Common interests and a united voice moving forward together. The Electronic Security Association (ESA) is the industry’s largest trade association with the broadest membership base — both large and small. Along with the official leaders from the state chapters, the January ESA Leadership Summit, held Jan. 12-14, encouraged any member to participate to strengthen the industry. Committee work is a central part of the summit, all are encouraged to get involved and contribute their expertise. Key issues this year included responding to the evolution of PSTN communications being proposed to the FCC as part of a new broadband initiative supported by the Obama administration.

The new ESA logo was unveiled along with a new ESA Web site that enables state and local chapters to share a common data base and a common look/feel for their own local websites. Proving the change was more than cosmetic, ESA also launched a new vendor-neutral Web resource called a “wiki” for educating and supporting new RMR revenue opportunities in “electronic security” beyond traditional fire and burglar alarms. The first section completed covers RMR business models in video services.

Informal networking is encouraged throughout the summit beginning with a lovely opening reception. Because it is Texas, a skeet shoot was also on the program for any who were interested. At 3:00 PM, a busload of us headed out to rural Ft. Worth and made a bold stand to protect those we had left in the hotel from a devious hoard of clay pigeons. Ultimately, Matt Westphal, president of the California Chapter emerged as the victor, and we arrived back at the hotel in time for the awards dinner. The Arizona Alarm Association dominated the awards