The results are in. After a ballot vote, members of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), Irving, Texas, voted 79 percent in favor to rebrand NBFAA as the Electronic Security Association (ESA). The by-laws require a 66 percent margin to pass.

“I am really impressed with the overwhelming nature of the vote,” Dave Simon, committee chair of the Brand Update Task Force and the Public Relations Committee, said. “I think there was a lot of enthusiasm for going forward with this and the vote reflected that.”

This decision didn’t come lightly, the association reported. “There were many hours of discussion and reflection, before the NBFAA Strategic Planning and Executive committees and its board of directors voted to recommend an update of the association brand name to the membership,” Michael Miller, ESA president, said. “Strategically, we feel that this name change will strengthen our association and allow us to connect with a broader membership demographic.”

Additionally, the proposed name and composite brand: more accurately represents the services that the members and prospective members provide, puts the association in a position to make its strongest case to the public and authorities, strengthens the cause with federal and state legislators as lobbying efforts are increased and puts the association in position to grow its membership and widen its influence.

This isn’t the first time NBFAA members voted on a name change. In early 2006, members voted on the name, Electronic Life Safety and Systems Association (ELSSA), which was not approved. What’s the reason for the successful name change now?

“It was close several years ago, but it didn’t go through at that time for several reasons,” Simon explained. “It was another long name with another long set of initials. It is hard to determine how to narrow down the length of the name while still keeping it all encompassing, but we’ve done that with ESA.”

“This name change is just making the brand shorter and sweeter — in a cluttered world you need to always strive to stand out,” Simon said. “The mission of the association — to promote, protect and to serve the members and their businesses, will remain the same. We’ve just updated our name to more accurately reflect all of the technologies in which our members are actively engaged. We will always respect our heritage, and we have confidence that this history-making move will have a powerful, positive impact on our members and the industry that we represent.”

 The Electronic Security Association wants its members to know that the change-over will take place throughout the next several weeks. “Changing the logo, the brand, the look and the feel will be a work in progress,” Merlin Guilbeau, ESA executive director, said. “Stay tuned for a new, fresh, relevant and updated identity for your 61-year-old association.”

The ESA may be reached at (888) 447-1689 or on the Web at www.alarm.org.