ENGLEWOOD, FL – The Washington State Chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) invited Denise Amber Lee Foundation President, Nathan Lee, to give the opening Keynote Address at their recent annual joint state 9-1-1 conference and training symposium on June 20th in Kennewick, Washington. The foundation also conducted a breakout training session following the speech about the recently passed Florida 9-1-1 training and certification bill as a road map for the State of Washington as they pursue passage of a 9-1-1 training and certification bill in their state and have made passage a legislative priority.
Attendee, Peggy Fouts, who is the Director of Grays Harbor Communications E9-1-1 in Aberdeen, Washington said, "Thank you Nathan for taking the time to attend our conference and relay your message to the attendees. As I've been working on this endeavor for a few years now with the State 911 Training Sub-Committee it was great to finally hear others talking about the topic during the conference. I have no doubt that Nathan's presentation assisted in moving the conversation from the backrooms to the forefront – and for that I thank you. The message you deliver is very powerful and moving."
Stephanie Fritts, Emergency Management Director for Pacific County E9-1-1 said, "We have several additional people interested in moving forward in this area as a result of your conference presentation. That in itself is a great help. Thanks for your help.”
About the Denise Amber Lee Foundation
The mission of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, is to promote and support public safety through uniform training, standardized protocols, defined measurable outcomes and technological advances in the 9-1-1 system. Established in June 2008, in response to the murder of Denise Amber Lee, the foundation seeks to use the emotional power of this senseless tragedy to promote and encourage the use of technology, training, and procedures to reduce the occurrences of human error. The foundation is determined to channel and focus the public outrage of these tragic events to drive rapid change to public policy and procedures. For more information, please visit www.deniseamberlee.org.
About APCO International
The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) is an international leader committed to providing complete public safety communications expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy, and outreach to benefit their members and the public. APCO International commits to strengthen our communities by empowering and educating public safety communication professionals. Devoted to the advancement of public safety communications, the Washington State Chapters of APCO/NENA is the fastest growing group of public safety professionals in the country. Their members can be found in every communications center in the state. For information on the State Chapters of APCO and NENA, please visit www.apcowa.org.
About the National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
As The Voice of 9-1-1™, NENA is on the forefront of all emergency communications issues. The association serves its members and the greater 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 of 9-1-1, as well as international three-digit emergency communications systems.