California Emergency Dispatcher Association Newsletter
CAL-EDA Newsletter
March 2011
Hello California! Just a quick note to welcome you to the first newsletter from CAL-EDA for 2011!
2010 came and went quickly, with many changes thrust upon all of us in the dispatching realm - most of which were the reduction and or the elimination of training budgets. We have had to scramble to adjust how we are doing things with the Association, and to that end you should be getting a survey from the Association asking you some questions which will help us better serve you in the future. Please take a minute to fill out the survey - we really do want, and need, your opinions.
We started 2011 off right with our 1st Anniversary Cruise - and it was a BLAST! All 43 people in the group had a great time and are looking forward to the 2nd Annual Cruise. We have bookings from 30 plus people at the time of this writing and with more rooms available. The sooner you book, the cheaper the room will be. Don't miss the boat! We are hoping double the number from last year. Get a group of your friends together and join us, it is going to be another great time!
We are looking at hosting at few classes and a couple of fun activities this year, and your input will help us decide what we will do. We are also still talking about the conference this year - but will know more once we hear back from the manager types who are also being sent a survey.
Dispatcher week is fast approaching. If your agency or region is doing anything fun, please let us know so we can share it with everyone.
Thanks - and look for some exciting changes coming up in 2011!
Kurt, President
In This Issue:
It's been a year since
CAL-EDA started!!
Have you renewed your membership?
Getting to Know Your Board…
Gina Oliver, Treasurer
November 10, 1997. That’s when I started my career as a dispatcher with the Oakland Police Department. Actually, at that time it was truly just a job because my dream career since I was a little girl was to be a teacher. It was supposed to be my stepping stone to bigger and better things; something challenging because I needed to be challenged. I remember being with a group of new dispatchers and someone asked why we chose this “career”. As the instructor went around the room, there was an overwhelming theme, “I just want to help people.” So as to not sound cold and insensitive, I mirrored their responses. Truth be told, I found myself divorced and a single parent. I needed a job with good benefits and a healthy paycheck every two weeks. Working for OPD took care of that need.
I loved my job. Working for the City of Oakland there was never a dull moment. Dispatching became second nature to me. About 3-4 years into this “job” of being “just a dispatcher” or “glorified secretary” as some of my friends described it, I started getting a little bored. It was suggested that I become a trainer. I was resistant to the idea initially but soon gave in. I found myself training new hires and enjoying it! Then the light bulb came on. I was fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Duhhh! Training was teaching. Wow, maybe this would be more than just a job. As time went on, I was presented with the opportunity to teach in a classroom setting. Eureka! Maybe this was a career after all. I’m a teacher, trainer, and mentor all in one. Wow, my career was really taking off. I was given the opportunity to teach in the Basic Dispatcher Academy and in Continuous Professional Training.
Cook's Corner
Savory Chicken Soup with Rice
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By Jamie Zeller
Easiest recipe .. throw everything in a pot and cook until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through..
Bring to a boil then simmer.
Delicious and a tangy change with the lemon juice and rice! Enjoy!
CAL-EDA Night at the
"A's" vs. "Giants" Game
Watch the website for an A's game night for
CAL- EDA friends & families on June 17th, at 1905 with tailing gating at 1705!
Inspirational Quote of the Month
If your actions inspire others to dream more,
learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams
LOL Corner!
Welcome to our first LOL of the new year… These are short stories of funny calls that you may take throughout your shift – or funny things that happen over the radio! No names or agencies will be used to protect the innocent..
A citzen calls in to advise he just got into a fight with the telephone repair man. When I asked why they were fighting.. I got the following story.. ..
Citizen: The repair man told me he wanted to go in my back yard to fix the lines so I told him - no!!! Go around the block, and thru the neighbors yard and hop the fence from there!!! So the phone guy told me --- your stupid!!! So I told him -- youurrrr stupid!!! so he told me - your stupidier!!!! so I told him - well your parents are stupidier because they had a stupid kid!!! So he punched me!!!! So I punched him back in self defense!!
Dispatcher: At this point, I was just sitting there with an open mouth thinking - OMG – you are stupid!!! I did ask however -- confirming the guy is a legit telephone guy? It’s not someone you thought was just suspicious? – The citizen answers – “ no, I know he’s a real phone guy to fix the wires.... “
This citizen and the phone guy were
53 and 64 yrs old!!!!!
sigh …
Economics 101:
Then and Now
By Aaron Donato,
Sacramento POA
The economy is bad. Seems like that’s all we hear. It’s on the television, radio, and in the newspaper. I am so sick of hearing the phrase, ‘in this tough economy’; like I forgot I’m struggling. Of course it’s not just me struggling; you probably are too. And the municipality you work for might be also.
Seventeen years ago when I started as a dispatcher with the City of Sacramento things were different. In 1994 the United States economy was flourishing. In December of 1994 GDP was up and by an annual rate of 5.1% and unemployment was at 5.4%. Those are amazing numbers and their significance should not be lost on you. In 1994 the difference between public employees and private employees was public employees typically had lousy pay and great medical benefits and pensions. Private employees had good pay but inferior benefits and maybe poorly performing under-funded 401k or 457 plans to help them with retirement.
Communications Spotlight
El Cajon PD
(San Diego County)
By Jamie Zeller
This issue's Communications Center Spotlight is the El Cajon Police Department. The Communications Spotlight articles are a way to highlight various dispatch centers around this beautiful state of California! I am sure a lot of us wonder how different agencies dispatch centers function, staff, and operate on a daily basis and this will give us ALL an inside view on Southern, Central and Northern California comm centers. I spoke with dispatch supervisor Craig Groll about his dispatch center, dispatchers and what makes this agency a great place to work. Here is what he had to say!
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