As the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) prepares for its Spring Conference and CSA Symposium, which will be held April 3-7 in Las Vegas, the association hopes to turn the expression "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" on its ear.
When NBFAA members join fellow electronic security systems professionals from around the country in Las Vegas for industry-related training, seminars and discussions, trade shows, and networking, NBFAA Executive Director, Merlin Guilbeau, hopes that what happens at the Conference & Symposium in Vegas won't stay in Vegas, as members share their experiences with their respective state and local associations upon their return.
"Unfortunately, not every NBFAA member is able to attend the NBFAA Conference and ISC West. Therefore, it is important for those members who do attend to act as NBFAA ambassadors and take what they've learned back to their co-workers, employers or employees, and their state associations so we can all work cohesively as the collective voice of today's industry professionals," said Guilbeau.
This year, NBFAA will initiate its NBFAA/Chartered State Association (CSA) Symposium. The day-long symposium begins at 12:30 p.m. on April 3, and will provide NBFAA and CSA leadership, as well as the general membership, a platform to engage in discussions about current industry affairs, explore the CSA/NBFAA model, and provide leader-to-leader interaction between national and state officers.
The symposium will be comprehensive and cover an array of resourceful topics for our members and state leadership including how to form a PAC, how to influence and implement state legislation, utilizing NBFAA professional development and training opportunities as revenue generating programs, and an open forum of interactive roundtable discussions.
Instructors include NBFAA's new government affairs lobbyist, John Chwat, the executive director of SIAC, Stan Martin, NBFAA Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau, Director of Business Development Tonja Jenkins and Dale Eller, who heads the NBFAA National Training School.
"We have already received a lot of positive feedback from CSA members and leadership and are expecting a high turnout for the symposium," Guilbeau added. "This is a needed resource for everyone on both ends of the spectrum - from NBFAA leadership to CSA leadership -and is something we plan to do every year as a way to promote dialog and remain connected to our CSAs, state leaders and membership."
On April 5, the day before ISC West opens, NBFAA and the Alarm Industry Research and Education Foundation (AIREF) will host the second annual AIREF/NBFAA Golf Tournament. With proceeds from the event going to support AIREF's industry research and outreach, this is truly a day of "golf without guilt" for participants at one of Las Vegas' premier golf courses - Troon's Revere Golf Club.
After the golf tournament from 6 to 8 p.m., NBFAA will host "It Happened One Night," an evening reception and awards ceremony, where the prestigious Morris F. Weinstock and Sara Jackson Awards will be presented. This reception includes an open bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres and will be held at Las Vegas' newest nightspot, the Tangerine Lounge & Nightclub at Treasure Island. Attendees will have "front row seats" to the Sirens of TI pirate show in front of the hotel.
Additionally, the NBFAA Spring Conference & CSA Symposium includes the Industry Breakfast, Board of Directors and Committee meetings and the Awards Luncheon, featuring the 2005 Leadership Awards to recognize Committee Chairs and Leaders.
