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Exit the Silver Legacy, go south to 4th Street, go east to Center Street. Reno Events Center is on the corner of 4th and Center Streets.
Tuesday's "Don't Miss" Events
- 8:00-9:00 a.m. , Peter Marghella, CEM, FACCP, President & CEO, Medical Planning Resources
- 10:00-11:15 a.m. - , Captain Al Haynes
- - Five tracks to select from in the areas of preparedness, mitigatin, response, recovery, contemporary - check out the program here
Don't Miss the Tuesday Evening Scholarship Auction! 
Sponsored by Upper Iowa University, the Live Auction is a highlight of the IAEM Annual Conference each year. We get a lively crowd bidding on some amazing donated items, and with a professional auctioneer and the help of student members in displaying items up for auction, it's a lot of fun.
Monday's Opening Ceremonies
Along with opening remarks by IAEM President, Mike Selves, CEM, opening ceremonies featured the presentation of colors by the Reno Fire Department Honor Guard. Selves noted that 16 countries have representatives in attendance at the IAEM 2007 Annual Conference, and he recognized attendees from outside the United States. The Board of Directors was introduced, and there was a welcome to students attending the conference. Selves recognized sponsor representatives, with special thanks to Platinum Sponsors. The local host committee was recognized as well.
Selves introduced the IAEM Conference Committee and recognized their work in planning. He noted that there were 1,200 pre-registrants and 225 EMEX booths, with onside registration expected to bring total registrants to 1,500 and possibly a new annual conference attendance record. Selves recognized those who provide pre-conference workshops and training, including FEMA courses, the Universities & Colleges Committee workshop, Arthur Rabjohn's course, Mike Martinet, Martha Braddock, and Bob Bohlmann.
Welcome to Nevada
Frank Siracusa, Nevada Director of Emergency Management, welcomed attendees to the state of Nevada. In regard to EM in Nevada, he noted, "We have partnerships here in Nevada, and we work in collaboration, to do the job and do it well." He talked about multi-jurisdictional partnerships to achieve success in Nevada, and he wishes the participants a great conference.
Keynote Address: FEMA Administrator Paulison
The keynote address was delivered by R. David Paulison, FEMA Administrator, who began by welcoming U.S. veterans on this Veteran's Day of 2007. Reading the opening words of the Declaration of Independence, he noted that emergency managers help to preserve and protect the rights mentioned therein. "We must work together to provide the best emergency management we can to this country," he said.
Paulison talked about working to build an experienced team at FEMA, including building public-private partnerships, saying "The worst time to build relationships is during a disaster." He said that great strides have been made in improving FEMA since Katrina and that FEMA is on the way to doubling its staffing and budget. "We're stronger than just two years ago," he commented, stating that FEMA has responded to more than 300 declared disasters since Katrina. He said that FEMA is committed to working with all levels of responders as "all disasters are local."
"We need a robust, cooperative relationship so we can understand your needs and requirements," Paulison said. "One size does not fit all. We need to adapt to meet your needs." He talked about various grant programs and working to get local communities the resources they need.
"I want you to be a partner with me," Paulison stressed. "Join us in working together to protect America in its time of need. We can develop and implement an integrated response system. We must work together to educate the public in their role in disasters. Americans must take responsibility and be better prepared...This is truly a new era of FEMA working together with IAEM."
Fuhr Presents EM Lessons Learned from the Titanic
Bob Fuhr, CBCP, Historical Perspectives, presented a plenary session on "The Titanic: Emergency Management Lessons Learned." He noted that "case studies are a great learning tool...a good way of learning what did and didn't work in the past." He began with a history of the White Star Line and its rivalry with the Cunard Line, that led to White Star deciding to use the elements of size and luxury to set them apart from Cunard. Titanic was the largest moving object that man had ever built at that time. Fuhr used photos and illustrations -- as well as humor -- to great effect in his fascinating presentation -- that offered a look back to the past to see that there are still plenty of lessons that we can learn from the failures on that fateful night when Titanic and many lives were lost.
Mileti Discusses Research on What Encourages Positive Disaster Preparedness Behaviors
by Rocky Lopes, Homeland Security Manager, National Association of Counties
Monday’s IAEM Conference luncheon speaker was Dr. Dennis Mileti, who is a research sociologist and a man of incredible credentials in the field of applying social science research to being effective in persuading people to change behavior to be ready for something they don’t want to think about.
Mileti, past Director of the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center (www.colorado.edu/hazards/), described many findings from more than 50 years of social science research. He pointed out that there is good research and bad research, and offered these tips to discern the difference. Good research will:
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Begin with describing the findings of past research on the specific topic
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Have a statistically appropriate sample size
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Use multivariate statistical methodologies. That is, that the research controls for A, B, and C when examining the impacts on A and B
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Studies actual behavior, not self-reporting
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Makes policy/program recommendations only after findings are replicated
In reviewing the research on what encourages positive disaster preparedness behaviors, Mileti stressed many important points throughout his presentation. He summarized by describing seven principles of effective disaster preparedness outreach and education which does these things:
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Designs in people and context factors
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Uses understandable and useable materials
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Streams communication over time
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Shapes risk perception for action
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Makes milling a prime target
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Encourages and supports actions
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Evaluates and monitors effectiveness
Mileti explained that the process of “milling” – that is conversations over time among people where they live, work, shop, eat, and socialize – is what is effective. Causing people to think and talk about the information you provide is more effective than just telling them what to do. Leaving them with enough information to encourage conversation is most effective. He cited the example of telling your teenager what to do, and how often the teenager just did whatever he/she wanted, regardless of what they were told. The same analogy applies to disaster preparedness outreach education – tell enough to cause “milling” – conversation – but not so much as to be disregarded as teens disregard parental “advice.”
IAEM Awards Presented for Public Awareness and Technology & Innovation
On Monday, Phyllis Mann, IAEM Awards Committee Chair, presented the IAEM 2007 Awards in the categories of Public Awareness and Technology & Innovation. To learn about the winners, click here.
Region 3 Holds Annual Meeting
by Kathee Henning, CEM, IAEM Region 3 President
IAEM Region 3 held its annual meeting at the IAEM 2007 Annual Conference in Reno on Sunday, Nov. 11.
Kathee Henning, President, and Hui-Shan Walker, Secretary, presented their reports.
New business included the announcement of new Region 3 committees set up to identify subject matter experts and resources, and to increase member services to the region. See attached Region 3 meeting agenda. Members are requested to send President Kathee Henning a brief background paragraph and contact information if interested in one of the new Region 3 committees: Homeland Security, Community Preparedness, Communications/Technology, Website/Newsletter, and Nominations.
Other topics included national issues, scholarship activities, and budget.
The VEMA Conference will be held in Hampton Roads March 11-14, 2008. The Maryland Emergency Management Association conference will be held in Ocean City in May. Please plan to join us at both of these events. We are also seeking information about other state associations and their activities.
More information will be shared with members after the conference. Check out the Region 3 Web page for photos and updates.
Meeting Updates: CEM® Worldwide Planning and International Caucus Meeting
by Arthur Rabjohn, IAEM Europa President
 The Presidents of IAEM’s Canada, Europa, Oceania and International Regions met with the CEM® Commission early Monday morning to further the launch of the CEM® program in their future Council areas.
International Caucus Meeting: IAEM Members from England, New Zealand, Mexico, Germany, Korea, Japan, Dubai and the Cayman Islands met to discuss how they can keep the phenomenal international growth of IAEM going. Some of those present are considering stepping up to the plate to become National Representatives and lead the development of IAEM in their part of the world.
Submit News & Photos
- Call for News & Photos: If you have a contribution for the Tuesday edition, please e-mail your news and photos by 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, to IAEM Bulletin Editor Karen Thompson.
- Author Guidelines: The guidelines are simple: keep your news items short (no more than 300 words max, please!); e-mail news items in plain text or Word format; and e-mail photos as image attachments in JPG format. (Note: You must include a photo caption with each photo.)
- Post-Conference Coverage: The best news items in the IAEM Bulletin OnSite 2007 will be picked up later for the post-conference IAEM Bulletin. It's a good opportunity to earn a byline, and any IAEM conference attendee is welcome to contribute. As in past years, we especially encourage student members to write up their notes and submit short news items.
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