EMCOMM (EMergency COMMunications) has been a vital part of all the emergency and disaster operations since the invention of the radio.  It plays a very important part in getting messages to the appropriate people and places when all other modes of communication have failed.  Symposiums like EMCOMMWEST provide a forum where EMCOMM served agency people have an opportunity to become familiar with the capabilities of Amateur radio and where radio Amateurs have an opportunity to receive training from representatives of various served agencies as well as sessions on technical EMCOMM-related issues.  One of the first symposiums of this kind occurred in the late 1980's.  The Emergency Response Instutute (ERI) was first sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Section of the ARRL and held in San Jose CA. Served agencies that participated in the first ERI include the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, California Department of Forestry and Santa Clara County. ERI became a yearly event that continued until the mid 1990's.

EMCOMMWEST 1999 - In 1999 a group of amateur radio operators interested in improving emergency communications got together to host the very first EMCOMMWEST symposium. This brought together all the organizations and facets of emergency communications that make-up the cooperative network of emergency services via amateur radio.

EMCOMMWEST 2001 - This year saw displays from various agencies that the amateur radio community serves in times of emergencies in addition to the usual seminars.

EMCOMMWEST 2002 - Both amateurs and non-amateurs, as well as state and local government officials attended.  First year event was sanctioned. Steve Ewald, WV1X, represented the ARRL.

EMCOMMWEST 2003 - Moved to Reno, Nevada, and formally became known as EMCOMMWEST.  Attendees come from California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona as well as Nevada. Held in a Reno area church.

EMCOMMWEST 2004 - Again in Reno, Nevada. Expanded events include a Ham radio flea market.  Held in a Reno area middle-school.

EMCOMMWEST 2005 - Expanded events, including the first banquet with Gordon West as the speaker.  ARRL HQ was represented by Mark Spencer WA8SME, Education & Technology Program Coordinator. It was also the first time the event was held at a commercial venue, the Reno Holiday Inn.

EMCOMMWEST 2006 - Moved to a much larger and nicer venue, the Atlantis Resort & Hotel in Reno. Expanded events again to include a VE session. Banquet speaker was Bill Pasternak WA6ITF and the representative from ARRL HQ in Newington CT was ARRL Field and Education Services Department Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. EMCOMMWEST, Inc., incorporated as a not-for-profit Nevada corporation.

EMCOMMWEST 2007 - Back at the Atlantis Resort this was a great year of growth for EMCOMMWEST. Allen Pitts, W1AGP our Public Relations guru came from Newington and was a huge hit taking us to another level.  We had not one but 2 great banquet speakers: Henry Feinberg K2SSQ and Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV.  Dennis proudly represented the USA and the Society of Midwest Contesters in Slovenia at WRTC 2000.

EMCOMMWEST 2008 - Moving to the Circus Circus Resort in Reno, this was our biggest and best year ever with over 350 attendees who enjoyed our special banquet with Mr. Amateur Radio, Gordon West, WB6NOA who brought his mobile van and completely entertained and informed as only "Gordo" could do.  Dennis Dura K2DCD, Emergency Communications Response Chief gave us the very latest on what is happening in "emcomms" from League Headquarters, and was a very popular keynote speaker.

EMCOMMWEST 2009 - Shortly before returning to Circus Circus, we were asked to combine the ARRL Pacific Division Convention (PACIFICON) with EMCOMMWEST. Our combined attendance came close to 700, twice as many as EMCOMMWEST alone the previous year, and the Saturday night banquet hosted over 250 who came to see and hear our special guest Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH.  Steve Ewald WV1X came from ARRL HQ as our keynote speaker.

EMCOMMWEST 2010 - With PACIFICON back in California, this was our first year at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno and we again broke our own attendance records with over 400 guests from around the country. David Sumner K1ZZ, ARRL Executive Vice-President, was our dinner banquet speaker and Tom Taormina K5RC was our inaugural breakfast banquet speaker.

EMCOMMWEST 2011 - We will be returning to the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno on May 6-7-8, 2011.  Please join us as we continue to grow.