9-1-1 Center Consolidation Webinar This Wednesday

Consolidation: Getting It Right the First Time
Wednesday, March 4 | 3 PM Eastern (live) or On-Demand
$50 for NENA Members | $85 for Non-Members
Click here to register!

So your agency is consolidating.... now what? This webinar outlines the keys to a successful consolidation. Attend to learn what needs to be done to make cutover day one to celebrate instead of one to dread. The presentation covers:

• Project management
• Staffing decisions
• Technology issues
• Training
• Transitioning an agency

Please note the date! Due to 9-1-1 Goes to Washington, this webinar is being presented on the first Wednesday of March instead of the last Wednesday of February.

Can't attend on the 4th? 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.

 

Keep Current & Get Continuing Education All Year With NENA's Webinar Wednesday Annual Subscription

The last Wednesday of each month (except June, November and December) is Webinar Wednesday! All nine webinars are now available for a prepaid annual subscription of $350 for members or $575 for non-members -- a significant savings compared to purchasing each webinar individually. Get the team together for these hour-long webinars covering the hottest issues in 9-1-1. 2015 topics include:

• Change Management
• Building 21st Century 9-1-1 Centers
• GIS & 9-1-1
• Diversity in the 9-1-1 Center
• Understanding Wireless 9-1-1
• HR Basics for 9-1-1
• Quality Assurance

Purchase the annual subscription and save!

Webinar Access Info
No need to sign up or RSVP for individual webinars. You'll automatically receive dial-in and web-access details for each offering via email the week of the webinar.

Can't attend one or more of the live webinars? The subscription also provides on-demand access to the webinar archive, so that you and your team can view and review any webinar at your convenience.

 

Friends of 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Scholarships Now Available

NENA's Friends of 9-1-1 program is happy to announce the availability of five Telecommunicator Continuing Education Scholarships!

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 will receive the following:

• Complimentary registration to the NENA 2015 Conference & Expo
• Complimentary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of choice at NENA 2015
• A $500 travel stipend

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must complete and submit the scholarship application and provide a current resume to friendsof911@nena.org. Applications will be accepted through April 1, 2015. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than May 1, 2015. 

Click here to learn more about the scholarship and apply. 

 

NENA Now Accepting 2015-2016 Executive Board Nominations

NENA is pleased to open the nominations process for our 2015-2016 Executive Board election! This election will be for the following positions:

• Second Vice President
• Northeastern Region Director 
• North Central Region Director
• Canadian Region Director

All nominees must be current members in good standing for at least three years; have been employed for at least three years in 9-1-1; be certified Emergency Number Professionals (ENPs); and meet the minimum threshold of membership, leadership, and certification requirements as outlined in the Nomination Form. Nominees for the position of Region Director must reside in the region they wish to represent.
 
Click here to download a .zip file of election 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 bylaws

Need more info? Click here to watch a free on-demand webinar that overviews candidate prerequisites, the nomination process, the election cycle, the positions available on the board, the duties and responsibilities of a board member, and how national office differs from chapter leadership. You can also download the slide deck from the webinar here.

The nomination deadline is March 15, 2015. Contact Bri Robinson with any questions about the nomination process, eligibility requirements, or general election details.

 

Register Now for the 2nd Annual Run for 9-1-1!

On the morning of Sunday, June 28, lace up your running or walking shoes in support of 9-1-1 training and wellness programs and participate in the Friends of 9-1-1 second-annual "Run for 9-1-1" charity 5k in Denver, Colo.!

The run/walk promotes healthy living among 9-1-1 professionals, gives the Denver community and supporters from around the country a chance to say "thank you" to 9-1-1, and generates funds for scholarships and 9-1-1 training opportunities.

Click here to see pictures from last year's inaugural 5k in Nashville, Tenn.!

Interested runners (and walkers) should visit the Friends of 9-1-1 website for more information. The registration fee is currently $30 and will increase to $35 on May 16 and then to $40 on Race Day (June 28). Teams of five runners can register for $100.  

There are a limited number of corporate sponsorship opportunities for the Run for 9-1-1 charity event. The deadline for sponsorship commitments is June 15.  Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Sean Sullivan of Team Lightbulb.  

Those who cannot attend the run/walk in person are encouraged to show support by becoming a Friends of 9-1-1 Fundraiser, with options available for individuals or groups to raise funds for scholarships and other initiatives benefiting 9-1-1 professionals.

 

Now Accepting: McMurray Scholarship & Stanton Award Nominations

2015 William M. McMurray Annual Conference Scholarship Opportunity
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 2015 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. All applications must be returned to headquarters by COB March 20, 2015.

Stanton Award Nominations Now Open
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 the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is March 31, 2015.

 

New ENP Study Group Forming

Florida NENA is starting a new ENP Study Group on March 31. Anyone interested in becoming better prepared to sit for the ENP exam is welcome to join! Contact Laurene Anderson for more information.

 

Free 9-1-1 Location Accuracy Webinar -- Watch Now On-Demand

From 300 Meters to 50: Dispatchable Location & the FCC’s NEW Wireless Location Accuracy Rules
FREE! Click here to watch now! Download slide deck

Watch this FREE NENA webinar as we explore the FCC’s recently-released Indoor Wireless Location Accuracy rules. In this webinar you’ll learn:

• The new requirements for carrier location performance.
• How technology and network performance will be tested and monitored.
• The impact of "Dispatchable Location" technology on front-line call taking and dispatch.
• How standardized confidence values will improve consistency of location data.
• How your PSAP will be able to monitor carrier performance at the local level.

 

NENA 2015 Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for the NENA 2015 Conference & Expo, taking place June 27-July 2 in Denver, Colo.! Click here to register and here to make your housing reservations. With many hotels already close to being sold out, be sure to book soon to get the best possible rate at your hotel of choice!

At NENA 2015, you will not only hear about the public safety issues of the present and the future, but also gain practical, real world know-how that you can take home with you and put into action immediately. No matter what your role is in public safety, NENA 2015 delivers the education, resources and contacts you need to be better equipped to do your job and actively prepare for the road ahead.

Featuring inspiring keynote speakers, dozens of education and training sessions designed to inform and empower, comprehensive full-day and multi-day courses and workshops with real-world applications, unparalleled opportunities to network with peers and make the right connections, and an expo hall showcasing cutting-edge products and services, NENA 2015 is the must-attend event of the year for today’s emergency communications professional. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!

 

You Shop & Amazon Gives with AmazonSmile!

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support NENA every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to NENA.

To shop at AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com from the Web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to search for and select "National Emergency Number Association" to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation.

Click here to learn more and here to start shopping now!

 

Save the Date!

 

Not Receiving NENA Mail?

Make sure the addresses (email and postal) that we have on file for you are current! Please log in to your online member account to verify or update your information, or send an email to Bri Robinson.

 

FRA Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Database Update

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and National Law Enforcement Terminal System (NLETS) partnered to facilitate access to the FRA Highway-Rail Grade Crossing safety database.   

• With this new access, law enforcement and other 1st responders can access FRA highway-rail grade crossing safety database using their own system.
• 23,000 public safety agencies, more than 1 million first responders across the nation, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands can pull immediate grade crossing information, saving time in emergency situations.
• Information available for direct inquiries concerning highway-rail grade crossing emergency information such as phone numbers, name of railroads and locations are presented to first responders within seconds.
• Makes use of systems already in use across the force, no new systems to purchase  
• NLETS updates their database nightly creating the most update network for 1st responders.                

By creating a mirror image of the database at NLETS, over 1 million NLETS users will have access to valuable railroad crossing data using their existing equipment and network connectivity. 

In the past, law enforcement’s access to the FRA database was limited to the Internet site http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov.   

All highway-rail grade crossings have a United Sates Department of Transportation (USDOT) number assigned and the query will generate a result set with all of the relevant crossing information (such as the street information and GPS coordinates for dispatch, railway company contact information to stop service, etc.)  

When an accident or other event occurs at a railroad crossing, the Public Safety Answering Point/911 call center (PSAP), or the responding officer would need to have a working knowledge of the website and access to the internet from their system.  In most cases, law enforcement networks are segregated from the internet to meet FBI CJIS security requirements.  Allowing users within the secure environment to access information out of the network is problematic and therefore generally discouraged.  

Now NLETS maintains a mirror image of FRA’s highway-rail grade crossing database, allowing the law enforcement community instant access to FRA’s database.  This will allow the law enforcement community instant access to valuable information concerning highway-grade crossings such as the emergency notification phone numbers.   

Nearly 23,000 law enforcement, justice and public safety agencies in the United States and Canada have access to the secure NLETS network and system, and more than 1 million individuals use the system to perform 1.5 billion queries annually. Personnel are trained and certified by their agencies on the data resources available through NLETS, including driver and vehicle queries, warrant confirmations, criminal history record information, etc.   

For additional information, contact your NLETS State representative.  

 

Volunteers Needed for 9-1-1 Call Processing Standard

NENA is looking for workgroup volunteers to assist in developing a new 9-1-1 call processing standard for PSAPs. This work will combine and update current NENA standards in the areas of: (1) Guidelines for minimum response to wireless 9-1-1 calls, (2) Call answering standard/model recommendation, (3) Emergency call processing protocol standard, and (4) Silent or hang-up 9-1-1 calls for service (information document). The workgroup will utilize NENA’s document development processes to create an ANSI-accredited standard that reflects current best practices and incorporate recommendations for new technology such as Text-to-9-1-1. The workgroup is looking for individuals with operational knowledge of current PSAP call processing practices as well as knowledge of developing policy and procedures. The commitment is participation for an hour a week on a conference call with workgroup members.  

Please complete the volunteer form to join this group. 

 

FCC PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry Now Available

The PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness and Certification Registry lists PSAPs that are ready to receive text-to-911 messages and provides notice to Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) providers and other providers of interconnected text messaging services (collectively, "covered text providers") of the PSAP’s notice date of readiness. The Text-to-911 Registry lists each PSAP by FCC PSAP ID and name, the county of operation, the primary point of contact for coordinating text-to-911 service, the method by which the PSAP will accept texts, and the state or local governing entity authorizing the PSAP to accept texts.

Click here for more information.

 

Get the Emergency Communications News That Really Matters with Public Safety SmartBrief

NENA recently launched a FREE email news service called Public Safety SmartBrief. It provides a weekly summary of news, trends, and updates on public safety issues -- not just 9-1-1, but police, fire and EMS. Knowledgeable editors handpick key articles from hundreds of publications, summarize them and provide direct links to the original sources.

 

Enhanced Career Center Now Available

 

Save the Dates...

June 27-July 2 | NENA 2015 Conference & Expo | Denver, CO

October 4-7 | NENA Development Conference | Austin, TX

 

03.04.15 - Webinar Wednesday - Consolidation: Getting It Right the First Time - Register here!

3.9-13.15 – Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP) - Bloomington, IN - Register here!

3.10.15 - Quality Assurance: Beyond Call Taking - Altoona, IA - Register here!

3.12.15 - SOP Development: Refining & Enhancing Your 9-1-1 Center - Elizabeth City, NC - Register here! 

3.13.15 - SOP Development: Refining & Enhancing Your 9-1-1 Center - Danbury, NC - Register here!

3.24.15 - Leadership in the 9-1-1 Center - NENA Education Summit  - Mt. Juliet, TN - Register here!

3.24.15 - Customer Service in 9-1-1: Takes Seconds, Saves Minutes - NENA Education Summit  - Mt. Juliet, TN - Register here!

3.25.15 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - NENA Education Summit - Mt. Juliet, TN - Register here!

3.25.15 - NG9-1-1 & the GIS Workflow & Emergency Preparedness for GIS - NENA Education Summit - Mt. Juliet, TN - Register here!

3.26.15 - Liability Issues in the 9-1-1 Center - NENA Education Summit  - Mt. Juliet, TN - Register here!

04.09.15 - Overcoming Negativity in the Communications Center - Palm Beach, FL - Learn More!

04.27.15 - Leadership in the 9-1-1 Center - Las Vegas, NV (Navigator Conference) - Register here!

04.28.15 - Customer Service: Takes Seconds, Saves Minutes - Las Vegas, NV (Navigator Conference) - Register here!

Questions? Want to bring a course directly to you?
Visit our Host a Course page to find out how you can bring it directly to you. You can also contact NENA's Education & Operational Issues Director, Ty Wooten, for additional information.