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Why Join?  Our Value Proposition

iCERT IS THE VENDOR-ONLY ADVOCACY TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES ECOSYSTEM

Why should your organization join iCERT? Because "success" is a "team" effort- you as a member, other iCERT Members as your collaborators, and even your competitors are iCERT Members - all joined together under the trade association umbrella for our mutual success and the betterment of the public safety community.   Your "team"is  iCERT.   

 

An increasingly diverse, complex, and competitive public safety technologies ecosystem presents many challenges, but also creates as many or more opportunities for growth, efficiency, and success.  For technology companies, to grow and thrive, they need a market structure that encourages investment and an opportunity to drive innovation through cooperative relationships with others in the industry.  The trade association "format" suits these goals better than any other paradigm, and iCERT reflects what's best about a trade association's benefits.   

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iCERT provides both; working with policymakers to promote a pro-competitive and accommodating regulatory environment and providing member companies a venue within which they can collaborate, seek out partners, and work together to achieve their individual and collective objectives. 

 

As a group, iCERT’s members constantly and consistently advocate;

     1. for increased public funding for all safety and emergency technologies, and

     2. to ensure legislators and regulators at all levels of government hear, respect, acknowledge, and accommodate the needs of the commercial public safety industry in policy, planning, funding, standards, and operational decisions. 

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iCERT is a recognized industry voice, thought leader, and resources for and about public safety technology and related industries (ex., IoT, cloud-based, manufacturers, software, transportation, medical, etc.).   iCERT is a platform for vital industry communication regarding issues that unfairly burden or impede the introduction of new public safety / emergency response and related technologies to the market. 

 

     Unique Structure: iCERT membership automatically includes all the members of your entire public safety technology operation, amplifying membership value and return on investment.

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     Diversity: public safety has long evolved past "just 911" or even "NG911."  Now, we're sensors, predictive analytics, virtual reality training, drones, artificial intelligence, PSAP/ECC management, cyber, and so much more.  Its enterprises who started out dedicated to public safety, and technology purveyors whose innovations fit public safety's needs so well they were "drafted" into service.  iCERT continually examines the “public safety technologies” landscape reaching out to new diverse entities, paradigm disruptors, and innovators for inclusion.  You’ll meet first-hand with a growing membership of new, novel, and ever-changing contacts.

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     Relationships: one-stop networking and directory-level access for collaboration, cooperation, alliances, business-to-business networking, intelligence, and relationship building with the industry’s marque organizations.  iCERT members support each other and are dedicated to the industry’s common good.

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     Credibility: like it or not, the public safety community favors its "own".  The sense of "family" and "community" that energizes 6,000+ PSAPs/ECCs across America isn't an accident - it springs from the bond of communal sacrifice that all public safety, first responder, and support personnel share.  iCERT membership tells the world that you are interested in public safety for its own sake and are investing for the future.  

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     Knowledge: iCERT continually creates opportunities for formal and informal training programs, based on member demand and concerns, for both company and personnel training and development.  Focusing on innovation and new developments, iCERT helps you stay on top of new products and services and maintain a competitive and informational edge.  Knowledge includes sharing best practices and developing fresh ideas and novel solutions both internally, and with government customers and regulators.   

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     Action: Membership includes privileged access to iCERT-only events, meetings, initiatives, and resources, including: 

  1. UNIQUE Deltek/GovWinIQ Daily Bid/RFP Leads Program - free to members (no other Association provides this)

  2. Two Annual in-person Full Membership Meetings  (note: meetings are in-person/virtual, as public safety rules permit)

    1. Organizational and Education Meeting (fall)

    2. Networking Business-to-Business and Collaboration Meeting (spring)

  3. Two Weekly Newsletters - Media and Members Only â€‹

  4. Focused industry-specific PolicyInnovation & Technology, and Marketing Member Committees focused on

    1. NG9-1-1 Funding Legislation

    2. Innovation, Standards, Education, and Compliance

    3. Marketing, Sales, and Information Management best practices

  5. Issue-oriented and results-driven narrow Member Working Groups​

  6. Continual cutting-edge member-driven webinars and education access

  7. Member attended meetings with state and federal legislators for 9-1-1 funding

  8. Member attended meetings with F.C.C.​

  9. Member specific tool-oriented Website, and extensive social media 

 

Maintaining iCERT’s Value: iCERT is a member-driven organization with the culture and flexibility to try new things, remain nimble, and respond immediately to members’ changing needs: open to new ideas and opportunities.  We frequently survey our members and benchmark performance to those results.  Remaining relevant is in our DNA.     

 

Through iCERT, you’ll join with like-minded organizations to promote marketplace and internal growth, encourage investment, and drive innovation through cooperative relationships with other iCERT members.  iCERT provides a venue within which you can collaborate, seek out partners, and work together to achieve individual and collective objectives.

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Of course, every organization has its own unique needs and identity.  iCERT welcomes these differences with a graduated membership tier, that matches a company's size with the expected commitment.  And, redefines inclusion by making all willing company colleagues beneficiaries of iCERT.  

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Make a difference, be heard, get in the game....  Join iCERT.  

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NOTE: THE UNPRECEDENTED IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAVE ALTERED THE ACTIVITIES OF MANY, IF NOT ALL, BUSINESSES, INCLUDING iCERT AND OUR MEMBERS.  THE GOAL  OF OUR WEBSITE IS TO PROVIDE A USEFUL DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF ICERT MEMBERSHIP.  TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THE ABOVE ARE MODIFIED, OR EVEN ELIMINATED, PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY, OR NEW ELEMENTS ADDED, DUE TO THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS,  PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, OR GOVERNMENT MANDATES, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.  WE WELCOME FEEDBACK AS TO ANY INACCURACIES.  

 

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Examples of iCERT Activities for 2020 - 2021

The notes below assume you are a general member.   Your involvement would increase if you were on the Board and/or an iCERT Officer:

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  • Membership: When you join iCERT, all your colleagues become iCERT Members.  We have a variety of Committees and Working Groups - https://www.theindustrycouncil.org/committees  - and we hope that Members will review these, and their colleagues will volunteer to participate, and even lead our Association’s groups.   Also, especially for Working Groups, we hope Members will suggest new topics for White Papers, webinars, or other educational activities. 

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  • Organization: iCERT is designed to engage a Member’s colleagues across many organizational segments:

    • Marketing – please have your marketing colleagues consider joining our Marketing Committee to both collaborate on industry marketing problems / solutions, but also to assist iCERT with its marketing needs

    • Technical / Product – our Innovation & Technology Committee is always seeking volunteers for our efforts, and we need leaders to help write and produce materials, especially educational information.   We also need members to help us form iCERT positions on technical matters, and help us promote those to government decisions makers.

    • Policy - our Policy Committee is engaged in two major programs: monitoring potential federal, state, and local public safety funding, and actively support BOTH new funding (for all technologies), and opposing decreases in funding.  We need active volunteers for each of these. 

    • Speakers – our new Marketing Committee has the charge to organize a “Speakers Bureau” and help members find and secure speaking engagements / presentations before relevant audiences. 

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  • Events / Meetings: All major iCERT events are bundled with your membership at no extra charge, and your only obligations are to (hopefully) attend, network, enjoy the event, and help us promote iCERT.   However, we welcome and are grateful for all additional volunteer assistance / support when requested.   Here’s a quick current look at 2020 events:

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  • NG911 Institute Honor Awards / Tech Fair (February 12-13, 2020 Washington, DC) – in coordination with the NG911 Institute -  https://www.ng911institute.org/ - and as a scheduled part of NENA’s “911 Goes to Washington” program, iCERT members attend and support the Honor Awards and Tech Fair (technology demonstrations).   NENA charges admission for its program (not an iCERT event); however, there is no charge to attend the Honor Awards or Tech Fair.  In general, NG911 Institute Members receive invitations to demo on Capitol Hill for the Tech Fair, but iCERT does coordinate open slots for members, if/as they may become available (no extra charge should this occur).

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  • IWCE (August 2020 Las Vegas, NV) – iCERT will have a Booth at the IWCE 2020 Conference (iCERT Members have access to discounts for attendance and free show floor passes), we’ll be seeking Booth volunteers.   We’ll also have a Reception – more info closer to the event.  IWCE charges for attendance - no separate iCERT charges.

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  • POSPOTED DUE TO COVID-19 / GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS - Spring Membership Meeting (April -TBD Seattle, WA) – Our Board Member, AWS (Amazon) is hosting our Spring Membership Meeting (no charge to attend).  Our meetings typically last 1 & ½ days, with a closed Board Meeting, reception, featured speakers from industry, decision makers from government public safety, political leaders, networking, and member educational presentations.  Reception food / beverages, breakfast and lunch are usually provided by our host organization.  We usually have an Open All-Members meeting, and may vote on membership issues.   No attendance charges. 

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  • ​NENA (June 13-18, 2020 Long Beach, CA) – We typically have an iCERT Board Meeting and a free Reception.  NENA charges for attendance, but it is possible to obtain free or inexpensive floor passes.    We also usually have a special, iCERT invitation only, Reception with NASNA the day before NENA begins.  This requires a per-attendee charge.

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  • APCO (August 2-5, 2020 Orlando, FL) - We typically have an iCERT Board Meeting and a Reception.  APCO charges for attendance.  Free or inexpensive floor passes are rare.

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  • October 5-6-7-8, 2020 iCERT Members Meeting (Virtual / ZOOM)  

  • We had an exceptional virtual program in 2020.  A Board Meeting, reception, featured speakers from AWS, Microsoft, FCC, NASNA, Cal OES, T-Mobile, Archer Aviation, and Deltek. We also had an open All-Members meeting.  During this year's meeting we unveiled iCERT's new identity branding and logo.   No attendance charges. 

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  • IACP (October 17-20, 2020 New Orleans, LA) – We have not had an event at IACP in the past, but are considering a reception for a future event. 

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  • 2021 (planned) Annual iCERT Member Meeting (October / November - ask about our next location and specific dates) – as with our Spring Meeting, our meetings typically last 1 & ½ days, with a closed Board Meeting, reception, featured speakers from industry, decision makers from government public safety, political leaders, networking, and member educational presentations.  Reception food / beverages, breakfast and lunch are usually provided by our host organization. As this is our “official” Annual Meeting, all members meet and may vote on membership issues.   No attendance charges. 

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NOTE: THE UNPRECEDENTED IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAVE ALTERED THE ACTIVITIES OF MANY, IF NOT ALL, BUSINESSES, INCLUDING iCERT AND OUR MEMBERS.  THE GOAL  OF OUR WEBSITE IS TO PROVIDE A USEFUL DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF ICERT MEMBERSHIP.  TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THE ABOVE ARE MODIFIED, OR EVEN ELIMINATED, PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY, OR NEW ELEMENTS ADDED, DUE TO THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS,  PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, OR GOVERNMENT MANDATES, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.  WE WELCOME FEEDBACK AS TO ANY INACCURACIES. 

 

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