Tuesday, July 5, 2005

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Association News


Executive Perspective: Homeland Security Needs a Strong NBFAA

By George P. Gunning
Vice President/President Elect

The National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) is a national professional trade association representing companies who install, service and maintain electronic security and fire/life safety systems in the United States.  Like hundreds of other business and trade associations, we work together to enhance professional development, training, and education and to advance a positive image of our industry.

But the NBFAA is unique because our members, and their companies, are integrated into the public safety matrix of the communities we serve.  If the home entertainment center goes down, or the cable television goes on the blink, citizens are inconvenienced.  If our systems are not operating efficiently, there is always an increased risk to people and property.

I recently attended a presentation of the NBFAA Youth Scholarship award program in California.  The father of the recipient is a sheriff, and during the presentation he was thanked for the work he does that allowed us to live and work with a sense of security in our community.  We all feel better knowing that public safety agencies are diligent in their efforts to secure our community. 

As we move forward together and develop programs to serve our members, we must always remember that we share that mission of protecting and serving not only our customers but also the entire community.  That is the standard that will be used to measure our effectiveness.

That standard will be used to measure the effectiveness of our National Training School (NTS), which provides comprehensive education for new technicians and continuing education to support new technology.  The same standard will be used to measure the effectiveness of our government relations program, developed to ensure that the benefits of our systems are fully integrated into public safety planning.  And it is the standard for our networking and professional development programs, which are created, to bring people together to work on issues that advance our industry.

As president-elect of the NBFAA, I will work with the Executive Committee and our Board of Directors to continue to do the work that must be done to enhance public safety both locally and nationally.  I believe that the members of the NBFAA who are in the towns and cities of America every day are key to expanding our contribution to this nation.  We are in city halls, state capitols and in the offices of law enforcement agencies advocating public safety every day.

With the knowledge that we are strong vital partners that help monitor the infrastructure of our country and are an integral part of the foundation of homeland security, I am asking that you bring this understanding of the work you do to your employees, customers and government officials. I know that each of you is committed to serving this nation, and you demonstrate that by becoming a member of your professional trade association, the NBFAA.

I expect we will achieve great success in all aspects of our organization.

Editor’s Note:  If you would like to contribute an opinion article to Member Update or our print publication, Newsline, please e-mail NBFAA Communications Director, Georgia Calaway at georgiac.alarm.org for consideration.

Mineau to be Honored With Second Annual Triton Award

NBFAA, the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) will present the prestigious Triton Award to Marc Mineau, president of Brivo Systems, Inc.

Dubbed The Thomas Crown Affair, the awards dinner will be at the Three West Club in Manhattan from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 24, in conjunction with the ISC East Expo in New York City. The Awards Dinner will also honor Cecil Hogan, winner of NBFAA’s Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year Award, as well as the winners of SIA’s George R. Lippert Memorial Award and CSAA’s Stanley C. Lott Award.

Ralph Wayne Sevinor of Wayne Alarm in Lynn, Mass., received the inaugural Triton Award at the 2004 Tri-Association Awards Dinner.

Each year, the Awards Dinner makes a donation from the event proceeds to a new charity. This year a portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the KlaasKids Foundation. Marc Klaas created the foundation in 1994 following the tragic abduction and murder of his twelve-year-old daughter, Polly Klaas. The KlaasKids Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with concerned citizens, the private sector, law enforcement agencies and legislators to develop ways to safeguard children against violence.

Tickets to the 2005 Tri-Association Awards Dinner are on sale now at www.siaonline.org. Tickets cost $250 each. Don’t miss this entertaining evening and a chance to support your peers as they are honored for their hard work and dedication to the security industry. For more information, please visit www.siaonline.org or contact Leigh A. McGuire via email at lmcguire@siaonline.org or phone at 703-683-2075.

To register for ISC East, go to www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=151&CampaignCode=nbf2.

Test Drive Online Learning from NBFAA and SIA

Dealers, manufacturers and training professionals - reserve your seat now for the first-ever Demo Derby on Wednesday, Aug.3. NBFAA, The Security Industry Association (SIA), and The CMOOR Group, are offering this Web event as an introduction to online learning.

The 90-minute Derby will take off at 1 p.m. EDT. One lucky driver will cross the finish line with a $200 certificate redeemable at www.GiftCertificate.com. Visit www.alarm.org today to register.

For more information, contact NTS at 866-636-1687 or by e-mail at nts@alarm.org or visit www.alarm.org.

Upcoming NTS Courses

The following is a listing of upcoming NTS courses scheduled around the country for the next few weeks. For more information on a course, contact NTS at 866-636-1687 or by e-mail at nts@alarm.org.

Complete course schedules for 2005 are also available at www.alarm.org/nts/. These schedules are updated regularly, so be sure to check back often.

Don't forget that NTS training is also available online! Alarm Technician (Level 1) and Fire Alarm Installation Methods (FAIM) are available now – with Advanced Burglar Alarm Technician (ABAT) coming later this year!

Understanding Alarm Systems
July 16 – Monroe, La.

Certified Alarm Technician
July 15-17 – Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
July 22-24 – Gonzales, La.

Fire Alarm Installation Methods
July 13-15 – Long Island, N.Y.
July 15-17 – South Alabama

Fire Alarm Installation Methods
July 13-15 – Long Island, N.Y.
July 15-17 – South Ala.

Electronic Access Control
July 9-10 – Bossier City, La.

Life Safety Code
July 15 – Knoxville, Tenn.

Member News

Honeywell to Provide Surveillance, Live Video for Indoor Racetrack

Race officials at Dromo One indoor racetrack in Orange, Calif., have teamed with NBFAA associate member company Honeywell and California Systems Integrators (CSI) to install a new DVR, 15 stationary cameras and one Honeywell RapidDome PTZ camera.

Dromo One wanted to install the system in an effort to crack down on aggressive drivers, but the system has also become a source of entertainment for spectators, who can watch live, up-close footage of cart-style races on a large plasma screen.

In the future, the track plans to use footage captured by the Honeywell RapidDome cameras to create DVDs for patrons who want a memento of their race.

Criticom to Implement Enhanced Call Verification

NBFAA associate member company Criticom International plans to implement enhanced call verification (ECV) for all of its customers in an effort to cut down on the number of dispatches caused by invalid alarm activations.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) has promoted ECV for alarm response as a means for the industry to help prevent false dispatches.

Under ECV, dispatchers contact the alarm customer to determine if authorities should be dispatched. If that first call fails, the dispatcher will call a second customer-provided number – for example, a cell phone, business phone or a neighbor. If a burglary is confirmed or if neither call is answered, the dispatcher will then contact authorities.

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 email at communications@alarm.org.

Member Benefit Spotlight: Alarm Debt Liquidation Group

For many alarm companies, debt recovery can be a long and involved process that costs valuable time and money – and there is no guarantee that those recovery efforts will be successful.

To help our members through this process, NBFAA has added the services of Associate Member Company Alarm Debt Liquidation Group (ADLG) as the latest Member Benefit Program. ADLG, a division of Anderson, Crenshaw & Associates, will manage and administer NBFAA member companies’ debt collection efforts. The company also offers special rates to NBFAA members, which include free online access, free account placement, no cost for non-collected items, free credit reporting and free asset & liability investigations.

Alarm Debt Liquidation Group is just one of the many benefits available to NBFAA members. Give ADLG a call today for help with your debt recovery issues at (866) 400-4550 or email the NBFAA staff at staff@alarm.org for more information. They will be happy to assist you.

Be sure to mention that you are an NBFAA member to take advantage of the NBFAA member rates.

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For Member Update Sponsorship information contact
NBFAA Director of Business Development Tonja Jenkins.