Auxillary to the VAFR
Auxiliary to the Virginia Association of First Responders
Click on the link below for more information:
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AVAVRS Auxiliaries
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AVAVRS Bylaws revised October 2025
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AVAVRS SOP revised October 2025
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AVAVRS Officers 2025-2026 - scroll down on this page
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Convention Award Winners - 2026 - scroll down on this page
Become a member today!!!
AVAVRS Wants You or Your Auxiliary as a Member Today!!
The main function of any Auxiliary is to assist and support their local squad in any way they can. This may be fund-raising, cleaning the building, feeding them before their meetings, supplying them with medical equipment/supplies, etc. The AVAVRS brings those Auxiliaries together to share resources and experiences. The AVAVRS has 5 Districts throughout the State this year as the Northeastern and Southeastern District have combined. Each District elects its own officers and holds District meetings.
You might think why I would be interested in joining an Auxiliary of the Virginia Association of First Responders (VAFR). I would like to share with you why I joined my Auxiliary.
My name is Kelley Snell, President of the AVAVRS. I joined Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad back in 1980 to 1983. I then left to join the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department from 1983 to 1988. I married and left the area for several years. Upon returning to my hometown, I wanted to get back involved so I joined the Loudoun County Auxiliary in November 2007. This gave me time for my family and my wanting to volunteer again. In April 2012, I joined the Squad and became an AIC and driver then moved to an administrative member. I have participated in all the areas of my local Auxiliary, as well as on the District level, and State level. I now serve as the AVAVRS President.
Joining an Auxiliary is a way to support and assist your squad and community, as well as socialize and develop a new group of friends. It is also a learning experience of working with others for a common goal. I always enjoy our monthly meetings of taking care of business and then socializing among our members and learning what is new with them. We become a family working together. We usually get an update from our Squad President on their needs and respond as best we can. Being an Auxiliary member gives you an opportunity to obtain a wealth of information that can be shared
and enhanced if you join the AVAVRS. It also allows you to grow in leadership along the way.
Auxiliaries are a much-needed part of a squad and can do activities your squad does not have time to do. They can be an asset by offering many community services, such as being a patient for EMS training classes, if certified teaching CPR and First Aid classes; distributing safety literature; providing health screenings, blood drives, manning an information booth at a fair or special event, and sponsoring community service to the needy and homeless. The list goes on and on, but that’s what we do—helping those in our community through volunteering.
Some of our members still ride calls, dispatch calls, help the squad with administrative work, building maintenance, refreshments or dinners before meetings, and honor them during EMS week in various ways.
The objectives of the AVAVRS are: to render any and all assistance to the VAFR; to be affiliated with the VAVRS, but remain an independent organization; and to increase the efficiency of members through education, personal contact, and participation in the VAVRS Annual Convention. Through our Districts, we promote fellowship; exchange ideas; and promote emergency training and competition.
We encourage Auxiliaries to attend District meetings and State meetings. It is a way to learn through idea sharing and fellowship. It broadens your horizons on what is going on among other Auxiliaries across the State. Each Auxiliary in a District is asked to host a District meeting by providing a meal. This may allow you to show off your culinary skills. We enjoy traveling to different parts of the state that we may have never seen before and find a friendly smile and a good meal waiting for us when we get there. We feel there is something in the AVAVRS for everyone.
Some of our other perks as a member of the AVAVRS are: Attendance at the Annual Convention of the VAVRS usually held in early fall and includes: Business Meetings; Educational Seminars; EMT Competition; Scrapbook Competition; Emergency Care Promotional Awards; Membership Meeting with Memorial Service; Other Social Events in the evenings; and the VAVRS Memorial Service/AVAVRS/VAFR/VAJVRS Officers Installations and Contest Winners for the various contests offered at the Convention; VAVRS Rescue College at Virginia Tech offers Auxiliary Management Classes in June of each year; and the Annual EMS Memorial Service to commemorate the fallen among us.
We also offer a Death Benefit Plan for a small fee for members which provides a minimal insurance payment to the beneficiary of a deceased member of the VAFR, AVAVRS, and VAJVRS.
The AVAVRS feels “A small group can accomplish many things, but an organized group achieves great things!” That’s why we want your Auxiliary to be a part of our AVAVRS. We need you to keep the volunteer movement alive. It is a rewarding experience.