2018 HGCAA February Newsletter


 


HOST of the FEBRUARY 2018 HGCAA Monthly Meeting at their North location!


 


HGCAA Board of Directors

2017 – 2018

President
Vice
President

John C Helweg
713-467-6666
President@HGCAA.org

Van Mayorga|
281-932-2270
VicePres@HGCAA.org

Secretary
Treasurer

Mary Edmonson
713-799-3022
Secretary@HGCAA.org

Penny Mayorga
979-478-6432 x103
Treasurer@HGCAA.org

Sergant-at-Arms
Parliamentarian

Amanda Jackson
713-861-9418
SGT@HGCAA.org

Calvin Stewart
832-642-3702
PARL@HGCAA.org

Editor
Membership
Director

Steven Carr
713-553-6212
Editor@HGCAA.org

Dennis White
713-870-3702
Membership@HGCAA.org

Education
Director

Van Mayorga|
281-932-2270

Education@HGCAA.org

Past
President

Brian McKinney
713-9830182
PastPres@HGCAA.org

 

 


February 2018 Message from the HGCAA President – John Helweg

We had another good meeting in January. While the attendance was embarrassingly low, the information we distributed was top notch. I had several people comment what a great meeting it was. I’d like to thank Electronic Custom Distributors for hosting us and providing great food. Please remember, our associate members support us, so please support them. ECD has a lot to offer in ways of expanding your customer’s services footprint. 

Our guests speakers were Eric Felton from Napco Security and Luc & Manny from Hikvision sales and technical. Eric spoke to us about Napco’s newest radio products including the StarLink Connect and the StarLink Fire radios and the sales/rebates they have going with them. We have installed 6 of the Napco fire radios in 3 days this week. 
 
The Hikvision guys also discussed their latest products and they have some very cool doorbell and camera DVR integration that really caught my attention. We also had a spirited discussion about the firmware hack that they experienced a few months back and what they have done about it. 
I went to the DPS PS Board meeting last week, so we can discuss the enforcement report in this newsletter. 
Our upcoming meeting is February 8th at Tri-Ed North. Please don’t forget to RSVP.
For our guest speakers: I’m still working on next week’s guest speaker, but I’ve got RenEarl Bowie, from DPS secured for our April meeting and I’ve got Steven Beers secured for the March meeting speaking to us about how to grow our business. 
See y’all soon.
Regards,

 

John C. Helweg




2018-01-25_PSBoard meeting agenda

Private Security Activity Report CY2017, October- December 2017 Sanitized




TBFAA REPORT February 2018 – Kelly Ryan, President

As professionals in the security and fire alarm industries, we should all be active in our state and local alarm associations – even when it appears there are no immediate issues affecting our business. It’s easy to be consumed in our day-to- day tasks and pay less attention to industry and legislative news.

Although many Houston area companies may not install, monitor, or service alarm systems in Oklahoma, there are two bills being pushed in Oklahoma that could impact all of us. Oklahoma Senate Bill 01061 proposes the elimination of contract renewals, and Senate Bill 01525 proposes the elimination of alarm, locksmith, and fire sprinkler licensing. Why do we care about Oklahoma? It’s simple – the momentum of the two bills being proposed has the ability to influence lawmakers in Texas.

We’ve already been up against similar bills in Texas in the past, but that is no guarantee we wouldn’t face similar bills again. So do we really need a state license? There are plenty of people against the idea of having a state alarm license in Texas. It’s costly and time-consuming. There is a perception that the DPS is unable to enforce unlicensed activity, and the companies being enforced are the ones that are trying to follow the rules, so why have it?

Without a state license, we would lose our state model ordinance for false alarms. We might also be subject to new license requirements from every municipality and county in the state. While Occupation Code 1702 and the PSB Administrative Rules may not be perfect, they are in place to protect the consumer as well as licensed companies, and the DPS does respond to complaints.

I urge everyone to keep an eye on activities that can affect our industries. How do we do that? Attend and participate in your local alarm association! In addition, stay informed by following TBFAA on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and sign-up for the email newsletter on the tbfaa.org website.

When you see news that concerns you, bring it up for discussion at your local alarm association. TBFAA members also have the ability to post topics on the TBFAA website user forum. It takes everyone’s involvement to keep our industries moving!

As always, please feel free to contact me via president@tbfaa.org. The TBFAA values your input and we
want to hear from you. Stay involved! Join and participate in your local and state alarm associations!

Kelly Ryan
president@tbfaa.org




 Alarm Industry News

Excellent Article on Church Security needs in today’s society. Share with your sales department!

All Churches and  Places of Worship need Security



Calendar Of Events for 2018

HGCAA meetings are held the second Thursday of each month from 11:30-1pm.

See below for the locations.  Dates and locations may change as needed.

February 2018

2/8 – HGCAA meeting @ Tri-Ed North

March 2018
3/8 – HGCAA meeting @ ADI – Pinemont

April 2018
4/12 – HGCAA meeting @ Bass Computers

May 2018
5/4 – Bass Computers – Expo & Crawfish boil

5/10 – HGCAA meeting @ Tri-Ed North

June 2018
6/14 – HGCAA meeting @ ADI Pinemont

July 2018
7/12 – HGCAA meeting @ Electronic Custom Distributors

August 2018
8/9 – HGCAA meeting @ Automated Outlet

September 2018
9/13 – HGCAA meeting & elections @ Tri-Ed North

PLEASE THANK OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
FOR PROVIDING FOOD AND HOSTING OUR MEETINGS
BY PURCHASING THEIR PRODUCTS




Automated Outlet Houston has moved to:
6300 Westpark Dr., Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77057
Thank you for being a loyal Customer!



Houston Alarm Detail

Check with the City of Houston to make sure your company is listed on their alarm permit web site.

They have a  specific form you need to fill out and submit to them for inclusion.

You also need to be sending municipalities notice of alarm system activation.

Please make sure your customers are using the most current alarm permit form.



Harris County Alarm Detail

 Please make sure your customers are using the most current alarm permit form.


Ft Bend County Alarm Detail

 Be sure your customers are securing an alarm permit from Fort Bend County upon activation. Their alarm permit can be found here.


Montgomery County Alarm Detail

Check with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to make sure your company is listed on their alarm permit web site.

Please make sure your customers are using the most current alarm permit form.

Alarm ordinance – Montgomery County are actively ticketing homeowners that don’t have alarm permits.


PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

HOUSTON GULF COAST ALARM ASSOCIATION
PO Box 19484
Houston, TX  77224-9484

Comments, questions, change of address or material for inclusion in this publication should be directed to the Editor. Other associations wishing to use material from the “Communicator” are welcome to do so as long as proper credit is given to the author and publication.


NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING

We are renewing ad spaces for 2017-2018.

The ad spots are $300/yr. The ads will move around as content dictates.

Ads are 5” wide x 7” tall and may be updated monthly.

The revenue generated by our Newsletter helps support our Association, Scholarships and our Industry.

Contact us for additional information – John C. Helweg  713-467-6666