In this issue:
- Association News
Date for Second Annual Tri-Association Awards Announced
NTS Classroom Course Spotlight: Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1)
NBFAA, SIA, and CSAA will once again join forces for the Second Annual Tri-Association Awards on Wednesday, August 24, 2005.
The three associations will honor their award winners and name the recipient of the second Triton Award. The event will be held at Three West Club at 7 p.m. The theme for the evening is "The Thomas Crown Affair."
The Triton Award is presented by all three associations to honor an individual who has been instrumental in advancing the security industry. Ralph Sevinor, president of Wayne Alarm Systems Inc. in Lynn, Mass., received the first Triton Award at the inaugural Tri-Association Awards last year.
Individual tickets for the event are $250, with a portion of the fee
going to charity. Special group pricing is also available. For more information,
call 703-683-0334 or visit www.siaonline.org.
Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1) presents an overview of the theory, installation and maintenance of alarm systems, basic electricity, standards, perimeter detection, space detection, fire systems, control panels, communications, CCTV, job planning and false alarm prevention.
Open to all, this 24-hour course is designed for staff and business owners who have been employed in the alarm industry for at least three months. Course instructors will review the operation, application, installation and maintenance of commonly used equipment and components and present industry standards and legal requirements.
The classroom version of Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1) culminates with the administration of the two-hour Certified Alarm Technician exam. A schedule for this course can be found at www.alarm.org/nts/courses/cat1.html.
Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1) is just one of the classroom courses offered by NBFAA's National Training School. For a complete schedule of these courses, visit www.alarm.org/nts/. These schedules are updated frequently, so check the site regularly for current course listings.
For information on courses, contact NTS at (866) 636-1687 or by e-mail at nts@alarm.org.
Don't forget that online NTS training is also available! Certified Alarm Technician (Level 1) and Fire Alarm Installation Methods (FAIM) are online, with Advanced Burglar Alarm Technician (ABAT) coming later this year.
American Alarm-Installed Carbon Monoxide Detector Saves Lives
John and Carol owe their lives to a carbon monoxide detector installed by NBFAA member American Alarm and Communications, Inc. On February 13, 2005, while the couple was sleeping, some tiles lining the interior of their Waltham, Mass., home's chimney fell and blocked the flue. As a result, their furnace couldn't vent the carbon monoxide, which then backed up into the house.
The National Safety Council says about 400 people a year die and thousands are injured as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, the biggest danger can be found in residences at night, when people are asleep.
Fortunately, Carol and John's system was monitored by Arlington, Mass. based American Alarm, who called within seconds after the carbon monoxide alarm woke Carol and John. The couple suffered no injuries and there was no significant damage to their home.
Success stories like this are exactly what NBFAA and SDM Magazine are seeking for consideration for the 2006 First Line of Defense Award. If you have a similar story about a time when one of your company's electronic security or life safety system helped save lives, avert property damage, or prevent a crime, send it along. If your story is selected, you and your customer will win a free trip to Las Vegas during the 2006 ISC West Show, courtesy of NBFAA and SDM. There you will be honored at the awards ceremony and your story will be featured in SDM Magazine.
To submit your story, fill out the online form at http://www.alarm.org/pr/flod/.
If you have questions, call 301-585-1855 or send an e-mail to communications@alarm.org.
Magazine publishers have honored a story in Security Sales & Integration magazine as the best interview or profile published in a trade magazine in 2004. SSI won the Best Interview or Profile/Trade award at the Western Publishing Association's (WPA) Maggie Awards on April 22 for Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine's October 2004 interview with former New York City fire battalion Chief Richard Picciotto.
"Earning the respect of our readers and helping our advertisers is the ultimate satisfaction, but being recognized for editorial excellence is nearly as gratifying," says Goldfine. "Winning a Maggie Award is just about the highest honor a publication can attain; I am humbled by it as I am humbled by being able to tell the story of a true American hero, former FDNY Chief Richard Picciotto."
Goldfine and SSI were named a finalist twice in the category. Goldfine's September 2004 interview with ADT President Mike Snyder was also a finalist in the Best Interview or Profile/Trade category. In addition, for the second-straight year, Security Sales & Integration was named a finalist for Best Non-Paid Publication/Trade (under 50,000 circulation). It was the third consecutive year that SSI was named as a finalist for the Maggie Awards and the first time the magazine has won a Maggie Award in its 26-year history.
"It's an honor to be among the best the publishing world has to offer, considering the sheer number of trade magazines out there. When you consider that we were chosen from more than 2,000 entries, we must be doing something right! We intend to continue doing all we can to benefit our devoted readers and advertisers," said Goldfine.
We want to hear from you. If you
have a story you'd like to share with other NBFAA members, contact us
at 301-585-1855 or by e-mail at communications@alarm.org.
Uniforms increase both the visibility and professionalism
of employees. Whether you currently outfit your employees with uniforms
or are planning to, NBFAA has a member benefit that will help.
You can outfit your staff and service fleet in customized logo work clothing
from Aramark (formerly WearGuard), a premier direct-mail retailer of work
clothes. The company has been serving the personalized work clothing needs
of more than a million businesses for almost 50 years.
NBFAA members receive exclusive benefits from Aramark, including a 15
percent product discount and free custom logo setup for screen-printing
and embroidery.
Aramark's uniform service is just one of the many benefits available to
NBFAA members. For more information on this service, contact Aramark at
(800) 677-6060. Purchases can be made from the Aramark catalog or online
at www.wearguard.com/nbfaa.
A month after police in Fremont, Calif., stopped responding to alarm calls without verification, many alarm companies are still working on deals for private patrol services.
Mike Salk, vice president of Oakland-based NBFAA member company Reed Brothers Security, told the Oakland Tribune that as many as 30 percent of the alarm accounts in Fremont are not patrolled.
"We are still trying to arrange patrol services," Salk told the Tribune. "But we are having a very difficult time finding reasonably-priced services to remain competitive."
Although the Fremont ordinance has only been in effect for just
over a month, Salk, who is also president of the East Bay Alarm
Association, told the Tribune that several companies have either
discussed selling their accounts or have already done so.
Mike Ferguson of Honeywell, a top-ten NTS instructor, recently died unexpectedly.
Mike was certified by NBFAA as a Level 1 technician, Level 2 advanced technician, and was a certified training instructor who held a Level 2 certification from NICET. He taught NTS courses mainly in Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky, although he was always willing to travel just about anywhere to teach. He had been with Honeywell for about 20 years.
Mike's family has suggested that memorial contributions be made in his name to either the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike's family during this difficult
time.
For Member Update Sponsorship information
contact
NBFAA Director of Business Development Tonja
Jenkins.
If
you have questions, comments or concerns about Member Update, please contact
the Communications Department.
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Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA)