November 28th:
Arkansas APCO/NENA 2008 Annual Conference
March 30 - April 1, 2008 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
For conference agenda and highlights, check out the APCO and NENA websites:
Event sponsorships and vendor booths are available by contacting:
Bud Gray, 501-340-5365
bgray@northlittlerock.gov
Josh Billis, 479-271-5736
jbillis@co.benton.ar.us
HOTEL INFORMATION:
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 400 Convention Blvd, Hot Springs. The APCO/NENA rate is $119/night. Participants should make their reservations by calling 501-624-9200 and identify themselves as APCO/NENA Conference attendees. Rooms are available on a first-come basis.
RIVERBOAT CRUISE:
Sunday, March 30, 2008, 5:00 p.m.
Conference attendees are invited to a riverboat cruise aboard The Belle of Hot Springs: 5200 Central Avenue
Hwy 7 South, Hot Springs
(www.belleriverboat.com)
Boarding will begin at 5:00 p.m. Seating limited. Guest passes are available.
AWARDS BANQUET:
Monday, March 31, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Awards for Dispatcher of the Year and Supervisor of the Year will be presented. Nomination forms available at the APCO and NENA websites listed above. Reserved seating for this event is included in your registration. Guest passes are available.
VISIT HOT SPRINGS:
Healing thermal water spas, miniature golf, aquariums, live entertainment, wax museums, and historical sites are just a few of the fun things to see and do in American's First Resort. Hot Springs’ new botanical wonder, Garvan Woodland Gardens offers year-round natural beauty, while the pounding action of thoroughbred horse racing at Oaklawn Park attracts visitors from all over the world. Visit www.hotsprings.org for more attractions.
PAYMENT:
To register please complete the form below and mail payment to Steve Harrison or you may register online by clicking here.
Arkansas APCO/NENA 2008 Annual Conference Registration form.
Send to: APCO/NENA Conference
Attn: Steve Harrison
645 S School Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701
Phone: 479-521-5801
Cancellations will be charged a $25 fee.
No refunds can be made after February 1, 2008.
August 3rd :
Now available online: Minutes from the July 2007 Meeting with new board member elections, and the new presidents first letter to the members.
August 2nd :
From 911-Cares:
We are saddened to report that Ionia, Michigan 9-1-1 Director William Charon passed away on Monday evening of a massive heart attack.
Our dispatchers that handled the call are doing as well as can be expected. I am SO proud of the way they handled the call and I know Bill would be proud, too. We are, of course in the first stage of grieving. We are stunned and scared.
Bill retired from Michigan State Patrol in 1997 at the rank of Captain. He came to work with us immediately following his retirement. He was our leader, our mentor, our friend for the last ten years. I don’t think we have begun to realize his impact in our daily lives and our professional lives yet.
He was a member of the Michigan Communication Directors Association, the Emergency Telephone Service Committee, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the Michigan Public Safety Communications System Advisory Board and the MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Region 6.
Bill leaves a family of wife, Diane and 7 children. As one of the sons said, “We are six sons and a princess.”
Bills funeral is scheduled for Friday August 3rd at 11a at the Saranac High School in Saranac, MI. The agency has asked that donations be made to 911 CARES in Bill’s name or to the family in lieu of flowers.
Kevin, thanks so much for getting the word out.
Contact info:
Dick L Denny
Supervisor for Dispatch Operations
Ionia County Central Dispatch
545 Appletree Dr
Ionia, MI 48846
(616) 527-0400
vdenny@ioniacounty.org
Kevin Willett
PSTC - Public Safety Training Consultants
www.pstc911.com www.911cares.com
WK: 650-591-7911 x 102
FAX: 650-591-8911
PGR: 800-880-5277
E-mail: kevin@pstc911.com
PO Box 5508 - Redwood City, CA 94063
June 20th :
City Of Conway Emergency Operations Center will be hosting a class called DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POWERPHONE CLASS FOR DISPATCHERS to learn more click here.June 1st :
Tragic Death of a TN Dispatcher's Son. $6,000 in burial costs needed! To find out more information on this and learn how to donate please visit 911 CARES. 911 CARES will match the first $1,500 that is donated between June 1st and June 12th. If you would rather donate via phone, call us between 0730-1600 CA time to 800-348-8911 x-105. If you are attending the national NENA conference, we will have a donation bucket at the 911 CARES booth along with cards to sign for the family.
Here is a chance for you to help a fellow dispatcher. We have verified that this dispatcher does not have benefits that offer burial or burial related costs.
The following info is from the agency Chaplain:
The dispatcher is Eddie Bencosme from Chattanooga, TN PD Eddie and his wife Sarah had gone to New York over the Memorial Day holiday so his family could see the new grandchild. Saturday afternoon they put the baby down for a nap on an inflatable air mattress, which rises about 6" off the ground. Sarah placed cushions around the mattress so the baby wouldn't fall off and hurt himself. Later Eddie went upstairs to check on him (Benson), and found he had found his way to the cushions and suffocated under them.
Eddie and Sarah returned to Chattanooga. Their son's body is being flown to Chattanooga today now that the accidental death investigation is complete. Friday, June 1st there will be a graveside service; the church Memorial service will be tomorrow evening.
The cost of paying for a funeral director's services in New York, transporting the body to Chattanooga, funeral director's services here, grave site, etc. is costing more than $6,000. The funeral director and cemetery here greatly reduced their costs due to the circumstances, otherwise the costs would have been much greater. Friends at church even had to purchase suitable clothes for the parents for the funeral services.
Again if you would like further on this or would like to donate please follow this link
May 2nd :
Welcome to the new APCO Arkansas Website! We hope this will be a educational and helpful site. If you have any questions or comments please let us know, by emailing us here.