TO SERVE AS AN EDUCTIONAL FORUM AND CLEARINGHOUSE FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND OTHERS TO SHARE INFORMATION, IDEAS, STRATEGIES, AND PLANNING CONCEPTS IN THE FIELD OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND OTHER HAZARDS. TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG SUCH PARTIES. TO SERVE AS A VEHICLE FOR CLARIFYING AND IDENTIFYING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL HOMELAND SECURITY AND TO SERVE AS A CENTER FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND EVALUATION OF IDEAS RELATED TO HOMELAND SECURITY. TO INTRODUCE REGIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PLANNERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO BEST PRACTICES, NEW INFORMATION, NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR PEERS IN LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS IN RELATED DISCIPLINES, INTRODUCING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION, FIRE SERVICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. TO ASSIST IN THE DISSEMINATION AND SERVE AS TRANSFER AGENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY.