Volunteer emergency service organizations can sometimes seem like private clubs, where you need to possess special skills and know the coded language in order to belong. That perception of exclusivity, no matter how false, can make it hard for fire departments and rescue squads to recruit volunteers, solicit donations and generally communicate with the community at large.
If there is such a mystique about the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad, it won't be for lack of communication. The squad has just launched a website designed to keep the local community informed about everything from the squad's history to how people can get involved.
Webmaster Doug Friant said the new site is designed to "keep members of our community informed about the local ambulance and rescue squad."
There is information on the specific services offered by the Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad and Londonderry Technical Rescue, which handles emergencies requiring specialized or technical training. There's also a rich history page that explains how the squad was formed more than 50 years ago by a handful of local citizens with a ten-year-old Cadillac. The coverage area was then, as it is now, 255 square miles of mountainous terrain in all or part of nine towns.
The new website also allows for online donations to the volunteer squad, which provides free ambulance service. And there's a members only section where volunteers can check out the duty roster and check up on weekend coverage. If you want to learn about volunteering yourself, just click on the Join LVRS tab.
