On Thursday, November 17, 2011, 9-1-1 for Kids®, the official 9-1-1 public education and caller-training program, hosted the first Virginia State 9-1-1 Heroes Awards® Ceremony & Press Conference at the grand opening of the Yard House Restaurant in Virginia Beach.

Five Virginia dispatchers were recognized and honored for excellence in their handling of calls involving children. The nonprofit, 9-1-1 for Kids, provides training to reduce nonemergency 911 calls and recognizes local dispatchers who act heroically in the course of their work. These calls ranged from children reporting a domestic fight to the report of another child not breathing.

The following Virginia Public Safety Telecommunicators were honored for their efforts:

• Dispatch Hero Andrea Bramley of Virginia Beach
• Dispatch Hero Cheryl Dean of Fairfax County
• Dispatch Hero Gail Kerns of Virginia Beach
• Dispatch Hero Lee Anne Storey of Virginia Beach
• Dispatch Hero Elizabeth Yost of Winchester

Congratulations to our Virginia Dispatch Heroes for a job well done!

Dear NENA Members:

      Well we are into the New Year fellow Virginia Chapter of NENA members. Our field has changed so much in 28 years. When I started back in 1984 our state of the art was pen, paper, punch cards and reading a paper map book. Well 2013 is here and what an exciting time to be in 911 Communications. So many things are on the horizon for us from training to legislation. With the opportunity to travel around the country and see what other states and 911 centers are doing, I am proud to say I am from Virginia.

      Yes we need to do more to standardize training and more importantly find ways to get that training to you in the centers. In Virginia we have two state conferences, one in the spring and one in fall - both offering excellent training for 911 Telecommunicators to Management. Now I know it is easier said than done to get everyone to a conference for training, but what we need to do is make sure those who attend are taking what they have learned back to their centers and share with their co-workers.  We also need find ways to train with your backup centers or by becoming involved with TERT. Next Generation 911 from text to phone video and pictures is here, but what about the equipment in the back room and the training for being able to take these calls, and how do we educate the public in how and when to use this method.

      Staffing, well that is always a hot topic! Recruiting, training and retention, how do we find the right people, hire them, train them and most importantly keep them in a high stress environment. You are a special individual and know that a very small percentage of people can do what you do every day 24/7/365. We need to continue to work at all levels from local to state to federal on what I consider the greatest profession (Career) in the world, you are the first responder , think about it for a moment 99% of the time you have the call first and 100% of the time you have the call last. You are the first link to the public and the voice of knowledge to the responders. I ask each of you to take a minute and think about the importance of your job and what you mean to the customers we serve; remember too that we have internal and external customers. We normally have one chance to impress our customers. Knowing they are in a crisis/emergency; you rely on your training, experience and empathy and it makes you a true hero.

      Remember to use your membership to NENA, just don’t carry a card in your wallet and receive a magazine, get involved with the chapter. We need everyone to give ideas and be heard. You are the one under the headset. You are the one using the equipment, and you are the vital link in public safety. If you’re interested in becoming involved, contact a chapter board member.

      I have had the pleasure to serve as your Virginia Chapter President and this June I will be installed as your President of NENA in Charlotte, N.C. I invite each of you to consider attending and experience a NENA Annual Conference. If you are planning on attending please make sure you reach out to me, I would like to personally welcome you to the conference.

Bernard J. "Buster" Brown
Regional Public Safety Coordinator- Region 6
Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)
VITA – Enabling the Business of Government
buster.brown@vita.virginia.gov

1st Vice President of NENA
NENA The 911 Association
Busterbrown1964@gmail.com

In 2012, the NENA Executive Board presented fifteen-year pins for membership to the following members:

• James McDonnell
• William Aldrich
• Steve Basnett
• Susan Rorrer

VA NENA President Bernard Brown presented the first George Thomas Memorial ENP Scholarship to Poke Harris, Washington County Department of Public Safety, at the 2010 Fall Meeting.