About IMSA

The organization changed its name to the “International Association of Municipal Electricians” (I.A.M.E.). This name remained for the next 35 years.

Records show that Thomas A. Edison and the Edison Electric Company were associate members in 1901. During that year the association members began developing standards and specifications for wire, cable, fire alarm boxes, and even the size of manhole covers. Association members were also instrumental in the founding of the Underwriters Laboratory and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (N.E.M.A.) during this era.

On August 31, 1913, at 2:00 pm, in Watertown, New York, the very famous Charles Proteus Steinmetz was nominated and elected First Vice-President of the I.A.M.E. He held office until his death on October 26, 1923. 

a group of six signal superintendents from the State of Connecticut, who had been meeting socially, decided to organize and meet frequently for the purpose of discussing mutual problems. They called themselves the “Eastern Association of Superintendents of Fire and Police Telegraph.

As this association became better known, attendance at meetings increased and so did membership as signal men from other New England States and from New York and New Jersey joined the organization. In the 1920’s the name was changed to the “New England Municipal Signal Association.”

Some of the more distant members of the New England Association and other signal men formed groups of their own such as the New Jersey Signal Association, the New York State Municipal Signal Association, the Northwest Municipal Signal Association, and the Southern New York Municipal Signal Association. In the early 1930’s these groups formed the “Associated Municipal Signal Services” (A.M.S.S.), but each group retained its individual identity and continued to conduct its own meetings.

During the mid 1930’s, both I.A.M.E. and A.M.S.S. continued to grow. Many signal superintendents and engineers belonged to both organizations and many were also members of the still active and independent state or local associations. Membership was individual for each and there were no chapters or sections, as such until 1935.

In 1934, this association started publishing the “A.M.S.S. Journal,” which was sent free to all members.  The Journal contained reprints of the papers presented at the various association meetings plus other items of technical interest to the members.  The A.M.S.S. Journal was augmented in about 1936 with a monthly publication called “CEMENT” (Communication Engineers Mutual Educational National Tabloid).  This magazine was used to inform members about the activities of the individual groups within the association, and also had other technical and non-technical news not contained in the journal.

At its October 1935 Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia, I.A.M.E. approved a new constitution and by-laws and changed the organization name to “National Municipal Signal Association” “N.M.S.A.). The chief officer of each of the independent member associations was named to the Board of Directors. These Directors were instructed to return to their individual associations for a membership vote on becoming a chartered Chapter of the N.M.S.A. A Headquarters Chapter was also formed for those members who resided outside of the boundaries of all of the other chapters.

In September 1937, the organization name was officially changed to the “International Municipal Signal Association” (IMSA).

The first IMSA National School was conducted in conjunction with the Annual Conference in 1978.  Because this first school was such a success, the Association has decided that each year a school will be conducted in conjunction with the Annual Conference. This school is open to both members and non-members.

Effective April 10, 2018, IMSA incorporated in Florida and spun off its Certification operations to a sister company, IMSA Center for Public Safety Certification, Inc. (“IMSA Certification”).  The two organizations work closely together to continue to seamlessly serve our membership and the public safety industry.  Through a shared services agreement, IMSA provides staff and executes the administrative functions of IMSA Certification.