Last Day of Seminars
Hanna Turns Gavel Over to In-Coming President Gallagher

by Gary Allen

It was a relatively quiet day for the APCO conference, as it presented a last round of seminars and closed with the swearing in of a new board of officers to lead the group into the next year of critical issues in public safety communications.

Many members, and corporate who didn't have to return to work immediately, gave today over to sightseeing and outside adventures. But a moderate crowd still filled the convention center meeting rooms to hear advice, information and experiences they might use back home.

About 1,400 persons sat down in the main ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel--and a connected side room--to have dinner on filet mignon and baked stuffed shrimp, and to hear out-going APCO Joe Hanna thank a long list of persons who helped him the last year, and to listen while in-coming president Lyle Gallagher list the association's key challenges in he year ahead.

Although the event was listed by APCO as "business casual to formal," there were many women in long black dresses, and men in suits or even tuxedos. We noted at least one male attendee wearing a cowboy hat and tails, and many others wearing polo shirts and Dockers. In one alcove, parents propped up a toddler in a stroller so he/she could sleep during the banquet.

Michol Abraham, chair of the 2001 conference in Salt Lake City, started the presentations by noting that it was just 353 days until the conference starts. "We have been passing out taffy, and sticking on bees (pins--its the Beehive State) for about five years now," she noted. It begins just five months before the Winter Olympics are held in and around the Salt Lake area. "We'll keep the torch burning," she said, until the attendees arrive.

APCO executive director John Ramsey then introduced association president Joe Hanna, who immediately introduced Ann Hashagen, the group's conference and exposition manager. Hanna announced that Hashagen would be leaving the organization after "many years of loyal service." He presented her with a dark blue glass sculpture as a token of the group's appreciation, and the audience gave her a standing ovation. Hanna then presented five new Life Members, including Steve Souder (Virg.), David Buchanan (CPRA), Morris Gross (Penn.), Mary Messamore (Kan.) and Jim Blesso (Atlantic).

Then Hanna introduced a new annual award created by the board of officers, and named for long-time member Weldon Joe Blair of the Texas Chapter, "who has set an example for what it means to be devoted to an organization." This year's award was given to Jimmie Holcutt of the Washington Chapter, who was not present. Holcutt is a 15-year member of APCO and has been active on many committees, including the new building committee, and the Executive Council for six years.

Hanna then introduced Michael Mangini, this year's conference chair, and presented him with a plaque commemorating all of his work towards making this year's conference so successful. Mangini was also honored by his boss, Chief of Emergency Medical Services Rich Serino, who returned from his vacation just to attend the closing banquet and honor Mangini, who has 23 years in EMS.

Mangini received a standing ovation from the crowd of APCO members. In a humbled voice that sometimes carried emotion, Mangini told the crowd that he was just part of larger team who worked on the conference. "You can help me do what I can't do," Mangini told the audience, "and that's to try to thank all these people." The audience applauded for a long 15 seconds. Mangini then in turn thanked all the groups and persons who had contributed to the conference, including the Atlantic chapter, the local volunteers, the APCO board and staff, and his own family. "They see me least of anybody," he said before his words were drowned out by applause again.

"I accept these awards graciously on behalf of all the people that helped me look tonight and all through this week," Mangini said.

He then introduced a lively and insightful video created and produced by Carol Sutherland, which used video clips made over the last four days, still photos and other graphics to distill the experience that was APCO 2000. It featured background music by Jackson Brown, the Beach Boys and others--the audience applauded, laughed, chuckled and pointed as various faces appeared on-screen.

After the video, Hanna made two special announcements: that Diana Borash (Minn.) and Greg Ballantine (Mo.) would be seeking the position of second vice-president in the coming year, and that APCO had signed on its 15,000th member just yesterday--and then went on to sign up 23 more.

Hanna then gave his final speech as president, saying that traditionally out-going presidents review the past year, and that he would follow that tradition. "Ultimately, however," he added, "looking back is not what my speech needs to be about." He challenged the members to "look to the future."

He recalled that during the past year, many people would meet him and mumble the "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" movie line, "Who is that guy?" He joked that, in fact, quite a few wireless carriers asked that question during the past year. He then thanked several people, including those from the Texas Chapter, the chief of Richardson (Tex.) where he works, the city manager, his supervisors and dispatchers "who have consistently performed their duties at such a high level of competence that my absences from the officer were often overlooked." He thanked former APCO president Jack Keating and executive director John Ramsey, whom he cited for handling administrative issues, and allowing him to pursue policy issues. "You have a treasure in John and I challenge to take care of this treasure."

Hanna then recalled the past year, and the progress APCO has made on several fronts, including wireless 911, the 700 MHz allocation, 800 MHz interference, the new headquarters building and the alliance with CALEA on comm center certification. He noted that five of the six persons selected as "Most Influential" by Radio Resource Magazine are APCO members.

The reasons for the successes are simple, Hanna said. "You engage the tough issues, not always taking the easy or popular stance." He added that for him, "The right thing to do is the right thing to do." Hanna said that, "Unfortunately, this stand does not always make everyone happy."

Despite the progress, however, "We have far to go," Hanna told the group. "We have the rules in place for enhance wireless 911 services, but we have little movement from the carrier community. We have the promise of 24 MHz of spectrum...but we have access to the spectrum."

He noted that the first comm centers have become accredited under the joint APCO-CALEA program, "But we have 5,000 PSAPs not yet accredited."

Hanna challenged the APCO board and member to continue the fundamental practice that has carried the group for many years--"Evaluate the issues, determine the right thing, and full speed ahead--damn the torpedoes." He said serving on the board was "one of the greatest honors of my life."

Hanna then swore in the new APCO Board: Gallagher, Glen Nash (president-elect) and Thera Bradshaw (first vice-president), Vincent Stile (second vice-president). Gallagher then took the gavel and immediately presented Hanna with a plaque commemorating his year as president. Gallagher also announced that Hanna himself was voted in as a Life Member of the association. Gallagher was then startled by the appearance of his grown children on-stage, who gave him hugs and waved two North Dakota state flags. [APCO bio of Gallagher]

He thanked the members and said it was the "proudest moment of my life." He told how he began his dispatching career in North Dakota back in 1964, and how his career blossomed over time.

He then ticked off the critical issues for the coming year:

• move into the new headquarters building
• regulatory activities related to wireless 911 and spectrum management
• APCO has formed a task force on wireless 911 to formally pursue the issues
• stepped up efforts to secure spectrum
• 800 MHz interference
• mitigate Canada and Mexico spectrum issues--a task force has been formed
• solutions for comm center staffing issues
• a task force will be formed to increase the visibility of APCO
• build on past work of the Chapter Enhancement task force
• create a local and national public release program that will promote the work of dispatchers
• create a mentoring program to develop potential APCO board officers

Gallagher concluded, "We will be a little busy over the next 12 months. We have ambitious and exciting goals for the next year. And with your help, we'll get the job done."

Recruiting

We note that APCO will be offering member agencies customized recruiting brochures to help improve the process of locating and attracting new dispatcher candidates. You simply send APCO certain information that you want customized on the brochure, and then APCO prepares the brochure, has it prepared digitally, and sends you back a CD-ROM that you can take directly to a printer of your choice for final copies. Contact Barbara Lawrence (ext. 238) at APCO.

The City

We note more sights in the city, including Boston Common, a early meeting place for revolutionary Americans. It was once on the shoreline of Boston, but become land-locked after long-term landfill efforts in the 1800s. The Common is still a meeting place, but now also includes a huge underground parking garage, the Swan boat rides, sculptures, fountains, gardens and a major stop on the city's subway system. The Granary Cemetery next to the Common is the final resting place for many famous Americans of the era, including Paul Revere. The Old North Church still stands tall in north Boston--it was the place of "One if by land..." And we post this photo to emphasize the divergent architecture of Boston.

BFD Apparatus

A fire downtown in a high-rise apartment building gave us the opportunity to see and photograph the diverse types of units in use by the Boston Fire Department. They included three engines, four ladders, an air unit, a rehab unit, a "special" unit and a command vehicle. Also on the assignment were an EMS command vehicle and an ambulance.