Dear Members,

The holidays are a time when we count our many blessings and look back at the prior year. For our association, this has been a time of trial and triumph as we faced many challenges and celebrated many firsts.

For many of our members in the areas affected by this past hurricane season, the trials were especially difficult. Yet in the midst of so much adversity, we saw how willing all of our members were to support and provide help to those affected. I was extremely proud of our members and our industry’s response to these events.

As we move closer to the New Year, we can also look back at all of our accomplishments, especially the firsts that the association celebrated.

• We held our first-ever Chartered State Association Symposium at ISC West in April and we continued to build on that great start with the second symposium at ISC East.
• Early in the year, association leaders made the decision to relocate the headquarters. It was another first — the first relocation west of the Mississippi.
• We held a very successful first-ever New Member Double Bonus program and we added nearly 300 new members just during the six months that the program was underway.
• Our first online courses were available through our National Training School (NTS) including our Alarm Technician (Level I) course and Fire Alarm Installation Methods and 2500 Mindleaders courses.
• We formed an industry coalition, called Coalition to Secure America, to promote support for the passage of "Secure America's Homes and Businesses Act,” (HR 3632) and we were successful in our efforts to get legislation for fire detection introduced just last week.

None of these firsts could have happened without the involvement and support of our members, particularly those who volunteer their time and talent with the NBFAA. We have a great staff, but the association can only grow and continue to thrive if we have active members who volunteer. So thanks again to all of you who have volunteered and worked hard in 2005. Our association has thrived with the support of our volunteers and that is the best gift we could have asked for this holiday season.

The NBFAA and its staff would like to send everyone the warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!   With Best Wishes, Scot Colby NBFAA President