By Andy Williams, Contributing Editor, AVISIAN Publications

The Smart Card Alliance has seen some good days and some really bad ones. Following 9-11 and the mini-recession that terrorist attack caused, the Alliance's lost nearly one-half its membership -- falling from 160 to 86 organizations. Now, it has made its way back to nearly pre 9-11 membership numbers and, if 2005 is any indication, even better days are ahead for the alliance.