Little Silver Woman Re-Elected President of State First Aid Council

Members of the New Jersey State First Aid Council (NJSFAC) re-elected Little Silver resident Barbara Aras as President of the volunteer emergency medical services organization for 2012.

The NJSFAC Executive Board's top officers are elected each year at their annual convention, which was held this year at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. All of the officers from 2011 were re-elected.

The organization brings together first aid and rescue squads from across the state in the interest of bettering methods for ambulance service, reducing the loss of life, developing educational programs, and fostering a spirit of harmony and friendship among the various nonprofit volunteer squads, according to the NJSFAC website.

Vice presidents are elected by the member organizations in their respective districts each year. The three executive vice presidents (north, central and south) are elected by member organizations in the areas they serve.

Volunteer-in-Chief Aras will be joined by Northern Area Vice President Cyndy Reardon, Bloomingdale; Central Area Vice President Joseph G. Walsh, Jr., Neptune; Southern Area Vice President Bryan Platt, New Egypt; Treasurer Ken Weinberg, Pittstown; Assistant Treasurer LeRoy Gunzelman, Somerville; Secretary Barbara Platt, New Egypt; and Membership Secretary Sue Meyer, Summit.

Previous NJSFAC President Walter McKinley, of Keyport, was elected to fill a vacancy as the organization's chaplain.

Officers will be sworn in during the group’s general membership meeting in January.

The 82-year-old nonprofit NJSFAC represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers affiliated with 328 first aid and rescue squads throughout the state.  In 2010, NJSFAC volunteers spent 3 million hours answering 355,000 calls, saving New Jerseyans $225 million, according to a press release from the organization.