NEWS

IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION -

This is in follow-up to several messages that were sent through various APCO e-blasts and e-lists over the past couple of weeks to remind members about the web conference opportunities this month.

The Strategic Governance Initiative (SGI) Task Force will be hosting these web conferences to help better inform you about two key resolutions to streamline the governance of the Association. These resolutions will be considered by the Quorum of the voting* membership of APCO International during the 2008 Annual Conference in Kansas City, MO, this August.

Membership Quorum Consideration of the Strategic Governance Initiative

Resolution No. 1 involves both a major rewrite of the bylaws to minimize the association's legal exposure and a restructuring of the core decision-making body to tighten its span of control for a more accountable and results form of leadership.

Resolution No. 2 converts the tax exempt status of APCO International, currently a 501(c)(6) industry trade organization, to gain advantages unique to 501(c)(3) public interest organizations. The conversion will allow for the combining of the APCO Institute, APCO Automated Frequency Coordination and the Heritage Foundation into APCO International. This will not alter the distinct missions of the entities, but streamline the accounting and tax reporting to yield administrative savings.

The web forums will take place on:

Thursday, July 10 @ 2 pm EDT
Wednesday, July 16 @ 11 am EDT
Tuesday, July 22 @ 4 pm EDT

Email us (governance@apcointl.org) to RSVP and obtain special log-in instructions.

During the Conference, we also invite you to the SGI Resource room and General Business Sessions on the following days:

SGI Resource Room in 2503B at the Convention Center:

Sunday, August 3, 2:30 - 3:30pm

Monday, August 4, 2:00 - 5:00pm

Tuesday, August 5, 1:30 - 2:30pm

Wednesday, August 6, 2:00 - 5:00pm

General Business Sessions in room 3501A-D at the Convention Center:

First General Business Session (discussion) - Sunday, August 3, 4 - 5:30pm

Second General Business Session (action) - Tuesday, August 5, 4 - 5:30pm

Voting-eligible members of APCO International are encouraged to download the full resolutions and supporting information from the website . http://www.apcointl.org/governance/

If you prefer to have a printed version sent to you via U.S. mail, call 202/833-7010, send a fax request to 202/833-5700 or e-mail your request (governance@apcointl.org) no later than July 18, 2008.

Copies will also be available on site at the First General Business Session.

You will need to login to access the web page. If you experience any difficulties logging in, please contact APCO International at 386-322-2500 or apco@apco911.org.

* Only ACTIVE MEMBER and LIFE MEMBER categories are eligible to vote. MEMBER and COMMERCIAL MEMBER are non-voting categories. Those in the "Member Category" may upgrade their membership to a voting status. To upgrade your member category, complete the 2008 member application for the Active Membership (Tier 1 or 2) and submit payment (check, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover Card). You only have to pay the upgrade amount as determined by your Tier 1 or Tier 2 membership. If you are considering upgrading your membership, please don't delay.

WIRELESS GRANTS - Effective 7/1/08 the wireless 9-1-1 surcharge will be reduced to $.00. This is because there are sufficient funds in the account now to reimburse all the grantees.

In addition, if an agency did not spend (within a category or line item) as much as they had applied for in their original grant they will be able to "shift" costs to other areas as long as those areas were in the applicant's original grant.

Good Morning:

My campaign continues to gain momentum as we approach the APCO Annual Conference in Kansas City. The endorsements are continuing to build. Currently the following Chapters and organizations have endorsed my candidacy (listed in chronological order of their action):

Virginia
Montana
Oklahoma Board of Officers
Illinois
Minnesota
Washington
Arizona
Kansas
Atlantic Board of Officers
Texas
Northern California
Florida
Nebraska
Wisconsin
CPRA (southern California)
Missouri

In addition the Illinois NENA Chapter, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and the West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association have offered endorsements. When I received the Washington, Kansas and Texas endorsements, they indicated that their members had never endorsed a candidate from outside their chapters before.

Now is the time to begin turning the endorsements into actual votes in our electronic ballot box. It is being made even more easy this year. This is the first year for our Association to use an electronic process for casting ballots for officers. Now is the time for all the chapters that offered endorsements and all of the members that support my candidacy to reach out to all Active and Life members and stress the importance of turning that support into votes. Electronic voting begins on July 7th.

To make the electronic voting process secure APCO is taking proactive measurers to protect your ballot in the 2008 electronic voting for Second Vice-President. If your members have not changed their password from their member ID number to a unique password, have them access and click on "My information." Log in and follow the link to change your password. If they do not know their passwords have them click the “forgot your password” link.

One of the short comings of our Association in the past is how few members that are eligible to vote actually cast a ballot in the process to determine the future leadership of APCO. I hope that with the electronic process in place for the first time this year we will be able to change the low voter turn out into a much larger percentage of those eligible to vote.

If anyone is interested in learning more about my candidacy please have them visit my web site at RIDDLE2008.org

See you in Kansas City!

Regards,
Gregg
APCO 2nd VP Candidate
Riddle2008.org

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