ABOUT INENA
Illinois NENA
The Illinois Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (INENA) is comprised of public safety professionals throughout Illinois whose mission is to foster the technological advancement, availability, and implementation of the universal emergency number 9-1-1 in the State of Illinois. Illinois NENA is one of 48 chapters of the National Emergency Number Association.
Illinois NENA is divided into 8 Regions, covering the entire state. The Executive Board and Region Directors are elected by the ILNENA general membership and appointed for a 2 year term. Region Directors are responsible for keeping their region 911 professionals and membership updated on all things 911 related in the State.
ILNENA Executive Board as well as the Region Directors work closely with the 911 legislative committee, the State Advisory Board and the 911 Administrator to bring the most current technological, training and legislation regarding the funding and rules of 911 to their members.
ILNENA has multiple committees that are tasked with keeping the bylaws up to date, offering training grants, scholarships for the IPSTA Conference, Public Education, ILTERT involvement, website and social media, the Next Generation 911 mission as well as the statewide geographical (GIS) mission.
ILNENA works closely with the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Officials (ILAPCO) as both Chapters continue to strive to make 911 in the entire state the most up to date and top of the line for all of our public safety first responders.
BYLAWS 2024 UPDATED
How it began…
The year was 1981, 9-1-1 had been operating for 4 years already at Tri-Com in Geneva, joined by the City of Naperville in 1977 and Aurora in 1978. The Kane County Sheriff was pursuing implementing 9-1-1 service throughout the county when he and a small group of local PSAP officials and the 9-1-1 Product Manager from Illinois Bell Telephone Company got together at the Elburn Fire Station in 1981 to study how to form an organization that could help public safety officials implement 9-1-1 service in their areas.
As time went on it was thought that there wasn't just a local need for this education and training but rather a national one. Although Illinois founded the concept in 1981, it was actually in 1982 that this now national organization started in Illinois would be named NENA and convene its first national conference.
The first National NENA Conference was held at Pheasant Run Lodge in St. Charles in June of 1982 and Illinois became NENA's very first chapter. So from a group of 10 people with 1 chapter to an organization today of over 15,000 members in 48 chapters NENA came to be. Happy 40th anniversary to Illinois NENA !!!
Special Thank you to Jerry Bleck for the History of ILNENA