Op Ed: Shelburne Rescue needs you

By John Kelley,

Shelburne Rescue

One of the great assets Shelburne possesses, and also I believe one of its greatest strengths, is its volunteer Rescue Squad. I consider it a real privilege to be a part of the squad, for it is made up of very special people. They are people who are committed to helping others, not because they receive any compensation, but because there is a need. They are people who are willing to get up in the middle of the night because someone in the community needs help. They are people who are willing to give up weekends and holidays to meet that need; and they do so month after month, year after year. When a 911 call comes in and they go out, regardless of the weather, day or night, weekend or holiday; and regardless of the nature of the call, the person who is in need is always treated with respect, courtesy, and dignity. Always. What does all this cost us as taxpayers? Nothing. The Squad generates its own revenue.

There are a couple of funny thing about our Shelburne Rescue Squad, though. The largest segment of its membership is made up of people who are under the age of 30. Although they are dedicated and wonderful to work with; they are often short-term, tending to go off to other things such as medical school. They’re also not Shelburne residents. That hasn’t always been the case. There was a day when the majority of its members were Shelburne residents, and when they were over thirty. There was a day when those members were persons who had decided Shelburne was the place they wanted to live, wanted to raise their family. But no more. Why is that? Why is it that for our residents the privilege of serving others is no longer a sufficient reward? Why is it that we are content to rely on others for that service? Is volunteerism dying in our community?

Our Shelburne Rescue crews consist of three members, all of whom are certified for the job they do. One of them, the driver, does not have to be an EMT. We have such crews on duty every day, around the clock. But as I write, there are only a dozen Shelburne residents willing and able to serve on those crews; and of those dozen, four are over 60. And so I ponder, and I ask you to ponder with me, the question: What it will take to persuade other Shelburne residents, people who have selected Shelburne as the place to raise their families, to help in sustaining that asset we call our Shelburne Rescue Squad?

See you at Shelburne Day!

Shelburne Rescue, Our “success” depends upon “u.”