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It has been sixty-two days since Bulverde-Spring Branch EMS Director Mechelle Salmon stepped in to help the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps with its reorganization.

Last Wednesday night, the BVAC held a meeting which turned out to be a banner day for the Corps as they completed the corporate reorganization of the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Under the guidance of a nonprofit law attorney, they were able to shift the powers away from the general membership, to the Executive Board through the adoption of new bylaws.

They were introduced at the August 27th meeting and approved unanimously in the General Membership meeting. “We could not have achieved this much progress (this soon) without God and the help of some very courageous businesspeople that came to my aid,” said Mechelle Salmon.

The new BVAC Board of Directors include: Mark Tidwell, President of Blanco National Bank, Member at Large; Jack Felps, rancher in the county and respected by community, Member at Large; Wayne Dworaczyk, Owner of Dirt Works and the largest employer in Blanco, Member at Large; John Watson, retired Military and current Net Jet Pilot, Member at Large; Lou Ann Mullins, Paramedic/RN, and also teaches at the University of Texas Health Science Center and oversees quality assurance for San Antonio Fire Department, President; Mike Cox, retired from the corporate world, "Turn around man" that took failing companies and turned them around, VP/Secretary; Ron Freeman, CPA, Treasurer.

There is still a lot of work to do, but last Wednesday night has helped the BVAC take a major step forward. They are working everyday to restore the public trust in our local community based EMS. They have been speaking at every event that comes available; BBQ, Lion's Club, interviews with media, etc.

Last Wednesday night there were five citizens who became new members at the meeting and four additional guests that had come to hear the plans and progress of the BVAC for themselves. By the end of the night, two of the four had joined BVAC. Some doubted that the BBQ would succeed; especially since we had to move it back one week due to Hurricane Ike. Salmon stated that they collected $4996 on Saturday and on Monday an additional $2000 was donated from people that could not attend. That exceeded the previous year's fundraising event.

Mechelle Salmon says, “Thanks for all the prayers and support. We will continue the good fight; to rebuild, train and care for all those afflicted.”