Houston Gulf Coast Alarm Association

CAP Visit

2009-05-15T08:52:00.001-05:00

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

2009-05-14T01:33:00.017-05:00

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"

2009-03-17T01:29:00.007-05:00

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

2009-03-12T00:55:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-11T00:44:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-10T00:57:00.003-05:00

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

2009-02-26T01:28:00.001-06:00

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

2009-02-12T00:31:00.004-06:00

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

2009-01-08T05:18:00.003-06:00

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.

Lone Star Motorcycle Rally

2008-12-13T12:00:00.004-06:00

Three of HGCAA's members road to Galveston, TX for the Lone Star Motorcycle Rally. John Helweg and Brian McKinney road their motorcycles while the ladies road in Debi Ulmer's hot rod. We had lunch at Landry's and road over to the strand. After walking around for several hours we road over to seawall and checked out more vendors. It was overcast and hazy, but it was cool enough to make the jacket worth it.

After we arrived back in Houston we went shopping for steaks and salmon. Brian worked his culinary magic and prepared some of the most amazing and flavorful steaks and fish. The ladies prepared a wonderful looking bowl of rabbit food and to round out the meal we had a nice bottle of wine. Do we know how to eat or what? Overall we had a fun ride, delicious food and great company. What more can you ask for?

Photos

TBFAA meeting

2008-12-11T13:30:00.004-06:00

The TBFAA meeting was at the Cadillac Bar in Houston.

Chris Russell, President of TBFAA opened the meeting and guided us through the agenda. We heard from Bob Kaczmarek, President of the TFAA about legislative cooperation & representation. Rodney Hooker, Vice President of TBFAA spoke about working together with the TFAA and making sure we stay on message when we go to Austin and work with our legislators.

The budget was presented by the Treasurer. We heard reports from the various committee chairs.

December 2008 meeting

2008-12-11T11:00:00.005-06:00

December's meeting at the Cadillac Bar had record attendance. The food was as good as usual.

Michael A. Kelley, Legislative Liaison for the Texas Department of Public Safety spoke to us about the Sunset Commission and upcoming legislative season. Rodney Hooker, Vice President & Legislative Chair for the TBFAA spoke to us about the upcoming legislative season. Chris Russell, President of TBFAA spoke to us about a consistent message from the alarm industry.

We heard from the various committee chairs & directors. We voted to send a donation to Officer Abernathy's family. Annie Smith collected donations for Homeless Vets.

We will have the Vacek Law Firm speaking to us about Wills vs Estate Planing at our next meeting. The HGCAA holiday party will be February 12, 2009 at Saltgrass Steakhouse. Our next meeting will be January 8, 2009 at Cadillac Bar from 11-1 pm.

Photos

ASSIST Holiday Party

2008-12-09T19:00:00.003-06:00

Several members of the HGCAA attended the ASSIST holiday party at Saltgrass Steakhouse. We had a very good time and the food was delicious. The white elephant gift exchange was a lot of fun. They had a raffle for fallen security officers and raised a substantial sum of money for the ASSIST Fallen Officers Fund. We found everyone to be welcoming and friendly. We look forward to next years party.

Photos

HGCAA training & meeting

2008-11-13T11:00:00.004-06:00

Our newly elected President, Debi Ulmer opened the members only 'Construction Lien Law in Texas' training by introducing M. Gavin McGee of M. Gavin McGee, PLLC and Jason Walker of Andrews Myers Coulter & Cohen, P.C. The training was all day and worth CEU's for attending.

Photos

We broke for lunch and to have our monthly meeting. The food was as good as usual.

We heard the various officer, director and committee chair reports.

Debi Ulmer announced the loss of Erwin Belota of Triangle Electronics.
We voted for approval of the auto-dialer that John Helweg recommended to improve communications to HGCAA members.
Sonny Sampson announced the planning of the next HGCAA Golf Tournament.
Annie Smith announced that she would be accepting donations for VA homeless vets at the next meeting.
HGCAA members voted to donate $250 for supplies for the homeless vets.
Susan Griswold announced the ASSIST holiday party.
Debi Ulmer announced:

HGCAA holiday party would be February 12, 2009
Vacel Law Firm would speak to us at our January 2009 meeting
Michael A. Kelley, the Legislative Liazon for TDPS would speak at our December meeting.