Release date: August 9th, 2012
5,000 Distribution
Get the online PDF: http://bit.ly/MuGZT1
Greetings from the Editorial Staff of the Banshee News Service,
A lot has been happening at the Banshee Association this summer. We’ve been doing a great deal of re-organizing to strengthen our boots-on-the-ground presence in Haiti and offer a stronger show of solidarity to EMS in New York. On June 10th, we held our 7th Congress in Calcoon, New York to re-evaluate our tactics and overall strategy in Haiti and New York. We are in the process of setting up a network of Banshee delegates in order to not only extend the distribution of this paper to every Station and Garage in the city, but to also begin offering membership in a benefit system to citywide EMS members of service, regardless of agency. By September, we aim to be plugged into an online citywide 10-13, to have a legal support hotline set up, and to have Banshee’s internal 10-13 and emergency response plans for our members running.
Our summer boot drive has so far collected 22 pairs of EMS boots, both USAR and civilian. Twelve pairs were delivered to Gwoup Ayisyen pou Ijans (GAI) by the last team down. Please email to identify your closest Banshee delegate to donate boots, uniforms, or any other medical equipment to re-supply the GAI and Haitian EMS. EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF GEAR COUNTS! YOUR ACTIONS, BIG AND SMALL, KEEP HAITIAN EMS IN THE FIELD.
Our 68 GAI, MASHA, and EMPACT-trained Haitian EMTs are now training with Global DIRT to engage in moto-medic response–EMS on dirt bikes, backed up by regular ambulances. Global DIRT, in partnership with Team Rubicon and Banshee, is spearheading a fourth Haitian EMS course beginning August 1st. We are most in need of French and Creole speaking EMS to staff these courses and do field rotations alongside GAI and Global DIRT operators. If you don’t speak French/ Creole, we still want your help! We have launched a Sponsor-A-Rescuer program, and can help you raise money for your ticket and accommodations.
Don’t believe the negative hype about Haiti. So far, over 64 EMS and Logistical Support volunteers have gone through our conduit and come back safe.
Members of our allied organizations are in regular communication with the Haitian government. President Martelli is fully behind the creation of EMS. The so-called “Republic of NGOs” in Haiti is slowly losing ground, thankfully, to the elected Haitian government. I think we will have some very exciting news to report in November, as GAI and our Haitian EMTs are slowly integrated into the newly-formed Haitian Ambulance Corps (CAN).
Take a look at the trailer to Justin Thomas’ upcoming film on the GAI and the effort to bring EMS to Haiti at http://tinyurl.com/espwalev
We are proud to announce that Nation to Nation Networking, Ltd., founded by Ms. Abaynesh Asrat, will be honoring Banshee Chief of Staff EMT-P Victor Cangé with the Rising Star Award at their Fifth Annual International Diaspora Award Reception the evening of Wednesday, October 3rd. The Reception will be held in the Manhattan Ballroom of the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Victor Cangé has served in five training deployments in Port Au Prince since his first deployment on January 15th, 2011.
There will be an EMS & Firefighter Boat Party on August 24th–we hope to see you all there!
We always welcome your articles about your experiences in the field. Please don’t hesitate to submit to us at emsbanshee@gmail.com .
We are hereby accepting submissions to create an NYC/EMS Calendar. Send your submissions to the email address listed above. Our goal is to get it published with approval, and to have all proceeds donated to injured MOS. Please enlist.
Lastly, there were some minor reports of verbal warnings being issued to MOS to the effect that if you hand out the Banshee, you ‘will get jammed up’. Feel free to remind officers and bosses who may do so that as an American, you are protected by your First Amendment Rights. Organizations like The National Lawyers Guild and the New York Civil Liberties Union will gladly help anyone lawyer up over harassment of EMS MOS which violates the First Amendment.
“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”
We hope you enjoy our Summer Issue.
Lauren Cullen, Editor
Banshee News Service