Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield, Illinois

SKILL, COMMITMENT and DETERMINATION in the face of adversity, is the theme of this year's Conference. As I look back on my 15 months as Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), it has been filled with challenges and successes. Through record rainfall and flooding, snow and ice storms, tornadoes, and earthquakes, Mother Nature reminds us of her power and impact. We were poignantly reminded last February, of human caused disasters with the tragic incident at Northern Illinois University. These incidents whether created through nature or the hand of man directly impacted many of our citizens and first responders alike. Yet out of all this suffering and disaster, I witnessed first-hand, the skill, commitment, and determination that are the hallmark of Illinois' first responder community. It is those experiences of skill, commitment and determination in the face of adversity that we will share at this year's conference. As we all know, the development of a first responder community characterized by skill, commitment and determination is not something that just happens on its own. Those competencies are only developed through sharing, working together and reaching out across disciplines. When IEMA started this conference in 1997 there was no platform available for fire, law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, public works/utilities and public health staff, among others, to discuss common issues and concerns with appointed/elected officials, volunteer organizations and private industry. The goal of this year's Conference, scheduled for September 2-4 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, is to continue to offer each attendee the opportunity to "work together" and improve their individual capabilities. Highlights to this year's conference will include: Discussion of the finalized Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan and its impact on local jurisdictions. Assessment of Illinois' plan for earthquake preparedness based on lessons learned from China (Chinese emergency officials have accepted our invitation to present). Evaluation of methods for more effectively assisting special needs populations. Review of Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) FFY '09 funding applications and reporting requirements. Discussion on the Preventative Radiological/Nuclear Detection (PRND) Program focused on locating and removing radiological sources statewide. Informational briefings on Illinois-Task Force 1 (available for confined space search and rescue operations) and the Illinois-Incident Management Teams (available to provide management "assistance" to local jurisdictions at times when local resources may be over-taxed). Review of techniques for handling livestock and domestic animals in the event of disaster provided by an internationally known authority on the subject. The Conference will be a great opportunity to discuss campus safety and security issues. I hope you will invite your local college/university administrators for the following programs: Two members of the Virginia State Police will take you into the command post and discuss this incident from a responder perspective. Members of Illinois Campus Security Task Force and the Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Illinois Schools Training Project will report on the State's new legislation and efforts to enhance safety and security. Informational programs on State efforts to provide assistance to local school districts as well as colleges and universities in effectively training and planning for, responding to and recovering from local acts of violence on their campuses. In addition to these new topics to add to the skills of our first responder community we will also be bringing back some of the popular programs from our prior conferences. Attendees will be able to complete or renew their American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications. Additionally, the University of Texas Extension Service will provide two no-cost classes, Incident Response to Terrorism Bombing and a Senior Elected Officials Workshop. I invite you to share this information with your local first responders, volunteer organizations, local officials, school administrators and private industry and invite them to attend with you. Since it is not 'if' but "when" the next disaster will happen, we must continue to work together to improve our local and state capability to provide for the safety of our citizens. I know all of the first responders in this State bring commitment and determination to their work. This Conference will allow us to share that commitment and determination as we enhance our skills. Together we can make a difference and I invite you to join me at the conference to continue our journey of skill, commitment and determination to make our communities safer and more resilient. Andrew Velasquez III, Director