The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and SDM Magazine invite all central stations certified by any of the CSAA-approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs), such as UL or FM, CSAA members and non-members, to participate in the Central Station Excellence Award program, now in its fifth year. The purpose of the awards is to:

• Establish and promote the inherent value of central station services.

• Honor those who have made the most significant contributions to the service.

• Promote the distinct level of professionalism attained by central stations certified by any of the CSAA-approved NRTLs, such as UL or FM.

CSAA has made some changes to the 2010 Central Station Excellence Award Program. The program is expanding with a new award this year — the Central Station Support Person of the Year Excellence Award. Is there an exceptional person in your organization other than the central station manager or operator, who makes your central station a better place —perhaps a data entry staff member, a trainer, the IT guru, the tech who fixes everything, the employee who keeps morale high? This award recognizes the exceptional contributions of this person to the successful operation of the central station.

The application process has been simplified and streamlined. Companies applying for the Central Station Manager of the Year, Central Station Operator of the Year, and Central Station Support Person of the Year Excellence Awards no longer need to complete the application for Central Station of the Year. Companies whose personnel have won either the Central Station Manager of the Year, Central Station Operator of the Year, or Central Station Support Person of the Year Excellence Awards will be able to compete for Central Station of the Year award. However, the company may not submit the same person for the same award until three years have passed. The five-year company restriction to enter the Central Station of the Year Excellence Award has been reduced to three years.

All personnel nominated by their company for either the Central Station Manager, Operator, or Support Person of the Year will receive a CSAA congratulatory letter in recognition of their nomination as the best-of-the-best in their company.

All applications must be received by March 29, 2010. To apply, you must download to your computer and complete the documents below. Detailed instructions are on the application form.

Application for the specific award to be sent to CSAA by mail only: http://www.csaaintl.org/CSAA2010ExcellenceAwardsapplication.pdf.