General Meeting - June 20, 2008

Payson, Arizona

Board Members Present

Mark Schroeder

Liz Graeber

Sandra Gilstad

Pat Joy

Liz Graeber called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM.

Approval of Minutes of March meeting – motion by Pat Joy, second by Ellen Anderson.

Training Conference – Liz reported that the dates have been changed to January 7-9 at the Tucson Hilton East.  We have outgrown the Grace Inn, we needed more space for classrooms and the vendor show.  

Liz also reported that the Western Regional for 2012 was awarded to Anchorage, Alaska. 

Treasurers Reports – Liz reported for the APCO and NENA treasurers. 

                APCO – Checking                             $45,282.75

                                Money Market                       5,661.46

                                Conference Fund                  3,971.65

                NENA – Checking                             $30,050.42

Executive Council – Pat Joy reported on the Strategic Governance Initiative and the proposed change in APCO Association’s tax status.  Change to a 501(c)(3) status is better for the association and a recommendation of the association’s controller.  This question will be put before the EC at Conference and the quorum.  The major item for membership consideration this year is the proposed changes in APCO’s governance.  The changes put forth in the Strategic Governance Initiative as developed by the SGI Task Force are extensive.  The most significant change is the creation of a Board of Directors to consist of the Executive Committee(President, 1^st and 2^nd Vice Presidents, Immediate Past President), the Executive Director, 2 Executive Committee members from each region, and one member of the Commercial Advisory Committee.  The Executive Council as it exists today will continue to exist, but will meet once a year.  The bulk of the business of the association will be conducted by the Board of Directors, which will meet 4 times a year.

The idea to streamline the decision making process for the association was introduced at the mid-year Executive Council meeting.  The EC members asked numerous questions regarding the idea, one of which was what the EB thought the timeline would be.  The answer then was unknown, that it would depend on the SGI Task Force.  It is Pat’s belief that the EC did not think that the Task Force would be in a position to propose the change for this year’s quorum.  The Western Region EC members are meeting by conference call on June 24^th to further discuss the proposal.  The one question that seems to be commonly being asked is “What’s the rush?”  APCO’s legal counsel has advised the EB and EC that there are many points of potential liability, especially in the area of client privilege concerning personnel and contract issues, created by APCO having such a detailed Constitution and Bylaws, and Procedures Manual, and by having a body the size of the EC involved in those types of issues.  The Board of Directors idea is written as part of the proposed rewrite of the Constitution and Bylaws, which is very streamlined. 

All the documents concerning this proposal are available for review on the APCO website.  These include the letters from legal counsel, the new Constitution, etc.

The question also being asked is how fair is the representation of 2 members from each region going to be when all the chapters are accustomed to having their own representative to the EC?  For example, there are 14 chapters in the Western region; how fair is it to have someone from a very urban area represent states with extensive rural areas?  Which chapters are going to encourage their EC member to step aside and let another vie for the Western Region board seats?  Is there a fairer way to choose the Board members, and how is that to be done so quickly?

With these issues in mind, the Arizona chapter voted for Pat to vote NAY on this resolution at the EC meeting in Kansas City.   If a majority of the EC votes NAY on this resolution, the resolution will still go before the quorum, with the report that that EC recommends a NO vote.     

Technical Operations – Mark Schroeder reported that coordinations have been sort of slow, since the last meeting he received 12 applications, 9 were processed and 3 are on hold.  Mark reported that complaints about interference are non-existent.  He credits good coordination efforts by the AFC and all the state coordinators.

There is quite a bit of activity in the 700 and 800 bands.  The 700 regional plan has been submitted to the FCC.  There will be a joint meeting of the 700 and 800 RRC with SEIC in Flagstaff on July 15^th.  Comments on the 700 rebanding plan were due June 20^th.  800 MHz Wave 4 is kicking in in the non-border areas.  Resolution of the Mexico issue may be a long time yet.

EMS – Steve Powles advised of information on the Department of Health Services website, specifically regarding the 4 EMS regions in the State.  He encouraged APCO members to have some involvement in their local EMS board.  He feels those boards need education regarding 911 and problems within the system, as they are proponents of E-911 statewide but don’t understand the issues impacting that.

Professional Development – Trudy Warrick reported that Arizona Counties Insurance Pool, who provide training for the smaller counties, is looking for someone to provide Dispatch/Call taking training for the state.  Jan Madeya, their training coordinator, is likely to retire soon, and ACIP is wondering if APCO would be willing to take on the training role. 

Commercial Members – Niki Anderson (Danner), Positron, announced Positron’s User Conference  September 29-October 2, in Orlando.  Information is available on their website positron911.com.

NENA Conference Report – Liz Graeber advised the conference was very good.  She discussed the FCC’s request for information regarding false 9-1-1 calls from uninitialized phones.  She had submitted some information based on Phoenix PD’s data.

The Federal Highway Administration has started a beta test of Next Gen 9-1-1 somewhere in the Midwest, allowing the PSAP to receive video and text messages in the 9-1-1 system.

Unfinished Business – Chapter reorganization.  The revised Constitution combining the APCO and NENA chapters was presented.  Voting on this issue will occur at the September meeting.  A committee to write a Procedures Manual was identified – Liz Graeber, Ellen Anderson, Sandra Gilstad.  One thing that needs to be included is a redefining of standing committees.

Nominations for officers (who will take office January 1, 2009) will be discussed after the new Constitution is approved.

New Business – Conference attendance supported by the Chapter includes the President, Secretary and Executive Council member.  Both Mark and Scott Tillman will attend courtesy of APCO-AFC.  Mark suggested the Chapter support the attendance of Karen Allen this year.  Motion passed.

The next meeting will be the picnic meeting in Prescott, September 19^th at Goldwater Lake. 

Meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM.