Email to All: Sun 4/11/2010 1:23 PM

As I sit here at the airport on this sunny Sunday afternoon, headed out to meet with more 9-1-1 professionals, I realize how truly blessed I am to be your NENA President this year and how proud I am to be part of your NENA family as we kickoff yet another National Telecommunicators Week today.

As I think we all agree this is or should be, a very special week in our industry as we pay tribute to those men and women who serve tirelessly 24 X 7 X 356 in our nations over 6,500 Public Safety Answering Points, Dispatch Centers or whatever it is called in your area. Those professionals who quietly go about their duties. Saving lives and protecting property, mostly without the thanks you really deserve.

So as we observe these 7 days of tribute, please remember to take time to celebrate the fact that because of your and your fellow 9-1-1 professionals dedication and hard work many more lives have been saved this past year. YOU are the true “First, First Responders” and YOU are the “Voice of 9-1-1”. Never forget this and never ever forget that even though we may not be the “ones who are seen” we are the first and hopefully the strongest link in the chain of survival.

Please also take a moment to thank those in your neighboring PSAP’s. Each year I hear of a PSAP somewhere that does not observe this week, either because they or their administration does not know about “our week” or because someone “didn’t think about it”. Therefore, I hope that each and every one of you, along with your agency, your local or state government and your supporting vendors have something special planned to celebrate this week. And when you have that special celebration, make a picture or two and send it up to the staff at NENA headquarters along with a short note on your agencies celebration. My hope is that as these notes and pictures come in at least a few can be posted on YOUR NENA website..

Again thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve as your national President this year, I have but a short 60 days left before I turn it over to Steve O’Connor, but know I have enjoyed each and every minute (yes even when we had to make difficult decisions) because I was your President and that my friends has been the greatest thing anyone could allow me to do.

Have fun and be proud of the great work you do. May the good Lord bless you, your PSAP and your families!!

Craig Whittington, ENP
NENA President