Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 20, 1993 TAG: 9311190047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Stephen Foster Staff Writer
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Long
That's one of three - the other two are his "slide presentation mode" and his "door-to-door spiel mode" - modes he's had to assume in his public awareness campaign on what the Christiansburg Rescue Squad does, and how people can help save lives.
A 16-year-old scout in Troop 148, Cloe began his project in June, and soon thereafter handed out the first of 5,000 flyers educating people on the rescue squad and safety tips.
He's also secured four cellular phones that the squad will add to two it already uses, phones that can provide a direct link to hospitals when two-way radio communication fills with static.
"If it weren't for the rescue squad, we'd be in a big world of hurt," says Cloe. "They're probably the people we need to look out the most for."
"I've basically gone all over Christiansburg," talking to residents at their homes, businesses, town officials, radio stations and newspapers and a plethora of other folks, Cloe says. Many of those, including a sorority at Virginia Tech, have agreed to help him pass out the flyers.
The fliers give tips that people can follow to help themselves and the rescue squad in case of an emergency:
display their home's address number in large letters that are visible from the street;
if possible, program their phones to dial 911 with one button and to teach their kids how to do that;
keep information near the phone on directions to one's home, medications that family members use, allergies they suffer from and the name of the family doctor;
speak clearly and let the dispatcher hang up first;
learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
"These things are so simple," but rescue squad members mentioned them repeatedly. They're also synonymous with the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared," says Cloe. Under scout criteria the project - much more involved than obtaining individual merit badges - must have long-lasting value, be a service to the community and demonstrate leadership and organization skills, Cloe says.
He estimates he's put 300 hours into it, and he hopes to finish passing out most of the remaining flyers today Saturday at Wal-Mart.
In the first couple months, the project crept along, Cloe said, while he worked to get approval from a variety of sources. A Scouting committee had to approve it; he had to convince Blue Ridge Cellular to donate the phones; there were letters of support to garner from the mayor, doctors, and the rescue squad. The town council voted to support it.
"I've worked double-time since then," he says.
Those who've watched him have nothing but words of praise and respect.
"I thought it was a great idea," says Matt Carroll, captain of the Christiansburg Rescue Squad. Cloe says it's the awareness campaign that's most important, but it's obvious that Carroll will just be happy to have the extra phones.
He'll have to wait a little while for them. The phone were donated; the air time for their use wasn't, Cloe explains. The town finished preparing the rescue squad's budget the night before Cloe contacted them, so until next year, there's no official money for their use.
So Cloe has set up an account at First National Bank of Christiansburg for people to send money to get the phones in service sooner. So far, about $700 has been deposited; another $300 should be enough to carry through until next year's budget approval, he says.
"He's worked through a lot of things that a lot of people would've given up on," says Carroll. "There's not a negative thing about it," Carroll said.
His mother, Jeannie Cloe, sits on the edge of the couch, excitedly recounting what she's watched her son do.
"It's interesting to watch your child grow," she says. "You almost watch them go from boys to men. Parents can't do this; parents have to sit back."
A parent can drive him all over, though, considering he's had to forego getting his driver's permit because he hasn't had time to take the after-school driver's education course.
"Sometimes we take things for granted," she says. "It's amazing the number of people who don't have numbers on their houses," which can make it difficult for an ambulance driver to pinpoint where he's needed.
Cloe enlisted the help of area service organizations to get his message out, speaking at local Ruritan, Rotary and Jaycees clubs.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is "akin to becoming a millionaire or billionaire in the business world," says John Beamer, president of Christiansburg Ruritan Club, and a former scout himself. "That's no simple task when you're 16 years old."
"He asked for our help . . . and that's what we've been doing," Beamer says. The club provided $100, and has handed out around 700 flyers.
"I'm tickled that he's doing it," says Beamer. "He's chosen to make this into a community affair, as well he should," and in the process, "showed a lot of maturity and well-thought out reasoning."
Cloe admits he's grown up a bit over the last few months. Initially, "I knew what my program was, but I couldn't tell people about it," he says. He's become more articulate and confident.
When's he's finished, there will still be three merit badges to obtain, as well as approval from three scout committees here, in Roanoke and in the national headquarters in Irving, Texas.
The Christiansburg High School junior isn't big-headed, but he recognizes that there's some prestige and respect to gain from becoming an Eagle Scout, even in the business world.
Cloe rises at 5:30 a.m. before school to go to seminary classes and study Scripture. A Mormon, he'll go on a two-year mission when he's 19. He'd like to travel to Russia.
He hopes to attend Virginia Tech or Mary Washington College to study psychology.
Until then, scouting is his main thing.
"I've put my best work into the project," says Cloe. "I have the mind to do a lot of great things; I just don't know if i have the willpower to do a lot of great things."
Some might argue that that's just Cloe - in his modesty mode.
by CNB