Do you Journal?

A really good friend of mine made mention of this practice in a presentation she was doing.  It was the only way she could remember what had happened during and in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado.  You know how things, minutes, and days just run together?  I'm sure she felt as though she'd never come out of the other end.  So it was a way for her to document what was going on.  It got me to thinking.  What a better way to remember what goes on in our lives than to write it down.  Remember, if it's not logged, it didn't happen.

During the really important moments of my life, I've written down feelings, thoughts, and detailed what's going on around me. I have datebooks scattered throughout my home and at work with bits and pieces of life.  But, I've never looked at Journaling as a way to cope with everyday life. 

My family survived the '93 flood.  We are Missouri River bottom farmers.  We moved in with my mother-in-law for three months.  I had three children,  ages 9, 7, and almost 2.  My two year old was potty trained and we'd weaned him from "the binkie" and bottle, and almost instantly he reverted back to diapers, binkie, and bottle.  (He'd kill me if he knew I was talking about him!)  We were slammed with the very real possibility of losing everything, our crops, our home, and our way of living.  So you see why I say survived.  I had to rationalize what was happening some way.  So I put it down on paper.  I journaled every day about what was going on, how I was feeling, what my children were doing, and feeling.  It was one of the ways I worked through what was happening to me and those I dearly loved.  It actually put things in perspective; regardless of what material things we lost, repaired, replaced, as long as my family was safe and sound, we were good! 
  
My life is probably just as chaotic, just in a different way, so I decided to take it up again.


Putting your thoughts into black and white, can put them into perspective and clarifies them.  You get to know yourself better.  You can find out what makes you happy and confident.  Journaling also is known to reduce stress.  Writing about emotions helps release the intensity.  Through Journaling you can solve problems more effectively.  It can trigger creativity and intuition.  Rather than stewing over a disagreement, Journaling can enable you to work through it.  Journaling can enable you to track your progress of accomplishment of goals.  Journaling is a great tool to record your life for future generations.  Journaling improves communication by exploring new words and ways of thinking. 

Ultimately, Journaling can empower you. 

Be prepared for the questions-what are you doing, what are you writing about (especially from your husband), can I read it?  That's entirely up to you, but for me my journal is MINE!  It's private.  It's my innermost thoughts, feelings, dreams, and goals.  It's also my anger, rantings, cussings, and unhappiness.  

So I challenge you to Journal.  Take 20 minutes a day, dump your thoughts on paper, and start over again!

Walk the talk, E 

Thanks for visiting our site!  
I hope you'll visit us often to stay abreast of what's going on in the MONENA world of 9-1-1!

First, a preface to my bloggings....I'm new at this so bear with me!  

We have some exciting things going on in the world of MONENA!
Here are just a few.

Media and Outreach:  Our Committee Chair Eric Davey has been working hard to give us the kind of website I've envisioned, a "clearinghouse" if you will for all things MONENA and 911!  Eric's overseas as we "speak", but if I know him, he's brainstorming and imagining what kinds of things he can do to make this site all that it can and should be!  A couple of things he's added are the blogs that each Board member and Committee Chair can create and update on their own.  Now some of them aren't as windy as I am, so bear with us. Eric and I have talked about the links and pages we need on here so that no matter the question, you'll have a place to go for answers.  Any ideas, please forward them to Eric or myself.  Check out Eric's blog.  Isn't he handsome in his uniform!

Legislative:  April Tarrant, Legislative Chair, has her finger on the pulse of the Capitol.  Now that's probably a little exaggerated, but April is certainly going to keep us informed of the bills and goings on of our legislators.  Please check April's blog for the latest.

Conference:  The planning of the 2013 MONENA/MOAPCO Combined Conference is already under way!  Can you believe it's already less than a year!  To those of you who took the time to fill out the surveys, Thank you!  I know it was a pain, especially during the banquet, but MONENA and MOAPCO really wanted to know what you thought.  Your answers and comments have been discussed and will assist us in providing a better Combined Conference for 2013.  Mark your calendars for March 16-20 2013!  Please check Conference Chair Sarah Newell's blog for the latest info on next year's conference.

MO-TERT:  Kima Montgomery is already hard at work as MO-TERT Committee Chair.  She's created a MO-TERT Groups http://groupspaces.com/MOTERT, so please check that out.  She's got some great ideas, so please check out Kima's blog for the latest.

Training and Certification:  Rance Duffy will be hard at work keeping you updated on the latest Training and Certification available.  On a side note- two certifications I would highly recommend that you look into, NENA's Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification and APCO's Registered Public Leader certification.  A few years ago, I completed and passed the ENP certification.   I'm currently in the process of completing the RPL certification.  I'm learning so much!  I believe that we as 911 Professionals should always be learning and expanding our knowledge of all things 911.  These certifications enable you to network with an elite group of knowledgeable 911 Professionals from all sectors of communication.   I believe we must always be raising the bar when it comes to professional growth and certification.  Please check out Rance's blog for the latest info.

In closing (I know you're glad to "hear" these words!) I truly believe that the more we invest in ourselves through training and certification and the more we invest in each other through networking and information sharing, the stronger and more vital MONENA will be!  MONENA must continue to be the Voice of 911, be a Professional Network, and be a Support System for you, me, and Missouri 9-1-1!  The future and success of Missouri 911 depends on MONENA and YOU!  

Thanks again for visiting!  Have a great week!

E






  

Delivered at the Annual MONENA meeting at the 2012 MOAPCO-MONENA Combined Conference:

MONENA is very near and dear to my heart.  When I first joined the 911 industry, located at the core of MONENA were Mike Kindle and RD Porter.  Mike, as the President of MONENA, and RD, as the State Coordinator, walked me through the different phases of establishing a 911 Communication Center.  They were available 24/7, gave me support, and explained the ins, the outs, and the political whys of Missouri 911.  They even talked me back off the ledge a time or two.  When I started thinking about what I wanted to say to you as your new President, I thought about Mike, RD, and MONENA and the part they played in my development not only as a professional, but as a 911 Director.  I realized that to me MONENA is three things,

·        the Voice of 911,

·        a Professional Network, and

·        a support system.

MONENA is the Voice of 911.  MONENA's Legislative Committee and MONENA's Nominating Committee will do their part to carry on this initiative.  As Chair of MONENA's Legislative Committee, April Tarrant will work with the 911's Director's Association and MOAPCO in increasing awareness on 911 issues amongst Missouri Lawmakers.  April will assist me in keeping you informed on current bills, what they're all about, what their status is, and what new bills may be on the horizon.  Saralyn Hayes will chair MONENA's Nominating Committee.  Saralyn will extend MONENA's commitment to professionalism and leadership by submitting a slate of officers dedicated and knowledgeable in the matters of 911.  Through the efforts of the Legislative Committee and the Nominating Committee, MONENA's voice will be heard as we work to build and fund the best 911 Communication System for Missouri.

MONENA is a Professional Network.  MONENA's Training and Certification Committee and MONENA's Conference Committee will foster MONENA's membership as professionals and a leading authority in 911.  As the Training and Certification Committee Chair, Rance Duffy will promote the membership's Professional development by keeping us informed of the new training standards.  Rance will stay current on the State Certified courses available and assist in designing the conference educational tracks.  Sarah Newell will continue as MONENA's Conference Chair.  Sarah will continue to provide to the membership an enjoyable conference packed with educational tracks, networking opportunities, and a vendor hall featuring the latest technologies, products, and services.  MONENA's network of professionals will continue to be the foundation of MONENA because of the efforts of the Training and Certification Committee and the Conference Committee.

MONENA is a Support System.  The MOTERT Committee and MONENA's new Media and Outreach Committee will continue to give the MONENA membership the support needed to do their jobs.  Helping 911 when 911 needs help, MOTERT is the epitome of support.  Kima Montgomery will Chair the MOTERT Committee.  Kima will update the MONENA membership with MOTERT training and deployment information.  MONENA's new committee, Media and Outreach, will be chaired by Eric Davey.  Eric’s getting ready to deploy to Kuwait, but when he gets back he’ll hit the ground running.  MONENA's beefed up website will be home to crucial documents such as our by-laws, wireless maps, 911 impacting legislation, and a PSAP contact list.  It will contain periodic updates and reports from the committee chairs and your President.  It will be a "one stop shop" for everything 911.

As I begin my Presidency, I'm excited about the future of MONENA and 911.  I appreciate the growth and advancements achieved by the previous boards.  We have a wonderful association filled with a diverse and knowledgeable membership.  My goal is when a 911 Director, Manager, or Public Safety Partner is faced with challenges, questions, or just needs a sounding board; they'll know where to go, MONENA!  I'm looking forward to working with our new MONENA board, my committees,  and you, the membership, in order to provide the leadership, guidance, support, information and if need be, walk it's members back from the ledge!  The future of Missouri 911 depends on MONENA to be strong, resilient, dedicated, and vocal.  Only through the strength of MONENA's membership, does our voice become clearer and more compelling, and Missouri 911 becomes successful and solid.  MONENA must continue to be the Voice of 911, be a professional network, and be a support system for its membership.