AUTOINC. ONLINE - Around ASA

Posted 4/17/2006
By B.J. Johnson

ASA Chapter Assists Hurricane Survivors

Larry and Jeannette Ray are the first couple to receive a vehicle from the Whatcom County ASA group and the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Pictured from left to right are ASA officer Steve Hazel of The Panacea Auto Repair; Larry and Jeanette Ray, formerly from Louisiana and now from Bellingham, Wash.; Maureen Enegren of the Whatcom County American Red Cross and ASA officer John Beebe of Bellingham Automotive. The Rays were extremely appreciative of the 1996 Ford Contour and they want to thank all who participated in making this possible. The Whatcom County ASA unit has committed to giving away 10 vehicles to 10 displaced families in need.

ASA-Michigan Nominated for 2006 National Small Business Recognition Awards

ASA-Michigan has been nominated for one of the Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) 2006 National Small Business Recognition Awards. The awards are given by the Small Business Ombudsman and Small Business Assistance Programs nationwide and the National Compliance Advisory Panel, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Small Business Ombudsman. ASA-Michigan was nominated for the Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award.

ASA-Michigan has been a leader in the education of its membership regarding environmental stewardship, and has recently partnered with the DEQ to develop a comprehensive multimedia resource for its members titled, "Auto Body - Michigan Environmental Compliance Assistance Self-Audit Guidebook and Checklist." "This is an outstanding achievement for ASA-Michigan," said B.J. Johnson, ASA's director of membership development and affiliate relations. "The commitment of the volunteer leaders, members and staff of ASA-Michigan to further professionalism in our industry, as well as protecting the environment, is commendable."

Ron Meyer, president of ASA-Michigan, said, "We are proud and honored to be nominated for the Small Business Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award. This recognition highlights the cooperative effort between ASA and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and is a great example of business and government working together for the greater good."

ASA Members Receive Hertz Rental Discounts

The Hertz Corporation is now offering a discount savings program to ASA members. The discounts will be available at all participating Hertz locations and will apply to various car classes. In addition to year-round discounts on rental costs, ASA members are also eligible to save on car class upgrades and other money-saving offers. "We are very pleased to partner with the Hertz Corporation and offer our members a money-saving option for vehicle rentals," said B.J. Johnson, ASA's director of membership development and affiliate relations. "As a member-first organization, we strive to increase the membership value of ASA through programs such as this, and will continue to seek out programs."

ASA Signs Agreement with Thomson Delmar Learning

ASA members now receive a discount on Thomson Delmar Learning's Chilton Labor Guide Manuals. The Chilton 2006 Import and Domestic Manual Set has been updated to include hundreds of labor times for earlier models, including maintenance services and electronic system diagnosis. The editions reflect up-to-date AAIA industry standards, accepted by most insurance and extended warranty companies, and are based on technical hotline output, OEM warranty times and technical editor evaluations. In addition, Thomson Delmar Learning offers ASE Test Preparation Manuals. Technicians seeking certification from any ASE exam will benefit from the up-to-date ASE task list available at a discounted rate. Get prepared with the ASE-styled exam that is scored and includes an overview and reference point of help for the difficult ASE questions.

National News

The Automotive Service Association welcomes Bret Sullins as its newest staff member. Sullins joined the staff as a membership recruiter in February, following the retirement of Bob Poole. Sullins' responsibilities include recruiting and retaining members of the association. In addition, he will work closely with the ASA affiliates in his territory to increase membership and provide support from the national office.
The Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony on car title fraud March 1. The hearing focused on protecting consumers from purchasing vehicles with titles that had been altered or duplicated for the purpose of generating a sale. A number of the totaled or flood-damaged cars from the Gulf Coast region were re-titled and cosmetically upgraded to give the vehicles clean histories.
In the aftermath of last year's hurricanes, many in the automotive industry believe it is necessary to educate the public on the possibility of being a consumer of a storm-damaged vehicle. Some 300,000 vehicles are believed to have been damaged or destroyed by hurricanes in 2005, and a vast majority are recirculating across the United States as automobiles with a clean record.
Issuance of altered or duplicated titles not only puts an unaware consumer at risk for driving a damaged car, it places repairers at risk when working on flood-damaged vehicles. One major risk for repairers exists in exposure to toxic bacteria found in flood-damaged vehicles from exposure to large amounts of stagnant water.
Flood-damaged vehicles being sold across the country as used cars have been cosmetically altered to appear almost new. Although the salt water damage may not be visible, the inner workings of the vehicle are most likely beyond repair and dangerous. Instead of being destroyed, some of these damaged vehicles are being sold to wholesalers nationwide and then to unsuspecting consumers who, in turn, put themselves at risk.
Some key lawmakers are hopeful that total-loss flood vehicles will be condemned and prevented from being re-titled and returned to the road. Many states, including California, have issued statewide warnings to consumers about the sale of flood-loss vehicles.
ASA's Collision Operations Committee is reviewing testimony and options for dealing with the flood vehicle issue. There are several proposals being considered, including legislative and industry solutions.

Want to Stop Receiving an ASA Dues Invoice?
Sign Up for ASA Continuous Membership

ASA members can now pay their membership dues using an automatic credit card deduction. It's not only convenient, it also gives you payment options! There are no more paper statements, no more checks to write, no more postage to pay. Plus: You select your payment preference; either quarterly, semiannually or annually. To take advantage of the ASA Continuous Membership payment plan - and reduce the paperwork on your desk -simply call (800) 272-7467, ext. 220. An easy-to-complete form is all you need to get you started! There is no fee for this service.

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