In the recent revisionist history lesson entitled “To Form A More Perfect Union” (see February 2005 issue), Merlin Guilbeau of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) chides those who seek an alternative to NBFAA as unpatriotic and claims new associations will damage the industry.
I know many thought of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA) when they read that article.
Last December, leaders of state associations teamed together to form NESA to promote communication between state associations, to influence and monitor federal legislation, help solve common problems and to help them serve their members. Surely no one can honestly argue that the growth of state associations can damage the industry.
Like Merlin, I have been around awhile. In my 30 years in the industry, I have served as a technician, operator, salesperson, owner and manager; as a state association president; and on the NBFAA staff for more than 10 years. In that time, I have learned to be suspicious of appeals to follow “the majority” blindly and that alternatives and being open to change are two things that have made America great. I agree with Albert Einstein when he said:
“He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.”
States Not Abandoning Industry
It is just not true to say that the states that have left NBFAA have abandoned the majority. In fact, in spite of 56 years of effort, no association has ever represented more than 3,800 of the greater than 14,000 security companies. Because action in the alarm industry has always been at the grassroots, most recognize that the state associations have the best chance to reach the majority.
The state associations have more impact on the growth and welfare of the dealer than any national association. State associations influence the regulation of our industry, they connect with local officials and they give the individual dealers the best way to connect with each other and gain invaluable information.
It has been implied that states have left NBFAA or joined NESA in secret without consulting their members, when in fact all have done so in open consultation with their members.
In the past few years, the NBFAA’s leaders — faced with the challenge to serve both the state associations and its individual members — have repeatedly told the NBFAA Board that states are holding the association back. The focus on NBFAA’s preservation has caused it to lose sight of the impact its actions have on the states. Some states are OK with that impact, others are not.
I think Indira Gandhi said it best:
“There are two kinds of people — those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group, there is less competition there.”
NESA exists for the states. Unlike some associations, it does not have to worry about claiming the credit.
Objections to NBFAA Budget Muted
On a personal note, some have implied that I bear the full responsibility for the NBFAA’s past and current financial situation. I agree to the extent that I did not object more strenuously to the will of the executive committees (which ironically included Merlin Guilbeau) that created the budgets that led to the debacle. For this, I am truly sorry.
NESA has done nothing to discourage dealers or states from belonging to NBFAA. Each state and dealer needs to make their own decisions about NBFAA’s value to them. NBFAA’s challenge is to make that sale. Denigrating other associations or blaming others to cover their own failings does not accomplish this.
Brad Shipp is the executive director of the National Electronic Security Alliance (NESA). He is a past executive director of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA). He can be reached at (301) 519-9237 or by E-mail at [email protected].
