Rondequoter

Tom Kosanke presided tonight.

 

Guests:  District Governor Dave DeMers, his wife Ann and Tom Kirchoff, our speaker tonight, Chief of Irondequoit Ambulance.

 

Membership:  Last week we inducted our newest member, Joey Pierleoni.  Doug Decker handled the presentation and Bob Spatola was the Sponsor.  Joey, welcome to Irondequoit Rotary!

 

 

Dictionary Program:  

Tom Kirchoff is Chief at Irondequoit Ambulance (IA).  Previously, Tom retired as Fire Chief in Greece.  In 2024, IA started servicing the whole town of Irondequoit.  They are on Norton Street and also at St. Paul Fire Department.  IA provides skilled EMTs and Paramedics with rapid-response Basic and Advanced Life Support ambulance services and pre-hospital ER treatment with their 7 ambulances.  In 2024, there were around 9,800 calls into IA which resulted in 7,500 ambulance runs in the town plus runs into the surrounding counties.  There is tremendous pressures on the ambulance system in terms of lack of volunteers and higher costs.  The cost of an ambulance in 2017 was $118,000 and is now $209,000.  Federal and State grants help with expenses as insurance payments (especially Medicare and Medicaid) do not cover costs per run.  Auto CPR and Intubation machines help EMT's provide better service but are costly.  There are 60 employees overall.  Other services include CPR Training (less demand recently) and medical equipment loans (walkers, canes, etc.).  911 now tracks all ambulances by GPS which help make service faster.  Based on the medical condition of the patient, the ambulance will be directed to the hospital that will provide the best care for that need.  

 

Chief Tom invited anyone interested for a tour is welcome and he is currently looking for Board Members to serve on th IA Board.  It was noted that Irondequoit Rotary was instrumental in providing the very first ambulance for IA back in 1982 led by Dom Fantauzzo.

Many contributions for Dictionary Program, DG Dave DeMers, Irondequoit Ambulance presentation, the passing of Doug Decker's dad, and for the health of Guy Kittelsen.

 

Lou DiPrima in hot water again now for misspelling his granddaughter's name.  It is Sofia.

Dan Dwyer for daughter who moved out of cold Rochester for Houston which just had 4 inches of snow.

Bob Spatola granddaugher Frankie turns 1 year old!

Brandon Barnhart looking forward to the Polar Plunge.

Tom Kosanke for Marcia's aunt passing away.