January 11, 2008

For immediate release

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Kumar Vaswani
(301) 652-0077
media@bccrs.org

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Installs New Volunteer Officers.

Members of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad elected new leadership at its annual elections on January 7, 2008.

Kenneth M. Yazge was elected President of the Board of Directors. Re-elected members of the Board include Vice President Kenneth J. Rehbehn, Vice President Robert N. Kretzmer, and Secretary Kenneth B. Holden. Barbara L. Bryniarski was elected Treasurer. David S. Dwyer, Gregory S. Mitchell, and Regina M. Osburn joined George A. Giebel, John McManus, Edward G. Sherburne, and Kumar Vaswani on the Board of Directors.

Edward G. (Ned) Sherburne is continuing in his 12th year as Chief. Deputy Chief James A. Master, Assistant Chief Donald A. Greene, Assistant Chief Kendall F. Sanderson, and Battalion Chief Seth M. Kelly round out the Rescue Squad’s volunteer command staff. The Squad’s volunteer night crew officers include Captains Joseph Morquecho, Adam Roth, and Jason Hershcopf; and Lieutenants Aaron Webster, Marc Plante, Jason Gill, Niklas Zhang, Brendan Feitelberg, Jon Ehrenfeld, and Ryan Schonfeld. Over 150 volunteers and a paid staff of 10 respond to more than 10,000 emergencies a year. All Rescue Squad emergency providers–whether volunteer or career–are state certified to exacting standards.

President Kenneth Yazge, a 17-year member of the Rescue Squad, takes over the helm from David T. Chaconas, who served as President for the last seven years. Yazge is certified as a Firefighter/Rescuer and Emergency Medical Technician and has served both as a command officer and a Board member. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to lead the Rescue Squad as we continue to provide the highest level of emergency medical, rescue, and fire service at no charge to the community,” he stated. "As we enter a new year, the experience of a lifetime continues for me, and I am thankful for all of our dedicated and talented Rescue Squad members, as well as for the generous support of the community."

Now in its 68th year, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) is a community-supported non-profit organization that provides, at no charge, professional emergency medical, ambulance, rescue, and fire services to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland area, as well as Upper Northwest Washington, D.C. Thanks to the generous donations of the community, the efforts of 150 professionally trained volunteers, a staff of daytime employees, and two Montgomery County Paramedics, the Rescue Squad has evolved into one of the nation's most advanced rescue squads, providing compassionate, life-saving services to the community. The Rescue Squad does not receive regular budgeted funds from any government. Instead, BCCRS raises almost all of its $1.5 million operating budget from individual donors, foundations, businesses, and occasional state and federal grants. BCCRS is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to BCCRS are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

For information on volunteering with BCCRS, call the membership hotline at 301-657-5557, email us at membership@bccrs.org , or visit www.bccrs.org.

BCCRS’s fleet includes 7 ambulance/medic units, 2 heavy rescue squads, 2 air support units for refilling firefighters’ breathing apparatus at fire scenes, and various command and utility vehicles. BCCRS responds on all types of emergency incidents, including injuries, illnesses, heart attacks, vehicle collisions, and house fires.

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