Around ASA
Interested in becoming a national board member?
Any national regular member interested in being considered for the ASA national board of directors should contact the national office and request a Consideration Form. Contact Jo Ann Abramuk toll-free at (800) 272-7467, ext. 211. Consideration Forms must be completed and returned by Aug. 7, 2000.Members of the 2001 Nominating Committee are Chairperson Johnny Mock, AAM, Johnny Mock's Auto Body Shop Inc., Turtle Creek, Pa.; Claud Champion, Barrett Body Shop, Abilene, Texas; Denny Mandeville, AAM, Canyon Automotive Repair & Service, Sedona, Ariz.; Elaine Mills, AAM, Mills Automotive, Bellingham, Wash.; and Tom Smith, Capital Collision Inc., Raleigh, N.C.
AMI to offer business management education in Chicago area
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI), in conjunction with the ASA-Illinois Mechanical Division affiliate, will offer eight business management education classes designed specifically for automotive service professionals. The seminars will be taught by four members of AMI's faculty and will be held July 14-15 at the Marriott Oak Brook, Oak Brook, Ill.The seminars are part of AMI's accredited curriculum and will earn students credit toward the institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
In addition to the seminars, the affiliate has arranged a day at the Chicago Motor Speedway on July 16. For more information, contact AMI at (800) 272-7467, ext. 239.
ASA affiliate expands service area
The ASA-Kansas City affiliate is expanding its service area to include all of Kansas and Missouri.“Effective immediately, ASA-Kansas City will now be known as ASA-Missouri/Kansas,” said Howard Lewis, AAM, chairman of ASA's national board of directors.
Sheri Hamilton has been the executive director of the affiliate for five years, and will continue to serve in this position with ASA-Mo/Kan. “I am excited about this opportunity to serve more ASA members and bring new members into the association,” said Hamilton.
In addition to expanding the affiliate's service area, ASA-Mo/Kan recently launched its newly developed Web site. The site can be accessed at http://www.asamokan.org.
ASA-Florida holds Annual Convention
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| Pictured is the ASA-Florida board of directors (l to r): Steve Harris, Rick Smith, Don Stone, Dave Zwalina, AAM, Charlie Elder, AAM, Helen Hoffman, AAM, and Tom Prescott, AAM. |
In addition to the exhibits, attendees had the opportunity to participate in two Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars, taught by longtime institute faculty member Richard Flint. Attendees earned six credits for each course attended. Credits are applied toward the institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
Attendees were updated on ASA-Florida's legislative activities from Charlie Elder, AAM, ASA-Florida past president, and Tom Steckler, assistant director of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Sessions discussing coolant and recycled antifreeze issues, Motor Vehicle Bureau requirements, aftermarket crash parts, and information availability were also offered. Bill Haas, AAM, ASA National Mechanical Division manager, provided attendees with an update on Mechanical Division activities.
During the convention ASA-Florida installed new affiliate officers. The ASA-Florida board of directors includes Steve Harris, Harris Automotive Inc., West Palm Beach, president; Rick Smith, Smitty's Garage, Seminole, president-elect; Don Stone, AAA Quality Transmissions, Stuart, immediate past president; Charlie Elder, AAM, Ray Gordon Brake Service, Tallahassee, secretary; Helen Hofmann, AAM, The Car Spa, Orlando, treasurer; Tom Prescott, AAM, The Bodywerks, Holly Hill, vice president collision division; and Dave Zwalina, AAM, Automotive One Inc., Longwood, vice president mechanical division.
Ascettes turn focus to local level
The ASA Ascettes held its annual meeting during the 2000 ASA Annual Convention, April 12-15 in Point Clear, Ala. During the meeting the attendees decided to discontinue the Ascettes at the national level. This decision in no way affects the Ascettes programs at the local and state levels. It is the hope and desire of the Ascettes that local and state units will continue and that new units will be developed when needed.From the inception of the Ascettes, it has been the endeavor of the many women who have been involved to ensure a place at ASA events for all who attend. Whether those attending are the member, partner of the member, spouses or friends, the Ascettes strive to offer programs that include everyone.
The Ascettes feel these goals have been embraced and met at the national level. The ideas and programs the Ascettes have developed will continue at the ASA Annual Convention. These include providing a program for spouses, providing all attendees with convention lapel pins, recognizing the member(s) who travel the farthest distance to attend, and recognizing the ASA affiliate with the largest delegation attending.
“We thank all who have supported the Ascettes over the years. We have come a long way from the days when the only activity for the spouses was a shopping trip. Spouses, partners and friends are an integral part of many of the businesses, and it is only right that they too are included and involved in the activities at the ASA Annual Convention. So although there will no longer be a national Ascettes board of officers, and no Ascettes meeting, the spirit of the Ascettes will continue as we greet and meet old and new friends of ASA,” said Gini Steffy, AAM, Ascettes president.
ASA members win recruiting contest
ASA held a membership recruiting contest Sept. 1, 1999-April 1, 2000. All mechanical or collision repair shop owners were eligible to participate in the contest, regardless of affiliation.The first place winner, Don Jackson, DJ's Auto Repair, Sherwood, Ark., received two round-trip airline tickets to Cancun, Mexico, and a four-night stay in the all-inclusive Moon Palace resort. Second place was awarded to Terry Steenholdt, T.D.S. Auto Repair Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D., who received a travel voucher from American Airlines for $600 to any destination in the continental United States. Dave Hoefel, AAM, Red's Automotive Service, Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded third place and received a $300 travel voucher from American Airlines to any destination in the continental United States.
John Scully, ASA vice president of membership and Elmer Gibson, Dodson Group, drew the winners' names at the ASA Annual Convention, April 12-15, 2000, in Point Clear, Ala.
ASA Hosts Meeting on Information Availability
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held a meeting in Washington, D.C., recently to discuss information availability issues. U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., as well as other industry groups participated.“The open discussion was a positive step forward,” said Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative. “It is my hope that our industry can expand these discussions further to involve more parties in the future.”
The issue of information availability affects mechanical repairs. Currently automobile manufacturers are allowed to withhold information that is vital for the proper repair of a vehicle.
One of ASA's formal legislative objective states, “ASA supports legislation and regulations that require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide all emissions and non-emissions information necessary to repair a vehicle.”
David Parde, Executive Director of Coalition for Automobile Repair Equality (CARE); Mike Ganjei, President of the National AAMCO Dealers Association; and Elliot Alder, General Counsel for National AAMCO Dealers Association also participated in the discussion.
In addition to Redding, those representing ASA included Howard Lewis, AAM, chairman; Johnny Mock, AAM, immediate past chairman; Walter Trapp, president; Bob Anderson, AAM, past chairman; and Jim Busch, AAM, Collision Division Operations Committee member.
Shop Receives Honor As It Marks 25th Year
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Owners Bob and Naomi Vining credit their affiliation with the Automotive Service Association (ASA) for the success of their business. They have been members since 1988.
They also credit the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). Both are Accredited Automotive Managers (AAMs); Bob received his AAM designation in 1995 and Naomi was a member of AMI's eighth class of AAMs, for which a graduation ceremony was held in April at ASA's Annual Convention in Point Clear, Ala.
To help celebrate its quarter of a century in business, Ozark Import Specialists Inc. had a weeklong open house in March for employees, customers, suppliers and friends.
Located in Springdale, Ark., Ozark Import Specialists Inc.'s building encompasses more than 10,000 square feet. It includes 10 service bays, a large customer lounge and a large parts department.
NATIONAL NEWS
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Margie Seyfer, president of Impact Presentations, Wheat Ridge, Colo., received the Automotive Management Institute's (AMI) most prestigious award, the AMI Annual Recognition Award. The award is presented to an individual who has taken specific and significant action to encourage, enhance and support opportunities for automotive service industry professionals to improve their management and business skills.
Seyfer has developed business management courses, which she has presented as an AMI-approved instructor since 1995. She also serves as co-chairperson for AMI's industry partnership, EXCEL 2000. The award was presented during the ASA Annual Convention held April 12-15 in Point Clear, Ala.
President Clinton signed an executive order that will attempt to improve the fuel efficiency of the federal government's motor vehicle fleet as well as increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels.
An executive order is a presidential declaration that has the force of law, usually based on existing statutory powers, and requires no action by the Congress or state legislatures, but only affects agencies within the federal government, not citizens.
The ASA Federal Credit Union is offering a high-interest savings account to help ASA members save for the 2001 ASA Annual Convention. The convention will be held April 23-28 in Maui, Hawaii.
Called the Hawaii Convention Account, this special savings account pays 5 percent interest. Because this special account has been established solely for the purpose of saving for the Hawaii convention, there is a penalty for early withdrawals and accounts must be closed by the start of the convention.
The convention account is available to all ASA national members. For more information, call the ASA Federal Credit Union at (800) 272-2220.
ASA announced a new money-saving benefit program with Automatic Data Processing (ADP). The discount will allow ASA national regular members to take advantage of discounts on three ADP estimating and management programs: Shoplink, Photolink and Stellix.
For more information on this newest benefit, contact the ASA membership department toll free at (800) 272-7467, ext. 246.
Reminder of the MonthThe Automotive Service Association (ASA) distributed the 2000 Membership Directory to all members in May. Within the directory is a set of association logo guidelines. The ASA logo is a registered trademark and may be used in published advertising only in the manner and form authorized by ASA. The logo guidelines provide camera-ready artwork to be used in advertisements. |
AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol.XLVIII, July 2000 E-mail: asainfo@asashop.org, Web Site: http://www.asashop.org Copyright © 2000 Automotive Service Association (ASA). All rights reserved.