Around ASA
ASA Board welcomes three affiliates
At their meeting on January 16, the ASA National Board of Directors approved the agreements of three additional affiliates. ASA now has a total of 12 affiliate groups.
"We are very pleased that ASA-Kansas City, ASA-Georgia and ASA-Illinois Mechanical have elected to maintain their affiliate status with ASA," said Carl Miller, ASA's board chairman.
All three groups were former ASA affiliates who had not implemented ASA's new affiliation agreement before Jan. 1, 1999. "The board and I are very glad to see that these three groups elected to remain a part of ASA," Miller said.
"There have been many negative comments made about the new affiliation agreement. What's disappointing is that virtually everything that's being written and repeated is totally inaccurate.
"The leaders in Kansas City, Georgia and Illinois know that the agreement is not what it's been portrayed to be. They know it is not something to fear and oppose. They understand and appreciate the fact that it is simply a tool to help them run their affiliate in a manner that's true to the principles and mission of ASA," Miller said.
That mission, Miller added, is to enhance the professionalism of independent automotive repair and service and to represent the industry in legislative affairs.
The affiliates will continue to operate independently, as they always have, and in the same professional manner as they did before the new agreement was implemented, Miller said. "The agreement merely provides a guideline to assure that ASA and its affiliates are working for the benefit of their members."
In addition to Kansas City, Georgia and Illinois Mechanical, ASA also has affiliates in the following states and cities: Ohio, Oregon, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Washington, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Colorado.
ASA-Washington members receive more than $1.1 million
ASA-Washington is entering its eighth year of participation in a Retro Program made available by the Department of Labor & Industries. ASA-Washington received a refund of more than $1.1 million for the calendar year of 1997, to be divided among the 360 ASA-Washington members participating in the retrospective program.
The program is administered by Richard Weeks, president of Integrated Claims Management, and is based on outstanding on-the-job safety records of participating shops. Refunds are divided according to the amount of taxes each participating member-business paid during the given time period. In addition, a refund was also received for the second and final adjustment for the retro year of 1996.
The program is open to all ASA-Washington members. According to ASA-Washington, the retro program continues to look terrific with all indications that 1998 will be as exciting and successful as 1997.
Pictured with the refund check are: (l to r) Richard Weeks, program administrator; Pete Hunt, ASA-Washington executive director; Tom Smith, ASA-Washington president; and Buz Throndsen, Eastern Washington director.
New Mexico members honored for excellence
Automotive Impressions Inc., in Rio Rancho, N.M., has been named a 1999 Pinon Award winner. The New Mexico Quality Awards Board of Judges selected Automotive Impressions as a winner for its commitment to customer satisfaction and performance excellence.
Quality New Mexico is an organization that showcases businesses in New Mexico. Owner Jerry Burns, AAM, will accept the award March 18 at the board's conference. Automotive Impressions has been an ASA member since 1993.
California delegate elected to ASA Affiliate Assembly 
Dale Bright, AAM, Dale Bright's Auto Service in Chino, Calif., was re-elected by a vote of California members as the California delegate to the ASA Affiliate Assembly. Bright will serve as the delegate for two years.
All ASA California members received a ballot in January. Bright, as the incumbent, was running against Denny Kahler, AAM, of Kahler's Werkstatt in Dublin, Calif. Bright received 58 votes and Kahler got 37 votes.
The Affiliate Assembly meeting is the process used by the association to present issues of national importance for consideration by the board of directors. The 1999 Affiliate Assembly meeting will be held March 17 in Bermuda.
Reminder of the month
As ASA members, AutoInc. is your publication - therefore, it is important to let us know what your thoughts are on the magazine. We want to make sure we are providing valuable information relevant to our audience. Let us know if there are specific topics you would like to see covered, or if you have newsworthy information that would benefit AutoInc. readers, by calling us at (800) 272-7467 or by sending e-mail to editor@asashop.org.
National news
The 1999 ASA Membership Directory will be distributed to all ASA members in April. Watch your mail for this annual publication. The directory provides the information needed to network within the association. It can also be used to assist customers when traveling.
A special meeting of the ASA Board of Directors was held Saturday, Jan. 16. "After a very busy time of the year for everyone, the new year presents a natural opportunity for the board to meet and review the course ASA is taking," said Chairman Carl Miller. "I am very happy to report that, as we quickly approach the year 2000, the association remains on target, addressing the key issues facing automotive aftermarket professionals."
As a result of the meeting, the board implemented a new policy to put the approved minutes of all board meetings online in the Members Only section of the ASA Web site. This policy takes effect with the Jan. 16 special meeting. Should any member not have access to the ASA Web site, he or she will be able to get copies of the minutes simply by calling the national office.
The board also authorized publishing the results of national board of director elections for each position that is elected by the entire membership. Prior to the vote totals being published, however, each candidate for a particular position must agree to the release of this information.
¥ The 1998 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), held Dec. 3-6 in Dallas, continues to prove that it's the most comprehensive event in the world for collision repair professionals. ASA is the official sponsor of NACE.
NACE '98 drew more than 32,000 attendees, the largest NACE ever held outside Las Vegas. This also represents a 28 percent increase over the total attendance from the previous show held in Dallas in 1993, said Alan Peterson, NACE show director.
Bill Filley, B&G Automotive & Electric Inc. in Eugene, Ore., was named the new ASA Mechanical Division director. Filley was selected by Carl Miller, board chairman, and was unanimously elected by the board of directors.
Filley was selected from a number of worthy candidates because of his proven leadership in ASA-Oregon, his commitment to the industry, and his belief that each person should work to improve the industry.
Filley has held numerous ASA-Oregon affiliate and local positions including vice president and president. He is currently serving his second term as ASA-Oregon president. Filley has been serving on the ASA Mechanical Division Operations Committee since March 1998.
Miller said, "Bill has proven to be an exceptional leader in Oregon and a valuable member of the national mechanical committee. He is dedicated to improving the industry for ASA mechanical division members."
Long-Term Emissions Policy || Beating the Hazards of Contaminated Refrigerants || Salvaged Air Bags || Creating an Employee Handbook || 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.XIVII, March 1999
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