In 2000, several of the members from the old organization along with several new ones re-organized the group as the Crowleys Ridge Chapter of EMS Association and officially filed for membership as a sub chapter with the Arkansas EMT Association. We wanted to represent the northeast part of the state which had been inactive for some time on the state level. The group chartered with a little over 20 members. Regular meetings were held. Officers were elected.
In 2002, the first Mini Conference was held Not to replace the state conference, but to provide an avenue of CEU's to those who were unable to go the state conference in the fall. The Conference was successfull and has become an annual event.
Today, the organization has over 35 members and growing, which meet regularly and plan for the mini conference as well as several other activities throughout the year. We attend the state conference as a group to represent northeast arkansas.
In 2003, Melissa Coffel was elected board member for Region 2 and has also been elected president of the CRCEMSA since its re-organization in 2000. In 2004, the chapter was awarded the Presidents award from the AEMTA president Rod Barrett recognizing the work done to promote EMS in NE Arkansas and Region 2. Also in 2004, Melissa Coffel was recognized as Paramedic of the Year for Arkansas. In 2005, Melissa was awarded the Asmund S. Laerdal Award for Excellence (Paramedic of the year for the nation). This is sponsored by Laredal and is awarded by the NAEMT.
We work closely with the Arkansas EMT Association and maintain the same goals and objectives and is made up of first responders, EMT's, Paramedics, and Nurses from over 7 counties in Northeast Arkansas.
We are a very close group and work well together.
