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South Dakota
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| 1970's | 1980's | 1990's | 2000's |
The 1980 conference was held in Mitchell with Montie Horn, Sioux Falls, elected as President; Dick Shaheen, Woonsocket, Vice President; Dulia Moren, Hot Springs, Secretary; Doug Kirkus, Mt. Vernon, Treasurer; T.J. Sanborn, Vermillion, National Board Representative; Betty Kaltenbach, Beresford, House Delegate; and Maynard Konechne, Kimball, House Delegate.
In 1981, Frank Krogman of the State Health Department became the liaison officer. This year’s conference was held in Spearfish with Dulia Moren, Hot Springs, becoming President; Dick Shaheen, Woonsocket, Vice President; Karen Horn, Sioux Falls, Secretary; Doug Kirkus, Mt. Vernon, Treasurer; T.J. Sanborn, Rapid City, National Board Representative; Betty Kaltenbach, Beresford, and Maynard Konechne, Kimball, as National Delegates.
In 1982, Ruth Ahl became the Health Department’s liaison officer. The conference was held in Sioux Falls with Dulia Moren, Hot Springs, remaining President; Dick Shaheen, Woonsocket, Vice President; Karen Horn, Sioux Falls, Secretary; Doug Kirkus, now of Mitchell, Treasurer; and T.J. Sanborn, Pierre, National Representative. Maynard Konechne, Kimball, received the Vic Steffen award. An important subject of this year was that of vehicle extrication and handling of patients during extrication. A number of firemen wanted to be involved but didn’t want to be EMT’s. A daylong visit with the State Fire Marshal’s Advisory Board by Bob Bray and Montie Horn resulted in the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee appointed to research an emergency rescue technicians’ course. The Ad Hoc Committee consisted of Doug Kirkus, Doug Feltman, G.A. Brinkman, Steve Hartford, Montie Horn, John Neihart, Bob Bray, Bob Graff, and Tom Sanborn. The first class of the emergency rescue technicians’ course was held at the Sioux Falls Fire Training Center but not until September of 1985 with 17 participants. Because of no funding support from the Health Department or Fire Marshal’s Offices, the course was discontinued.
1983 saw Walt Thores, Faulkton, becoming Chairperson of the Training Committee and Bob Graff being appointed as Health Department liaison. The conference this year was held in Aberdeen. Doug Kirkus, Mitchell, was elected President; Bruce Norman, White, Vice President; Susan Knapp, Hot Springs, Treasurer; Dulia (Moren) Kramer, Hot Springs, Secretary; and T.J. Sanborn remained the National Representative. Some of the 1983 conference business included a Resolutions Committee consisting of Jerry Drake, Sioux Falls; Ron Patterson, Sioux Falls; Karen Horn, Sioux Falls; and Ruth Ahl, Pierre. It was decided at this conference to purchase a plaque to place all the Vic Steffen award recipient names on. McKennan Hospital received the association’s endorsement to start a helicopter ambulance service. Montie Horn made a motion, which was seconded by T.J. Sanborn, to support the American College of Emergency Physicians to start a program to certify all high school students in C.P.R.; the motion carried unanimously. Betty Shaheen resigned as historian, and Karen Horn filled that position. The treasurer’s bond was set at $20,000.00 on a motion from Doug Feltman and seconded by Kathy Walker.
In 1984, the association decided to go pro with its newsletter and hired Linda Hanson of Brookings to edit and manage the newsletter. Paul Marso of the Health Department became the training officer. Brad Bartnem, Mitchell, became the historian. Dr. Tony Javurick, Sioux Falls, was appointed as the association’s medical advisor, and the ambulance service of the year was started. The 1984 conference was held in Pierre with Doug Kirkus, Mitchell, elected as President; Bruce Norman, White, Vice President; Dulia Kramer, Hot Springs, Secretary; Susan Knapp, Hot Springs, Treasurer; and T.J. Sanborn, Pierre, National Representative. Mike McGee, Huron, received the Vic Steffen award. Teton Ambulance Service, Eagle Butte, received the ambulance of the year award; and McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, received the President’s award. 1984 business saw Cathy Penney of DeSmet becoming the official photographer; Karen Horn, Sioux Falls, declined the appointment as historian. Doug Feltman, Mitchell, made a motion, seconded by Don Verhey, to have pictures taken and displayed of all association Presidents. Paul Marso, Pierre, suggested that all districts should have workshops. Doug Feltman, Mitchell, made a motion that three regional workshops should be held with $1,000.00 set aside for each; Kathy Walker seconded the motion which passed. Linda Hanson became the newsletter editor. T.J. Sanborn, National Representative, received $500.00 to attend the National Conference on a motion of Susan Christie. Dulia Kramer volunteered to be the historian. A printer to print address labels was purchased. A plaque was purchased to print all Vic Steffen award recipient names. The plaque is to be on display at the State Health Department offices. The cost of the newsletter was determined at 61¢ per member.
The 1985 conference was held in Spearfish. Jill Shelly, Warner, was hired to write and print the association newsletter. Jim O’Grady was appointed paramedic liaison. Montie Horn became the association’s training officer. The association purchased a trophy case to be placed in the State Health Department for displays. Doug Kirkus, Mitchell, remained President; Paul Marso, Pierre, became Vice President; Maynard Konechne, Kimball, Treasurer; Susan Knapp, Hot Springs, Secretary; and T.J. Sanborn, National Representative. Roger Sorensen, Belle Fourche, received the Vic Steffen award; and Custer was the service of the year. Dave Hodgson, Rapid City, was appointed paramedic liaison; Ron Patterson, Sioux Falls, was appointed parliamentarian. In 1985, the association honored Dr. Robert Hayes, past Secretary of Health, with a plaque and lifetime membership. Frank Krogman and John Jones of the State Health Department received certificates of honorary memberships. This was the year the recertification booklet came to life. The test team members also started to receive monetary stipends in 1985. This was the year that Doug Meyer, Sioux Falls, moved to give six month complimentary memberships to all persons completing the EMT course. The motion passed on a second from Sue Schuurmans.
1986 saw Maynard Konechne and Tom Sanborn advising the Association Executive Board of all the details in purchasing a computer at a cost of $3,678.00 with the printer. Ambulance services were losing EMT’s and had several persons who wanted to be just drivers. The State Office of Health put together a D.O.T. first responder course for drivers only. The association was reluctant to support this project but did! The program did collapse because of lack of interest.
The association tried its hardest to get CPR as a required course for high school students. Dr. Tony Javurek and Kathy Haack also vigorously supported this project which failed.
It was during this time period that the association decided to develop divisions, so the state’s paramedics could be part of the organization. Daryl Winters, paramedic, attempted to organize them. Lack of interest dissolved the idea practically before it started.
South Dakota House Bill 1184 almost created the roll back of rules for required EMT training. The association opposed the bill, and it failed.
Belt buckles were also a topic of great interest. An EMT Association belt buckle was ordered for sale in 1987.
During the years of SDEMTA’s struggles, one might have thought problems were enormous. The National Association was having more; they were in debt big time, $65,000.00, with a fired director. Tom Sanborn as South Dakota’s representative attended their gloom and doom meetings, but they did make it. Two National Association Presidents did visit SDEMTA conferences, Rick Vomacka and Dave Wuertz.
South Dakota became a part of the Heartland Coalition of EMS organizations. The formation meeting was held in the Civil Defense Office at Sioux Falls. Montie Horn represented South Dakota; other states present were North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.
Susan Schuurmans was killed in a car/motorcycle accident. She was a Past President of the association and an advocate of the donor program.
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