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APCO News

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Standards Call to Action

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in cooperation with the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) have released the first drafts of the new National EMS Education Standards for review and comment. The first drafts are the National EMS Education Standards for Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Paramedic levels. To review these drafts and submit comments visit the National EMS Education Standards website at www.nemsed.org.  For more information on APCOs standards development activities visit www.apcostandards.org or contact the Comm Center & 9-1-1 Services Staff at 911services@apco911.org.

Honor Your Retirees

Does your communications center have an employee with 20+ years of service who is retiring soon?  Let us know and we will send a letter of congratulations from APCO President Wanda McCarley. E-mail membership@apcointl.org with the employee's name, mailing address and years of dedicated service.

Brick Order Deadline

Leave your mark at APCO Headquarters with a brick on the Walk of Heroes! Purchase a brick to commemorate a special event, to celebrate a special time or to memorialize a friend or colleague. Deadline to order for summer installation is June 30. Download an order form at http://apcointl.org/membership/documents/BrickOrderForm.pdf or direct any questions to Ann Russo at russoa@apco911.org.  

Conferences and Meetings

New Date and Time for FCC Panel at Conference

The Regulatory Panel will address major public policy issues of concern to APCO members, such as wireless E9-1-1 accuracy rules, 800 MHz rebanding, and recent FCC actions regarding the 700 MHz band, including new rules for public safety broadband services. The panel will include top government policy makers from Washington, and will be moderated by Robert Gurss, APCO's director of legal & government affairs. Bring your policy questions on Wednesday, August 8 between 1:15 and 2:30.

Join us for the Annual Blue & White Gala, Wednesday Night

New to the gala this year is live entertainment by a world class act - Dueling Pianos!  Tickets will not be available at the door.  You must purchase your tickets by 5:00pm Tuesday, August 7.  This event is sponsored by CTA.  To register for the 73rd Annual Conference or to add tickets for this event to your already confirmed registration visit www.apco2007.org.

Chapter Officer Training & Mentoring Course in Baltimore

Don't delay in registering for the Chapter Officer Training & Mentoring Course that will be presented on August 5 in conjunction with the annual conference in Baltimore. Participate in this course from 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. free of charge to members. Register at www.apconetforum.org/eweb using your email and member number (password) to login and then click on upcoming events. Seating is limited!

Chapter Officers

The Chapter Officer Workshop will be presented in Baltimore on Thursday, August 9 from 9:30 am to 12:15 pm. We're planning this to be a very interactive time of information exchange, brainstorming, and the sharing of best practices. We'll have the results of the conference survey that many chapter officers and chapter members participated in during the spring and we will provide you with resources to take back to strengthen your chapter. Please pre-register at www.apconetforum.org/eweb so we'll be prepared with enough materials.h

APCO at NSA Conference

APCO International will be hosting a booth at the National Sheriff's Association (NSA) 2007 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 24-27.  Come visit booth 821 to learn more about the services provided by APCO and the rewards of membership.  For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.sheriffs.org/conf-annual.shtml .  For more information about APCO International, please visit www.apcointl.org.

Region 18 (LA) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee Announces Next Meeting

The Region 18 (Louisiana) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee announces that its next meeting will be held on July 25 at 9:00 a.m. at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Centre, 2001 Louisville Avenue in Monroe, Louisiana. All interested parties wishing to participate in the planning for the use of public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band within Region 18 are encouraged to attend.  For further information, please contact William R. Vincent at 337.291.5060 or eoc@lafayettegov.net.

Region 14 (Indiana) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee Announces Planning Meeting

A meeting of the Region 14 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee will be held on June 27 at 1:00 p.m. (EST) at the Purdue University Police Department, Terry House Conference Room, 205 South Intramural Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana.  There will be a conference call ongoing at the meeting for those who cannot be physically present.  The telephone number is (765) 496-6523.  Those having trouble connecting to the conference bridge may call the Purdue University Operator at (765) 494-4600.  The purpose of the meeting is to work on and discuss the draft of the Region Plan. For further information, please contact Alex R. Whitaker at 317-899-8529 or awhitaker@isp.in.gov.

Washington Chapter Annual Summer Training Conference

The Washington Chapter of APCO will be holding the Annual Summer Training Conference in Wenatchee, WA, June 27-29!  Registration forms are available on the Washington Chapter website at www.apcowa.org! Conference questions can be emailed to sfritts@co.pacific.wa.us or call (360) 875-9340!  Were looking forward to seeing you there!

Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications

The 2007 Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications hosted by Alaska NENA / APCO will be held at the Hawthorn Suites in Anchorage, Alaska, October 22-24.  For more information email gina.wheeler@ctsc.net or call 907-569-5672.

2007 North Carolina NENA/APCO Annual Conference

The 2007 North Carolina NENA/APCO Annual Conference will be held September 9-12 in Sunset Beach, NC.  For more information visit http://www.ncapco.org/annual.htm.

Missouri APCO Chapter Conference

The Missouri APCO Chapter Conference will be held September 16-19 at the Capitol Plaza in Jefferson City, MO.  They are currently accepting presentation proposals for the conference. Visit http://www.moapco.org/ for more information.

Training and Certification

Fire Season is Here - Discount Training Offer from the Institute

The 2007 Fire Season has started across the country. The National Fire News reports that there have been 43,546 fires so far this year with over 1,642,730 acres burned to date. The APCO Institute recognizes the need for quality fire communications training and will be offering our Fire Service Communications student manuals for $49 each ending July 31. Tuition will be discounted to $379 for anyone wishing to enroll in the Fire Service Communications Online Instructor course beginning July 18. Visit our website at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/index.htm for registration and order forms.

Leadership Certificate Program

Earn your professional designation as a Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL).  Registrations are currently being taken for the next class beginning September 26. Tuition assistance may be available through John D. Lane Scholarships.  Please come by the Institute Resource Room at Conference, #339 in the Convention Center, and meet some of the graduating students and gather information on this exciting program.  For information please visit our website at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/RPL_program.htm. Scholarship applications can be obtained at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/forms_information.htm.

New Institute Training Schedule

APCO Institute will be introducing a regional training program in the fall of 2007. All of the Institute's certification courses will be offered in select locations throughout the country, thus allowing agencies to plan in advance for their training needs. If your agency would like to participate and has a facility that will accommodate large groups and will be available for a minimum of three weeks, please email schatelk@apco911.org.

Web Seminars

Join the APCO Institute each Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. for quality training and fun interaction with your peers. Each web seminar is one hour long and qualifies for one continuing dispatch education (CDE) credit. For more information or to register, log onto the APCO Institute website at http://www.apcointl.com/institute/webinars.htm.  Upcoming titles include:

Performance Evaluations - June 27

Special Interest Web Seminar - Active Shooter Incidents and the Telecommunicator

APCO will conduct a web seminar titled "Active Shooter Incidents and the Telecommunicator" on July 11 at 2:00p.m.  This session will look at these types of events from the public safety communications point of view including what an active shooter incident is and the specific concerns and issues associated with response to such high-profile fluid situations. Also covered in this session will be specific calltaker and dispatcher actions that agencies can incorporate into their policies and procedures for handling these types of calls.

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Click here for rebanding information.

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Attend one of our co-hosted classes!

Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 6th Edition
Toledo, OH  August 13-17

Communications Training Officer
Las Cruces NM July 18-20

Communications Center Supervisor 
Baltimore. MD (pre-conference) August 3-5

Fire Service Communications 1st Edition
Baltimore, MD (pre-conference) August 2-5

Telecommuicator's Role In Homeland Security    
Baltimore, MD (pre-conference) August  5