CAP Visit

Most of you know that Debi, and many of us, have a soft spot for animals. She mentioned at our monthly association meeting that Citizens for Animal Protection was in a financial bind and could use some help. She accepted a motion from the floor to donate $500 from the HGCAA. The motion was passed unanimously. Then she passed a can around for personal donations and said her brother's estate would match any donations up to a $1000. An incredible $697 was raise! That is almost $1900 we were able to donate to CAP. Several association members went to CAP to deliver the money and received a personal tour of their facilities.

Photos

May 2009 meeting

Present Board Members:
Debi Ulmer, President; John Helweg, Vice President & Director-at-Large; Mike Moliere, Treasurer; Amanda Jackson, Secretary; Brian McKinney, Past President; Mary Edmonson, Director-at-Large; Kelly Ryan, Director-at-Large

Proceedings:

1. Debi called the meeting to order at Noon

2. Membership introductions

3. Larry Collins - benediction

4. Review and approval of previous meeting's minutes

5. Jason Berg - PAR Products

- leasing

6. Sgt Duffin, Harris Co Sheriff Alarm Detail

- false alarm tracking
- new alarm permit application
- redesigned web site
- user can update permit info online

7. Sgt Campbell, DPS Private Security Bureau

- summer sales, follow up & violations

8. Mary Edmonson

- HGCAA blood drive

9. John Helweg - HGCAA web site committee

- there are no new major changes to the site, but there are new links to summer sale fliers and other City of Houston ordnance in the members section

10. Rick Strickland - New Membership Committee

- Jake's Lock Service
- Power Technologies

11. Debi Ulmer - Legislative Committee

- need members to call representatives when called upon

12. Brian McKinney - Ethics Committee & Police Chief Committee

- no reports

13. Susan Griswold - ASSIST & PSB Board

- The Fallen Officer Fund BBQ went well and they raised over $10,000
- PSB Employee Termination Form

14. Sonny Sampson - HCGAA Golf Tournament Committee

- September 9, 2009 at Tour 18

15. New Business

- City of Houston, New Alarm Codes
- Treasures Report - Report not present
- $500 donation to Citizens for Animal Protection by HGCAA
- We took a collection and raised $697 for CAP, which Debi's Brother's Estate matched

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

TBFAA "Walk the Halls"

We had an impressive turn out from the Texas Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, Houston Gulf Coast Alarm Association, North Texas Alarm Association and South Texas Alarm Association for our "Walk the Halls" at the state capital in Austin, Texas. We arrived at 9:30 A.M. at the Texas State Teachers Association building for a planning meeting joined by members of ASSIST, TALI and TLA. After the meeting we went our separate ways. We were led by Rodney Hooker, TBFAA Legislative Chair, around the capital where we met with the following individuals to discuss the needs of our industry:

• Ken Armbrister, Governor's Legislative Director
• Rep. Joe Driver's Chief of Staff, Rachael Schreiber
• Sen. John Carona's Homeland Security Policy Analyst, Erica Akpan
• Sen. Bob Deuell's Chief of Staff, Don Forse about the VoIP Bill
• Clerk of the Senate Administration, Candace Hargenrader
• Rep. Stephen Frost's Chief of Staff, Patsy Clapper
• Rep. Tommy Merritt, Chairman Public Safety Committee

We would like to thank the following members for their time and attendance:

• Chris Russell, TBFAA President
• Rodney Hooker, TBFAA VP & Legislative Chairman
• Sarah Salazar, STAA Secretary
• Joe Carr, TBFAA Region 4 Rep
• Malcolm Reed, TBFAA Director
• Rex Adams, NTAA
• Mike Samulin, TBFAA DPS liaison
• Dave Simon, NTAA President
• Jeff Bright, TBFAA Central Chapter VP
• Wayne Crook, TBFAA Central Chapter
• Kelly Ryan, TBFAA Vendor Rep
• Larry Collins, HGCAA
• John Helweg, HGCAA VP

HGCAA Membership Appreciation Dinner

Several members of the ASSIST attended the our Membership Appreciation Dinner at Saltgrass Steakhouse. We had a very good time and the food was delicious. The white elephant gift exchange was a lot of fun.

Photos

March 2009 Meeting

Our President, Debi Ulmer called the meeting to order. Larry Collins gave the benediction. February's meeting minutes and treasure's report were approved. John Helweg gave a report about the autodialer.

Our guest speaker was Captain RenEarl Bowie, Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau.

ASSIST meeting

Their President called the meeting to order. January's meeting minutes and treasure's report were approved. Their guest speaker was Chief Harold Hurtt, Houston Police Department.

TBFAA board meeting

We met in Pflugerville, TX at the Springhill Restaurant. We attended the TBFAA Central Texas Chapter's monthly meeting before the TBFAA board meeting was called to order. They had a guest speaker that spoke to us about organizational skills.

February 2009 Meeting

Our President, Debi Ulmer called the meeting to order. Larry Collins gave the benediction. January's meeting minutes and treasure's report were approved. Our guest speaker was Mark Redlitz, State Fire Marshal.

Photos

January 2009 meeting

January's meeting at the Cadillac Bar had good attendance. The food was as good as usual. Our Vice President, John Helweg presided over the meeting in place of our esteemed President Debi Ulmer. He called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. He skipped the membership introductions to save time for our guest speaker. Larry Collins gave our benediction. We reviewed the minutes for the previous meeting and accepted them. Our Treasurer, Michael Moliere presented his report and we accepted it. In Old Business, Annie Smith thanked us for our donations to the Homeless Vets. In New Business Rick Strickland asked us to sponsor a table for a fund raiser dinner. We accepted. We wished Debi and Rick happy birthdays. We briefly discussed the upcoming holiday party in February. We adjourned the meeting at 12:20 p.m., setting a new record for shortest meeting.

The Vacek Law Firm were our guest speakers and it was worth every minute of the next hour of their presentation. I had no idea how difficult, expensive and burdensome dieing would be for the survivors if the proper estate planning hasn't been done.

The HGCAA holiday party will be in mid-February 2009 at Saltgrass Steakhouse. Our next meeting will be February 12, 2009 at Cadillac Bar from 11:30-1 pm.