APCO News

APCO Releases First National Standard

Last week, APCO International received its first American National Standard (ANS) designation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for its Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Officers (CTO).  The CTO standard, originally developed as an APCO International Membership Standard by APCO's Call Center Standards Committee, provides training necessary to foster levels of consistency for training officers providing on-the-job training and to promote the leadership role of the CTO in a public safety communications center. 
For more information on APCO's first ANS and other standards activities, please visit www.apcostandards.org.

Does Your Agency Have Multiple APCO Members?

If your agency would like to receive one dues renewal invoice that lists all APCO members, rather than individual invoices, let us know and we'll set you up on a master bill. This can decrease paperwork and postage costs for your agency as well as the association. Email us at membership@apco911.org for more information.

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, celebrate a special time or memorialize a friend or colleague. The deadline to order for winter installation is December 31. Download an order form at http://apcointl.org/membership/documents/BrickOrderForm.pdf or direct any questions to Ann Russo at russoa@apco911.org.

2008 Dues Invoice

Be on the look out for your 2008 APCO Membership Dues Renewal Invoice. It will be in your mailbox soon! If you need to make an address change or changes to any of your contact information, login to your member profile using your email address and password (member number) at http://apconetforum.org/eweb, then click on "my information."

Visit Your APCO Staff at IACP

The APCO Institute and Comm. Center & 911 Services will be representing APCO at the 114th annual conference of The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), October 14-16 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Please stop by to see us at booth #4452.  For more information, please contact apco@apcointl.org.

Get Your Voice Heard

If you're interested in speaking up on behalf of public safety communications APCO would like to hear from you. If you'd like to shape the future of public safety communications through taking part in research studies please sign up online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=sOn_2fhTiqMJeyD0zRWpusig_3d_3d  and choose how you would like to be contacted.

AFC License Management

APCO-AFC announces its new License Management Service (LMS).  Many public safety agencies lack the full time expertise to properly maintain their FCC license to operate a radio system.  Your agency's FCC License is THE legal document authorizing radio system operation. Every public safety agency that operates a radio system is required to obtain and maintain an FCC license authorization.  APCO-AFC can assist you with managing your licenses to avoid the financial burden of loosing a license due to oversights.  The basic services offered by LMS include:

• LMS searches for your license/call sign on the FCC's database in order to identify all licenses assigned to your agency including those that may have gotten lost over the years.
  
• LMS screens/reviews your licenses/call signs for any deficiencies and provides a report of any potential problems.
  
• LMS will continually monitor your licenses/call signs for renewal and construction notifications required by FCC.

LMS participation provides discounts for other AFC services including license preparation, frequency coordination, and various RF engineering services that may be required to correct your call sign.  For more information, please visit "Managing Your License" at www.apcointl.org/frequency/licmgmt.html.

From Washington

Call to Action - National 9-1-1 Education Month

Call your Representative and tell them you want them to be a sponsor of House Resolution 537 -- to designate a month for National 9-1-1 Education Month.  The designation would encourage the development of annual public awareness events, public advertising campaigns, targeted outreach to schools, and training activities for parents and teachers to ensure that all Americans can access these critical services in an emergency. Visit http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:hr537ih.txt.pdf to view the resolution.  Visit www.congress.org to identify your Representative.

PSHSB Extends Negotiation Period Between Sprint Nextel and Border Area Non-NPSPAC Licensees

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) extends the mandatory negotiation period for border-area non-NPSPAC (Stage 1) licensees in Wave 4 of the 800 MHz Transition Administrator's (TA) band reconfiguration schedule from September 30, 2007 to January 2, 2008, and postpones the beginning of the mediation period for such licensees until January 3, 2008. Visit http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-4038A1.pdf for more information.

Conferences and Meetings

Registration for the 5th Annual Winter Summit is Open

Register early and save!  To begin your registration and to find out more about this year's Summit please visit www.apcointl.com/wintersummit2008.

Western Regional Call for Papers

The New Mexico Chapter is looking for quality speakers to present on a variety of topics at the Western Regional Conference to be held in Albuquerque, NM in March 2008. We are looking for speakers that are of interest to dispatchers, supervisory staff, and management topics addressing training needs, motivation, officer down response, local crisis response, technical issues and other current issues.  If you are interested in participating as a speaker, please send information to theyoungs123@msn.com attention Elaine, Program Chair.  Additional information can be found at www.nmpsta.org.  The deadline for submissions is November 30.

Colorado APCO Chapter Conference

The Colorado APCO Chapter Conference will be held October 10-12 in Longmont, Colorado. For information and registration forms, visit http://www.apco-co.org/.

Mid-Eastern Chapter Fall Training Conference

The Mid-Eastern Chapter of APCO will hold its Annual Fall Training Conference and Exposition October 11-13 at the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, DE. For information on this exciting event visit us at http://www.mideasternapco.com/.

New Mexico APCO/NENA Fall Conference

The New Mexico APCO/NENA Fall Conference will be held in Albuquerque, NM October 15-17.  Visit http://www.nmpsta.org/ for more information.

Illinois Chapter 23rd Annual 9-1-1 Conference

The Illinois Chapters of APCO and NENA in cooperation with the Illinois Commerce Commission will hold their 23rd Annual 9-1-1 Conference October 21- 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. For information on this exciting event visit us at http://www.911conference.org/.

2007 Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications

The first ever Alaska Symposium for Emergency Communications (ASEC) brought to you by the Alaska Chapters of NENA, APCO and NLECTC-NW will be held October 22-24.  Visit http://www.alaskaapco.org/ for more information.

West Virginia Chapter Conference

The West Virginia Chapter is meeting for training and a vendor show October 22-26 at the Canaan Resort and Conference Center.  Please contact Connie Thomaschek at 304-623-6559 cthomaschek@harrco911.org for registration and more information.

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

The Region 18 (Louisiana) 700 MHz Public Safety Planning Committee announces its next two meetings.  The meetings are scheduled as follows: October 24 at 9:00 a.m. at The Carter Plantation, 23475 Carter Trace, Springfield, Louisiana, and; November 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the at the State Claiborne Bldg, 1-155 North Dakota Room, 1201 N 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The purpose of these meetings will be to review, discuss, and approve the latest draft of the 700 MHz Region 18 plan.  For more information contact William R. Vincent, Sr. at 337.291.5060 or eoc@lafayettegov.net.

Region 14 (IN) 700 MHz Region Planning Committee Meetings

The Region 14 (Indiana) 700 MHz Region Planning Committee will hold meetings on October 24 at 1:00 p.m. (EST) in the training room of the Greensburg Police Department, 201 South Broadway, Greensburg, IN 47240, and on December 12 at 1:00 p.m. (EST) at the Indiana State Police Communications Division Training Room, 8500 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN.  Visit http://region14rpc.googlepages.com/ for more information.

2007 Atlantic Chapter Conference

The Atlantic Chapter announces world renowned forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee will be  presenting one of its "Supersessions" at the 2007 Atlantic Chapter Conference and Business Meeting being held at the Mystic Marriott in Mystic, Conn. October 29-31.  Visit http://www.apco-atlantic.org/ for more information.

Wyoming Chapter Announces Annual Conference

The Wyoming Chapter Annual Conference will be held November 13-14 at the Holiday Inn in Casper, Wyoming.  Contact Bill Gordon at tpdadmin@hscounty.com for more information.

Montana Chapter Conference

The Montana Chapter of APCO is holding its 2007 conference on November 15 and 16 in Great Falls, Montana at the Best Western Heritage Inn. For more information, including attendee and vendor registration forms, visit http://www.mtapco.org/. For more information contact Kimberly Burdick at kburdick@mtapco.org or President Susan Bomstad at sbomstad@mtapco.org.

Training and Certification

Continuing Education Discount

We recognize the need for continuing education and will be offering a significant discount on select titles from our "Training in a Box" series every month. The titles will be packaged to meet specific training needs for EMD, supervisors, call handling techniques, liability issues and HAZMAT and fire calls. The cost for each package will range from $99 for the three-title package and up to $125 for the five-title package. Each title contains a 1-2 hour lesson, complete with PowerPoint and student test. For additional information on the "Training in a Box" Series please visit http://www.apcointl.com/institute/products_publications.htm. The October Series - Three Titles for $99 including Shipping and Handling - includes Concepts of Legal Liability, Liability Issues for Public Safety Telecommunicators, and EMD Legal Issues.

Share Your Knowledge by Way of a Web Seminar

Do you have a subject or training topic that is of special interest and that you would like to share? The APCO Institute is seeking new areas of interest to present for our Web Seminar Series each Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. A fun and effortless way to share information without leaving your desk. All presenters are compensated for their time by the APCO Institute. If interested, please contact schatelk@apco911.org for details

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.

North Central Region Training Schedule

Bolingbrook, IL - October 8-11 - Fire Service Comm.
Bolingbrook, IL - October 15-17 - CCSC
Bolingbrook, IL - October 25 - Homeland Security
Papillion, NE - November 6-8 - CTO
Westerville, OH - December 3-5 - CTO
Deerfield, IL - March 7, 2008 - Homeland Security

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   http://www.grantwritingusa.com/ to register.

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. The upcoming title is Effective Practices for Employee Selection and Retention on October 10.

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Attend one of our co-hosted classes!

Public Safety Telecommunicator 1, 6th Edition
Greenfield, MO November 5-9

Communications Training Officer
South Winsor, CT November 6-8

Communications Training Officer Instructor
Sugar Land, TX November 5-9
  

Communications Center Supervisor 
Bolingbrook, IL October 15-17
Papillion, NE  November 6-8 

Fire Service Communications 1st Edition
Bolingbrook, IL     October 8-11 

Telecommuicator's Role In Homeland Security    
Bolingbrook, IL October 22-24

Emergency Medical Dispatch Instructor
Bedford, VA  November 12-16