Check out this week's eBulletin for all of your 

73rd Annual Conference and Exposition Info.

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Conference News

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Enter to Win a 74th Annual Conference Travel Package at the First General Business Session

All attendees of the First General Business Session will receive a chance to win a complimentary travel package to the 74th Annual Conference & Exposition in August 2008 in Kansas City which includes one round trip airfare, hotel stay, complimentary registration and a $100 Gift Card!  You must attend the First General Business Session to receive your ticket!  The winner will be chosen at the Second General Business Session so you must be present at this meeting to claim your prize!  The First General Business Session will be held on a new day and time on Sunday, August 5 between 5:00p.m. and 8:00p.m. and the Second General Business Session will be held on Wednesday, August 8 between 2:45p.m. and 4:15p.m.

Earn a Free Day at Conference - Become a VOLUNTEER

Volunteers will receive a day pass for each day of service. Service must be a minimum of four hours each day.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided for the volunteers.  Volunteers receive a "Volunteer Shirt."  To Download a Volunteer Application please visit www.apco2007.org . If you have any question about Volunteers please contact the 2007 Baltimore Conference Committee Volunteer Chair John Crabill at john.crabill@montgomerycountymd.gov or (240) 773-7036.

Professional Development Tracks - Session Evaluation Daily Drawing

Don't forget to fill out your session evaluation form and turn it in at the conclusion of each class for your chance to win a daily drawing for a $50 AMEX gift card every day of the conference!

CEU Credits - Fast and Efficient CEU Tracking

Once again, conference attendees will have the ability to access a CEU tracking system via a link from the APCO website where they will be able to log in using there registration ID or email address.  Once logged in users will enter the meeting ID from each attended session.  All of this information will be available on a card that attendees will receive at the completion of each session they attend and after a completed session evaluation is turned in.  The system will validate the ID and then display the session title and the CEU hours received for attending the meeting.  Users will be able to print a PDF denoting the total numbers of hours accumulated along with the session title.

Green Initiative

In an effort to become environmentally friendly, APCO International has taken a few small steps to reduce, reuse and recycle the amount of waste our conference produces.  Whenever you see the APCO conference logo in green, you will know that we are taking the necessary steps to be environmentally conscience.

Here is what we are doing this year:
- Registration confirmations are being sent electronically to reduce the amount of paper needed.
- Catered meals require pre-registration in order to reduce food waste.
- Recycle bins placed throughout convention center for paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum.
- Individual items served in bulk at catered events in the convention center.
- Recycle bins to leave your plastic badge holders on your final day at conference.

What you can do:
- Utilize available recycling bins for your garbage and conference badge.
- Request non-replacement of linens and soaps in your hotel room.
- Only print necessary handouts and use double-sided copies when printing multiple pages.

Program Highlights

Institute Pre-Conference Courses

APCO Institute will be conducting the following pre conference courses:

Fire Service Communications (FSC) - August 2 - 5
Communications Center Supervisor (CCSC) - August 2 - 4
Communications Training Officer (CTO) - August 2-4
Telecommunicator's Role in Homeland Security (THRS) - August 5

Please visit http://www.apcointl.com/institute/index.htm for registration and course information.

FCC Regulatory Panel - New Day and Time
Wednesday, August 8  1:15pm - 2:30pm

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.

FCC Sets New Direction in 700 MHz
Thursday, August 9 1:30pm - 2:45pm

The FCC is expected to take major action just prior to the Conference on several controversial proposals for the 700 MHz public safety spectrum. Possibilities include the designation of a single national public safety licensee for a portion of the spectrum, a broadband mandate, and potential public-private partnerships to deploy a national public safety broadband network. This session will be led by Robert Gurss, APCO's director of legal & government affairs, and include FCC staff participation.

Resource Row

APCO Comm Center & 9-1-1 Services Resource Room - Rm. 337-338

Stop by the APCO Comm Center & 9-1-1 Services Resource Room to see what challenges lay on the horizon for public safety communications and how APCO International is poised to address those issues both now and in the future. Informational topics include Comm Center standards and effective practices, staffing and employee retention, and Next Generation 9-1-1 issues such as VoIP and other emerging technologies.

Monday, August 6   1:15pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7   1:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday, August 8 8:00am - 12:00pm

Historic Room - Rm. 336

"The Once Upon a Time. . ."  room is where you'll see APCO history unfold before your eyes. Radio equipment, documents, books, conference pins, publications, coffee mugs, and much more will be on display. Each year the room gets bigger and better. Items you've seen before may not be in the room this year as the room content changes from year to year. Come see what APCO history is all about.

Monday, August 6   1:15pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7   1:00pm - 5:00pm
Wednesday, August 8   9:30am - 11:00am

APCO Institute Resource Room - Rm. 339

Stop by the APCO Institute resource room where you can meet the APCO Institute staff! Learn about the training, products, and services we can offer to enhance the service that you provide for your community. You will have the opportunity to preview our current course materials and view live demonstrations of APCO's Multi-Purpose Dispatch Software (MEDS) and the Expectations: Evaluations Software.

Monday, August 6   9:00am - 10:00am & 1:30pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7   9:00am - 10:00am & 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Wednesday, August 8   9:00am - 11:00am
Thursday, August 9     9:00am - 1:00pm

AFC "Spectrum Room" - Rm. 341-342

AFC will be manning the "SPECTRUM ROOM" on Resource Row. AFC will provide one-on-one training for Local Advisors and have staff on hand to help anyone with licensing questions or RF system planning questions. The SPECTRUM ROOM will also be the hangout networking place for any attendees to talk radio or any radio aspect of public safety communications - from Ham to Broadband. Special last minute sessions of interest to the radio crowd will be part of the program. Check the SPECTRUM ROOM for details.

Monday, August 6    8:00am - 10:00am & 1:00pm -5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7    8:00am - 9:30am & 2:00pm -5:00pm
Wednesday, August 8  8:00am - 11:00am; 1:00pm - 2:45pm; & 4:15pm-5:00pm
Thursday, August 9   8:00am - 12:00pm

CALEA Resource Room - Rm. 343

Stop in at the CALEA Resource Room to visit with a CALEA Program Manager and members of the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Support Network (PSCASN) to learn about the communications accreditation process.  Managers of accredited agencies will share with you their experiences as they completed the program.   

Monday, August 6       1:15pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7       1:00pm - 5:00pm
Wednesday, August 8   9:00am - 11:00am
Thursday, August 8      8:00am - 12:00pm

NJTI Resource Room - Rm. 343

There will be copies of the Draft Model Recommendations for TERT Deployment (MRTD), Mock Training, information about TERT & NJTI and TERT product information.  For more information about the Resource or the NJTI, please visit www.njti-tert.org or contact NJTIChairs@njti-tert.org.

Monday, August 6        1:15pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday, August 7      1:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday, August 8     8:00am - 12:00pm

Additional Activities

Family Programs

Welcome to Washington
Tuesday, August 7
10:00am - 5:00pm (includes one hour drive time each way)
$70 per person

A Day at Six Flags
Wednesday, August 8
9:30am - 4:00pm (includes 45 minute drive time each way)
$65 per person (includes one meal voucher)

A Day of Cryptography and Espionage at the National Cryptographic Museum and the International Spy Museum
Thursday, August 9
9:00am - 5:00pm (includes one hour drive time each way)
$103 per person

Visit your APCO DC Office while in Baltimore

Are you considering combining a little tourism with attending the conference? The Washington Office has prepared a few suggestions to help with your planning.

- If you plan to meet with a member of Congress, please make an appointment! NOTE: It is summer recess for Congress but key staff remains. If you're unable to see a member of Congress, make your appointment with a member of the legislative staff in charge of telecommunications. For tips on member of Congress networking, visit http://www.apcointl.com/government/meetingtips.htm .  We ask that you give special attention to the "Go Local" tip.

- If a meeting takes place and there are issues that need follow-up, please advise Yucel Ors, Director of Legislative Affairs, at orsy@apcomail.org or 202.833.1997.

- Requests for White House Tours must be coordinated through one of your Members of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. NOTE: A minimum of 30 days is required. For more information, visit  http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours/. 

- For information on United States Capitol tours, visit http://www.aoc.gov/cc/visit/index.cfm.  You may also contact one of your Congressional Representatives in advance to request a tour.

- The office will be open for visitation by members Monday, July 30 thru Friday, August 10. Baltimore is 30 miles from Washington and accessible via rail or car. Penn Station is within walking distance of the Convention Center. We will provide you with directions for rail or car. Please e-mail or call Betty Nelson with any questions at nelsonb@apcointl.org or 202.833.9779. If you plan to visit the office, try to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice.

Click here for Annual Conference info.

Click here for info on PSFA.

Click here for Project LOCATE information.

Click here for frequency coordination information.

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Click here to visit the APCO Store.

Click here for rebanding information.

Click here for APCO publications.

Click here for the Calendar of Events.

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