The National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) celebrates its 30th anniversary with a variety of special events planned for this year’s Annual Meeting.

The NAEMT Annual Meeting is set for August 23 to 27 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. It will be co-located with EMS EXPO, a major industry educational event and trade show sponsored by EMS Magazine.

“Thirty years ago, some smart EMS leaders pulled together a group of state associations and created the National Association of EMTs,” said NAEMT President Ken Bouvier. “Their vision was to create a professional association to represent all EMTs and paramedics. Since that time—through all kinds of ups and downs—NAEMT has consistently been the one national voice for EMS professionals. I’m proud of what this organization stands for and what it has done, and our 30th anniversary is a cause for celebration.”

Among the special events will be a retrospective video presentation at the 1970s-themed Annual Awards Banquet on August 27. NAEMT also will display vintage EMS equipment and a restored 1967 Cadillac Superior Rescuer at the NAEMT booth in the exhibit hall.

Bouvier said that all Past Presidents of the organization have been invited to attend the Annual Meeting and EMS EXPO under a special NAEMT President Emeritus Package that offers them free admission to the three-day core program and the exhibit hall.

NAEMT members held their first board meeting on September 27, 1975, in Columbus, Ohio.