ASE Online Test Registration Open

Online registration for ASE fall 2008 certification testing is now open. Registering early helps ensure a seat at the test center of your choice. Tests will be offered nationally Nov. 13, 18 and 20.

For more information, visit the ASE Web site at www.ase.com. Registration information can also be obtained by writing to ASE, 101 Blue Seal Dr., S.E., Suite 101, Leesburg, VA 20175 or by calling the ASE toll-free information line at (888) ASE-TEST (273-8378) or ASE Customer Service at (702) 669-6600.

ALLDATA Adds 70,000th Subscriber

ALLDATA LLC, a provider of manufacturers’ automotive repair information, has reached an historic milestone: It now has more than 70,000 automotive repair shop subscribers.

The 70,000th subscriber is My Tech Automotive in Beaufort, S.C.

Partnerships Helping Spread Word

In an effort to strengthen its message to consumers that vehicle maintenance will improve gas mileage, the Car Care Council has partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy, The Wal-Mart Foundation and more than a dozen other companies and organizations to help promote their new “Drive $marter Challenge” as part of its “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign.

“While consumers can do nothing to control rising gas prices, they can take control of how much gas they use; and one of the best and most cost-effective ways is through regular vehicle maintenance that results in more miles to the gallon,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

For more information, contact Ronnie Kweller at (202) 530-2229 or at rkweller@ase.org.

NATEF Awards Two Scholarships

The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) has announced that Phong Xiong of Wausau, Wis., and Casey Grinolds of Loma, Colo., have been selected as recipients of the Michael Busch Memorial Scholarships for 2008.

Each recipient of the scholarship receives $1,000 to be used in funding their automotive education.

The Michael Busch Memorial Scholarship fund was created in memory of the son of former collision shop owner and ASE board member Jim Busch, who operated a business in Issaquah, Wash., until his retirement. Michael Busch was an automotive technology student who tragically lost his battle with cancer.

I-CAR Awards More Than $70,000

The I-CAR Education Foundation has awarded curriculum grants to 23 schools providing I-CAR live curriculum. Also, the foundation has awarded training grants that will assist 10 instructors in attending the I-CAR Instructor Qualifi-cation Workshop.

The curriculum grants have a retail value of more than $65,000; the training grants, a value of $4,000 each. The grants are funded by the Collision Repair Education Campaign and general donations made to the Education Foundation.

Need to Talk to OSHA?

Need to talk to someone at the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)? Wondering if your shop is in compliance? Need some consultation or assistance?

OSHA has established The Office of Small Business Assistance to help you. OSHA’s on-site consultation service offers free and confidential advice to small and
medium-sized businesses. Consultation services are totally separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov or call (202) 693-2220.

Automotive Video Inc. Pledges $25,000 in Support of AMI

Automotive Video Inc. (AVI) joins the Automotive Management Institute’s (AMI’s) resource development and industry partnership, EXCEL, with a Charter Guarantor commitment of $25,000.

The commitment to AMI will be used to make management education tailored to the automotive service industry more accessible and affordable through the development of additional self-study programs and webinars.

Located in Ft. Myers, Fla., AVI has been a leader in automotive diagnostic and repair training programs for automotive repair professionals since 1994.

“AVI is committed to improving the automotive service and repair industry through education and training,” said Paul Louwers, AVI’s president and chief operating officer. “We are proud to offer our support to AMI and this important industry resource.”

George Witt, AAM, chairman of AMI’s board of trustees, said: “As the founder of AVI, Paul Louwers understands that quality education is crucial to the automotive service and repair industry. AMI is proud to work with innovative and forward-thinking industry leaders like AVI to make education and training accessible and affordable.”

“We extend our sincere appreciation to AVI for their support and commitment to the Institute,” said Toni Slaton, AAM, AMI executive director.

Stay Connected Through the ASA News-Network!

To stay on top of all of the great benefits, resources and opportunities that ASA has to offer, subscribe to ASA’s biweekly e-newsletter, the ASA News-Network. The newsletter is e-mailed to you every other Tuesday and contains up-to-date association news, membership benefits, legislative happenings, mechanical- and collision-specific information and more!

It’s easy to sign up. Just go to the ASA News section of ASA’s Web site, www.ASAshop.org. Then, enter your e-mail address in the “Join ASA’s News-Network” box. It’s easy, informative and free!

ASA States Position on Two Blend Deduction Issues

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has approved two position statements on blending issues – including the use of the term “blending” in regard to labor and material reductions; and also deductions related to a number of specific refinish procedures. Both positions were presented to the board by the ASA Refinish Subcommittee during the association’s annual convention in Santa Clara, Calif. The subcommittee drafted the text under the direction of Dan Stander, Jerry Stander’s Collision Works, Littleton, Colo., who chairs the subcommittee.

First, ASA does not support the use of the term “blending” to describe adjacent panel color matching or to represent labor and material reductions.

ASA supports the industry practice of using adjacent panels for a highly technical refinish process to facilitate color matching. ASA does not recognize the outdated term “blending” for labor and material reductions as listed in the current databases for information providers. Using current paint materials, this process – often referred to as “blending” – requires as many procedures as refinishing a new undamaged panel. ASA believes the additional labor and materials used by collision repairers to facilitate adjacent panel color matching should be acknowledged and approved of by information providers and insurers.

Second, ASA does not support deductions for repaired panel blend refinish, blend within panel, zone refinish, spot base, spot within panel or spot paint with full clear.

ASA does not support the practice by any insurer to arbitrarily reduce refinish times for repaired panels, as published by information providers. This practice does not take into consideration the additional “not included” operations. A base coat deduction or refinish labor deduction will not account for the necessary materials or the additional skilled preparatory and spray labor required to properly restore a repair panel to pre-loss condition.

Additional labor and materials beyond those specifically published by an information provider are necessary to obtain a high-quality and proper repair. The practice of refinish-related deductions falsely assumes fewer procedures, less material, less time and overall fewer steps to refinish a repaired panel compared to a new panel. ASA believes the additional labor and materials used by collision repairers to refinish repaired panels should be acknowledged and approved by information providers and insurers.

“ASA’s Refinish Subcommittee believes it is important to address ongoing refinish issues in regard to blending and deductions, and encourages today’s leading information providers and insurers to recognize the additional labor and materials required for repairers to complete an accurate and high-quality repair,” said Stander. “These position statements were developed following careful examination of numerous paint manufacturer refinish statements and related industry documents.”

For 57 years, ASA’s Collision Division has sought to elevate the professionalism of the automotive repair industry by providing members and industry partners with information and services that will benefit collision repair professionals and the motoring public. In addition, the Collision Division Operations Committee actively works to address and improve a number of issues directly impacting the daily operations and profitability of independent collision repair facilities. The committee has four subcommittees in addition to the refinish subcommittee – including automobile manufacturer, crash parts, estimating and insurance subcommittees.