DARIEN — EMS Post 53 is getting some wanted technology upgrades with a current grant from The Darien Foundation.The $20,500 grant can be used to put in and configure a new community infrastructure alongside with built-in pc {hardware} and software program. Officials say the new technology will assist Post 53 educate, talk and handle the group extra effectively.
“The new technology is a gamechanger for us,” Post 53 Director Joe Larcheveque mentioned in a press release. “We are so lucky to have these new methods in place which are offering us with higher instruments with which to coach our college students and run our applications extra effectively whereas dealing with our city’s emergencies.”
Darien EMS-Post 53 was lately introduced the 2021 National EMS Award of Excellence. It handles about 1,600 emergency calls a 12 months, whereas offering almost 100 highschool college students yearly with the chance to serve their group and change into state-licensed Emergency Medical Technicians.
The basis and Post 53 labored collaboratively to find out the technological wants.
“The coronary heart of this grant was the session and the method reengineering of Post 53’s methods,” mentioned Sarah Woodberry, the muse’s govt director. “This is one other instance of The Darien Foundation’s emphasis on collaboration.”
The Darien Foundation’s board designated a process power as a part of the grant overview course of to evaluate the group’s wants. It was led by technology chair Sean Calvillo, who can also be a member of Darien’s IT Steering Committee and father to a “Postie.” He labored with board member Larry Castellani , who can also be the Darien Fire Department captain, and board member Eric Gaaserud, who’s the daddy of two Posties and husband to Adult Supervisor Millyn Gaaserud.
“This was an in-depth course of, the place our committee engaged in an advisory interval to grasp Post 53’s wants earlier than figuring out the optimum technology options,” Calvillo mentioned. “Once we heard from Post 53 administration and volunteers, we have been in a position to assist them prioritize, type a plan and in the end current a multi-phase highway map.”
Calvillo and his group facilitated set up of full community infrastructure, in addition to a new flat display screen tv for the coaching room, which can allow supervisors to raised illustrate and execute coaching eventualities, officers mentioned. The Darien Foundation committee additionally made suggestions to assist Post 53’s fundraising efforts, inside communications and back-office workings.
“We are already seeing such an enormous distinction in our day-to-day operations,” Millyn Gaaserud mentioned.
Calvillo mentioned he’s comfortable the muse is ready to assist the work Post 53 is doing to serve the city.
“Knowing that we’re enabling the vital and provoking volunteers at Post 53 to work extra effectively has been extremely rewarding,” Calvillo mentioned.
The Darien Foundation is an impartial, community-based public charity. It has awarded greater than $5 million in grants for technology and capital initiatives since 1998.
