SIAC spins off from AIREF, to continue CARE program

VIENNA, Va. - Seeking a way to engage in legislative lobbying and a new vehicle for the Coordinated Alarm Reduction Effort (CARE) program, the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF) has formed a separate entity which will be known as the Security Industry Alarm Coalition. (SIAC). While the new group’s mission will remain the same, SIAC will now be able to engage in legislative lobbying, something it was unable to do under AIERF, a non-profit foundation that is banned by law from lobbying. According to Stan Martin, SIAC executive director, SIAC will now have the ability to lobby on behalf of legislation it supports . “There are times when we would want to be able to be more proactive in helping a state get an ordinance passed,” Martin said. “We felt uncomfortable as we approached that line with AIERF.” “The program really hasn’t changed, we’ve just changed the parent corporation to allow us more flexibility,” Martin said. Martin did not specify any specific lobbying plans that SIAC is currently considering. The educational mission of the CARE program will focus on working with law enforcement to reduce false alarms. It will also strive to foster a better relationship between the installing community and law enforcement officials. The SIAC board will be made up of nine members, a chairman and two members each from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, the Security Industry Association , the Central Station Alarm Association and the Canadian Alarm and Security Association. All four organizations deserve to be praised for their commitment to the new organization, said Martin. “It’s a milestone, I think in the history of the industry that four organizations would agree (to participate in a program such as this),” he said. Leo Guthart, former vice president of Pittway Corp., has been nominated by the board to serve as chairman. One of SIAC’s goals for 2003 is to find new sources of long-term funding from sources other than ADT, Ademco/Honeywell, Brinks, and SIA, which are currently funding the program. SIAC is looking for additional funding sources not because of any problem with the current funding structure; the group is simply seeking a way to more fairly distribute the burden throughout the industry,” Martin said. “Only in fairness to them (the current funding group), they’re major players in the industry…but the fact is we’ve got tens of thousands of dealers out there, everybody should be chipping in” he said.