There are lots of hard working and talented people in 9-1-1 in Utah. In an effort to recognize and promote their success Utah-NENA has decided to spotlight those who have made a difference.

Today’s Honoree is Heather Perkins from Provo City.

Shift Supervisor Heather Perkins started working as a dispatcher for Provo City in July 2000.  Heather advanced to a Senior Communications Specialist in 2003 and in February 2006 she was promoted to Shift Supervisor and currently supervises 4 dispatchers on night shift.

Heather has the unique ability of being able to balance a fun, enjoyable work atmosphere for those on her shift while also ensuring that all the dispatchers she supervises professionally handle their job responsibilities.  In years past, she has organized Halloween parties at work for her shift including decorations, treats and she also somehow gets everyone so excited about it that they all dress up in costume when they come to work that night.  During Telecommunicators Week she always helps contribute towards decorating the center and with a tight department budget, Heather has great cost effective ideas of how to recognize dispatchers.

Heather follows all of the policies and procedures of the department and the dispatch center.  She also ensures that those that she supervises adhere to them as well.  Her subordinates continually report back that Heather gives clear expectations and guidelines of what she expects of those on her team to follow and that she is good about following them herself.  A comment received about Heather said that “she is a good example of a leader and she has qualities I am working to develop”.

Heather’s personnel file is full of commendations.  She excels as a shift supervisor and is one of those employees that are never complained about.  She encourages teamwork and innovative ideas from employees.

Whenever I see Heather, she has a huge smile on her face.  Her zest for life and finding joy in whatever she does is contagious from the minute she enters a room.

On December 29, 2011, SLC Airport dispatch Operations Coordinator David Sohler was traveling between Tooele and Salt Lake City when his vehicle was struck by the base of a road sign that was flung through his windshield by another car.

David sustained massive injuries to his face and shoulder and was transported by life flight to the hospital in critical condition.

David’s injuries included a broken clavicle, shattered jaw, skull fracture, concussion and broken teeth.  His injuries were severe enough that he given a tracheotomy and was put into a drug induced coma temporarily to assist with his pain.

David underwent repair to his clavicle on December 30 and received extensive surgery to begin the reconstruction of his jaw on January 2, 2012.  His jaw will be wired shut for the next two months.

David has a long road ahead of him.  He is making good progress every day and was able to walk a short distance yesterday (the 3^rd).  His wife has been by his side and his family and friends are there to support him.

We would like to ask everyone to keep David and his family in their prayers.  There is a Facebook page for him that his family updates regularly.  Cards and well wishes would be very much appreciated.

News story: Bizarre chain-reaction wreck injures 2 in Tooele County

Address to send cards of encouragement

IMC Hospital – David Sohler – 5121 Cottonwood Street – Murray, UT 84107

Facebook page

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10. Dispatchers like variety every time we answer the phone we don’t know what to expect, we thrive on this.

9. We have a hundred phone numbers memorized while sitting at the console, public works, fire stations, on duty supervisor, to name a few, but we have no idea what our spouse, siblings, or parents cell phone number  is unless we look it up in our cell phone.

8. Dispatchers bladders are huge – they should do a study on us.

7 Dispatchers can listen to multiple conversations and keep up. We can also finish the same conversation two hours later.

6. We have alarms set to remind us to feed our families on a normal schedule – during the day.

5. If you are having a conversation with a dispatcher and not talking fast enough or have become boring we will interrupt finish your sentence and choose a new topic.

4.  Dispatchers can multi task so good our house hold chores are done by priority.

3. Dispatchers have a food category called “chocolate and caffeine” we also believe adrenaline is a daily self-administered vitamin.

2. Sleep  who needs it our normal bed time is 3 a.m.

1. Every day is an adventure we make a difference; save a life and ensure everyone goes home at the end of their shift.

We hope that you have seen The Call, NENA’s new quarterly peer-reviewed journal. Currently, the Publications Committee is seeking submissions for publication consideration for the spring 2012 edition. Scheduled to be mailed in time for National 9-1-1 Education Month (April 2012), the theme of the issue will be “education & training.”

Manuscripts may address any topic(s) that fall under that broad header, including, but not limited to: public education, stakeholder and government education, PSAP training issues and case studies, etc. Readers are expected to include practitioners, administrators, researchers, policy analysts, educators, and students.

Manuscripts should not exceed 20 double-spaced pages and should follow current American Psychological Association (APA) style. Further instructions for authors can be found by clicking here.

Manuscripts may be submitted electronically; send the document as an e-mail attachment to Steve O’Conor, Chair of the Publications Committee, for consideration. The submission deadline for the spring issue is December 31, 2011.

The Call features industry news as well as updates on technology, operations, training and policy. We are pleased that our official publication is now available in an interactive digital edition! Viewable on iPads and most smart phones, individuals can virtually flip through pages, forward articles of interest to colleagues and click on ads to be redirected to advertiser websites.

Space reservations are now available for future issues of The Call . Your message will appear in front of more than 7,000 safety and communications industry professionals, such as 9-1-1 center managers and supervisors and local/county/state 9-1-1 Authority personnel.This is your opportunity to gain the attention of NENA members and others in the emergency telephone number community who spend an average of $2 billion annually on industry products and services!

Last month, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) saw the certification of its 1,000th active Emergency Number Professional (ENP) in North America.

“ENPs are recognized as leaders in the 9-1-1 industry. They contribute greatly to the ongoing success of the 9-1-1 system in both the public and private sectors, are often proactive participants in public safety standards development and working groups, provide local and national leadership to the association, and act as standard-bearers for excellence in the emergency communications field,” said NENA President Rick Galway, ENP.

Developed in 1994, the ENP program quickly became the most prestigious professional designation in the 9-1-1 industry. In order to be certified, applicants must first meet eligibility requirements that include a combination of experience, education, and professional development. Candidates then must pass a rigorous examination that demonstrates a mastery of the comprehensive knowledge base required for emergency number program management.

“ENP certification is highly sought after and increasingly important in our profession,” said recently certified ENP Monica Million of the Grand Junction (CO) Regional Communication Center. “In my new position as manager, it signifies the level of professionalism I strive to bring to the department. I am actively encouraging the rest of my ENP-eligible staff to take the exam in the spring.”

ENP certification is valid for 4 years, during which ENPs must accumulate points towards re-certification through conference and course attendance; continuing education; leadership in national and chapter activities; and community outreach and training.

ENP examinations are scheduled four times annually for a two-week period each season. The next scheduled testing period is January 14-28, 2012, with an application deadline of December 12, 2011.

Visit the ENP webpage to learn more about the program and to download application forms.

There are lots of hard working and talented people in 9-1-1 in Utah. In an effort to recognize and promote their success Utah-NENA has decided to spotlight those who have made a difference.

Today’s Honoree is Randi Gamble, Tooele Country Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center.

Randi is highly regarded by her co-workers and subordinates and is trusted amongst the officers and administrators as a person of integrity and honesty. She has the unique ability to communicate with her coworkers and with the public to resolve conflict no matter the circumstances. Randi is always looking for ways to do her job to the best of her ability and think outside normal parameters in order to the  job done in an efficient and professional manner. She is remarkable punctual and rarely takes time off of work. Randi believes in herself and the potential of others, ensuring the most successful outcome of any situation.

Over the years Randi has involved herself in the betterment of the communications division by becoming the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC), certifying as a communications Training Officer (CTO), writing a new training manual, writing and updating the Tooele County Communications Division Policy and Procedure Manual, designing new shift schedules and, most recently she has been involved in re-writing the POST curriculum for dispatcher training. She never refuses an assignment regardless of her schedule and can always be depended upon to meed a deadline.

Randi has never been apprehensive about changes in technology. When modifications to our system occur she takes the initiative to learn all she can while assisting those having difficulty.  Randi is quick to assist in troubleshooting any technical malfunction and often times, solves matters before they become a problem. She has also worked tirelessly on our electronic records keeping and at reducing the instances of missed and missing information by our dispatchers through regular QA of UCJIS entries.

As a dispatch Sergeant, Randi attends meetings regularly and passes important, pertinent information along for dissemination by other team leaders, making sure they understand the material and providing training for all who use the UCJIS system be they her fellow dispatchers, officers on the road or jail personnel. She is following up on training for our personnel and procedures that will improve our agency’s accuracy.

Randi Gamble is truly a valuable asset to the Tooele Country Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center. Her uplifting personality, knowledge, skills dedication, and work ethics are some of the many qualities that qualify her as a great example of 9-1-1.

Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) around the country received encouraging news on December 1, as a bipartisan group of Representatives in the House passed an amendment aimed at improving the capabilities of the nation’s 9-1-1 centers. Previously introduced as H.R. 2629, the Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act, the amendment, introduced jointly by Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), reauthorizes the National 9-1-1 Office at the Department of Transportation and authorizes grants totaling $250,000,000 over five years to upgrade 9-1-1 capabilities, bringing text messaging and other advanced features to the nation’s 9-1-1 centers.

NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, which represents public safety officials and the 9-1-1 technology community, heralded the amendment as a testament to the importance the public and Congress place on robust emergency communications systems. “Alongside the other public safety measures included in both the majority and minority bills, now is clearly the right time for Congress to take up NG9-1-1 legislation,” said NENA President Rick Galway. “The deployment of emergency text, photo, and video capabilities for consumers should happen alongside the deployment of those same technologies for police officers, fire fighters, and EMTs,” Galway added, referring to the need for a public safety broadband network. The two provisions could eventually work together to provide an end-to-end path for communications technologies the public is already using on a day-to-day basis, but which have not previously been available for use in emergency calling or by responders in the field.

For some, these measures are a particularly welcome advance. Millions of Americans with hearing or speech disabilities are limited to using legacy technology because current networks and 9-1-1 systems cannot handle text messages sent to 9-1-1. The provisions of the Eshoo-Shimkus Amendment, however, would allow 9-1-1 authorities to deploy modern equipment capable of receiving text messages as carrier networks are upgraded to route them quickly and correctly based on the user’s location.

Details of the amendment:

National Implementation and Coordination Office

• The National ICO would be reauthorized through FY 2017.
• The ICO would be jointly administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Funding

• The legislation would secure $250 million for PSAPs to implement IP-Based infrastructure, NG 9-1-1 technology and services, and support training for the migration to NG 9-1-1.
• States must certify that 9-1-1 fees collected from consumers are being used for their intended purposes for PSAPs within that state to qualify for funding.

Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS)

• Requires the General Services Administration (GSA), in conjunction with the ICO, to issue a report to Congress on the capabilities of 9-1-1 services in all Federal buildings and property.
• Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue a Notice of Inquiry examining the feasibility of requiring MLTS manufacturers to provide location capability.

General Accounting Office (GAO) Study

• Requires the GAO to conduct a study on the imposition of taxes, fees, and other charges designated for the purpose of funding 9-1-1 systems.  The GAO is also required to examine the use of funds generated by such taxes, fees, and other charges.

Parity of Liability Protection

• The legislation would provide NG 9-1-1 applications and services the same federal liability immunity that is afforded to voice calls over POTS, mobile phones, and VoIP.  This would ensure that texting, video or photo communications between citizens and PSAPs are treated the same way as voice calls are today with respect to liability exposure.

Autodialing

The FCC would be required to initiate a proceeding to create a special “Do Not Call” Registry for PSAPs.

To Post or Not to Post: Social Networking in the Dispatch Center

Wednesday, December 7   2:00PM – 3:30PM Eastern

$50 for NENA Members / $85 for Non-Members

Facebook. Twitter. Foursquare. Google+. Social networking has become a part of everyday life for hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Today’s world of total electronic communication presents both challenges and opportunities when that communication takes place in, or affects, the PSAP. This webinar focuses on:

• The problems faced by managers and supervisors related to employee usage of social networks·
• Practical suggestions as to what controls can be adopted to limit the negative impact of social networking in the 9-1-1 center
• Current case law and legal trends, with an eye toward lessons learned from recent rulings
• The practical applications of social networking for PSAPs related to human resources, public education, training, and contingency planning laid out in NENA’s Social Networking Operations Information Document (OID)

Presented by:

John Kelly, NENA Education Advisory Board

Karen Allen, NENA Social Networking Working Group Co-Leader

The Utah Chapter of NENA was recently spotlighted in NENA’s The Call Magazine.

UTAH NENA: THE LITTLE CHAPTER THAT COULD

In anticipation of hosting the 2000 National NENA Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, the Utah NENA chapter was established in 1999 with a strong core of dedicated leaders, sound bylaws, and a commitment to hold regular meetings. Even though membership numbers were small, Utah NENA met regularly for the next three years, but then it lapsed into a state of inactivity. In August of 2005, a group of NENA Members in good standing petitioned NENA to conduct an election of new state officers because the current Utah NENA Board of Officers had not kept the chapter in good standing. In 2007, Utah NENA launched a NENA’s Back! campaign – with a new set of leaders in place, the Utah NENA website was created, committees were established, monthly meetings were held throughout the state, trainings were offered, and letters promoting participation in the reinvigorated chapter were sent to vendors, administrators,
chiefs, and sheriffs.

In the first meeting of 2011, the Utah NENA Executive Board put their heads together to determine what NENA could  really offer Members that they were not already getting through other industry organizations. They recognized that NENA has a reputation for offering extreme high-quality training and recommitted to continue that, but the Board felt that they had to do more. With unemployment levels reaching an all-time high, they reflected on how fortunate they were to have jobs in the 9-1-1 industry. Based on that good fortune, they decided to adopt a focus of giving back to the communities of Utah.

The Board did their research and found that many kids throughout the state only receive one good meal each day the lunch provided at school – because the recent economic downturn left so many parents struggling to provide even the bare necessities. Utah NENA’s inaugural program to give back to the community was a Quarters for Kids campaign. In an effort to create an opportunity for all dispatchers in the state to collectively make a difference in the lives of these hungry kids, donation jars were placed in every P5AP across the state and all PSAPs were encouraged to solicit donations from everyone within their organizations. Many vendors across the state joined in this fight against hunger as well and placed donation jars in their offices.

To foster some creative fundraising and friendly competition, all donation totals were posted on the Utah NENA website. One agency held a bake sale and raised more than $156. Another center held a Penny War, where each shift was given a donation jar and received points for pennies but were docked points for  other denominations. Opposing shifts would stuff quarters, dimes, and nickels in their opponents’ jars and put pennies in their own to offset the funds contributed by the “enemy.”  This agency raised more than $828! A different organization convinced their CEO to match the contributions of the employees, and thus were able donate more than $330.

At the end of the drive, P5APs in the state of Utah donated more than $2,717 to Utah NENA’s Quarters for Kids campaign. This money was donated to the Utah Food Bank where they turn every $1 donation into $7 worth of food and services to feed hungry kids and their families. Thus, Utah NENA’s $2,717 donation equated to more than $19,019 worth of food and services!

So, after a bit of a rough start, rest assured that the Utah NENA Chapter is alive and well! Here are some of the things they
are doing that other chapters might want to consider:

• Hosting a statewide ENP study group.
• Offering a “Midnight Madness” training session from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. to accommodate the often overlooked graveyard shifts.
• Opening Board Meetings up to all Members.
• Offering incentives for getting a coworker, colleague, or friend to join NENA.
• Organizing a fund raiser walk for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
• Continuing their tradition of offering amazing training at affordable prices.

Read the free digital edition at www.naylornetwork.com/nen-nxt/ Utah NENA is featured on page 33 or download Utah NENA page in PDF.

NENA proudly announces the launch of the new NENA website, replete with features and functionality that greatly enhance the online membership experience, including:

• Social/professional networking features
• Blogs and forums
• Community groups & Chapter pages
• Collaboration and information sharing  functionality
• Simplified login process for members-only content as well as event registration
• On-demand invoicing and real-time payments

You can view a brief tutorial about the new website that explains some these features on the NENA YouTube Channel.