Conferences and Meetings

Attend the National Public Safety Communications Conference

The world's largest gathering of public safety communications professionals is only a few weeks away.   Located in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, this Conference provides you with the most important professional development opportunity of your career.

- Position yourself as a leader in your agency
- Evaluate the promising technologies, legal hurdles, and personnel issues that will impact your operations
- Examine lessons-learned from pioneers in the field
- Participate in collaborative discussions 
- Network with thousands of your peers under one roof

Visit www.apco2007.org to view the complete agenda and to plan your personal schedule today - including a tour through the SOLD-OUT exhibit hall.

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.

Watch APCO TV at the Annual Conference

APCO-TV is the official television news broadcast to be shown throughout the duration of the APCO International 73rd Annual Conference and Exposition, August 5-9 in Baltimore, MD.  APCO-TV is an initiative providing up-to-the-minute news for the Conference, and will include delegate reactions to key issues, interviews with key personalities at the event, as well as pre-recorded documentaries and profiles on key issues and projects for the public safety communications industry.  APCO-TV's daily news broadcasts will be viewed in the exhibition halls and on a dedicated TV channel in APCO partner hotels in Baltimore.  To broaden the reach of APCO-TV, it is supported by the APCO-TV official newsletter and program guide, and a dynamic online presence at www.apcotv.com.

APCO News

Get Your FREE Buyer's Guide Listing - Deadline July 31

Visit http://www.apcointl.com/buyersguide/documents/PSCBG08.pdf to get your FREE print Buyer's Guide listing and to find out more information about the online Buyer's Guide.

Standards Call to Action

APCO International is seeking public review and comment through August 20 for its first candidate American National Standard (ANS), The Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Officers (CTO).  To review and comment, please visit http://www.apcointl.com/about/911/ansi_activity.php.

APCO International Job Services

Looking to make your next great hire? Let APCO International help you with your candidate  search by advertising your vacancy on the APCO Job Services board or in the APCO magazine -- or both!  Take advantage of the power of tapping the resources of the largest network of  public safety communications professionals in the world.  Join the hundreds who advertise  where public safety communications professionals look first.  Visit  http://www.apcointl.com/services/jobs/ for more information.

From Washington

DHS Announces $1.7 Billion in Homeland Security Grants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today final Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) awards totaling $1.7 billion, including a total of almost $411 million to the nation's six urban areas at highest risk of a terrorist attack: New YorkCity/Northern New Jersey; the National Capital Region; Los Angeles/LongBeach; the California Bay Area; Houston; and Chicago.  For more information on the HSGP visit http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/grants-2007-program-overview-010507.pdf.

SafeCom ERC Meeting Information

The SAFECOM ERC program has asked its participants to promote the efforts resulting form their Denver meeting in June. Visit http://www.apcointl.com/frequency/siec/ERC_interoperability.html for more information.

AFC Announces New Service to Public Safety License Holders

Every public safety agency that operates a radio system is required to obtain, and maintain, an FCC license authorization.  An FCC license is a dynamic instrument that includes periodic time sensitive review in order to maintain its good standing and your authority to continue operations on your radio system.  AFC's License Management process provides peace of mind by:

- Researching the FCC database to find ALL call listed for your agency,
- Reviewing your call signs to ensure their current good standing basis, and
- Ensuring FCC changes and time sensitive requirements are adhered to and supported.

For more information see Managing Your License at http://www.apcointl.com/frequency/licmgmt.html or contact AFC at 386-322-2500 or email to afc@apco911.org.

Visit Your APCO DC Office While in Baltimore

Are you considering combining a little tourism with attending the conference?  The office will be open for visitation by members Monday, July 30 through Friday, August 10. Baltimore is 30 miles from Washington and accessible via rail or car. Camden Station is within walking distance of the Convention Center and nearby hotels. PENN Station is an approximate $8-$10, ten minute taxi drive from the convention center and nearby hotels. 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 Betty with a minimum of 24 hours notice. 

Training and Certification

Meet the Institute Staff and Online Alumni

The Institute staff and online alumni will be in the APCO Pavilion in the exhibition hall in Baltimore on Monday, August 6 from 11:00 - 11:30a.m.. Stop by to say hello, introduce yourself and add a face to those folks you speak to throughout the year.

Join the APCO Institute in the APCO Institute Resource Room

The APCO Institute Resource Room will be located in the Conference Center in Baltimore in room 339. There you will be able to meet the APCO Institute staff and learn about the training, products and services we have to offer. You will also have the opportunity to preview our current course materials and view live demonstrations of the APCO Multi-Purpose Dispatch Software (MEDS) and the Expectations: Evaluations Software. Learn how you can earn your professional designation as a Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL). Stop by and meet some of the graduating students and gather information on this exciting program.

Discount Training Offer Ends July 31

The 2007 Fire Season has started across the country. The National Fire News reports that  there have been 49,857 fires so far this year with over 2,261,484 acres burned to date. The  National Preparedness Level is now at 4 based on a scale of 1-5.  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.

Special Interest Web Seminar - Suicide Bombers - The Future of Domestic Terrorism

APCO will conduct a web seminar titled "Suicide Bombers - The Future of Domestic Terrorism"  on August 22 at 2:00p.m. EST. This session will discuss the issues associated with one of  the biggest threats looming on the horizon for public safety - domestic suicide bombings.  Topics will include the telecommunicator's role in responder safety, explosive event  information gathering and resource allocation after detonation. We will also discuss  secondary explosions and when first responders become the target.  Visit  http://www.apcointl.com/institute/webinars.htm.

Law Enforcement Guide Cards are Now Available

The APCO Institute is now offering Law Enforcement Dispatch Guidecards. The Law Enforcement Dispatch Guidecards use law enforcement specific information and call handling techniques taught in the APCO Institute's Public Safety Telecommunicator 6th Edition training course and incorporate information provided by subject matter experts in the public safety communications industry. These new guidecards are available in paper and electronic format  and can be customized to meet the needs of individual agencies.  Visit  http://www.apcointl.com/institute for more information.

Web Seminars

Join the APCO Institute each Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST 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. The upcoming web seminar is Performance Appraisals on August 1.

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.

Receive High Quality Grant Writing Training at a Discount

Grant Writing USA provides the most highly sought after grants training in America and now, through a partnership with APCO Institute, APCO members can receive a $25 discount upon entering "APCO" when registering for any Grant Writing USA course!  Visit www.grantwritingusa.com to register.

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Click here for info on PSFA.

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Attend one of our co-hosted classes!

Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 6th Edition
Toledo, OH  August 13-17
Oregon, Il   September 10-14

Communications Training Officer
Baltimore, MD (pre-conference)  August 3-5
Wentzville, MO  August 21-23
  
Communications Center Supervisor 
Baltimore. MD (pre-conference) August 3-5
Sebastian, Fl    Sept 10-12

Fire Service Communications 1st Edition
Albuquerque, NM August 14-17 

Telecommuicator's Role In Homeland Security    
Baltimore, MD (pre-conference) August  5
Chattanooga, TN   August  17
Albuquerque, NM August 14-17