Congratulations to Rick Asher, EMTA Member of the Year for 2025-2026. Rick’s well-deserved award was presented at the EMTA June 2026 general meeting by the EMTA Vice-President, Bonnie Thomas.

Comments received by EMTA members as part of the nomination process:

“Rick has given his time, talent, and professionalism in ways that have helped EMTA grow into the organization it is today.”

“Rick has never received this recognition and I most certainly feels he deserves to be acknowledged for his extraordinary service to the EMTA board after these past three years of his service. I highly recommend Rick Asher!”

“As an EMTA board member, Rick has made many important contributions to the welfare and operation of EMTA. He has a lot of relevant experience outside of EMTA and was unstinting in using his professional expertise to make EMTA a better association.”

Over the last four years, Rick’s contributions have included:

• Served as secretary
• Chaired the Composition Recital
• Helped with the EMTA logo redesign
• Created the new Member of the Year process
• Helped with the EMTA board restructuring
• Recommended streamlining meetings through emailed minutes and detailed treasurer reports
• Helped with the bylaws revisions
• Has worked on creating an EMTA brochure
• Create the Volunteer of the Month Award
• Verified our EMTA Chapter insurance with MTNA
• Re-wrote our introductory paragraph on the EMTA website, “Who We Are and What We Do”
• Pursued the possibility of a legal defense fund for the EMTA board