Last Sunday afternoon, emergency medical service providers, along with their families and friends, gathered at Fireman’s Park in Woodbourne for a picnic celebrating the launch of the new Sullivan County Emergency Service Council.

The council, officially established in January, marks a fresh chapter for EMS in the county. For years, Sullivan County EMS operated as an advisory board to the legislature, offering input but with limited influence. Now, leaders say the new council gives providers a stronger voice and greater ability to shape the future of emergency services.

Susan Sherwood, president of the EMS Council and Livingston Manor EMS, said she envisioned the council as more than a sounding board for lawmakers. “It’s not just for the big people, the presidents and captains, to have a say; it’s for everyone to have a voice,” Sherwood explained. “I know people who have been doing this for 30 years, but we need those fresh eyes too.”

The council itself is not entirely new; it last existed in the 1990s, but its revival took persistence and support from the legislature and Public Safety Commissioner Scott Schulte. Today, it includes a delegate and alternate delegate from every EMS agency in the county, whether volunteer, commercial, or Hatzalah, with additional opportunities for providers to apply for membership.

Alex Rau, Deputy Commissioner of 911 and EMS, said the new structure brings important benefits: “It allows them to have their own treasury, to have more autonomy to lobby, advocate, and bring together the EMS community.” He added that increasing public outreach is also a priority, helping residents better understand what EMS providers do and the challenges they face.

Rau was also honored at Sunday’s picnic for receiving the regional Harriet C. Webber EMS Leadership Award. He will now be considered for the state-level award. Speaking at the event, Rau reflected on the changes ahead for emergency services, particularly the shift from volunteer corps to commercial services. 

“With more responsibility comes more work,” he said, and continued to explain the difficulties volunteers face, especially when many of them have second jobs and families. “I want to see EMS move forward as opposed to staying stagnant.”

Organizers say the picnic will continue as an annual tradition, offering and encouraging EMS providers from all over the county a chance to come together outside of their demanding work. As Sullivan County’s new EMS Council continues to grow, its leaders aim to foster unity within the field while enhancing the services that many in the community rely on.