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Hello,

This is my first, and hopefully not my last, post here. In case you didn't check out my profile, I've been in Public Safety for a long time, the majority of it as a dispatcher and some as an EMT. Take away my name and I could be any of the salt & pepper-haired veterans sitting at a console in your Communications Center.

You know the type:  the gal (or guy) who shows up to work, does his or her job, no longer volunteers to train or do projects, and especially doesn't do overtime unless ordered. I bet that one dispatcher recently switched to night watch. She or he doesn't cause problems, and probably is quiet unless another dispatcher makes trouble - then, watch out! New hires are told to stay away from the (insert any unpleasant word here). It's not that we're mean, we just don't want to put up with clueless, morons, or those who won't take rsponsibility for their own actions. Maybe that's why so many veteran dispatchers are grumpy, nasty, mean, and generally unpleasant. Too many are at the down hill side of their careers, putting in their time. They are burned-out, nursing unreported repetitive injuries but have seen too many of their coworkers go away with minimal or no benefits - a career wasted.
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Anyone given any thoughts as to where to point the Entertainment Committee for Wedenesday Night's Entertainment for the upcoming Fall Conference 2012? Ideas that I've heard are:

- Different Live Band
- Casino Night
- Kareoke
- 'Themed' event

Give some thought, and 'blog' back.....

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A common analogy in reference to our new telecommunicator training is, "it's like drinking from a fire hose". 

Helping Telecommunicators learn a vast cache of information is a challenge, helping them acquire the needed knowledge that leads to critical thinking and meeting performance standards is another challenge all together. 
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Are there any jurisdictions that charge a 911 Service Fee to a utility bill (electric or water) rather than the telephone bill?  We are continually experiencing a drop in revenues and a rise in expenditures, and the City and County is not happy.

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Our agency dispatch for 13 fire and EMS Agencies.  Our community also has a private for profit EMS company. The EMS agencies set-up there own pre-plans and have chosen to include the private company in their pre-plans.  Our agency also several years ago agreed to answer the private EMS non-business hours and weekends for a small fee. 
We have received a few 911 calls requesting the private agency instead of the local EMS department.  I am interested to see if anyone has dealt with this type of situation and if so how they resolved the issue.  Currently we dispatch the local agency and contact the private company. 
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Are you, or know of a vendor that would be interested in Sponsoring the 2012 Fall Conference? Help is needed, and this Conference is geared specifically for their target audience - the 911 Community! The 2012 Va. APCO/NENA/Interoperability Conference and Exposition is the perfect environment for vendors to get their brand and products noticed! Opportunities for Sponsorship, Exhibit space, and Educational sessions are open NOW! [more]

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