 From My Desk
News and Comments by:
Gerit Lewisch
EPA Regional Director
Date: 12/30/2011
From: Gerit Lewisch
Ref: Upcoming Albany Meeting
Re: RD Election
Process
Every two years, all
fifteen regions in the Eastern Division are bound to hold an election to vote
for the Region Director. Since the RD is also a member of the Eastern Division
Board, Eastern Division By-laws direct the election process.
Any region director can
run for three consecutive terms. That process has to be repeated every two
years.
At our last Division
Spring Officers Meeting on May 1, 2011 I introduced the thought to let regions
have the choice to conduct the elections manually or electronically.
The preliminary proposal
has been well received as long both options stay on the table.
Eastern Pennsylvania
Region, the largest in the nation (larger than many divisions) with 1457
patrollers went recently again through the process of a manually conducted
election.
Bob Davies- EPA Election
Chair and his team advertised the election; the platforms of all candidates were
published on the web. Prints of the platforms have been posted at every
refresher. All ballots have been printed with watermarks on special paper and
were counted out for each refresher to guarantee a fair election process.
It was the obligation of
the four Section Chiefs to oversee the election at the respective refreshers in
their section. All in all we had 4 Instructor Refreshers and nine Patroller
Refreshers for a total of 13.
That process as described
in the Division By-laws put a heavy burden on to the Election Chair and our
Section Chiefs. They had to make sure they got all materials and that they were
present at the refreshers, collect the sealed ballot boxes and had all the
material delivered to our EPA Fall Region Meeting.
Before the meeting,
designated patrollers checked and counted the ballots. After the Election
Committee certified the results, the candidates have been informed of the
outcome.
After officially opening
the FOM I had the pleasure to announce my successor for the public. (Bob
Bernatos)
We as a region could save
considerable time and monies to have the electronic voting way available to us.
Therefore I delegated the
task to put a package for a by-law change to ARD and Region Delegate George
Hannon, who also is a member of the Division By-law Committee and very familiar
with the procedural task.
At the present time all
administrative work has been completed and the package is on the desk of the
Division Volunteer Legal Counsel William Cline, Esq. for his comments and or
approval.
I will bring our request
in the final form to the Eastern Division
Winter Board Meeting on
March 16, 2012 at Bromley, VT. That will meet the required 30 days of filing
prior to the Spring Officers Meeting in Albany, where our new elected Region
Director Bob Bernatos and our 5 delegates will vote with all other Delegates,
Section Chiefs and Region Directors on the proposed by-law change. Stay tuned
for the results to be announced by mid May 2012.
Thanks you,
Gerit
Date: 04/25/2009
From: Gerit Lewisch-EPA RD
Re:
Upcoming Albany Division Meeting
Our recently established Division By-laws provide for the
expansion or contraction of regions and their representation. At this time the
existing number of elected Section Chiefs and the position of the Region
Director is the basis for the distribution of votes.
The Division by-laws allow that every five years the
Division Officers can visit the issue of representation and by vote adjust the
numbers of eligible votes at Eastern Division.
At our last year's (2008) Division Spring Officers Meeting
in Albany, NY, I discussed the imparity of Eastern Pennsylvania Region
with other Regions in the Division with my fellow board members and the desire
of EPA to gain an additional vote at the division level.
At the time of my writing, we hold 5 votes in total. Four
Section Chief limited votes, and one Region Director vote on the Division Board.
Only each one of the 15 region directors can cast one vote on all upcoming
issues before the Board and the Division in general. The Section Chief’s vote is
limited to by-laws, membership, dues and the budget.
My fellow board members agreed in a straw vote to visit
this issue during our 2009 Division Spring Officers Meeting.
On April 18, 2009 at our Region Spring Officers Meeting at
Blue Mountain Resort a motion was passed unanimously by EPA Line Officers to
actively seek the additional vote for the Eastern Pennsylvania Region. Our
Region Legal Advisor Timothy Kelly will advise me if the additional vote can be
designated by the Region Director or if an election process has to be
established to comply with our own EPA Region by-laws.
I will attend the 2009 Division Spring Officers Meeting in
a few days (May 1- May3, 2009) in Albany, NY and introduce this issue under new
business on May 3, 2009.
I do expect a positive outcome and will report the results
back to you.
Thank You,
Gerit
03/03/2008 - PRELIMINARY ADVISORY - EPA Inclusion into
the EMS System
..... more GOOD NEWS to Follow Soon.
After years of hard work by Ski Patrol Volunteers, EPA
achieved one of the goals as a first step- the recognition by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania of the “Ski Patroller” to be a member of the EMS community.
The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania has agreed to include Pennsylvania ski patrollers into the EMS
system. This will be a no hassle, totally OPTIONAL agreement between
INDIVIDUAL patrollers and the state. The benefits of becoming a certified EMS
provider are extremely valuable and provide MANY protections and STRATEGIC
BENEFITS to the individual patroller not offered by other ‘groups’ and
‘associations’.
The EPA Region website will soon list all the ‘details’.
You will soon receive another email when the region website is updated and
operational for more info, including ‘online’ applications.
Immediately,
any patroller in good standing who applies will be awarded the certification of
“First Responder” by
reciprocity of your past OEC. This will give the patroller immunity under Act 45
and protects her or him from medical liability.
This notification is just ‘advisory’ at ths time, I will
advise you by email when the EPA website is updated and ready for you to follow
the online applications and info listed to sign up.
I am pleased that every patroller with OEC credentials,
residing or patrolling in Pennsylvania is eligible to sign up. I will email you
again when the EPA region website is upgraded to take your application and give
further info.
Thank you,
Gerit
To begin your application process, please
click here...
February 04, 2008
It came to my attention that we do have problems to understand how we shall
apply for awards.
If you follow the suggestions as written below, you will save time and it
will be easier to get through the process.
For all awards applications please note the following trail;
All applications are to be sent to Dick Bensel and cc. Steve Buzzard.
Everything shall be without signatures and in electronic form.
The awards coordinator will send the application and cover letter to Bob
Davies the review chairman.
The review board chairman will send the electronic submission to the review
committee members.
If they approve the application the originator is notified and then the
application can be put in hard copy form.
All the signatures are collected but the RD's.
After the awards coordinator receives the package he sends it to me for my
signature.
I sign as the last person in the region and it goes up to Division.
So please remember I will get the package from the awards coordinator!
This avoids a lot of frustration and misconceptions.
Do not send anything to me, the awards coordinator will do that for you.
All e-mails and addresses & phone numbers are listed on the website - the
newsletter is outdated.
Please keep in mind after the Division received the completed application, it
will take 45 days for you or us to receive the award if granted.
Thank you
Gerit Lewisch, EPA RD.
December 04, 2007
The snowflakes are falling and the start of our 2008 season
is finally here.
I am sure many of us have been waiting and longing for the
snow.
I would like to take the opportunity to say “Thank You”
to all the instructors and advisors who have worked and planned so hard during
the summer season.
These special people did not see a break, to the contrary
their workload has been heavy and has been ever increasing since we left our
Spring Officers Meeting in March of 2007.
It is a monumental effort to plan and conduct all courses,
OEC classes and refreshers and if there was a glitch here or there, it was
minor.
I wish I would meet all the people whose involvement has
been instrumental to our success so far and let them know how much I appreciate
their efforts.
You can help me, by taking the time to talk to your fellow
patroller, instructor or advisor and thank them. Let them know that we all
realize their contribution.
Keep in mind we all are volunteers donating our time to the
cause of our organization. So many patrollers endured hardships and had personal
problems, but they got the job done.
That makes our organization unique and I personally realize
it day by day- outstanding
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Gerit
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