APCO Washington State Chapter News Page

Questions? Email APCO Secretary Jerry Newcomer at
jnewcomer@amr-ems.com or
View our Chapter Officer List

News for Members > >

Meeting Schedule:

Strategic Governance Initiative Task Force’s recommendations. Please read the latest update at then end of this article.

As this is a new direction for APCO, please take some time and review the documents. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at: pfouts@gh911.org. I will attempt to answer all your questions, to the best of my ability – and if I don’t know the answer...I can find it out. I participated in a conference call on 5/13 with the Western Region Executive Council members and was able to get quite a few of my questions answered. As this is on the fast track, this item is being considered for voting in August by the quorum.

While the document is large (55 pages) the slides (pages 6-14) really cover the nuts/bolts of the changes. The remaining pages are letters of support, draft resolutions and recommendations from the different groups involved in the process so far.

In summary they are recommending the following:

* Restructure governance of APCO
* Streamline bylaws (recommended by our Corporate Counsel)
* Change to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit – we are currently classified as a 501(c)(6). This change will limit certain actions, but the benefits outweigh the impacts.

Lobbying is restricted to $400,000 – we currently only do about $75,000 (7% of our dues)
No political campaigning
Adhere to a reasonableness standard for compensation
Merge subsidiaries to create one tax-exempt entity (PSFA must stay separate)

Implement a layer of leadership (Board of Directors) between the 52 Executive Council representatives and the 4 Board of Officers. Changing the Board of Officers to be called Executive Committee. This will enable the organization to better respond to situations as they arise, not waiting for 1 of 2 meetings held yearly. They will be more involved in the process by meeting 4 times a year and having direct input to the decision-making process. Today the majority of those decisions are handled by the Executive Committee (Board of Officers), and reported back to the Executive Council at our meetings or via email.

This layer of leadership has specific criteria attached to it:

* Term limits (2 year terms, max of 4 year consecutive)
* Must serve on this board or on Executive Council before running for Executive Committee (President, etc)
* 1 CAC member gets a voting position
* 1 International member gets a voting position

With the shift in the layout of the Executive Committee, in 2010 the President Elect position will go away. While this would seem to shorten their participation in International by a year – they are then added as a non-voting member after they’ve left office – similar to what we do for one year.

One of the biggest items from our corporate counsel was the need to do away with our current Constitution and Bylaws implementing a simpler set that only cover the ‘basic’ required items. While the Executive Council would be kept in tact, the role would change dramatically.

Thank you for taking the time to stay involved with APCO~

Download the entire document in PDF format.

NEW! APCO Update on SGI - Proposed Revisions Based on Stakeholder Input (Sent out on Behalf of the SGI Task Force

Download the letter in PDF format.

Information regarding the website
There is a Member Log-in section on this site. In order to obtain your password, you must contact Chapter Secretary Jerry Newcomer by email: jnewcomer@amr-ems.com. Please provide your name and membership number in order to receive your password. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the site, please contact Deb Welsh by email at debw@co.skagit.wa.us.
About Comm Center Accreditation:
Currently Washington State has 3 accredited comm centers; Valley Communications Center initially accredited in 2001 and re-accredited in 2004; Clark County (CRESA) initially accredited in 2002 and are up for reaccredited in 2005; Bellevue PD – Eastside Communications initially accredited in 2005.

Why is it important to enter into this process?

An accredited agency is required to meet 216 standards that were established in a co-venture between APCO and CALEA. By meeting these standards you are assured that your agency is applying the best business practices and providing your customers with the highest level of public safety possible.

Past Articles > >
Have you ever wished you could find more information about a particular topic? "Where is that story I once read?"

The official APCO History web site www.apcohistory.org has a new database and new search engine that allow you to look up information on any past APCO Magazine article. There are over 36,000 articles indexed in this database, covering the 68-plus years since APCO was founded. If you don't already have the issue you want in your own archives, and it's not available from the sixty-some complete issues that we have on-line, there's information for ordering reprints of articles or back issues of the magazine.

The new database and search engine give you more powerful search options and include all but one issue since 1935 (that of April, 2003) - bringing us up-to-date through the September, 2003 issue. There's also an added page of "Search Tips" on how to best use the new search engine.
King County E-9-1-1 Program Office: 9-1-1 May Not Work for VoIP Phones: There are several service providers who now offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service to their customers. This service is attractive to people because they can now have voice service using their Internet Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection, and no longer need a dedicated telephone line to make phone calls. They also are provided with long distance service at no charge. Given the attractiveness of this service, people may not stop to think about drawbacks to the service, such as the fact that Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) may not work for VoIP phones. Read whole article (available in PDF)
Increase & Preserve the 9-1-1 Funds: Legislation was passed to provide financial support to build and maintain an Enhanced 9-1-1 system for all residents of Washington State. In 2002, when it appeared there were surplus dollars in this fund, legislation was changed and $6,000,000 was taken from the 9-1-1 fund to balance the state budget. In 2003, tax revenue for wireless calls was increased to $.50 to help support the necessary changes in the 9-1-1 network. In 2004, in conflict with RCW 38.52.540, more than $600,000 was appropriated out of the 9-1-1 fund to fund the Washington State Patrol Computer Aided Dispatch system. Read whole article (available in PDF)

Letter to Bob Williamson, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission: Regarding standardizing 911 network costs. Read letter (available in PDF)

Article > >
State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC)
Public safety officers, firefighters and emergency medical service providers respond to crime, disasters, fires and medical emergencies every day. When these incidents require reliable and available radio communication across local, state or federal boundaries, incompatible radio networks hamper the ability of responders to coordinate their efforts.
Achieving an interoperable wireless system requires leadership, funding and long term commitment from agencies. To address the issues, the Washington State Information Services Board convened the agency-neutral SIEC. The SIEC provides state and local agencies and commissions a medium in which to work towards radio interoperability.

The SIEC works with state and local agencies and commissions to:

Seek partnerships between state and local public safety agencies

Develop standards to public safety radio interoperability

Develop an interoperability plan for the new 700 MHz public safety band, scheduled for release from commercial television and the Canadian government in 2006

Limit regulatory and political boundaries

Design and complete a statewide antenna database based upon GIS data

Begin designing a state public safety wireless radio system that will allow all public safety officials to communicate with each other on demand and in real time.

The SIEC is comprised of a Policy Board and two different working groups, Technical/Operations open to all that want to attend and State Planning open to State agencies. APCO is well represented by our Washington Chapter members who participate in the monthly Technical group. We are also fortunate to have APCO represented on the Policy board by Chapter member Wayne Wantland from Yakima Communications. The Policy Board meets quarterly in Olympia and is comprised of the Chief of WSP, Director of DIS, General Lowenburg, Secretaries of DOC, DOT and DNR, Executive Directors of WASPC and WSFCA, GM Port of Seattle, King County Government and Association of Wa Cities and Counties.

Wayne reports during the APCO Chapter meetings, so check your minutes and plan on attending the next APCO Chapter meeting for the most current information.

Article > >

<BACK> <TOP OF PAGE>