Ville Platte Rotary Club April 14, 2021 The Ville Platte Rotary Club Tuesday heard from Liz Hill, executive director of the Evangeline Parish Communications District (9-1-1) and Office of Emergency Preparedness. This is National Dispatcher Week. The 9-1-1 dispatchers takes calls throughout Evangeline Parish with an area of 660 square miles with a population of 33,000 people. They dispatch for all six fire departments in the parish and five police departments. The only two agencies that do their own dispatching are the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office and the Mamou Police Department. The office employs 14 full time dispatchers and several part time dispatchers to handle the daily calls. Last year, the calls totaled 39,000. There are three dispatchers that each work a 12 hour shift. Each dispatcher must undergo a 54 hour class to become certified. In inclement weather, dispatchers can sleep in the facilities with shower, beds, kitchen and back up generator. Dispatchers are unsung heroes who are there to send life saving services for people in need. Liz Hill was the guest of Rotarian Wayne Vidrine. Club President Peter Strawitz reminded club members that Thursday through Saturday is the District Rotary Conference in Opelousas. He also urged club members to consider becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. By making a $500 donation to Rotary International, the local club will match the donation.