corporate members for their articles and future event information.  This type of participation will not only create a better quality magazine, but generate outside interest in our organization.  If you have an article that you think would benefit our EMS community send it to katnkids2003@yahoo.com .

            With my second publication of The Voice of OHIO EMS I have gotten some feedback on the pictures.  My goal is to have our membership pictures all over our magazine.  To do this I must have what else, but pictures.  These can be old, new, emailed, mailed, but must be tasteful.  If your department is on a run, take a picture for our magazine.  If one of our members is honored for their great work let me know and I can acknowledge it in the magazine.  I have to be careful of copy write laws so make sure that you send the proper acknowledgement with these pictures.  From what I have experienced these pictures have attracted the attention of people outside of our membership and proves that OAEMS is full of interesting and wonderful individuals.   I cannot do this without your help.  You have access to many incidents and people that I do not.  Please, send you pictures to katnkids2003@yahoo.com or P.O.Box 4158, Sidney, Ohio 45365.  Please note that you pictures may not be returned so a copy is best.

            I am trying to fill our magazine with information for you.  To do this the Executive Board reports will be located on www.oaems.com or at the office 1.800.382.9960.  Membership renewals are going to be marked in each individual magazine on the membership application page when you are due to renew.  I have added a welcome section for new corporate members so that our members know who is supporting OAEMS.  There is also a corporate feature area to educate our readers about what our corporate members have to offer.  Please, assist OAEMS in the continuation of creating a well-respected magazine by sending pictures and articles to the office or

katnkids2003@yahoo.com.  

            The brochure was out in November and the magazine in early January. Please, let me know if you are not receiving our mailings, I won’t know if your address is wrong, since our mailings are non profit and is not returned to our P.O. Box if not delivered.   We are in the process of going through the mailing list, so please be sure your membership is current or you may be left out of future mailings.

            We have a great response in our unit membership numbers.  Many of these units are sending their members to our conferences.   If your unit is not a member it may be beneficial for your department to join. I do have a unit information sheet that is at the registration table.  If you would like me to contact your unit please fill out that sheet.

            Our corporate membership is a major backbone for OAEMS.  They pay a corporate annual fee, purchase advertisement, sponsor events, and provide valuable information.  With their ability to reach a large number of individuals outside of OAEMS we rely on them to spread our name.  If you know of a business that will be interested in exhibiting or sponsoring an event for OAEMS contact katnkids2003@yahoo.com or 1.800.382.9960.

            There will be 17 vendors during the Winter conference.  Many of these vendors are corporate members so please acknowledge these exhibitors and keep them in mind when your department is in need of equipment, demonstrations, etc.  

The vendor track for Friday June 27, 2008, being held during the Summer conference, is still in the planning stages.  The vendors will teach you about their product and you will receive CEU’s for these classes.  This will give them, and you, more time for questions and answers.  I am gong to try and contact local purchasing agents, chiefs, etc, that would be able to come out on that Friday and who are actually responsible for purchasing the equipment. If you would like me to contact your local agents, please give me the information.  It is on a Friday so that these individuals can attend and not miss out on their weekend.  Without our vendors and all of their support during our conferences, OAEMS would not be able to offer the extra benefits that we do. 

            I visited Canton for sponsorship and donations.  I am finding that certain types of businesses respond to email and telephone contact while others are more apt to donate when I actually visit.  I am using this insight to receive more donation and sponsorship and save valuable time. 

Our next conference will be held in Mansfield.  District 5 Director, Brian Rogers is already jumping in to help. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.  If you are from this area please let me know of any corporations or EMS related organizations. I will contact them and try to generate more interest for our conference.  There are teaser sheets available at the registration office. 

Exhibit and sponsorship packets will be sent out immediately following this conference. Some have already received these and responded.  That is a difference from earlier conferences and proves that, not only our attendees, but our vendors, want to be a part of our growing success. 

 Thank you letters will be mailed, or emailed, to the vendors and sponsors attributing to the conference.  I am keeping track of the vendors that attend the conferences. I’m also keeping comparison sheet for our attendees so that the board can make educated decisions on where and when a conference will be best received.

            OAEMS is a growing source of information, education and camaraderie for our EMS community.  This is possible through the hard work of your Executive Board, Office personnel, and YOU.  For this to continue I believe that it is important to listen to our members and try to expand on what works and eliminate what doesn’t.  If you have any suggestions that will benefit OAEMS please do not hesitate to let it be known.

            I look forward to working for you in the future and know that we as a whole can create an organization that will continue to grow.

Thank You!

Kat Sayre

Marketing & Publication Administrator                                                                                                            

Ohio Association of Emergency Medical Services