By Lin D. Ford

By now, you are probably preparing to leave for the 2016 APCO Annual Conference in Orlando. While you’re packing and planning your agenda, don’t forget to consider a benefit that is almost as important as educational/training sessions—successful networking!

To be successful at networking, put away the textbooks. This experience will be fun, professionally beneficial and can provide value that you will not find in writing. Networking, as the term implies, is communicating with a group of people who hold common interests and goals. It sounds simple, but in today’s world, communication is not always easy. With modern technology, some jobs in the communication profession are done without any verbal speech or face-to-face transactions (i.e. computer-aided dispatching). The networking I am referring to for the purpose of this article is one-on-one, face-to-face interaction.

How often do you wonder how another dispatch center handles a burglary or an active shooter case? Or how others handle the everyday stress a telecommunicator goes through but cannot discuss without fear of repercussions? And how do different centers interact with officers/dispatchers and technicians? Sure, there are written procedures and rules and regulations to follow, and we all are aware of what occurs when they are not. But what if Center “A” handles a call for a robbery in progress using a slightly different protocol than Center ” B,” resulting in a better outcome? How do you find out about that protocol?

The answer is that you talk to a person who is familiar with the same scenario and exchange pros and cons. When you return home from this networking exchange, you take these new ideas to a planning or training session and see if they can also be applied in your center.

This is just one small example of networking in a very limited sense, but hopefully, the idea and intent are clear. If you are a new APCO conference attendee, I strongly encourage you to attend the New Attendee Orientation (Sunday at 1 p.m.). Here you will meet other new attendees as well as seasoned APCO members who will be more than happy to explain all of the ins and outs of the conference, answer your questions and make you feel at home—not lost in a sea of faces. Just remember, every single person in this conference was once a new attendee, no matter how long they have been a member.

While APCO may or may not be familiar to you, this is your association and you have a voice! Participate in the officer voting process. During business sessions, take advantage of the opportunity to meet/converse with people from not only your chapter or region, but from all across the country.

The exhibit hall is the perfect opportunity to network with vendors who are there to showcase the very equipment you will be using, whether in dispatch, management, engineering or consulting. They gladly welcome you to visit their booths, ask questions and view/experiment with equipment on display.

And yes—we do have time for fun during the conference! The big networking event is on Tuesday night at the APCO Block Party. This event began years and years ago as a joint venture between the manufacturers and APCO as a way to promote the commercial side of APCO. In the very beginning, it was called MANAPCO. Now it is a time to let your hair down, relax and have fun! It is informal and a perfect time to mingle with other attendees, make new friends, connect with old friends and make memories.

The final social event of the conference is the “Connect and Celebrate Dinner” Wednesday Night. While this networking opportunity is a bit more formal in nature, it offers another opportunity to share in the APCO leadership process as newly elected officers are sworn in and the outgoing officers are commended. Once again, connecting with people from other chapters, etc. is one of the key options during this event.

Not to be overlooked are the various pre- and post-APCO professional and institute courses that are offered. These courses are specialized to certain topics and do require separate registration. The chance to network with those who share your common interest in these courses is very valuable if you are able to participate.

In closing, I would like to emphasize the primary purpose of this article, which is to encourage you to share your knowledge with others, learn from their experiences, make new friends and never be afraid to ask questions. APCO is the heart of communications networking and you are at its center. I hope you all enjoy the conference, and I hope to see you there.

Lin D Ford is an APCO Life Member.