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Virginia Public Safety Outreach Conference
Newport News, VA • November 14, 2007 • Omni Newport News

2007 Public Safety Outreach Conference

Registration Info:

Registration for the conference is now closed.

Also, there will be a special day of training, free of charge, on Nov. 15. Click here to learn more and register for the Tidewater Training Day.

Hotel Information:

Omni Newport News
1000 Omni Boulevard, Newport News, Va. 23606
Special conference rate = $73/night double occupancy (plus tax)
Please call (800) THE-OMNI (843-6664) and reference the Virginia Public Safety Outreach Conference no later than October 17 to make reservations.
Map and Directions [external link - opens in a new browser window]

Tentative Schedule:

Please note that this schedule is tentative and subject to change. Speakers will be announced as details are finalized.

View presentations from the conference

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration and Exhibits in Prefunction Area

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Coffee and Tea in Ballrooms C/D

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Opening Session in Ballrooms C/D

Janet L. Clements, Chief Deputy State Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management
John W. Marshall, Secretary of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Virginia
"Weather Ready: What You Should Know and How to Find It" - Bill Sammler, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Wakefield Forecast Office
"Ready Virginia Overview" - Bob Spieldenner, Director of Public Affairs, Virginia Department of Emergency Management

10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Class Sessions in Ballroom A, Ballroom B, and Junior Ballroom

When It's Raining ON Cats and Dogs (Ballroom A)
Description: Come learn about how people can plan and gather supplies to ensure the safety of their pets during an emergency and get an update on what the Commonwealth of Virginia is doing to prepare for pets' needs.
Speakers: Peggy Allen, Chair, State Animal Response Team; Dr. Donald W. Butts, Emergency Services Manager, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Why Business Preparedness Makes Cents (Ballroom B)
Description: Many businesses that suffer a disaster aren't prepared and don't survive. Come see how you can use the Virginia Business Emergency Survival Toolkit to help business owners in your area get ready for an emergency.
Speakers: Heather Blanchard, Business Liaison Director, Office of Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Karen Cole, CEO, Assura Consulting; Clyde Hoey, President, The Resource Group
Regionalism: We're All In This Together (Junior Ballroom)
Description: Working with government and nonprofit groups in your region can take your outreach to the next level. Learn from speakers who have benefited from building partnerships and bridging across geographic and political boundaries.
Speakers: Joe Coyle, Region Four Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management; Tammy Karlgaard, Regional Emergency Management Planner, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; Trish Redmond, Chair, Northern Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

11:45 a.m. to Noon
Break

Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Awards Luncheon in Ballrooms C/D

Speaker: Brock D. Bierman, Small State and Rural Advocate and Director of the Community Preparedness Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency

1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Break

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Class Sessions in Ballroom A, Ballroom B, and Junior Ballroom

Lessons Learned From Virginia Tech (Ballroom A)
Description: The mass shootings at Virginia Tech are a reminder that emergencies often come in unpredictable forms and in unlikely places. Some of those who aided in the response at Tech will discuss lessons they learned that can help volunteers who respond in future crises.
Speakers: Lt. Jason Dominiczak and Lt. Jeremy Davis, Virginia Tech Rescue Squad; Larry Hill, Eastern Region Public Information Officer, Virginia Department of Health; Mary Vail Ware, Director, Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission
Mastering the Art of Volunteer Management (Ballroom B)
Description: Learn to manage your volunteers more effectively. Experienced speakers will teach you how to recruit, motivate, develop and retain exceptional volunteers for your organization.
Speakers: Jennifer Freeland, Program Coordinator, Peninsula Medical Reserve Corps; Dawn Roberts, Volunteer Coordinator, American Red Cross, Hampton Roads Chapter
It's Elementary: The ABC's of Youth Preparedness (Junior Ballroom)
Description: Habits acquired in youth stay with people throughout their lives. Learn how outreach to kids is building the foundation for a culture of preparedness in Virginia.
Speakers: Gene Stewart, Emergency Services Coordinator, Page County; Margaret Tucker, Fire Educator/CERT Manager; James City County Fire Department

2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Break

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Class Sessions in Ballroom A, Ballroom B, and Junior Ballroom

Evacuation and Sheltering Update (Ballroom A)
Description: The Commonwealth continues to improve its plans for coastal hurricane evacuation and emergency sheltering. Hear about recent changes to the plans and how they will affect you and your community.
Speakers: Tricia Chappell, Hurricane Planner, Virginia Department of Emergency Management; Tricia Snead, Emergency Planning Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services
Planning ~~For~~ With Special Needs Populations (Ballroom B)
Description: Katrina showed the nation that the emergency preparedness of people with special needs can literally be a matter of life and death. This session will show you how to work with special needs persons to improve the preparedness program in your community.
Speakers: Jim Davis, Emergency Management Coordinator, Pittsylvania County; Craig Fabian, Vice President, Old Dominion Chapter, National Spinal Cord Injury Association; Gary Talley, Outreach and Community Services Programs Manager, Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
CERT: The Next Generation (Junior Ballroom)
Description: Emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere. Virginia’s Campus CERT and Teen CERT programs are ensuring that young Americans understand the importance of community preparedness and the value of service, while business and faith-based organizations are developing CERT to meet their community needs. See how Virginia CERT has grown in the past 5 years.
Speakers: Jack Aaron and Al Smith, Deputy CERT Coordinators, Danville Department of Emergency Services; John Johnston, Assistant Teen CERT Coordinator, Portsmouth Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services; Jeff Patrick, LEAD Instructor, Roanoke Regional CERT, Virginia Department of Transportation

Check back regularly as we post more detailed information about the conference.