RESCUE SQUADS QUESTION FUND-RAISING HELP

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 20, 1992                   TAG: 9201200063
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
RESCUE SQUADS QUESTION FUND-RAISING HELP
A new fund-raising group says it is seeking donations to help squads throughout the state, but some squad members say they haven't seen any of the money it has collected.
Members of Richmond-area squads are concerned that the Virginia Volunteer Rescue Squad Assistance Association is competing with them for donations. Local squads coordinate their own fund-raising.
Hanover County's four rescue squads, all of which belong to the Hanover Rescue Squad Association, are unsupportive of the assistance association.
"The Hanover Rescue Squad Association has gone on record as not supporting this group whatsoever because we run our own programs. We just don't need outsiders," said Judson Stanley, president of the East Hanover squad.
Volunteers at rescue stations covering area squads say the group is targeting high-income areas in its door-to-door solicitations.
Although the group began its fund-raising in July, spokesmen for most rescue squads said they were not notified of the association's efforts until well after the fact.
Lonnie Brand, legislative chairman for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, has been investigating complaints since he received calls from two Richmond squads in November. All volunteer squads belong to the 280-member VAVRS.
"I want to emphasize that we are not accusing these people of breaking any laws," Brand said. "We don't care for them collecting and not telling us where the money is going, but we can't say that they are breaking a law."
The assistance association was incorporated in July, according to the State Corporation Commission. Its purpose is to "fill in the gaps" for rescue squads in Virginia by providing services they do not offer, said group representative Joe Schwartz.
Schwartz said one of his group's first efforts will be a semiannual magazine to promote public awareness about rescue squads. Other plans include emergency aid and training assistance to squads.
The SCC lists Stephen M. Tessier as the assistance association's president and secretary. Schwartz, who runs the assistance association office, said the group has eight paid employees.
Schwartz said the idea for the organization grew out of a discussion he and Tessier had about local rescue squad services. Although neither has volunteered with any local squad, Schwartz said Tessier had been a rescue volunteer in his home state of Massachusetts.
The group has one year to file a financial report on its fund-raising activities with the SCC. Schwartz said one would be filed by the end of June.
Schwartz said he hopes his group will soon be able to work out its differences with the squads.
"I think one of the things going on here is this organization is being perceived as competing with and taking away from some of the local squads," said the assistance association's attorney, David R. Ruby.
"That's just not what their intent is. Their intent is to serve certain needs and to achieve certain goals that they don't think are being met."
But the state Division of Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia have reported receiving complaints about the assistance association.
Michael Wright, manager of registrations for the Division of Consumer Affairs, said the group is registered with the division as required. An investigation is ongoing because of the inquiries, he said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB