Category Archives: 2014 News

We have several executive board changes to announce.

As most of you know by now, the passing of Patti Walsh left a vacancy in the position of South Region Vice-President.  Mike Morgan, from the NJ Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services (OETS) was appointed to fill the position by President Faenza.

Private Sector Vice-President, Daryl Doran, formerly of Cassidian Communications (Now known as Airbus DS Communications), decided that it was time to retire. We thank Daryl for his years of service to NJ-NENA and we wish him all the best and we trust that he will enjoy retirement.

Taking Daryl’s place is Dara Orsini, Client Solutions Executive with Micro Strategies in Denville, NJ. I’m sure many of you will recognize Dara as a long-time exhibitor at our annual conferences. We welcome “new blood” to the executive board and we all look forward to working with both Dara and Mike.

Ray Strilec, who was appointed to serve as Second Vice-President at this past year’s conference, had to step down from the position because he has accepted employment in the private sector, performing technical support duties for Eventide, Inc., located in Little Ferry, NJ. To prevent conflicts of interest, NENA and NJ-NENA by-laws limit private sector income to only fifteen percent of an Executive Board member’s total income. This rule, of course, does not apply to the Private Sector Vice-President.  Past-President, Gareth Williams accepted the appointment to serve as Second Vice-President.

“What began as volunteering with the Pennsauken First Aid Squad has turned into a fabulous career! Wouldn’t change a minute.” – Patti Walsh

Patricia “Patti” Walsh left us suddenly on June 24, 2014. She served as the Southern Region Vice-President for NJ-NENA over the past 3 years. Prior to that, beginning in 2009, Patti served as a conference committee volunteer.

Patti resided in Collingswood, NJ.  She is survived by her companion, William Tucker, Jr., her children, Lawrence (Colleen) Walsh, Jr. and Kaitlyn Tucker. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Kayla and Matthew.

Patti’s first job in public safety, was as a trainer for Multi-Media Standard First Aid in 1972. That led her into public safety communications as Dispatcher #9, at Camden County Police Communications, on December 28, 1973. She spent the last 23 years as a telecommunicator for the Cherry Hill Police Department.

Her impressive career spanned over forty years.  We are grateful for her devotion and years of service.  She will be dearly missed by all.

April 25, 2014 – The annual New Jersey NENA Conference was held April 23 – 24, at the Trump Taj Mahal, Hotel and Casino, in Atlantic City.

Pre-conference sessions: Quality Assurance – “Plan – Do – Check – Act!” by Al McNally of MICCOM and “Achieving Accreditation for the Communications Center” by the Rodgers Group had a record number of attendees.  These courses are held the day before the official start of the conference and are provided at no additional charge for full-conference participants.

Chapter elections were not held this year, as no nominations were submitted for any of the eligible executive board positions.  Ray Strilec, who served as chapter president (2011 – 2012), volunteered to serve as Second Vice-President a second time.  A practice, that unfortunately, is not uncommon in state chapters – commonly referred to as “retreading”. A reference to the remanufacturing and reuse of vehicle tires.

North Vice-President, Padre Fencik, Central VP, Dawn Sommeling, Southern VP, Patti Walsh and Private Sector VP, Daryl Doran will retain their positions on the executive board.

Representing National NENA at the conference,  were President Bernard “Buster” Brown and Northeast Regional Director Ed Marecki.  Both spoke at the NJ-NENA meeting, held Wednesday morning, urging members to get involved with the chapter.  Chapter President, Monica Gavio also spoke, echoing those sentiments, suggesting one avenue is becoming a conference volunteer.  Many executive board members began as volunteers for the organization. NJ-NENA members interested in becoming a volunteer, can get in contact with any of the executive board members.  President Brown swore in the new executive board at the conclusion of the meeting.

Chapter president, Jack Faenza, presented a plaque to outgoing president, Monica Gavio, in appreciation for her years of service, culminating as chapter president. President Faenza then appointed conference volunteer Jason Lezcano, from Morris County Communications, as the new chapter secretary. Jason is taking over the position from Ray Strilec.

This years conference attendance was over 215 participants and 23 combined sponsors and exhibitors.