Friday, September 30, 2005

Association News

Government Relations Program Needs You
NBFAA needs your help with a new coalition. The initial goal of the “Coalition to Secure America” is to support recently introduced federal legislation entitled, “Secure America’s Homes and Businesses Act.”

Enter Your Success Story for the 2006 First Line of Defense Award
NBFAA and SDM Magazine are accepting applications for the 2006 First Line of Defense Award. If you have a story about a time when one of your company’s electronic security or life safety systems helped save lives, avert property damage or prevent a crime, then you could be the next winner.

Newsline: In the Works
The summer edition of Newsline is almost here! Look for the upcoming edition that will be distributed in early October and features exciting news and events.

Start Making Plans for Golfing in Vegas
The third annual NBFAA/AIREF Golf Tournament will be held April 4, 2006. Make plans to Golf Without Guilt a day before the ISC West show in Las Vegas.

Impact Your Staff's Professionalism With NTS
Maintain your technicians' certification with courses from NTS. Plus, make learning affordable by using your NBFAA Member Benefit discounts.

Member News

Brink's Home Security Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates
Brink’s Home Security has been recognized two consecutive years for customer service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program.

Beth Cain Receives 2005 Donna Martin Spirit Award
Co-Owner of Cain Security Systems in Alexandria, Va., Beth Cain, was named the recipient of the 2005 Donna Martin Spirit Award. The award is given to associate members of the International Association of Security & Investigative Regulators (IASIR), who have significantly contributed to the advancement and growth of the association.

Deanna Blair Joins C.O.P.S. Monitoring
As part of the Constable on Patrol (C.O.P.S.) Monitoring westward expansion, security industry veteran Deanna Blair has joined the company as the new West Coast account manager.

Micro Key Software Promotes Dorothy Norton
Micro Key Software has promoted Dorothy Norton to technical support manager. Dorothy’s overall responsibilities include managing Micro Key Software’s technical support team and ensuring that Micro Key’s clients continue to receive quality service.

Member Benefit Spotlight: Aramark
NBFAA members outfit your staff and service fleet in customized logo work clothing from Aramark and receive exclusive benefits, including a 15 percent product discount and free custom logo setup for screen-printing and embroidery.

Industry News

SIAC and FARA Continue to Accept Applications for PDQ Award Program
The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) continue to accept submissions for the Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) 2006 Award program.  

In The News

NBFAA in the Headlines

---

Association News

Government Relations Program Needs You

NBFAA needs your help with a new coalition. The initial goal of the “Coalition to Secure America” is to support recently introduced federal legislation entitled, “Secure America’s Homes and Businesses Act.”

The bill, HR 3632, seeks to assist taxpayers, both business and individual, in meeting the challenges of homeland security and anti-terrorist protection (as well as crime prevention) by assisting in securing tax incentives for professionally installed devices. The legislation would provide a tax deduction of up to $5,000 for residential taxpayers and $50,000 for commercial building owners for the purchase and professional installation of electronic premise security devices.

“A number of positive responses about the coalition have been received from manufacturers and other industry groups, and we encourage our members to join, as well. The more voices we represent the more effective our efforts will be,” explained NBFAA Director of Government Relations John Chwat.

NBFAA will continue to update members with new information about the coalition or bill as we receive it.

To join the coalition or to obtain more information, contact NBFAA at (888) 447-1689 or e-mail Gov.Info@alarm.org.

NBFAA Accepting Success Stories for First Line of Defense Award

NBFAA and SDM Magazine are accepting applications for the 2006 First Line of Defense Award. If you have a story about a time when one of your company’s electronic security or life safety systems helped save lives, avert property damage or prevent a crime, then you could be the next winner.

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 Industry Breakfast, and your story will be featured in SDM Magazine.

The deadline for entering is Nov. 4, 2005. Download the application at www.alarm.org/pr/flod/.

For more information, contact NBFAA Director of Communication, Public Relations & Marketing Georgia Calaway at (888) 447-1689 or via e-mail at GeorgiaC@alarm.org.

Newsline: In the Works

The next edition of Newsline is in the works and you can expect your copy in early October. The magazine will feature a recap of the 2005 Fall Conference events and pictures, a spotlight on the security industry by ABC News, messages from NBFAA President Scot Colby and NBFAA Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau, a look at online training, member and industry news and a Government Relations update.

Start Making Plans for Golfing in Vegas

The third annual NBFAA/ Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF) Golf Tournament will be held April 4, 2006. Make plans to Golf Without Guilt a day before the ISC West show in Las Vegas.

AIREF is an all-volunteer, non-profit group dedicated to conducting research for the development of policy that benefits the public interest as well as the interests of the alarm industry. The golf tournament is a fundraising event that will help to further the fulfillment of AIREF’s mission to improve industry partnerships with public safety.

For more information about the tournament, sponsorships or NBFAA’s Spring Conference and CSA Symposium at ISC West in Las Vegas, contact Kandice Carlson at ( 888) 447-1689.

Impact Your Staff's Professionalism With NTS

Maintain your technicians' certification with courses from NTS. Plus, make learning affordable by using your NBFAA Member Benefit discounts.

Editor’s Note : Due to the hurricanes, please contact NTS at (866) 636-1687 or via e-mail at NTS@alarm.org for more information about courses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama.

Advanced Burglar Alarm Technician

Sept. 30-Oct. 2-Jackson, Miss.

Oct. 5-7-Elmsford, N.Y.

Oct. 26-28-Buffalo, N.Y.

Certified Alarm Tech

Sept. 28-30-Buffalo, N.Y.

Oct. 3-5-Fox Valley, Wis.

Oct. 7-8-Milford, Conn.

Oct. 18-20-Elk Grove, Ill.

Oct. 20-22-Greensboro, N.C.

Oct. 21-23-Memphis, Tenn.

Oct. 28-30-Fort Smith, Ark.

Oct. 28-30-Montevallo, Ala.

Electronic Access Control

Oct. 20-21-Pittsburgh, Pa.

Fire Alarm Installation Methods

Sept. 30-Oct. 2-Jackson, Miss.

Oct. 1-2-Montevallo, Ala.

Oct. 18-19-Pittsburgh, Pa.

Oct. 19-21-Syracuse, N.Y.

Oct. 21-23-Milford, Conn.

Oct. 25-28-Little Rock, Ark.

Practical Electronics

Oct. 25-28-Little Rock, Ark.

Security Networking Institute

Oct. 17-18-Colorado

Oct. 20-21-Philadelphia, Pa.

Member News

Brink's Home Security Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates

Brink’s Home Security has been recognized two consecutive years for customer service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program.

Brink’s passed a detailed audit of its recruiting, training, employee incentives, leadership roles and responsibilities, and quality assurance capabilities. In addition, customers who contacted these centers during the audit period were surveyed to measure customer satisfaction.

For certification status, a call center must perform within the top 20 percent of customer service on both internal metrics and external customer satisfaction, based on J.D. Power and Associates’ cross-industry customer satisfaction research.

“This accomplishment acknowledges a strong commitment from everyone in the company to deliver an outstanding customer service experience by making the safety and security of customers our top priority,” said Carole Vanyo, senior vice president of customer operations, Brink’s Home Security. “Most importantly, this is not just our opinion; it’s the opinion of our customers.”

SIAC and FARA Continue to Accept Applications for PDQ Award Program

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA) continue to accept submissions for the Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) 2006 Award program.  

The award is designed to recognize alarm installing and monitoring companies following established industry practices in order to reduce the number of unnecessary police dispatch requests.

Representatives of the winning security company team will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas to attend International Security Conference (ISC) West in April 2006 and present their success story courtesy of Honeywell Security Group and Security Sales and Integration (SSI).

The deadline for PDQ Award submissions is Dec. 1, 2005. Applications and other information can be found at http://www.siacinc.org/PDQ.asp.