Call for Presentations - 2010 Fall APCO/NENA/Interoperability Conference

The Conference Committee for the 2010 Fall APCO/NENA/Interoperability Conference has issued a call for presentations for the conference being held November 2 - 5, 2010 at Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia. Interested presenters are encouraged to complete the Call for Presentations Form and return it to Richard Herzing not later than June 16, 2010.

2010 Virginia NENA-APCO Spring Conference Set for May 19-21

The 2010 Virginia NENA-APCO Spring Conference will be held at the Sheraton Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA., May 19-21, 2010. Pre-Conference workshops are scheduled on May 19, with conference presentations on May 20 and meetings on May 21. The conference is coordinated by the Virginia NENA Chapter. To register or for additional information, visit the Chapter Conferences page.

Nominations for 2009 Telecommunicator Awards Due March 15

The Virginia Chapter of APCO is pleased to recognize the outstanding achievements of public safety telecommunicators within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Awards for 2009 will be announced and awarded at the 2010 APCO/NENA Spring Conference (May 19-21, 2010) in Virginia Beach. For information and nomination forms, visit the Telecommunicator Awards page. 

Upcoming “Active Shooter Incidents” Course Announced

Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications

Class #28446

May 6, 2010

To be held at:  Culpeper Co. Public Safety, 14022 Public Safety Ct., Culpeper, VA

To register:  http://www.apcointl.com/institute/schedule_registration.htm

2010 APCO/NENA Winter Session Presentations

Presentations from the January 28, 2010, Winter Session (if provided by the presenter) are now available for viewing and/or download on the Chapter Conferences page.

Roanoke County Communications Accredited by CALEA

Please join the Virginia Chapter of APCO in congratulating the Roanoke County (VA) Communications Center which joins a very elite group of 63 public safety communications centers (from a total of more then 6,100) in the United States that have successfully met the 218 CALEA accreditation standards specific to public safety communication centers. They are the 6th public safety communications center in Virginia to be accredited by CALEA, making Virginia the state with the second largest number of communications centers accredited; Florida has the most with 8.

Articles of Incorporation and Revised Bylaws Adopted

The RESOLUTIONS AND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE submitted resolutions for consideration at the Chapter’s annual business meeting on October 30, 2009, in Roanoke, to approve a new Articles of Incorporation as drafted by an attorney assisting the Chapter with incorporation and to revise the Chapter By-Laws. These changes came from the many meetings of the Resolution and By-Laws Committee, the attorney, and from the recent changes to the APCO International By-Laws. These changes, as amended and adopted by the Chapter, allow the Chapter bylaws and the International by-laws to better conform to each other. The new set of bylaws replaces the previous Constitution and Bylaws of the Virginia Chapter.  Visit Governance (Bylaws) to view the updated documents.

Erin Elrod Named Outstanding Telecommunications Dispatcher

Erin D. Elrod was awarded the 2009 Governor’s Emergency Medical Services Award for Outstanding Telecommunications Dispatcher award at the 2009 Virginia EMS Symposium held in Norfolk November 12-15. Erin has been employed by the Winchester Emergency Communications Center for more than 13 years and has served in the Director’s position since May 2005. During that period she has proven to be a tremendous asset to both the EMS community and her staff. Her leadership and management skills were put to the test when her workforce was at an all time low due to staffing shortages, but she was able to increase her team from five to twelve full-time members.

She also set up an extensive and cohesive training program for telecommunications specialists. Erin kept team morale strong by establishing programs like “Dress Up Day”, where employees would donate $5 to dress in their favorite funky socks or funny hat. Then, the money collected would go toward community outreach projects like the Salvation Army Angel Tree, breast cancer research, gifts for residents at nursing homes and other worthwhile causes. Erin’s dedication and significant contributions to Virginia’s local, regional and state EMS system are exceptional and greatly appreciated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2009 Award Winners

President’s Address – 2009 Annual Meeting

Incoming President Karen B. Johnson (New Kent County) offered the following comments upon her installation as President during the Chapter’s annual meeting held in Roanoke on October 30:

Good morning International President Dick Mirgon, International Second Vice President Terry Hall, APCO members, NENA members, SIEC members, and all guests. I would like to thank all of you for giving me this opportunity to come before you as the 2010 Virginia Chapter President.

I am one of the lucky ones who have their PSAP to support them. I would like to thank Sheriff Farrar “Wakie” Howard, Lt. Gardner and our administrative staff April Davidson & Deborah Rindahl for their support and encouragement today. Everyone that I have just mentioned to you knows something about dispatching including the sheriff.

I am honored to stand before my professional colleagues today. I have sat where you are now for seven years and used to wonder if I would or could ever be up here doing this job. Thanks to our Past President Linda Goodridge who believed in my ability to hold the Secretary position, here I am living my dream. This has made me have to step up and learn to face new challenges. I am ready for the challenges. I am here to serve the members of this the Virginia APCO Chapter without any hesitation.

My goals are to promote the education of public safety communication officers in the commonwealth, encourage adequate and continual training, while also encouraging education in our communities. We need to believe in sufficient pay with the huge responsibility that we have as telecommunicators. We need to encourage the use of EMD in every jurisdiction in the Commonwealth to implement Emergency Medical Dispatching. Opportunities should be garnered and taken to recognize our profession and for the positive contributions we make to our communities, not just the negatives. Let’s try and make sure that we give ourselves a little pat on the back for what we do for the citizens of Virginia.

Again, I’m here to represent you, looking forward to an exciting year. Stay tuned. Please do not ever hesitate to reach to me as your representative throughout the coming year.

Karen B. Johnson

E-911 Coordinator/Communications Assistant

New Kent Sheriff's Office

2009 APCO/NENA/Interoperability Conference Huge Success

The 2009 Virginia APCO/NENA/Interoperability Conference and Exposition drew over 540 attendees to the Hotel Roanoke October 27-30 as the Virginia Chapters of APCO and NENA and the State Interoperability Executive Committee joined together to package an outstanding package of educational seminars, workshops, equipment displays, and vendor expositions focusing on public safety communications and interoperability. Themed “One Commonwealth – One Voice”, the conference brought together individuals from multiple disciplines and numerous agencies; federal, state, and local governments; and over 60 vendors for networking and education geared to build on the Commonwealth’s leadership in 9-1-1, interoperability, and public safety communications.

The Virginia Chapter of APCO celebrated its 50^th anniversary during the Conference. APCO International President Richard Mirgon and Second Vice President Terry Hall attended the Conference.

The Conference was dedicated to the memory of George Kain Thomas (1964-2009) recognizing his honor and spirit to the field of 9-1-1 and public safety communications.

The 2010 conference is tentatively scheduled for November 2-5, 2010. A special thanks to Bill Agee and Terry Hall who co-chaired this year’s conference, and to the many individuals and organizations who contributed to make the event a huge success.

Presentations from the conference (if provided by the presenter) are available for viewing and/or download on the Chapter Conferences page.

The Virginia Communications Cache, hosted by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham ECC, was among the exhibits garnering high interest from attendees. Here the cache hosts a visit from Virginia Tech Football Coach Frank Beamer and members of the football team. The football team stayed at the Hotel Roanoke prior to its Thursday night game. Members of the cache team later paid a visit to Blacksburg for the game.

Chapter Officers Elected and Installed for 2009-2010

The Election of Officers of the Virginia Chapter of APCO was held at the annual meeting in Roanoke, Virginia, on October 30, 2009.

Karen Johnson (New Kent County) assumed the office of President and Steve Souder (Fairfax County) was selected to fill the office of President-Elect. Julie McKercher (James City County) was elected as Vice-President. The Chapter aligned a number of acting positions so that these officers will serve in their full capacity of designated officership for the 2009-2010 year.

Carol Adams (Stafford County) became the Immediate Past President and was recognized for her outstanding leadership as president over the past year.

Emily Totten (Roanoke County) was elected as Secretary for the 2009-2010 year. Melinda Bramley (Virginia Beach ECC) will serve the second of a two-year term as Treasurer.

Kathy Richardson (Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle) and Pat Shumate (Roanoke County) were elected to two-year terms as Members-at-large (2009-2011). Phil Heins (Hanover County) and Steve Basnett (Culpeper County) continue to serve as Members-at-large to the Chapter’s Executive Council for the second year of their two-year term (2008-2010). The title of these positions changes as a result of the adopted bylaws revisions.

Bill Agee (Franklin County) was elected to serve as the Chapter Delegate to the APCO International Executive Council, filling the unexpired term created when Terry Hall was elected as APCO International’s Second Vice President.

Officers were installed by APCO International President Richard Mirgon.

Swine Influenza Information

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) H1N1 Swine Origin Influenza Website

Virginia Department of Health Website

CDC Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Infection

Pandemic Preparation Document (USDOT) (PDF)

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Last revised March 7, 2010