08:01:50 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Welcome to the Thursday night Round Table! 08:02:06 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:We are pleased to have everyone here. 08:02:13 PM Darryl E Parker:Good Evening, everyone. 08:02:41 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Glad to have our special Guest Host tonight, Steve Charvat, Immediate Past President of IAEM.... 08:03:01 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:And the current Chair of the CEM Commission. Welcome Steve! 08:03:15 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Thanks Avagene.. see, I do know how to type your name correctly 08:03:18 PM Steve Charvat CEM::) 08:03:38 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:We are hear to talk about getting your CEM. (Some people don't know how, Steve)... 08:03:55 PM Steve Charvat CEM:All right.. let me begin by giving some stats... 08:03:57 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, tell us about the new requirements for the CEM> 08:04:11 PM Steve Charvat CEM:the CEM program began in 1993 with the first graduating class. 08:04:26 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Currently, there are approx. 700 CEMs and AEMs in the world 08:04:55 PM Steve Charvat CEM:the program requirements have been the same since it inception, with one minor change being approved this past March by the IAEM Board 08:04:59 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:(Certified Emergency Managers -- CEM) 08:05:09 PM Steve Charvat CEM:This change was the alternative suggested by the CEM Commisssion 08:05:29 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Does anybody want to know what the requirements are??? 08:05:55 PM Isabel McCurdy:Degree? 08:06:05 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:I do and so does Rick. Can't speak for anyone else. 08:06:28 PM Steve Charvat CEM:ok... can I just cut and paste the requirements on this screen?? 08:06:36 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Yes. 08:06:40 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Please do. 08:07:05 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:(Welcome Chris!) 08:07:19 PM Christopher Effgen:Thank you 08:07:20 PM Steve Charvat CEM:ok.. here goes 08:07:40 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, use Ctrl C to copy; Ctrl V to paste. 08:07:43 PM Steve Charvat CEM:New CEM Program Requirements: 08:08:02 PM Steve Charvat CEM:All original requirements remain the same with an ALTERNATE path for fulfilling the educational requirement: 08:08:15 PM Steve Charvat CEM:1. Work Experience - a minimum of 3 years full-time (cumulative) work experience in emergency management 08:08:26 PM Steve Charvat CEM:2. References - 3, one of which must be your current supervisor 08:08:36 PM Steve Charvat CEM:3. Experience in coordinating a major disaster OR a significant role in developing and conducting a full- scale disaster exercise 08:08:50 PM Steve Charvat CEM:4. 100 hours of Emergency Management Training - no one subject are can count for more than 25 hours (ie. Fire, Law enforcement, HAZMAT, planning, radiological, mass care, communications, etc...) 08:09:00 PM Steve Charvat CEM:5. 100 hours of General Emergency Management - once again, no one subject are can count for mre than 25 hours (ie., budgeting, personnel management, computer information systems, public speaking, etc...) 08:09:09 PM Steve Charvat CEM:6. A 100-point multiple choice exam (must get 75% or better in order to pass) 08:09:26 PM Steve Charvat CEM:7. Professional contributions in AT least six (6) subjcct areas (i.e, leadership roles, membership, teaching, speaking, publications, etc...) 08:09:37 PM Steve Charvat CEM:8. A comprehensive essay covering all phases of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) 08:09:42 PM Steve Charvat CEM:and.. one more 08:09:51 PM Steve Charvat CEM:9. A 4-year bachelors degree (can be in any field) or 8 years of additional experience (4 years additional if you have an Associates Degree. 08:10:14 PM Steve Charvat CEM:the recent change was to modify the requirement of having a 4-year degree.. That was the ONLY change made 08:10:18 PM Steve Charvat CEM:any questions?? 08:11:00 PM Rick Tobin:Yes, are you saying "ALL" of those qualifications must be met? 08:11:18 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes.... 08:11:46 PM Steve Charvat CEM:so far, over 700 people have met them.. and hundreds more have applied and are in the process 08:12:37 PM Steve Charvat CEM:We also have an AEM (Associate Emergency Manager) program for those who do not have enough time in service and/or a degree, but meet all the othe requirements 08:12:44 PM Isabel McCurdy:It sounds like you have to be employed in the emergency management industry first. 08:13:07 PM Rick Tobin:When you say "hours" do you mean semester or quarter hours, or hours in a classroom? 08:13:26 PM Steve Charvat CEM:not necessarily... many of our current CEMs are from private industry, business and the military 08:13:46 PM Steve Charvat CEM:semester hours.. but we do regulary translate quarter hours and CEUs also 08:14:13 PM Isabel McCurdy:What are CEU's? 08:14:32 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Continuing Education Units.... sorry, I tend to use acronyms too much! 08:15:09 PM Isabel McCurdy:Are these requirements universally accepted? 08:15:26 PM Steve Charvat CEM:can you please rephrase the question Isabel?? 08:15:39 PM Isabel McCurdy:I'm a Canadian... 08:16:12 PM Isabel McCurdy:So are there different requirements.. 08:16:17 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Oh, or perhaps I should say eh.... we have a number of Canadian CEMs.... 08:16:45 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Different requirements in what respect Isabel?? 08:16:46 PM Robert Bohmann:What is the latest to file for class of 98 08:17:57 PM Steve Charvat CEM:There no longer are specific deadlines for filing your CEM/AEM. However, if you would like to receive your certificate and pin by the Annual Conference (usually November), you haev to generally get your package to IAEM headquarters by August at the latest 08:18:27 PM Steve Charvat CEM:We now do packet review via the mail..and not email..t he good ole fashioned Postal Service 08:18:29 PM Isabel McCurdy:One size does fit all is what you are saying. 08:18:50 PM Robert Bohmann:That's great I still have time. 08:19:04 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Exactly... we are very flexible when reviewing packets from other nations... especially with the differences the types of higher education 08:19:16 PM Robert Bohmann:Need to correct last name on log it Bohlmann 08:19:19 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Isabel, people from all over have been interested in and applied/received their CEM because they didn't have anything in their country as a means of being certified. 08:19:24 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Bob, for you, we will move mountains to get our last IAEM Board member in!! 08:19:42 PM Steve Charvat CEM:In fact, I am the process of reviewing a package from a gentleman from Italy 08:19:48 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Hello Bill! 08:20:25 PM bill appleby:hi everyone,had trouble with logon 08:20:43 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Other questions about the requirements? (Hi, Bill.) 08:21:18 PM Steve Charvat CEM:As a reminder for those of you new to this CEM/AEM subject... everybody who gets their CEM/AEM must recertify every 5 years in order to maintain their credentials.. 08:21:35 PM Robert Bohmann:Yes Bill I did have trouble getting in 08:21:43 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, I would like to discuss some tips for successful submission of their package. 08:21:45 PM Steve Charvat CEM:unless you are retired, over 60 years old and apply for lifetime certification.... 08:21:49 PM Steve Charvat CEM:sure... 08:22:11 PM Steve Charvat CEM:First off, it helps to read through the application package from front to back before filling out the forms 08:22:13 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Can we start with "neatness counts"? 08:22:20 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Secondly.... thanks Avagene... 08:23:03 PM Steve Charvat CEM:so many folks dont bother doing the "simple" things like spell checking, proof reading, cross checking their math when addiing up their hours and checking to make suret 08:23:12 PM Robert Bohmann:Avagene I did get in on Chat Finally 08:23:18 PM Steve Charvat CEM:that all reference materials are indeed included in thri packets! 08:23:29 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:(Good, Robert) 08:23:39 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Using the Wordperfect or Work disks helps a lot also 08:24:27 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:How about the portfolio itself? Binder or what? 08:24:42 PM Steve Charvat CEM:By using colored sections, tabs for the different sections really makes the CEM Commissioners' jobs easier and also shows that the applicant has put some time and effort into their application 08:25:27 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:I am on the Commission and have been appalled that some people submit their material with a rubber band around it. Very unprofessional. 08:25:29 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Personally, most of the CEM Commssion prefers if the CEM application be in a 3-ring binder with the sheets that are plastic sleeves 08:25:43 PM Steve Charvat CEM:it makes it easier to review that way 08:26:08 PM Steve Charvat CEM:But you also know that you can't judge a book by its cover. 08:26:32 PM Steve Charvat CEM:We have also seen some packets that looked nice, but contained garbage..... 08:26:50 PM Steve Charvat CEM:I have also been asked how long a "good" essay usually is.. 08:27:08 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Generally, and there are always exceptions, the best essays are between 8-12 pages, double spaced. 08:27:33 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Anything less, they are forgetting to cover the key areas (KSA's - knowledge, skills and abilities). 08:27:50 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Do you recommend having the essay proofread or technically edited? 08:28:02 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Too long (we have had up to 110 page essays) and people tend to contadict themselves, ramble on and confuse the subject 08:28:47 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Of course.. and sometimes, its best to have it read by a person who is NOT an emergency manager. After they read it, ask them... :"Do you understand what I was trying to say?" 08:29:05 PM Steve Charvat CEM:If they said "yes,", you probably have a good essay.. 08:29:09 PM Robert Bohmann:I get the idea that submissions are on the increase 08:29:30 PM Steve Charvat CEM:any other questions? if not, I do have some more tips.. 08:29:50 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Including one that constantly causes us (the CEM Commission) lots of hearburn 08:30:47 PM bill appleby:Steve,since the CEM change,how many AEM"s have been requsted? 08:31:49 PM Steve Charvat CEM:I am not sure.. staff back in Falls Church VA would have to answer that... but I can tell you that the AEM program is still there for those people who are just beginning in the profession and just do not have the 4-year degree and/or enough job experience. 08:32:57 PM Robert Bohmann:Good starting point for new EM's 08:33:30 PM Bill Henry:How does the Commission feel about volunteer experience? 08:33:46 PM bill appleby:The process and the quality is the same for CEM or AEM, correct 08:34:00 PM Robert Bohmann:Steve lets hear your tips 08:34:07 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Exactly... and once a person who has an AEM either gets their 4-year degree or gets the additional job experience under his/her belt, they are automatically changed to a CEM 08:34:46 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Volunteer experience DOES count, but it has to be translated into full-time equivilancies 08:34:47 PM Isabel McCurdy:Job experience = volunteer experience? 08:35:05 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes, Isabel. 08:35:40 PM Jim Seines:What are the hour equivalencies for the FEMA independant study courses? 08:35:40 PM Bill Henry:In what ratio? 08:35:45 PM Steve Charvat CEM:For example, a full-year student internship/volunteer work at 20-hours a week would equal approximately a half-year of full-time experience 08:36:33 PM Steve Charvat CEM:It is up to the applicant to provide documentation (by whatever means necessary) to the CEM Commission to demonstrate volunteer/intership hours in emergency managmenet 08:36:59 PM Steve Charvat CEM:The FEMA Indep. Study courses are anywhere from 10-18 hours of Training credit.... 08:37:09 PM bill appleby:Is any "extra" credit given for declared disaster experience? 08:37:19 PM Steve Charvat CEM:they vary. The folks at IAEM headquarters have a chart that tells you how many hours are granted for each 08:37:32 PM Jim Seines:Thanks! 08:37:35 PM Isabel McCurdy:Can you speak to the Training requirements? 08:37:40 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Sorry Bill, that currently is not done 08:37:44 PM Steve Charvat CEM:sure.. ask away! 08:38:02 PM Steve Charvat CEM:I posted the current training requirements.. but will do so again.. hold on 08:38:04 PM Isabel McCurdy:Is this teaching? 08:38:16 PM Steve Charvat CEM:4. 100 hours of Emergency Management Training - no one subject are can count for more than 25 hours (ie. Fire, Law enforcement, HAZMAT, planning, radiological, mass care, communications, etc...) 08:38:31 PM Steve Charvat CEM:5. 100 hours of General Emergency Management - once again, no one subject are can count for mre than 25 hours (ie., budgeting, personnel management, computer information systems, public speaking, etc...) 08:38:41 PM Steve Charvat CEM:No Isabel.. it is as a student,,,, learning 08:38:55 PM Steve Charvat CEM:You get credit for teaching under the Professional Contributions Section 08:39:38 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Back to you Bill,.. applicants can count their experience handling an actual disaster under their Experience Section 08:39:51 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, what is the "heart-burn" you mentioned? 08:40:23 PM bill appleby:Just asking for clarity, I've been asked several times. 08:40:45 PM Rick Tobin:So, are you saying that since I taught a college level course in Business Recovery and Continuity Emergency Planning, that there is some kind of hourly equivalence for CEM credit? 08:40:52 PM Steve Charvat CEM:ok... that refers to the Professional Contributions Section.. The CEM Commission regularly denies applicants' submissions in this area because some of the items they submit are part of their expected job duties 08:41:16 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Rick..that would count as Teaching as one of the 6 professional COntributions... 08:41:23 PM Jim Seines:You have probably already covered this, but as I understand it, the requirements for an AEM are the same as those for a CEM. Is this true? 08:41:59 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes, except that the AEM does not have any degree requirement 08:42:12 PM Steve Charvat CEM:and only needs 3 years of job experience 08:42:22 PM Jim Seines:I see... 08:42:32 PM Isabel McCurdy:Does attending conferences contribute to training? 08:42:40 PM Steve Charvat CEM:back to the "heartburn" issue. SOme people will. submit their Cities/COunty's Disaster Plan as an example of a Publication 08:43:01 PM Steve Charvat CEM:That obviously does not count, because the applicant is required to produce such a document in the course of his/her job 08:43:32 PM Steve Charvat CEM:now.. if he/she wrote an article for a professional/trade publication or a scholarly journal and had it published, that WOULD be counted, because... 08:43:46 PM Steve Charvat CEM:this would be "up and above" their job duties 08:44:21 PM Robert Bohmann:Does an article in state EM journal count 08:44:32 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Attending conferences does only if the applicant can prove that he/she attended via a certificate and can demonstrate the hours attended. 08:45:03 PM Jim Seines:attended via a Certificate? 08:45:05 PM Steve Charvat CEM:simply going to a conference does not count. How many of you have seen those people who show up the first day to get their packets, are only around at meal functions and then you never see them? 08:45:13 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes Bob, it does! 08:45:27 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, would you say that someone speaking or presenting an EIIP hour-long session would count as a contribution to the profession. I am thinking of you and Rick at the moment; also, Isabel is one of our interns and is racking up some volunteer hours. 08:45:59 PM Steve Charvat CEM:via a certificate means that some professional conference (including IAEM in the future) provide certificates to those people who actually are at the workshops 08:46:11 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Sure... 08:46:21 PM Steve Charvat CEM:as long as they can document it! 08:46:43 PM Jim Seines:hmm..I wonder if the current SALEMDUG conference will provide that... 08:46:47 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:We can document it and so can they from the promos on the web and elsewhere. 08:47:14 PM Steve Charvat CEM:The "Speaking" Contribution does not have a specific time limit, however, if you want credit for the "Teaching" Contribution, you must demonstrate a minimum of 3 hours of actual classroom contact time 08:47:20 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:We will be giving certificates shortly. 08:47:30 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Many professional conferences are moving that way! 08:48:02 PM Steve Charvat CEM:maybe we should be asking for DNA samples the future!?!? What do you think? 08:48:03 PM Steve Charvat CEM::) 08:48:21 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:In other words, Steve, getting your CEM is a serious proposition, right? 08:48:34 PM Jim Seines:retinal patterns would be a bit less invasive 08:49:09 PM Steve Charvat CEM:yes,,, dont get me wrong.. it is a lot of work.. but well worth it.. 08:49:32 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Let's think about the future of the CEM....what are the dreams for the profession? 08:49:39 PM Steve Charvat CEM:some,,, not many yet, but some employers now require a CEM designation as part of their job hiring process.. including my current employer, the City of PHoenix 08:49:39 PM bill appleby:I have heard that some jurisdictions are requiring an attendance certificate or training certificate prior to reimbursement 08:49:54 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Good idea, Bill. 08:49:57 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes Bill ..they are... 08:50:16 PM Steve Charvat CEM:good idea... we all know how some conference are just junkets to some people... 08:50:35 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Why should we push for the CEM and encourage people to go for it? 08:50:43 PM Robert Bohmann:Avagene it well should be to make it count for profressionalism of the industry. I am taking it very very seriously and taking time off just to complete it. The ice storm stopped me dead 08:50:59 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Well.. we finally have 2 very high- level FEMA folks who have their CEM... 08:51:24 PM Steve Charvat CEM:names to be disclosed at a future date... 08:51:29 PM Bill Henry:Can we have some examples of journals for those in EM? 08:51:49 PM bill appleby:Even me county (80,000 pop) requires that director and all deputies be CEM's 08:51:57 PM Steve Charvat CEM:what the CEM was designed to do is to elevate the status of our PROFESSION to make it comparable (and stand alone) from other disciplines 08:52:05 PM Steve Charvat CEM:GOod for you BilL!!! 08:52:09 PM Bill Henry:To publish in, I mean? 08:52:13 PM Jim Seines:Bye all...stopped by for only a short while. Thanks for the info, Steve. 08:52:17 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Avagene...help here?? 08:52:21 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Good Bye Jim 08:52:32 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:ASPEP Journal, Bill, for one. 08:52:53 PM Isabel McCurdy:What is ASPEP? 08:53:00 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:American Society of Professional Emergency Planners (ASPEP). 08:53:13 PM Steve Charvat CEM:The Disaster Recovery Journal 08:53:25 PM bill appleby:good segway Avagene 08:53:30 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:There are others --- we try to announce Calls for Papers in the EIIP online newsletter. 08:53:40 PM Steve Charvat CEM:You can always submit articles to the IAEM Bulletin for credit 08:53:47 PM Robert Bohmann:York County Maine has added CEM required with in two year for me and all future directors. I pushed that through 08:53:48 PM Rick Tobin:The International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters 08:54:15 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:ASPEP has a deadline of July 1, Bill, I can give you the criteria --- email me at amoore@emforum.org 08:54:36 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Check out our newsletter each month for others. 08:54:56 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Yes, IAEM is a good one also. 08:55:03 PM Isabel McCurdy:Emergency Preparedness Digest. 08:55:25 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:How do you subscribe to that one, Isabel? 08:56:03 PM Isabel McCurdy:Sent in $20.00 dollars Canadian. 08:56:04 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Is it hard copy? 08:56:11 PM Isabel McCurdy:Yes. 08:56:28 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Do you have an address? or email address? 08:56:53 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Other questions for Steve? 08:57:01 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Yes... any other questions for me? 08:57:25 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Steve, you have done a marvelous job for us tonight! This will count toward recertification, right? 08:57:26 PM bill appleby:Steve,good job with the commission 08:57:32 PM Robert Bohmann:Thanks Steve for the help and insight 08:57:47 PM Steve Charvat CEM:NOw thats a stretch Avagene!! 08:58:00 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Thanks folks.. its an honor to continue serving the profession 08:58:13 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:This will be a good transcript and very useful. We will promote it. 08:58:31 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Thanks for all your comments folks! 08:58:39 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Don't think it's a stretch at all, Steve. You have provided a service. 08:58:55 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Any thing else real quick, folks? 08:59:09 PM Robert Bohmann:Bob Bohlmann is leaving the chat room now 08:59:12 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Thanks for joining us.. 08:59:22 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:If not, thanks for being here. It's been great. I appreciate your participation. 08:59:25 PM Steve Charvat CEM:I can always be called if anybody has ANY questions 08:59:30 PM Steve Charvat CEM:(602) 495-2077 08:59:37 PM bill appleby:goodnight folks 08:59:39 PM Isabel McCurdy:e-mail? 09:00:04 PM Steve Charvat CEM:scharvat@ci.phoenix.az.us 09:00:24 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:Good night, one and all. Thanks again, Steve. 09:00:31 PM Bill Henry:Thanks. 09:00:42 PM Steve Charvat CEM:Thanks Avagene.. good night folks.. dinner time here in Phoenix 09:01:12 PM Avagene Moore EIIP:So long! Thanks for coming to the Round Table!!!