Latest News
2011 YSP Scholarship Awarded!
For the 6th year, Ohio has the pleasure of participating in the ESA’s Youth Scholarship Program for children of police and firefighters in Ohio.
Applicants for the scholarship are measured by their outstanding scholastic achievement, their ACT/SAT scores, extra-curricular involvement, letters of recommendation and by an essay submitted with their application.
The 2011 recipient of the ESA of Ohio Youth Scholarship Award is Jennifer Stainbrook.
Jennifer, a 4.62 GPA student at Toledo’s St. Ursula Academy, is the daughter of Firefighter/Paramedic Steven Stainbrook of the Toledo Fire Department. She will be attending Michigan State University.
In a letter of recommendation, a teacher remarks of Jennifer:
“… She has been an accomplished rower and a leading scholar. As such, she has shared her diligence and devotion with levelheaded wisdom and composure, coupled with a warm sense of humor. She is, generally, one of the most gifted people in a group, but she can remain objective and controlled, even when the topics at hand are controversial or emotion-laden.
Jennifer's poise, charisma, and intellect have made her a natural leader for her peers, for she is respected by students, teachers, and administrators. 1 have never known a young woman whom I consider more prepared for the rigors and responsibility of college life; therefore, I recommend her to vou most highly.”
Jennifer’s essay, “What it means to me to have my dad involved in securing the community” can be read by clicking here.
2011 Ben Hallock Scholarship Awarded!
The winner of the inaugural award Ben Hallock Scholarship for the children of members and their employees has been selected.
Jillian Earnest, daughter of Michael Earnest, a Security Consultant with FM Systems in Medina and a student at Cuyahoga Falls High School, is an active leader in the school’s DECA program, participated in the Junior Achievement Company Program and Effective Leadership Academy, and works at Giant Eagle all while maintaining an outstanding GPA.
One of Jillian’s teachers had this to say about her in a letter of recommendation:
“…Jillian’s most notable quality is her enthusiasm and positive attitude. While working or speaking with Jillian you would never believe that this young woman is a high school student.
…Cuyahoga Falls High School history and I will remember her for the difference and lasting impact her leadership and direction has imbedded on the school and marketing education program.”
Jillian will be attending the University of Mount Union in the fall. To read her essay about the impact of electronic security, please click here.
ESA Position on Public Safety Response to Alarm Notifications
As the American public continues to demand more security for themselves, their businesses and their homes by having a professionally installed and monitored electronic security system, the incidence of false alarm dispatches has created an undue burden on local public safety departments. Faced with smaller budgets and requests from their constituencies to do more with their already limited resources, some local agencies and governments have responded to this by proposing the restriction or elimination of public safety first response to the activation of an alarm system.
The ESA has developed a position paper for our members that succinctly expresses our concerns about the non-response to alarm activations. To read, download or print the position paper, please click here.
In Memoriam Ben Hallock
The ESA of Ohio today mourns the loss of a tireless advocate and volunteer. Ben Hallock, owner of FM Systems in Medina, lost his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on Friday morning, April 1st.
Founded in 1975 and a privately held company, FM Systems had it's start as an electronic security consulting and burglar alarm company. Under Ben’s talented leadership, FM has become a diverse systems integrator serving all of Ohio with national reach.
While building his business, Ben became an active voice in the Association, serving on and chairing various committees, raising funds, serving on the Board of Directors, helping in lobbying efforts, and tirelessly donating his time and energy in service to his fellow security and life-safety dealers in Ohio.
In December of 2008, Ben found it necessary to remove himself from his activities with the Association and the day to day management of FM Systems due to his illness. Though he was not in the office daily, nor did he attend Association meetings, he nevertheless kept his finger on the pulse of the industry he loved.
In thanks for Ben’s many contributions to the Association, the Ben Hallock scholarship for Association members' children was founded in 2010, with its first award to be presented in May of 2011. Upon learning of the scholarship named in his honor, Ben, in his typically humble style, sent the following comments:
“You have completely surprised me with this amazing honor. It is only a dream of mine to have such a nice legacy in the industry that I loved and advocated for so many years. You have touched my family and I deeply.
I am very appreciative of the thought and effort of the entire Electronic Security Assoc. of Ohio. Please accept my profound thanks.”
The industry in Ohio has lost a true professional, the Association a valued member and to many of us, a wonderful and dear friend.
Our sympathies extend to Ben’s wife Kim, his two daughters and his entire family in this great loss.
Arrangements are pending at this time.
Fire Test Prep Class Available
Zenith Design Group will be holding an Ohio Fire License Test Prep class in Columbus on March 2nd. Special rates are available for ESA of Ohio members. To register, please click here for the necessary form.
Ohio Fire Code Update
A draft version of Chapter 9 (the Fire Alarm System chapter) of the Ohio Fire Code, with its proposed new wording is available for download here . The date for the adoption of this new document has not been determined, but most likely will be 7-1-11.
The time period for submissions and comments on submissions has expired, but due to comments submitted by many members, the proposed wording of a rule change that would have required the possible attendance of fire code officials at all [fire system] testing, was changed to read,
“When required by the fire code official, all acceptance testing shall be conducted in the presence of the fire code official.”
If the proposal had not been changed it would have meant fire inspectors could have required their presence at all quarterly, semi-annual, and annual functional tests of commercial fire systems. Since the word ‘acceptance’ was added, the ruling is now more aligned with the real world experience of fire alarm technicians, who already invite building inspectors to these acceptance tests, and thus will not pose on undue burden on the technician’s, customer’s or inspector’s time.
Our thanks to those who took the time to submit a comment, and to Greg Kessinger of Zenith Design Group who coordinated the Association’s response and acted as our representative.
Youth Scholarship Program Applications Available
ESA of Ohio is once again participating in the Youth Scholarship Program (YSP).
In 1996, the Electronic Security Association (ESA) launched the Youth Scholarship Program to promote goodwill among the electronic systems industry and police and the fire officials by providing college scholarship awards to their deserving sons or daughters.
Celebrating its 15th year, the Youth Scholarship Program has provided thousands of dollars to students
attending higher education institutions across our country. In fact, more than $300,000 has been through the Youth Scholarship Program.
Today, ESA and participating Charted Chapter Associations, like ESA of Ohio, are involved in the scholarship program. The first place winner of each state’s program is automatically considered for the national ESA Youth Scholarship
If you are interested in applying for the 2011 ESA of Ohio YSP award, please click here.
Ben Hallock Member Scholarship Information and Application Now Available
Since 2005, the ESA of Ohio has been a participating Charter States Chapter in the YSP program, presenting a $1,000 scholarship each year and entering the state winner in the national ESA Youth Scholarship Program competition.
This year, Ohio celebrates their 5th anniversary of participation in the scholarship program with the exciting addition of the Ben Hallock Member Scholarship, an annual scholarship that will be awarded to the deserving dependent son or daughter of a life safety or security dealer and ESA of Ohio member. Sponsored by FM Systems, Davis Marketing Group and other anonymous donors, this scholarship honors the many years of service and the many contributions to the ESA of Ohio of its namesake.
Ben Hallock, a graduate of Miami University is an owner of FM Systems in Medina. Founded in 1975 and a privately held company, Ben’s talented leadership led FM to become a diverse systems integrator serving all of Ohio with national reach. While building his business, Ben became an active, vital member in the Association, serving on and chairing various committees, raising funds for the Association, serving on the Board of Directors, helping in lobbying efforts, and tirelessly donating his time and energy in service to his fellow security and life-safety dealers in Ohio.
In December of 2008, Ben found it necessary to remove himself from his activities with the Association due to a serious illness. In thanks for Ben’s many contributions to the Association, we are proud to establish this scholarship in his honor.
For an application and more information about the Ben Hallock Scholarship, click here.
THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS ONLY OPEN TO EMPLOYEES OF REGULAR MEMBER COMPANIES OR INDIVIDAL MEMBERS OF ESA OF OHIO.
Press Release
Click here to download a PDF of this release.
Columbus, Ohio – Dec. 23, 2010 – As you prepare for the holidays and those New Year’s Eve resolutions, keep your home and family’s safety at the top of the list.
This time of year is an active one for those looking to take both your property and your feeling of security. The Electronic Security Association of Ohio (ESA of Ohio) recommends that homeowners take precautions to help deter would-be thieves with these four steps.
Step 1: Discourage the thief by lowering your home’s appeal. Create the illusion that someone is home by leaving on lights and a radio or television or using timers. Be sure to lock all of the doors. During the holiday season, don’t invite burglars in with holiday gifts that can be seen from the outside. If you have a home security system, turn it on and test the system at least once a week to make sure it’s working.
Step 2: Deny easy access by increasing the time a burglar would have to spend breaking in. According to industry research, burglars spend no more than 60 seconds breaking into a home; so making your home less accessible may cause an intruder to reconsider your house as a target. In addition to locking all doors and windows, and securing the garage door, consider trimming your trees and hedges. With fewer hiding places and other deterrents, a thief will think twice before selecting your home.
Step 3: Manage the risk by asking your neighbors, friends or local police to keep an eye on your property if you’re going to be gone for an extended time. For extended vacations, consider a house sitter and telling your local police when you will be away. Consider a neighborhood watch program for added security.
Step 4: Detect an intruder is the final layer of protection. The ESA of Ohio recommends investing in a home security system since homes without them are about three times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. In an industry survey of 1,000 public safety officials, 85 percent of police chiefs said security systems lower the chances a home will be burglarized. Almost 90 percent felt security systems raised their chances of catching burglars. A recent study conducted by the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice confirms this belief.
Before investing in a home security system, the association also recommends this checklist developed by the national Electronic Security Association:
- Ask your insurance agent, friends, family or neighbors for referrals.
- Visit the ESA website for a list of member companies throughout the United States who have agreed to abide by the National Code of Ethics. In Ohio, consumers may visit the ESA of Ohio website at www.secureohio.org.
- Call several companies and ask if their employees are trained and/or certified by a nationally recognized entity like the ESA’s National Training School.
- Ask the companies for proof of applicable state and/or local licenses.
- Ask the companies if they conduct any pre-employment screening (i.e. drug test and/or background checks).
- Contact your local police department's Crime Prevention Department; state licensing agencies; Consumer Protection Agencies; and the Better Business Bureau regarding any past interactions with, or history on, the perspective security companies.
- After you've narrowed the field to three or four alarm companies, ask for the name of the person who will call on you.
- When he/she visits, ask to see some company identification.
- Ask each alarm company representative for an inspection, recommendation and a quote in writing. Use a checklist to compare different packages and price quotes.
- Never feel pressured to sign anything. Be cautious of those who push you to sign a contract quickly or who may be offering unusual deals or incentives.
Statement to County Sheriff
In response to recent news reports, the Electronic Security Association of Ohio wants to commend the Summit County Sheriff’s Department on the recent arrest of a suspected burglar. The department’s recommendations that consumers contact their home security companies to ensure proper functioning of their systems is sound advise. The association and its member companies advise home owners to check their alarm systems at least once a week, if not daily, in order to ensure protection of their homes and property.
The association and our member companies also advise homeowners to always turn their alarms on and to take normal safety precautions to discourage thieves.
The primary mission of the association is to promote education and to foster positive relationships among our members, authorities having jurisdiction and the community. It is an unfortunate circumstance that the burglary suspect is a former employee of a home security company. We have supported and recommended state licensing for our industry in Ohio for many years. We want to assure the Sheriff’s Department that the ESA of Ohio advises our member companies to conduct background checks, to properly train employees and to adhere to high standards of ethical business practices.
No Response to Alarm Dispatches a Possibility?
As our local governments continue to struggle with reduced revenue, slashed budgets and reduction in services to their citizens, some have considered non-response to alarm dispatches as a possible solution. SIAC’s Glen Mowery has addressed this concern in the most recent issue of Public Management magazine, published by the International City/County Management Association.
“Forced to do more with less, local governments are searching for ways to increase efficiencies in their police, fire, and emergency medical services. In one area—reducing false alarm dispatches—jurisdictions can see immediate results.”
Click here to read Chief Mowery’s entire article.
AT&T: iNID
AT&T has provided the electronic life safety industry with a white paper explaining their new AT&T U-verse Voice Service and the new technology they are deploying called iNID.
AT&T has provided the electronic life safety industry with a white paper explaining the new AT&T U-verse Voice Service and the new technology they are deploying called iNID. Information about the service is provided with emphasis on how it works with residential alarm systems. Click here to download the AT&T white paper about this service.
Federal Red Flag Rule Implementation
The federal Red Flag Rule goes into effect on 31 December 2010. Is your company ready to be in compliance if the rules are implemented?
The Red Flag Rule was developed under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, in which Congress directed the FTC and other agencies to develop regulations requiring “creditors” and “financial institutions” to address the risk of identity theft. The resulting Red Flags Rule requires all such entities that have “covered accounts” to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs to help identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities – known as “red flags” – that could indicate identity theft.
FTC staff has continued to provide guidance, both through materials posted on www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule, and in speeches and participation in seminars, conferences and other training events to numerous groups. The FTC also published a compliance guide for business, and created a template that enables low risk entities to create an identity theft program with an easy-to-use online form (www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/redflagsrule/get-started.shtm). The FTC staff also has published numerous general and industry-specific articles, released a video explaining the rule, and continues to respond to inquiries from the public. To assist further with compliance, FTC staff has worked with a number of trade associations that have chosen to develop model policies or specialized guidance for their members.
For questions regarding this Enforcement Policy, please contact Naomi Lefkovitz or Pavneet Singh, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2252.
Ohio Fire Code
The State of Ohio Fire Code has been under review for revision. Our Association is fortunate to have an expert the caliber of Greg Kessinger to represent us in this process and offer him our sincerest thanks for his efforts on behalf of our membership.
The Ohio Fire Code is nearing the end of its revision cycle. A proposal was made that the Fire Marshal’s office accepted “In Principle”. The original proposal was:
"901.8.2 Discontinuation or Change of Service. Notice shall be made to the fire
code official whenever contracted alarm services for monitoring or testing or
inspection of an existing fire alarm system are terminated for any reason, or a
change in alarm monitoring provider or other service provider is made. Notice
shall be made in writing, to the fire code official by the building owner and where
required, by the alarm service provider being terminated."
The OFC Work Group states that they accepted the above proposed code change “In Principle”. However, they altered the proposed text in Petition Number – 983 (submitted by Greg Kessinger), to read:
(b) 901.8.2 Notification of Termination of Supervising Services. Each service
that directly provides alarm, supervisory, and/or trouble signal monitoring
services to a structure regulated by this code shall notify the local fire
department having jurisdiction, in a manner approved by that department, of
the termination of any such services within twenty-four (24) hours of such
termination.”
If the Fire Marshal does not receive any or enough convincing arguments otherwise, then THEIR REVISED WORDING WILL PREVAIL.
Comments need to be made online on the appropriate form (see sample attached). Comments must be received by 10/31/10.
Website is: https://www.comapps.ohio.gov/sfm/fire_apps/fire/petition/FormCODE.aspx
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you express your comments regarding this issue before 10-31-10. You can fill out a form online very easily and a sample of the wording you could include is attached. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
More information can be obtained by clicking here: (PDF titled “Fire Code Revision needs member input”)
PLEASE LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!
Association Name Change is Official
On 21 September 2010, the membership of the Ohio CSA voted to approve a name change of our chapter. We will now be known as the Electronic Security Association of Ohio. We are proud to adopt a name and logo that reflects our association with our national parent in such a prominent way.
We will be doing business under that name and with our new logo effective immediately.
Setting the PACE in Ohio, 2010
On 21 September, electronic security dealers from around the state gathered in Columbus for the ESA of Ohio’s Professional Alarm Convention and Exhibition.
If you were unable to attend PACE, you missed awesome seminars, great food and over 35 exhibits of the latest products and services available to our industry. Here’s a glimpse:
