One of the most important resources for our employees to maintain the proficiency, regardless of their specific profession, is training.We have availed ourselves as your chapter representatives and have responded to your suggestions pertaining to training opportunities.Going forward we strive to conduct as many classes as possible, including those that are or will become POST certified for our Operations members and OEM certified for those relating to technology. APCO International has also increased its efforts to offer classes, both online and in person. I encourage you all to visit the APCO website or to contact Jackie Pace, our chapter Training Committee Chair. If you do not find a class that you are interested in (and can help recruit enough people to meet minimum enrollment), let Jackie know so that she can pursue it if feasible.
We will hold two 90-minute classes during our annual Tabletop in December, one oriented toward our Operations members, possibly an Active Shooter class)and another pertaining to Emerging Technology, appropriately organized by John Lemmon and Mark Anderson, our Emerging Technology Chair and Vice Chair.
Tim Trager, CPRA President and I have agreed to promote an annual North-South chapter Symposium, designed to offer a series of classes for dispatchers, technologists, and our commercial members. While many details have to be addressed, we tentatively have scheduled the symposium for March of 2014 in Santa Barbara. The 2014 chapter Boards will have the final say for the annual symposium and will take into consideration your preferences and education requirements.
Look for a survey coming soon. As the current Board and I begin to wrap up plans for 2013, we also are working hard to help prepare plans for the 2014 Board to consider. Therefore your feedback is critical and it WILL impact decisions that your Board will make. You may also contact any of the Board members anytime and share your thoughts and preferences, ideally via email so that we may easily share them with the other Board members.
Training is our way of investing in you, our members, and of giving back to you and your employer. We know that your time is valuable and that sacrifices are made each time you attend a NAPCO event.