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This past Friday, February 16, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the first ever 9-1-1 call. The occasion was celebrated with commemorations from the White House, national and local media outlets (NPRUSA Today, WaPo, NBC 4 DC, AL.com, Lifezette) and, of course, NENA itself.

We even got a few of our famous friends from Congress, NBC's Chicago Fire, and Fox's 9-1-1 to help us out. Check out the playlist of our shout out vids here or by clicking below.

 

Even though the literal anniversary has passed, there are still opportunities to celebrate 2018 as the fiftieth anniversary year for another nine months! You can help by doing things like putting out a press release (sample here [courtesy NASNA]) or Facebooking and Tweeting (social media toolkit here) in celebration of this incredible milestone.

We've even got a logo package (with general and NENA-specific versions) that you can incorporate into your social media posts and all your (non-commercial) activities surrounding the fiftieth anniversary!

If you've got other stuff planned, we want to hear about it and share it! And remember to use #50yearsof911 and #thankyou911 wherever you can to help get the word out!

The William E. Stanton Award is NENA's highest honor. It is bestowed upon an individual who has not only excelled in his or her everyday job, but has gone above and beyond to further NENA's goals. Nominations for this prestigious annual award are now open.

Click here for additional information on the award, including criteria, past recipients and more. Click here to submit your nomination online. The deadline for nominations is March 30, 2018.

This scholarship opportunity is open to any telecommunicator, call taker, or dispatcher with at least one year of experience and in good standing with his or her current employer. Supervisory and other managerial personnel are not eligible for this award. Each Telecommunicator Continuing Education Scholarship recipient receives the following:
  • Complimentary registration to the NENA 2018 Conference & Expo
  • Complimentary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of choice at NENA 2018
  • A $1,000 travel stipend

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must complete and submit the scholarship application and provide a current resume. Applications will be accepted through March 16, 2018. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than mid-April.

Click here to apply for a scholarship.

NENA has established a scholarship program to honor the commitment of William "Bill" McMurray, ENP, Past President, to the mission of NENA and 9-1-1 education. The scholarship will be awarded for the NENA 2018 Conference & Expo. The scholarship includes conference registration fee and four nights of lodging at a conference hotel (to be determined by NENA upon awarding of scholarship). Travel expenses to and from the conference and meals are not included in this award.

Please visit the scholarship webpage for information about the criteria, application procedure, and responsibilities. Click here to submit your application online. The application deadline is March 30, 2018.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of 9-1-1 and we’re gearing up for an exciting year full of celebration, new membership benefits, and continued leadership on the issues that matter the most to 9-1-1 professionals like you.

You should have received an email from NENA with a link to your 2018 NENA dues notice. Help NENA go green and save a stamp by choosing to pay online by check or credit card. If this is not an option for you or your agency, the email also contained a link allowing you to print out a copy of your invoice for local processing.

Instantly renew your membership online in just a few easy steps:   

  1. Simply log in to the NENA website. 
  2. Go to your Manage Profile page. 
  3. Click on Membership under the "Account History" header to view your renewal options.  
  4. Pay online by check or credit card. 
  5. Print out a receipt for your records.  

Don’t lose access to the latest industry updates, the best education and training, and vital connections to your peers across the 9-1-1 universe! We look forward to another great year of bringing you more than any other public safety association!

Training Update
Let's Get Engaged: Empowering Employees to Do Their Best
Wednesday, February 28 | 3PM Eastern (live) or On-Demand
$50 for NENA Members | $85 for Non-Members
Click here to register!


All good leaders know that morale is a two-way street: If employees are happy, then management is happy, and vice versa. But morale isn't just about happiness; it's a huge part of reducing absenteeism, improving performance, and minimizing turnover. That's why maintaining high morale should be high on every leader's to-do list. During this hour-long webinar we'll discuss:

  • The factors that drive morale;​
  • How to empower employees; and​ 
  • Ways you can create an engaged (and happy) team.

Presenter: Jennifer Kirkland, ENP - Vail (CO) Public Safety Communications Center; NENA Education Advisory Board

CEUs: Attend this webinar and receive one-half ENP re-certification point towards the ten-point maximum for NENA courses in the Professional Development CEU/Course Credits section.

Can't attend on the 28th? Register now and you will receive an email after the live presentation with instructions for accessing the on-demand webinar archive.

Webinar Access Info: Dial-in and web-access details will be provided to attendees via email the week of the webinar.
The last Wednesday of each month (except June, November, and December) is #WebinarWednesday! All nine webinars are available for a prepaid annual subscription of $200 for NENA members - a savings of more than 50% compared to purchasing each webinar individually! Get the team together for these hour-long webinars covering the hottest issues in 9-1-1:
  • On-Demand - Chronic Absenteeism
  • February 28 - Employee Engagement
  • March 28 - Combatting Dispatcher Stress
  • April 25 - Understanding Generation Z
  • May 30 - NG9-1-1 GIS Data Development
  • July 25 - Workplace Wellness
  • August 29 - Leadership From Any Chair
  • September 26 - Handling Transportation-Related Calls
  • October 31 - Project Management

And if you can’t attend the live broadcast, you’ll have access to the 24/7 on-demand archive for each webinar!

Click here to purchase your subscription!

02.26.18 (5-day course) | Center Manager Certification Program | Rochester, NY | Register
03.06.18 (3-day course) | 9-1-1 Center Supervisor | Wilmington, MA | MA State Grant Approved | Register
03.19.18 | Interpersonal Issues | Loveland, CO | Register
03.21.18 (3-day course) |  9-1-1 Center Supervisor | Bowie, MD | Register
03.27.18 | Tactical Dispatch for the Telecommunicator | Augusta, GA | Register
03.29.18 | Tactical Dispatch for the Telecommunicator | Augusta, GA | Register
04.02.18 (5-day course) | Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP) | Redmond, WA | Register
04.02.18 | SOP Development: Refining & Enhancing Your 9-1-1 Center | Petoskey, MI | (MI ID# NENA 201711A) |  Register
04.16.18 | Advanced Fire & EMS Dispatching | Indianapolis, IN | Indiana NENA/APCO Conference |  Register
04.16.18 | Cybersecurity Awareness | Washington, DC | Register
04.17.18 | Recruit, Hire, Retain, and Promote for Success | Indianapolis, IN | Indiana NENA/APCO Conference | Register
04.19.18 | Tactical Dispatch for the Telecommunicator | Washington, DC | Register
04.20.18 | Preventing Telecommunicator Tunnel Vision | Washington, DC | Register
04.22.18 | Cybersecurity Awareness | Las Vegas, NV | Navigator | Register
04.23.18 | Advanced Fire & EMS Dispatching | Las Vegas, NV | Navigator | Register
04.27.18 | Liability Issues in the 9-1-1 Center | Lake Buena Vista, FL | FL NENA/APCO Conference | Register
04.30.18 (3-day course) | 9-1-1 Center Supervisor | Petoskey, MI | (MI ID# NENA 201610A) | Register

View the NENA Education Calendar to see additional upcoming classes!

Association Business
Emergency Services Marketing Corp., Inc (iamresponding.com)
After more than seven years as NENA’s Director of Government Affairs, Trey Forgety has accepted a new position with Apple. During Trey’s tenure, NENA’s advocacy led to major advancements on Text-to-9-1-1, wireless location accuracy, NG9-1-1 deployment, network reliability, outage reporting, MLTS, and a host of other issues. Most recently, Trey led the charge on cybersecurity in the PSAP by developing training content, introducing a bulletin system for major vulnerability announcements, and speaking four times at major cybersecurity conferences including DEF CON. NENA CEO Brian Fontes thanked Trey for his service, saying "We wish Trey all the best in his new endeavor. His energy and leadership have touched every aspect of our association, and he will be sorely missed." Trey will depart at the end of this week.
NENA is pleased to open the nominations process for our 2018-19 Board of Directors election! This election will be for the following positions:
  • Second Vice President
  • Southeastern Region Director 
  • Western Region Director
  • Private Sector Region Director
Click here to download a .zip file of documents and resources that includes:
  • Statement of Responsibilities
    • Must be signed by nominee and co-signed by an agency representative (if applicable)
  • Nomination Form
    • Can be completed by the applying candidate or by a third-party nominator
  • Relevant NENA polices and procedures
  • NENA's bylaws

Learn more about nominee qualifications here.

Click here to fill out your board nomination form online. A paper form is available in the .zip file of documents and resources.

The nomination deadline is March 15, 2018. Contact Nominating Committee Chair Rob McMullen or Special Projects Director Anna Marie Batt with any questions about the nomination process, eligibility requirements, or general election details.
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Document Announcements
The NENA PSAP Site Characteristics Information Document is a guide for PSAP managers and for the designers, manufacturers and installers of PSAP CPE (Customer Premises Equipment). Most of the material in this document applies to equipment hosted in both E9‑1‑1 and NG9‑1‑1 PSAPs. It identifies the required and desirable characteristics of the PSAP facilities that house the supporting CPE. "Supporting CPE" includes all of the equipment and facilities that support PSAP operations with the exception of call taker or dispatch related equipment that is located in the workspace. Supporting CPE is often located in a "back room" and is sometimes referred to as "backroom" equipment.

The NENA Succession Planning Information Document is provided to assist PSAPs and governing 9‑1‑1 authorities with information to identify and plan for changes in critical and specialized tasks positions. The unique nature of Communications Centers/PSAPs means that no operational document can fully capture the needs of all PSAPs. This document is intended to provide guidance and is not intended to be all encompassing. This document includes information for agencies to consider: Critical Tasks, Human Resources, Recruitment, Policies and Procedures, Training, Currency, Accessibility, and Public Education.

See the full document and click here for comment submission instructions. All comments are due by midnight Eastern on February 21. Contact the NENA Committee Resource Manager with any questions or concerns.

The NENA E9-1-1 PSAP Equipment Standard defines the PSAP equipment requirements intended for use by users, manufacturers, and providers of E9‑1‑1 Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). 

See the full document and click here for comment submission instructions. All comments are due by midnight Eastern on March 5. Contact the NENA Committee Resource Manager with any questions or concerns.

The NENA NG9‑1‑1 Call Processing Metrics Standard defines normalized NG9‑1‑1 call processing metrics for computing useful statistics so that independent implementations can derive the same comparable measurements.

See the full document and click here for comment submission instructions. All comments are due by midnight Eastern on March 5. Contact the NENA Committee Resource Manager with any questions or concerns.

Having adjudicated all comments, the subject documents are now considered "stable." Per NENA IPR, Section 4.5, "Stable Form Notices" are being issued and can be seen by clicking below.
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Dates to Remember

Results to date for the ENP Chapter Challenge show that California has the most new ENPs since October with 14, closely followed by Texas, Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado. On a percentage basis, Nebraska currently leads all other chapters. April’s exam promises to have a large number of applicants, so help your chapter possibly overtake the current leaders!

The deadline to sign up for the April 8-22 ENP Certification Examination window is March 10. If you haven’t signed up yet, and plan to sit for the examination in the April window, please send in your application prior to March 10. 

The next examination period is July 15-29, with an application deadline of June 16. To help you prepare for the examination, you might consider attending the ENP Boot Camp at #NENA2018. The Boot Camp is offered Thursday, June 21 from 8:30AM – 1:30PM, so keep in mind that you will need to register for the ENP Examination prior to arrival at the conference if you intend to take the exam this summer.

Please join over 1,300 ENPs as a certified industry professional, and help your chapter win the ENP Chapter Challenge!

Washington Briefing

SAFECOM and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications have released the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS). The survey will provide valuable insights on the current state of the nation’s emergency communications, and will be used to provide justification to advocate for more grant funding and capability improvements, develop additional training and other resources, and make more informed policy decisions. The SNS is an opportunity for your voice to be heard!

Take the survey now!

Volunteers Wanted

Are you looking for a way to support your fellow 9-1-1 professionals, share your experiences, and build connections? NENA is looking for a few passionate women and men with diverse experiences and backgrounds to serve in a new leadership opportunity. You will work closely with your fellow team members on a collaborative effort to develop, implement, and coordinate NENA’s telecommunicator-focused projects and programs.

Whether your job title is call-taker, dispatcher, or communications technician... if you primarily work "on the floor," then you are invited to apply by Friday, March 9!

Click here to fill out a volunteer application (be sure you have a resume ready to upload). Don't miss this unique opportunity to develop important job skills, help improve the 9-1-1 community, and demonstrate commitment to your profession!
The continuing implementation of NG9-1-1 will result in significant impacts on telecommunicators and other 9-1-1 professionals. The 9-1-1 community is in need of guidance on what these impacts will be so that they may begin related planning efforts. Examples of the changes they will need to address include: changes in job qualifications; changes in job skills, knowledge and abilities; and potential changes in stress related impacts among many others. In addition, the very nature of the job of a 9-1-1 telecommunicator may change as they become involved with data and sensor analysis and interpretation.
 
Together, this information will help not only the current managers and leaders in the field as they prepare for impacts on telecommunicators, but also human resources professionals, educators, and individuals interested in the profession. The intention is to develop a NENA Standard and, potentially, an ANSI-accredited standard to address this topic. Weekly conference calls will be held on Wednesdays at 1PM Eastern for 1 hour.

The NENA Institute Board (NIB) seeks applicants to fill two At-Large seats on the board, with one seat available from now through June 2019, the other being a two-year appointment beginning June 2018. NIB At-Large delegates represent the NENA membership, help disseminate NIB and Emergency Number Professional (ENP) program information, and are involved in ENP examination review.

Delegates are expected to attend two in-person meetings each year, as well as monthly conference calls. Applicants must be NENA members and ENP-certified, in addition to possessing firm knowledge of 9-1-1 technology, management, operations, and future-concern topics.

Expressions of interest, along with a resume and/or bio, should be sent to Cherie Bartram, ENP Nominating Committee Chair, by Monday, February 26.

Volunteers are needed for a new workgroup that will revisit the Civic Location Data eXchange Format (CLDXF) standard. Anyone interested in civic address formatting and data exchange, and particularly those who have experience with address data management in a Next Generation 9-1-1 context, should consider joining this workgroup. Read more and review the workgroup's charter for additional details.
The following NENA Accessibility Committee working groups are seeking active volunteers to assist with the completion of several work activities. Click the group names below to learn more and get involved in any of these WGs. You may pick all three if you have the time!
 
The Managers Guide to the ADA Title II: Direct Access Work Group is currently reviewing and updating the standard document to ensure that information from amendments of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and other essential federal rulings on providing direct and communication access to callers with disabilities are included.  
 
The Communications Modalities Work Group is developing an informational document with a chart that lists potential communication modalities used by different populations including people with disabilities to call and to communicate with 9-1-1, which includes a combination of video, voice and text via different network systems in an NG9-1-1 environment. 
 
The Emergency Notification for People with Disabilities Work Group is currently developing an informational document on access to emergency warning and information through visual and/or tactile means for persons with disabilities affecting their ability to receive traditional English text or audible messages. 
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Featured Job Openings
Talari
Director l Tazewell County Consolidated Communications TC3 l Pekin, IL
DPS Emergency Communications Division Director l State of Utah l Salt Lake City, UT
Fire and EMS Dispatch Supervisor l Anchorage Fire Department l Anchorage, AK
Emergency Services Dispatcher l Fort Collins Police Services l Fort Collins, CO

Visit the NENA Career Center to see other available jobs or post your opening today!

Job-Seeker Benefits
–Customizable alerts based on your skills and interests
Anonymous profile and résumé posting
Résumé critique services
Job search tools and tips
Employer Benefits
Find highly qualified applicants quickly and easily
Only receive applications from those who meet your criteria
Tools to manage your positions and view activity reports
Searchable database of résumés and profiles

The NENA Career Board is the best resource to recruit high-quality professionals in the 9-1-1 industry. Posting your open jobs on the NENA Career Board ensures you're getting exposure to the right candidates.

Not only does posting your open jobs on NENA Career Board get them in front of top professionals, but you could also see your posted jobs on Google for Jobs, Google’s most recent feature, placing quality jobs from niche job boards on the first page of a user’s job search results!

Are you having trouble finding the time to search through all of the available positions on the NENA Career Board? Make sure the perfect opportunity doesn’t pass you by. Create a personal job alert and new jobs that match your search criteria will be emailed directly to you. You can also have your resume evaluated for FREE. Upload your resume to the NENA Job Board and find out how!
Telecommunicator Corner
This scholarship opportunity is open to any telecommunicator, call taker, or dispatcher with at least one year of experience and in good standing with his or her current employer. Supervisory and other managerial personnel are not eligible for this award. Each Telecommunicator Continuing Education Scholarship recipient receives the following:
  • Complimentary registration to the NENA 2018 Conference & Expo
  • Complimentary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of choice at NENA 2018
  • A $1,000 travel stipend

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must complete and submit the scholarship application and provide a current resume. Applications will be accepted through March 16, 2018. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than mid-April.

Click here to apply for a scholarship.

Are you looking for a way to support your fellow 9-1-1 professionals, share your experiences, and build connections? NENA is looking for a few passionate women and men with diverse experiences and backgrounds to serve in a new leadership opportunity. You will work closely with your fellow team members on a collaborative effort to develop, implement, and coordinate NENA’s telecommunicator-focused projects and programs.

Whether your job title is call-taker, dispatcher, or communications technician... if you primarily work "on the floor," then you are invited to apply by Friday, March 9!

Click here to fill out a volunteer application (be sure you have a resume ready to upload). Don't miss this unique opportunity to develop important job skills, help improve the 9-1-1 community, and demonstrate commitment to your profession!
Did you know that NENA has a great way to recognize telecommunicators who have gone above and beyond? It’s called the TC Spotlight! If you know of a TC that has done an exceptional job while handling a call, is devoted to his or her career, is a mentor to others, a great cheerleader for your agency, or just plain rocks, then we would like to help celebrate them! Share their awesome talents with the rest of the world by sending an email to tccaucus@nena.org and letting us know the nominee's name, years of service, current agency and position, and why he or she is being nominated.