The Banquet

It took me a while before I finally had time to upload the pictures. See for yourself how the Banquet went. I think it was wonderful, but then again I am biased since I'm on the Committee. =)

Banquet premonitions

A co-worker created this video before the Banquet on his take of what it would be like.

OPST

OPST Banquet

We had our 12th Annual OPST Banquet tonight. There was some media coverage for one of our honorees and here is the website for the news station. See if you can catch that 3 seconds of fame I had while on the screen. LOL

http://fox40.trb.com/?track-topnav

9-1-1 facts

911

• 911 was first implemented in Haleyville, Alabama on February 16, 1968--but read our complete history of 911 and the first call.
• 240 million calls to 911 each year, with one-third of them wireless (2008, FCC)
• 99% of the population is covered by at least B911, and 96% of counties have at least B911 service (2008, NENA)
• In Britain, over 43 million calls to the 999 emergency number are made annually, and over 50% of those are from wireless phones (British Office of Communications, 2004).
• 99% of the population is covered by some type of 911 system, and 97% geographically (NENA, Sept. 2007)
• 225 counties still have no 911 service (NENA, Sept. 2007)
• 1,296 PSAPs are staffed by a single, on-duty dispatcher (NENA, 2003)
• Washington (DC) receives 1.8 million 911 calls per year, Los Angeles 5 million, Baltimore (MD) 1.7 million.
• At some agencies--usually the very large, urban cities--up to 80% of 911 calls on non-emergencies.
• During Oct. 2001 testimony to Congress, CTIA president Thomas Wheeler said that his association had identified 6,800 PSAPs, while NENA has identified 5,000 primary and 2,300 secondary PSAPs in the U.S. This figure only includes those comm centers receiving 911 calls, which could leave out thousands of public safety comm centers.
• Check statistics on wireless 911 calls, both real and accidental.
• NENA has wireless E911 deployement statistics posted on-line, and FastFacts about 911 in general.

From: www.911dispatch.com

National Dispatcher Week

This week is National Dispatcher Week. A time to recognize a profession that is often unheard of, under appreciated and underpaid. Those men and women who work behind the scenes supporting Emergency Personnel like firefighters, paramedics and police officers. So for all those hard working people who rarely get thanked (and believe me I know cause I'm one of them!) I say "Thank you. Thank you for being a phone call away, for working hours that no one may one, for putting up with the yelling, shouting, cussing, bad mouthing of your department and the craziness people toss at you. Thank you for keeping calm and helping out even when the caller is unappreciative of your answer. THANK YOU!"

Shopping without a list

Have you ever gone out shopping without a list in hand? You may have some kind of idea in your head what you plan to buy but it really isn't written down or a spending limit is set. So you go out and start looking, next thing you know you're buying stuff you never intend to buy and spending more than you should. That is exactly what happened to me today! I only meant to go out and buy a dress for our upcoming Dispatcher banquet, nothing else. And I ended up buying some summer clothes and a new outfit for Sebastien instead. The lady at the Macy's perfume counter almost talked me into buying some perfume too. Fortunately she took too long trying to get a cashier that worked that particular counter and we (Anne who was up for some girl day shopping) left. So I'm still out of a dress and am seriously thinking about wearing the black dress with flower embroidery that my aunt created for me during my college year. It is in one sense it is my "little black dress". You know the kind that you can wear at functions, look good and feel good while wearing it. After all isn't that the whole point of having a little black dress?

But I still have a week before the banquet to find something. So we shall have to see! But next time I got out, I plan on having at least a set budget on how much money I can spend that day. Then I won't feel too guilty for spending an afternoon shopping. =)

Trip planning resources

I've been looking around for hotels to stay in Barcelona and Valencia. The resource I most often go to on the web is www.tripadvisor.com I love the fact that real people write the reviews, give advice in their forum, make lists of things to do, etc. I myself have made contributions to that site. But I'm still undecided on where to stay. I definitely want a place that has wi-fi capabilities since I will be bringing my laptop along and it should be near available transportation. So many wonderful places to choose but my budget will decide.

Then I looked at the map and saw how close Barcelona was to the border of France. I have a friend who lives in Perpignan and I just found out it is about 2 1/2 hours away from Barcelona. Now another choice must be added to the list. Should I dare risk driving the roadway of Spain and head up to Perpignan. I would love to visit and see her again. Plus a chance to visit the South of France. However I am a bit apprehensive of driving in a foreign country. The good news is that in Spain they drive on the same side as we do here in the States. But to drive alone by myself with a GPS system is a scary task and yet I do thrive on the challenge it presents to me.

Another choice on my plate is how to get to Valencia from Barcelona. Should I go via train, bus or fly. Then I saw that you can take a ferry from Barcelona to Majorca and then from Majorca to Valencia. Oh the many choices that travel affords you!

Next trip

I booked my ticket for my next Big trip. . .SPAIN! I still work with my travel agent, Linda and she is wonderful. My ticket cost about the same as the one in Paris two years ago, which is under $1000. So I was pleased to get that one big thing off my list. Even though the trip won't be until November, knowing that I have a plane ticket will be the carrot driving me to go forward. There is so much going on in my life right now!

A good friend I fear is heading down a path that would lead to heartbreak or at the very least some emotional wounds. And being the friend that I am, I want to prevent the hurt and yet still do what is right. Then there is the whole house hunting thing. As the big 3-0 looms closer I have to step up and be an adult. It's just that I never thought I would be getting a house before getting married. You know that status quo time line which is unwritten but out there. First comes love and marriage then come the mortgage and baby carriage! In my case the mortgage appears closer to reality than marriage and baby carriage. For those who've gone through the whole process of being a first time home buyer/owner you know the stress that goes with the process. Fortunately I have a wonderful support network composed of my parents, brother and more than one close friend! The Lord has been so good in providing people along the way that help explain things to me.

Which goes to show you just how important that plane ticket is to me. It is my life line to a promise of travel ahead. Now I have to find a hotel in Barcelona and Valencia. Barcelona because I've always wanted to go there. The city seems so vibrant and alive, there is so much to do there from following Gaudi's footsteps to hitting the tapas scene. Valencia is where Europe's largest aquarium is and ever since I saw the documentary on the Travel Channel, I've wanted to go there. The best part is that I learned Valencia is where the famous Spanish dish, paella, was created based on the tourist website for the city anyways. :-)