Tuesday
Did your company want the Web site address of "enhanced911"? Sorry, it's been taken, by RedSky Technologies Inc., which is exhibiting their ALI management software and services at the conference trade show.
GEAC had a live projected CAD screen of Washington (DC) police pending incidents and unit status. It looked normal, but there was one burglar alarm that had been holding for 23 hours and 55 minutes! There must be a technical explanation.
There were first-time exhibitors--and not small-fry. Nokia, arguably the largest cellular manufacturer, and Garmin, a major marketer of handheld GPS systems, were side-by-side in one end of the hall. Both weren't getting much attention, as attendees tried to determine exactly what they offered public safety.
Ever hug a lumberjack? Diana Borash apparently wants to. During the MANAPCO lumberjack competition in the convention center ballroom, she was called on-stage, and then playfully asked the MC if she could take one of the lumberjacks home.
Best corporate give-away: the wallet-type thing that Plant Equipment Inc. was handing out if you handed over your name and address. It hangs around your neck and carries essential ID and other materials.
After signing the affiliation agreement, BAPCO members presented Jack Keating with a Bobby's helmet--and he gamely put it on!
Business, Fun & Exhibits Begin
Small Quorum Considers By-Law Changes
Exhibit Hall Opens With Fireworks!
Association Broadcasts Meetings Live On Web
by Gary Allen, Editor
The day started early for about 600 APCO members who attended what is possibly the earliest scheduled business meeting in conference history.
The meeting kicked off the second day of the annual
conference, which included a spectacular parade and pyrotechnics to open
the trade show, the passage of all the proposed changes to the association's
By-Laws, and a lumberjack show that thrilled hundreds of MANAPCO night attendees.
Outside the convention center, it was "Law Enforcement Day," with
vehicles, boats, helicopters, motorcycles and bicycles on display from agencies
in the Minneapolis area.
APCO also announced two new formal projects, involving dispatcher certification and CAD interface standards, and formation of new department and possibly future reorganizations of standing committees.
The first business meeting moved along at lightning speed, and finished almost 45 minutes before its scheduled time. First on the list was the Art McDole Award, which was given to past-president Sam Gargaro of Minnesota. Several Outstanding Achievement Awards were given out: Ardis Baker (Billings, Mont.), Allen C. Holder (Lincoln County), Tracy Hill (Travis County Sheriff's Office) and David Saffel (West Virginia State Police).
Presidential Award were given to Tom Tolman for his work on the NPSTC, Chris Fisher for work on the Technical Assistance Program, Roxanne Brown for her work on CALEA, Bob Marz for automated frequency coordination software development, Lynne Feller for NPSTC, and James Blesso for becoming the association's first Senior Member.
A Service Award was given to the Long-Range Planning Task Force for its work in developing future goals, to the AFC software beta testers, to the Regional Conference Review Task Force, and to John DiSalvo for his work on Project 25. The AFC Advisor of the Year Award was given to Bob Marz (Utah).
The West Virginia chapter received the award for the most new members during the year, and a second award for the largest percentage membership change. North Dakota continued its distinction as having the most members per population density.
This year, members will be voting on the position of second vice-president in the exhibit hall on Tuesday and Wednesday. Members are asked to show picture ID before they can vote, and the transactions are apparently being monitored by a member of the Executive Board. During a 30 minute, noon-hour period, voting was brisk. Results will be announced in the exhibit hall on Wednesday afternoon.
During the meeting, president-elect Joe Hanna outlined the association's goals for 2000, including implementation of the long-range strategic plan, completion of a new headquarters building, enhancing the role of the local chapters, and development of a what it calls the 911 & Emerging Technologies Department. Hanna said the new unit would have "a very limited focus," including wireless, crash notification and intelligent transportation system (ITS) issues.
Also on the list of goals was strengthening spectrum management, continuing and expanding the role of APCO in regulatory affairs, continuing efforts to strengthen ties with related group such as IACP, IAFC, NENA, CTIA and PCIA.
Hanna announced Project 36, which will develop interface standards for computer-aided dispatch software, and Project 37, which will develop certification standards for public safety telecommunications professionals. Hanna said the project was "ambitious" and that he had appointed Lynne Feller (Wayne County, Ohio) to chair the latter project.
Lastly, Hanna said his goal for 2000 would include expansion of the role of information technology professionals within APCO. He added that certain standing committees would be restructured, and that some would disappear completely or would take on new names and duties.
The Resolutions
The meeting then quickly moved to the six resolutions being considered during the conference. Executive director John Ramsey read each one, as required by the By-Laws, and Hanna solicited any amendments. In fact, amendments were offered for three of the resolutions and all had the same message--keep definitions in the By-Laws where they can't be easily changed by future boards.
The first three resolutions modified language related to absentee ballots, the conference manual, and site selection. They were passed unanimously at the second business meeting later in the day. The other three resolutions spoke to life membership, senior membership and the name of the association's publication, and generated amendments from the floor.
For resolution four and five, the Board of Officers had developed criteria for life membership and the senior membership classification, and proposed to place that material in the association's procedural manual instead of the By-Laws. The amendments asked that the criteria be placed in the By-Laws. Resolution 6 proposed that all references to the monthly publication's name be removed from the By-Laws, while the amendment proposed that it be retained, and be called "Public Safety Communications, APCO BULLETIN, Journal of Public Safety Communications." The amendment was prompted mainly by those who believe the "APCO Bulletin" name has historical value, and constitutes a valuable name.
During the afternoon business meeting, the proposed amendments were all passed by the attendees, which number less than 125. The amendments for resolutions four and five passed with 10-15 "Nay" votes each, and the amended resolutions passed unanimously. After president Jack Keating declared that the Board of Officers did not oppose the amendment offered for Resolution 6, the amendment passed unanimously, and the amended resolution then passed unanimously as well.
Candidates Speak
The next business was the introduction of Thera Bradshaw and Lex Rutter, candidates for second vice-president. Both were given six minutes for an introduction by two APCO members, and for their speech.
After the meeting, APCO members converged on the front of the convention center, where a State Patrol Bell 206-L helicopter landed as part of the law enforcement day display of equipment. At least 30 other vehicles of all sorts--cars, trucks, armored vehicles, boats, jet skis, snowmobiles, bicycles, horses and motorcycles--were parked on either side of the convention center entrance.
At 10 a.m. conference chair Diana Borash took to the stage and introduced a marching band that led a motorcade of one car containing the 1999 APCO award winners, a Barney Fife look-alike driving a Mayberry-like police car, Radio Man (don't ask) and a hip dance group. Borash then declared the exhibit hall open, and pyrotechnics went off and streamers shot out across the stage. The crowd then streamed inside to the exhibit hall.
Orbacom was showing its usual products, but had a need "Camp Orbacom" theme that dovetailed with Minnesota and the MANAPCO event. Large-format displays for information management were being hawked, both by Synelec using video projectors, and by Daktronics, Inc. using LEDs, lamps or reflective material. Daktronics can provide single and multi-line displays with up to 24 characters, or a matrix display that can handle graphics and up to 60 different fonts.
JPS Communications, Inc. displayed their complex-looking Transportable Interconnect System, which allows you to link any type of radio to any other type of radio to allow full interoperability. The system is package for portability and once set up, can be programmed locally or via one of the radios being interconnected.
Motorola was displaying a new product to allow integration of public safety vehicle systems into a single, touch-control console. The system features some gee-whiz graphics and can interface with sirens, lights and other equipment.
At the Minnesota State Patrol historical display, there were old vehicles and a display case full of old radio gear, including a Motorola HT-200 radio.
Second Biz Meeting
The second business meeting of the association started with the signing of an affiliation agreement with the British counterpart of APCO--appropriately named BAPCO. The contract was signed in front of the audience by officers from both organizations. BAPCO has 820 members in the UK, and will hold their first annual conference next year in England.
Executive director John Ramsey then quickly gave his State of the Association speech, telling members that APCO has $3,009,030 in assets and $647,692 in liabilities, for a net worth of $2,361,338--the highest ever. He said the association also has $1,075,000 in cash and investments.
Ramsey outlined his focus for 2000: the new headquarters, including the purchase of real estate and the construction of a new headquarters by August, 2000; long-range planning goals; the automated frequency coordination service, the "APCO 2000" membership drive (15,000 members by the year 2000), relocation to the new headquarters, the Technical Assistance Program (TAP), more technical and operations symposiums, and development of focus groups to help determine issues on which to focus.
New Web Site
The association's historical committee announced that it has created a substantial database of reference to APCO Bulletin articles, based on a nearly-complete collection of the magazine (back to 1935) at Bradley University. The database now has 14,378 citations (but not full-text) of articles from 1990-1999, 1983-1984, 1974-1975 and 1940. More issues will be added in the future.
More interestingly, anyone can access the database on the World Wide Web at:
Nighttime Fun
After a full day, most conference attendees looked for
food, fun and entertainment at the MANAPCO Night event. Outside, members
could have their photos taken with "Paul
Bunyan." There were four buffet lines,
a rock band, "camp counselors"
to help attendees, and a lumberjack competition. APCO members Von Beales
and Toni Dunne roamed the ballroom in full camping gear,
while others crowded around the arena where two lumberjacks performed an
ax toss, log
chopping, pole climb and log roll.
Tomorrow:
- Exhibit hall is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Educational sessions from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Results of voting for 2nd vice-president announced at 4 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall; reception follows
copyright 1999, Allen Media