Colorado Emergency Management Association (CEMA) annually gives an Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award in honor of Mike Gelski, long time Salvation Army emergency services liaison, good friend and trusted partner of many in Colorado's emergency management community. Gelski passed away in 2010.

In November 2011, Scott Morrill submitted on behalf of the West All Hazard Emergency Management Region the nomination of Steve Schroder, Hotchkiss Fire District assistant fire chief, to receive the CEMA Mike Gelski Award For Outstanding Volunteer Achievement.

Schroder was recognized for being a volunteer with the Hotchkiss Fire District and assistant fire chief; recently acquiring Hazardous Materials Technician Certification, benefiting not only Delta County, but the entire region; an active member of District 7 ARES Group, and participant in other ARES Districts; a member of the West Region Communications Committee since 2006, and chairperson of this committee since 2009; developed an Interoperable Communication training program for West Region, which he shared state-wide, and parts of which were incorporated into the state-wide interoperable communications curriculum; without personal compensation, has represented West Region on the Colorado Interoperable Communications Committee; without personal compensation, has travelled throughout the six-county West Region to provide Interoperable Communications trainings to first responders; member of the Statewide Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC); assisted West Region with TIC Plan development and updates; and is a member of the South-West Incident Management Team, and without compensation, attends team trainings and planned events.

"Space does not permit the listing of everything Steve Schroder has done as a volunteer for the citizens and first responders of Delta County, the West Region and the State of Colorado. He is an inspiration to all who know and work with him, and we are fortunate beyond words to have him as part of our team in West Region," Morrill wrote.

That letter detailing some of Schroder's accomplishments led to him being chosen for the CEMA Mike Gelski Award For Outstanding Volunteer Achievement. The Colorado Emergency Management Conference was held in Loveland from March 6-8.

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