The Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps is hoping to broaden its membership by allowing Sag Harbor residents who are in college, or doing an equivalent educational program, to be eligible to volunteer.
By amending a bylaw, the corps is targeting younger residents to volunteer and contribute in their community. According to Steve Hatfield, its president, the change would allow a Sag Harbor resident “who may be out of district for up to eight months of the year for college or similar educational pursuits” to serve.
“Technically, the bylaw change has not been approved by the Ambulance Corps yet,” Mr. Hatfield said on Tuesday. “It was proposed at our last general membership meeting and will be voted on at our upcoming April meeting, but all indications are that it will pass unanimously.”
“The intent of this amendment is to expand the membership pool,” he said. “We want to attract younger members who will bring energy and commitment and potentially give us the opportunity to train them to be able to take their skills out into the world.”
“The goal is to allow college students home on break to volunteer with the Ambulance Corps,” Mayor Thomas Gardella said on March 31. “We hope they can get experience, and young people who are interested in medicine can see what it’s like.”
The amendment is worded to allow current members to retain their memberships if they want to pursue further education or leave the area for up to eight months a year.
Applicants will have to reside in the Sag Harbor Fire District and complete the same training as all members, Mr. Hatfield said. Members are voted in by the corps and approved by the village board.
Two applicants have already gone through the process and were approved on Tuesday. Mr. Hatfield said he and the corps are “very excited” about the two applicants and hope their coming aboard has a “positive effect” on the village at large.
“I hope it just broadens interest and understanding of the services the ambulance provides,” Mr. Hatfield said. “I hope it provides an outlet for younger people to give back to the community and take those skills out into the world.”
One of the challenges of refreshing the corps is the cost of living on the South Fork. While acknowledging that, Mr. Hatfield added that he wants volunteers to be able to provide for their communities wherever they end up living.
“However,” he said, “if one of these members strengthens their ties to the community and they choose to make Sag Harbor their home, that’s a win for everybody.”
Those interested in joining the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps have been asked to send an email to [email protected].