As this year’s president for the National Information Officers Association, I would like to personally welcome you to our official website. As members of a dynamic and professional organization of public information officers with public safety and first responder disciplines, you are now part of an organization that was founded over 22 years ago. With several hundred active members from all 50 states and several Canadian provinces, you truly represent a national organization comprised of career fields to include law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, hospitals, city state and federal government and more.
If you are just entering this specialized and talented career field, or are a seasoned public information officer already, being a NIOA member will provide you with an opportunity to attend the best training and networking conference each year. These conferences provide four days of training to include one full day of training focused for the novice PIO followed by 3 days of actual case studies where information officers discuss their cases in detail and share the lessons learned to include what went right and what could have been done better. These real-world scenarios truly aid and assist all information officers for future unplanned and unimaginable events. Your membership will also allow you to receive 6 newsletters each year containing important and valuable information and articles from fellow PIO’s. Additionally, you will have access to our Members Only section of this website that features a membership directory.
As public information officers, being prepared for the worst-case scenario is something that each one of us should strive for. I have always said “it’s not a matter of if something big will take place in your city; it’s a matter of when”. Whether it’s a major motor vehicle collision, to a wide-spread fire, or an act of Mother Nature or worse, being prepared as well as having access to decades of experienced information officers is extremely beneficial.
In closing, the NIOA strives to provide the best training conference possible each and every August as well as offer up-to-date information and networking opportunities all year long. I look forward to meeting each one of you at our next conference inNashville in 2012 and thank you in advance for becoming a new NIOA member.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me @ callen@dps.state.nv.us or at nioa@comcast.net.
Respectfully,
Chuck Allen,
President, NIOA
Trooper Chuck Allen is a 21-year veteran with the Nevada Highway Patrol and as served as a PIO for over 8 years. Additionally, he is a traditional member of the Nevada Air National Guard with over 27 years of military service and holds the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.
“Don’t tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” – George S. Patton
