October 22, 2015 – New Jersey NENA held its annual Fall Membership Meeting at the Burlington County Public Safety Training Academy. Craig Reiner of the Office of Telecommunications Services provided an update on the state’s Text-to-911 efforts. Joe Geleta provided an overview of the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership and Fred Scalera gave a very interesting presentation on JerseyNet, the state portion of FirstNet. Fred brought some of the mobile equipment with him, including a Cell On Wheels and System On Wheels, on which he gave a demonstration to attendees in the parking lot, on a beautiful autumn day.
Bonnie began her career in Public Safety Communications at the Plainfield Police Department as a dispatcher, where she eventually served a Communications Manager and as the city 9-1-1 Coordinator. In 1992 Bonnie progressed in her career, taking a position with the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services, which was then part of the New Jersey State Police.
Bonnie became a familiar face around the state’s PSAP community. It seemed everyone knew her and she knew everyone. Her contributions to 9-1-1 training and PSAP compliance produced confidence in and advanced professionalism of the state’s 9-1-1 system.
As one of the charter members of New Jersey NENA, Bonnie served as chapter president, first and second vice-president, treasurer and chapter secretary. She was involved in the planning of the very first NJ-NENA conference in Woodbridge, NJ and served as the conference chair for many years, setting the foundation of successful state conferences that we enjoy today.
It is not an exaggeration to say Bonnie has been an invaluable member of the NJ-NENA family. The majority of past and present executive board members were recruited by or encouraged to join by Bonnie. The organization would not be as successful as it is, had it not been for her. She truly left her mark and she will be sorely missed.
Bonnie had been battling cancer and unfortunately lost her fight. May she rest in peace.
We sadly announce that Forrest Eichmann of Woodstown, NJ, age 71, died on December 31, 2014, at home after a hard-fought and courageous battle with cancer.
Forrest Eichmann
Forrest was a charter member of New Jersey NENA, served on the executive board and as chapter President in 1997 and 1998.
Beginning in his high school years, he served on the Woodstown Ambulance squad, as well as joining the Reliance Fire Company. It is the latter position where Forrest moved up the ranks, eventually becoming Chief from 1976 to 1980. Forrest continued to be an active member of the fire department for many years after that. Being the hard-worker that he was, Forrest also worked part-time as a fire and ambulance dispatcher. Forrest would eventually parlay his job as a dispatcher into becoming Director of Emergency Services for Salem County. Under his watch, 911 was introduced into Salem County for the first time in the early 1990s. Forrest retired from this position in 2002.
Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Saturday, January 3rd in the Asbury United Methodist Church, 149 S. Main St. Woodstown, where friends are invited to visit from 10 AM until the time of service. A viewing will also be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday evening, January 2nd in the H.T. LAYTON FUNERAL HOME, 102 S. Main St., Woodstown. Burial will be in the Woodstown Baptist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Forrest’s memory may be made to the Reliance Fire Company, 25 Broad St., Woodstown, NJ, 08098, or to the American Legion Ambulance Squad, PO Box 187, Woodstown, NJ 08098. Please visit www.htlayton.com to leave a note of condolence to the family. H.T. Layton Funeral Home & Cremation Services 102 S. Main St. Woodstown, NJ 08098 856-769-1515
