IPMBA’s Industry Partners Contribute to Conference Success
By Monte May, PCI #262/EMSCI#009
Kansas City PD (MO)
IPMBA Industry Liaison
The 12th Annual IPMBA Conference provided many opportunities for attendees to learn more about all facets of public safety cycling, ranging from health and fitness to off-road riding skills to police tactics and EMS scene safety. One aspect of the conference that must not be overlooked is the exhibition of products and services provided to public safety cyclists by suppliers from both the cycling and public safety industries.
The product exhibition featured thirty-six of IPMBA’s partners in the industry serving the public safety cyclist (PSC) community. Because the exhibition provides opportunities for public safety cyclists to be introduced to new products that can make their jobs easier, it is a key component of the IPMBA conference. It is also key because it enables our corporate friends to meet with their customers face-to-face, demonstrate their products and solicit feedback. Such interaction benefits both sides – PSCs are exposed to a variety of products designed to meet their needs, and the vendors gain exposure and sales. And perhaps most importantly, both sides work together to develop more and better products and services.
Our friends in the industry are very generous. They graciously donated over 110 items to be awarded as prizes in a drawing open to attendees who completed our conference survey. Items ranged from lights and sirens to helmets and accessories to communications devices to bike hangers and locks. Uniform manufacturers contributed apparel, and two lucky winners each went home with a fully-equipped mountain bike. The list goes on and on, too long to itemize here, but all donated items were greatly appreciated by both IPMBA and their new owners. On behalf of the prize-winners, “thank you!” We hope that everyone who won will take a moment to thank our vendors for their generosity.
The support of our corporate partners was also evident in other ways. Mocean outfitted all conference instructors with high-quality polo-style uniform shirts in bright yellow. Cateye sponsored the PC Night Operations class and sent their rep along for the ride. Skaggs provided underwriting for the Ogden PD Barbecue. Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute donated all audio-visual equipment, and a staff person to run it. The goodie bags were overflowing with “swag” from CellSafe, Rubel BikeMaps, Bell Sports, Smith & Wesson, and Law Enforcement Product News. And, of course, the t-shirts were emblazoned with the logos of Bell Sports, Chiba Gloves, Bratwear, Patrol Bike Systems, Cop Pedalers, MRL, Ergo LLC, Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute, the Domestic Violence Prevention Foundation, and United Uniform.
IPMBA was pleased to introduce, on a limited scale, a new category of membership for corporations. Alerte Systems and Patrol Cycle LLC promptly joined as Charter Members. The program will be rolled out on a more grand scale in 2003 – stay tuned.
The dedication of our industry friends was very apparent at this years’ IPMBA Conference. We look forward to working with them not just on upcoming conferences but also throughout the year. We are happy to assist them in developing relationships with IPMBA members to ensure that the products they develop will best meet the sometimes peculiar needs of our profession. We can’t do it without them!
(c) 2002 IPMBA. This article appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of IPMBA News.