Around ASA
ASA-Colorado Tradeshow dates change
The 11th Annual ASA-Colorado Mountain States Expo dates have changed. The expo will be held March 14-15, at Denver's Merchandise Mart. The expo is the region's largest and most complete exhibition of automotive products and services.
The show will also feature a full schedule of seminars. The seminars are designed for the professional jobber, mechanical, collision and transmission technicians, as well as management personnel. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) will feature its pre-test seminar to prepare technicians for the upcoming certification tests offered in May.
Art Morse Shop of the Year Award
Pictured (l to r) are Art Morse Jr.; James Bernard, the 1997 Art Morse Shop of the Year award
winner; and Camille Eber.
ASA-Portland names shop of the year, elects board
Bernard's Garage Inc. received the "1997 Art Morse Shop of the Year" from the ASA-Portland chapter. James Bernard, a third-generation shop owner, was presented with the award in January. Bernard's Garage is located in Milwaukie, Ore.
This is the fifth year ASA-Portland has presented the shop-of-the-year award. The competition is open to the more than 140 ASA member-businesses in the chapter. Applicants must submit evidence of their commitment to employee training and customer service, and their dedication to the industry, ASA and the community.
The chapter also elected its 1998 board of directors. The following members will serve on the ASA-Portland board: president, Camille Eber, Roth and Miller Autobody and Paint Inc., Portland; vice president, Jim Bernard, Bernard's Garage Inc., Milwaukie; and secretary/treasurer, Clayton Rasmussen, Clayton's Auto Repair, Corvallis.
ASA-Minnesota plans management conference
The 2nd Annual ASA-Minnesota Spring Management Conference will be held March 21 at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park, Minn. The day-long conference will feature speaker Richard Flint (pictured), who will present two management seminars. The seminars, "The Psychology of Retaining and Recruiting Quality People" and "Building a Partnership with Your People," will earn attendees six credits per course toward the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation offered by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI).
Walter Trapp, ASA executive vice president, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. He will discuss the association's activities and strategic plan as he prepares for the association's presidency effective Jan. 1, 1999.
ASA-Michigan purchases new office
In February, ASA-Michigan moved to its newly purchased office building. The new address and telephone number for ASA-Michigan are:
744 Wing Street, Plymouth, Mich. 48170
Phone: (734) 354-9250
Fax: (734) 354-9255
E-mail: denlip@msn.com
The new location is approximately 10 miles from ASA-Michigan's previous office. The larger office space and conference room will allow the affiliate to better serve association members. NATIONAL NEWS
- ASA is advising its members not to install air bag on-off switches or disconnect air bags. This recommendation is in response to a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that allows certain vehicle owners to have air bag on-off switches installed or have their air bags completely disconnected.
- The 1998 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 1, at the Alexis Park Resort in Las Vegas. The event will provide management and technical education, and will precede the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) tradeshow. AAIW will be held Nov. 3-6 at the Sands Expo Center and the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
- The ASA Image Network, an electronic mailing list, was put into action once again in January. The Image Network is designed to combat negative publicity about the automotive aftermarket, as well as promote a positive, professional industry image. The more than 550 Image Network participants were asked to contact Pep Boys in efforts to stop the company's television advertising campaign that negatively portrays the independent. In 1996, ASA wrote to the president of Pep Boys and requested that the campaign be canceled.
- The ASA Web site is entering its third year of providing valuable information about the association and the industry. The areas getting the most use are the "Find Nearest ASA Shop" and the "Employment Classified" sections. All regular members are listed within the "Find Nearest ASA Shop" section free of charge. The listings provide visitors with the business name, contact person, address, telephone number and type of repairs performed. Members with Web sites can link directly to the listing by contacting the ASA office.
- ASA announced a 15 percent dividend return on the workers' compensation benefit plan provided by Dodson Insurance Group in Kansas City, Mo. Dodson has offered the insurance benefit to ASA members since 1960.
This is the second consecutive year that Dodson's workers' compensation plan has returned a 15 percent dividend. The dividend totaled more than $400,000, which was distributed to 723 ASA member-businesses. The dividend was accumulated from the policy year of Aug. 1, 1996, to July 31, 1997.
- As of Dec. 15, 1997, seven schools in Missouri have achieved National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification as a result of the industry-supported "Missouri Blitz" campaign. The campaign seeks to improve the quality of collision repair programs in Missouri's secondary and post-secondary schools, and to increase the number of students pursuing collision repair careers. An additional 19 schools reported that they are working toward ASE certification. "The Missouri Educational Department's agreement to only provide state funding to those schools that are certified or working toward certification has definitely motivated many directors and instructors to pursue certification," said Sharon Wiley, ASA Collision Division manager and a program participant. Prior to the Missouri Blitz campaign, certification was not a prerequisite for state funding.
Reminder of the Month
The 1998 ASA Membership Directory will be distributed to all ASA members in April. Watch your mail for this annual publication. The ASA directory provides the information needed to network within the association. It can also be used to assist customers when traveling.
The Business of Insurance || A/C Contamination and Blends || Air Bags: On or Off? || Associations Advance America || A Tribute to G.W. "Bud" Merwin III || Guest Editorial: "Association" is key to growth. || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLVI, March 1998