Nomination Period Now Open for 9-1-1 Honor Awards
Washington, DC -- The E9-1-1 Institute, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the Association of Public-Safety Communications-Officials (APCO) International, the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA), and the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) have announced the opening of nominations for this year’s Seventh Annual Honor Awards ceremony. The organizations, representing 25,000 members in every state in the nation, hold the awards ceremony each year where heroes and leaders in the 9-1-1 field are jointly honored by both the E9-1-1 Institute and the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus.
This year’s ceremony will be on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The Co-Chairs of the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus are invited to present the awards. Heroism and leadership activities throughout the year of 2009 will be considered for the awards.
"The purpose of these awards is to recognize heroes and leaders whose life and work demonstrate the power of human courage and dedication to make communities safe and best respond to emergencies," said Gregory L. Rohde, Executive Director of the E9-1-1 Institute. "It is the people that make the emergency communications area strong and these awards are intended to highlight the best of the best."
Brian Fontes, CEO of NENA, said, “This is one of the largest and most widely attended national emergency communication events in Washington, DC. NENA is pleased to work with APCO, NASNA, 9IA, and the E9-1-1 Institute to provide very deserving recognition of people and organizations who have dedicated themselves to saving the lives of others.”
The E9-1-1 Institute is now accepting nominations in following categories:
• 9-1-1 Call-Taker/Dispatcher Award: This award honors the “first, first responders”—the 9-1-1 Call-Takers and Dispatchers who are on the front line every day. Candidates for this honor should have a proven track record of service in the field and a reputation for going the extra mile on behalf of emergency callers.
• Citizen in Action: The Citizen in Action award honors someone who demonstrated exceptional bravery and heroism to save a life in a critical time using 9-1-1.
• First Responder Award: The First Responder Award recognizes those individuals that 9-1-1 telecommunicators (people) call—e.g. law enforcement, fire rescue and or emergency medical service providers—for their professionalism, initiative, creativity or diligence in assisting a person reporting and/or experiencing an emergency situation.
• Government Leader Award (Federal / State / Local): This award recognizes the Federal, State or Local Government Leader that has displayed the greatest effort to advance the capabilities of 9-1-1 emergency communications.
• Industry Professional Award: The Industry Professional Award honors an individual or organization in the commercial sector that has demonstrated exceptional contributions towards the advancement of emergency 9-1-1 communications.
• 9-1-1 Technician Award: This award recognizes the Technology Support staff—e.g. Information Technology, GIS and other technical personnel within a 9-1-1 authority or jurisdiction whose tireless efforts make available and maintain the critical technology systems necessary to answer, process and respond to emergency calls.
• Outstanding 9-1-1 Call Center Award: This award recognizes a 9-1-1 call center for overall excellence in serving the public including the handling of emergency situations reported to 9-1-1 and the deployment and management of new technology.
• Outstanding 9-1-1 Program Award: This award recognizes a state or regional 9-1-1 program for excellence in serving the public including the handling of emergency situations and the deployment and management of new technology.
The nomination submission form and instructions can be submitted online at www.e911institute.org. The deadline for nominations is February 1, 2010. A committee of the E9-1-1 Institute will review each nomination and select the winners who will be invited to attend the Seventh Annual 9-1-1 Honors Gala in Washington, DC on March 16, 2010.
About the E9-1-1 Institute. The E9-1-1 Institute is a not-for-profit organization, which provides administrative and policy support to the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus. The purpose of the E9-1-1 Institute is to promote public education and awareness of E9-1-1 and emergency communications issues and serve the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus as a clearinghouse of information on E9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. Gregory L. Rohde, former Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, serves as the E9-1-1 Institute’s Executive Director. The Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus is co-chaired by: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Representative John Shimkus (R-IL). Find out more at www.e911institute.org.
About NENA: NENA serves the public safety community as the only professional organization solely focused on 9-1-1 policy, technology, operations, and education issues. With more than 7,000 members in 48 chapters across the United States and around the globe, NENA promotes the implementation and awareness 9-1-1 and international three-digit emergency communications systems. NENA works with public policy leaders, emergency services and telecommunications industry partners, like-minded public safety associations, and other stakeholder groups to develop and carry out critical programs and initiatives, to facilitate the creation of an IP-based Next Generation 9-1-1 system, and to establish industry leading standards, training, and certifications. Find out more at www.nena.org.
About APCO International: The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies. For more at www.apcointl.org.
About NASNA: The purpose of NASNA is to promote information sharing amongst those states with programs dedicated to implementing 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems; assist other states with resolving issues necessary to accomplish statewide implementation and maintenance; encourage the establishment of a coordination person within each state or province; identify and recommend minimum standards for 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems; identify and recommend appropriate legislation or rules concerning the administration of statewide 9-1-1 telephone system programs, serve as a knowledge resource for fulfilling the purposes described in this section and provide for membership in this Association in accordance with the language and intent of its Bylaws, which are now, and may later be, in effect. Membership shall not be limited other than by classification and good character, and shall have such rights and privileges by classifications as may be provided from time to time. Find out more at www.nasna911.org.
About 9IA: The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance ("9IA") was established in December 2005 by a group of prominent industry leaders. The vision of the organization's founders is that 9IA will play an important role as the voice of industry companies on major public policy issues, and that the expertise of industry leaders can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals as complex choices are made regarding advanced 9-1-1 alternatives in the years ahead. Find out more at www.911alliance.org.
