Around ASA
ASA-Colorado holds convention
ASA-Colorado held its second annual Fall Leadership Convention Oct. 8-11, at The Village at Breckenridge in Breckenridge, Colo. The convention offered four Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars on various topics including compensation, negotiation techniques and how to use the Internet. Seminar participants earned six credits per course toward the AMI's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
Reggie Rivers, a former Denver Bronco running back, and Carl Miller, ASA chairman, provided informative and entertaining keynote addresses. The more than 100 attendees also discussed issues affecting the industry through the mechanical and collision divisions' meetings, and were updated on current state level legislative activities.
The affiliate was very pleased with the increased turnout and is looking forward to next year's convention, Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
ASA-Houston participates in "Wheels to Work" community program
The ASA-Houston chapter participated in "Wheels to Work," a pilot program that allows women an opportunity to be free from welfare. "It is one way to be involved with the community and have a positive impact," said Glenn Young, a member of the ASA-Texas and ASA-Houston boards.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, ASA-Houston helped kick off the pilot program in the Houston area by presenting one of two donated vehicles, a 1991 Plymouth Voyager, to Shannon Diers. The Voyager was one of many donated to Volunteers of America for this project. Chapter members volunteered to inspect all donations and make the mechanical adjustments needed to get the car back on the road. As a result of the donations, Diers will have transportation to and from work, as well as the ability to take her six-year-old and 15-month-old daughters out safely. "I felt I couldn't provide for my girls. (Now) I can take them to the park. I am so excited," Diers said.
The first six months of liability insurance was also prepaid. Additionally, a lien was placed on the vehicle to prevent the recipient from selling the vehicle. The car must be mechanically maintained and the recipient must remain employed.
ASA-Houston volunteered to participate in this program to increase ASA's visibility with the public and to participate in a worthwhile program. Ac- cording to Jeannette Carnot, chapter manager, it is the chapter's chance to give something back to the community as a group. Local television and print media covered the presentation of the car to Diers.
With the aid of Sen. Rodney Ellis' office, ASA-Houston, Volunteers of America and the Texas Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board were able to provide cars to women to ensure they have safe, reliable transportation that will enable them to maintain employment and become self-supporting.
Texas member wins CARQUEST award
Dan Waskow, AAM, owner of Superior Auto Service in Bryan, Texas, was named the 1998 CARQUEST Excellence Award winner. Superior Auto Service has been among the top 10 finalists for the award and served on the CARQUEST Technicians Advisory Council for the past two years.
"I feel like this award is recognition for years of hard work and improving the public's perception of the service and repair facility," said Waskow. Superior Auto Service has been an ASA member since 1987 and Waskow currently serves as ASA-Texas secretary/ treasurer.
The award is presented annually to a repair facility that exemplifies excellence through training and certifications, community service, industry involvement, facility appearance and customer service; thereby improving the image of the service and repair industry.
ASA-Washington NAIT show sets attendance record
The 1998 Northwest Automotive Industry Tradeshow (NAIT) held Sept. 25-26, in Tacoma, Wash., set a new record for attendance with 5,243 attendees participating in the show. The sold-out event, sponsored by ASA-Washington, featured 145 suppliers in 224 display booths. According to Pete Hunt, ASA-Washington executive director, "We continue to be pleased with the attendance at our show and draw attendees from Wash-
ington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia, California and Texas." In addition to the show, attendees had the opportunity to attend 13 management and technical seminars. Next year's show is scheduled to be held Sept. 24-25.
ASA Names New Vice President of Membership Services
ASA has named John Scully as vice president of Membership Services. Scully comes to ASA after more than six years with Practitioners Publishing Co. in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was director of marketing.
In announcing Scully's appointment, ASA President G.W. "Bud" Merwin III said, "John brings to ASA a rich and varied background in sales, marketing, purchasing, human resources, and operations - all of which uniquely qualifies him for his new position. Under his leadership, the membership department will continue to provide the benefits and services our members deserve and are accustomed to receiving from ASA."
Scully said, "I'm looking forward to working with ASA, its members and others to help improve both the association and the entire aftermarket industry. This is, truly, an exceptional organization whose members represent the industry's top professionals and leaders."
As vice president of Membership Services for ASA National, Scully will oversee the association's effort to gain new members, retain old members and add to - and enhance - the more than 30 benefits now enjoyed by ASA members.
A native of Fort Worth, Scully earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1968. He and his wife, Glenda, reside in Fort Worth. They have two sons and one daughter.
Reminder of the Month
The ASA board of directors announced a new benefit that gives individual ASA members the freedom to choose their levels of membership.
Previously, shops who elected to join ASA were mandated to join at all membership levels available in their geographical region. Meaning, if a shop was in a large metropolitan area that had an ASA chapter and an ASA affiliate, the shop would be required to join both, as well as the national association. Now, that same shop will be free to join at any or all levels in their region. This new member benefit is effective Jan. 1, 1999.
One notable change for the new benefit will be the method of issuing dues statement. Dues will now be collected annually and statements will be mailed one month prior to the renewal date. Not all members are billed on a calendar year of January-December. Each renewal date will be based upon a member's date of joining ASA.
NATIONAL NEWS
ASA will soon begin preparations for the 1999 Membership Directory. To ensure the accuracy of your listing, please verify that the information in the 1998 issue of the directory is correct. ASA uses your physical address, if it is on file, for the listing. If you have changes to the listing or would like to verify the physical address ASA has on file for you, please call the ASA Membership Department toll-free at (800) 272-7467.
The deadline for submitting changes to directory listings is Jan. 8, 1999. The 1999 ASA Membership Directory will be published in April and sent to all ASA members.
The National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) has pledged an additional $125,000 multi-year commitment to the Automotive Management Institute's (AMI) resource development effort - EXCEL 2000. AMI established EXCEL 2000 to support management education programs tailored to the automotive service industry. Scholarships, more on-site classrooms, as well as multi-media programs are included in AMI's strategic long-range plan.
Elections for the 1999 ASA national board of directors will be held Jan. 11, 1999, to Feb. 21, 1999. This year the ASA membership will elect members for the two positions of general director.
The voting process is conducted electronically using a toll-free telephone number. ASA members will vote by entering their member number plus a three-digit security access code. These numbers can be found on the mailing labels of this issue and the January and February 1999 issues of AutoInc.
All regular ASA members in good standing are eligible to cast their votes for these two positions. The official ballot of candidates will appear in the January and February 1999 issues of AutoInc.
For more information regarding the voting process, please contact ASA at (800) 272-7467, ext. 213.
Jeri Simons has joined the AutoInc. staff as managing editor. Simons, who received her bachelor of arts degree in English from Texas Wesleyan University, comes to ASA from Practitioners Publishing Company where she was a production manager with their in-house advertising agency.
As managing editor, Simons will be primarily responsible for the production of the magazine as well as reporting on a range of ASA and industry events.
"I am excited about joining AutoInc. and the staff at ASA national," Simons said. "AutoInc. is an outstanding association publication with a long history of providing its readers with relevant information that they can use in their businesses.
"My goal is to work with Angie Wilson, the magazine's editor, to ensure we continue producing a top quality magazine every month."
Sears Case Could Invoke Industry Problems || The Basics of Four-Wheel Alignment Service || Getting Things Straight in the Body Shop || "How's Your Business?" Annual Survey || AutoInc.'s Tribute to Bud Merwin || The Increasing Cost of Doing Business || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Shop Profile || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol. XLVI, December 1998 (http://www.asashop.org)