Around ASA
ASA-Colorado awards scholarships
ASA-Colorado annually awards two scholarships to area students who plan to attend a Colorado two-year education program related to collision or mechanical repair. However, this year the affiliate had three very deserving applicants and was able to assist all three with their education.
According to Joe Suman, ASA-Colorado executive director, the scholarships provide each student with $500 per semester. Along with financial assistance, the affiliate also arranges for each recipient to work part-time in an ASA member-business. This year's recipients are Alicia Gates, who will attend Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colo.; and Vincent Unrein and Harry Clark, who will both attend Mesa State College, in Grand Junction, Colo.
ASA-Houston matches employees, employers
For several years the ASA-Houston, Texas, chapter has placed employment ads in local papers as part of a program designed to assist ASA members find skilled employees. The service is free to chapter members.
Chapter members call and listen to recordings of applicants who have answered the ads. Members then may contact the applicant and arrange an interview. The chapter currently has nine ads running in local papers and plans to continue this valuable benefit program for members.
ASA-Washington member receives Governor's Award
Jim Busch, owner of Busch Collision in Issaquah, Wash., was one of eight recipients of the 1997 Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention. Washington Gov. Gary Locke and Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons presented the awards during a ceremony held Sept. 15 at the Capitol Building in Olympia, Wash. Busch was honored with the award for going beyond the requirements of environmental regulations and seeking ways to reduce pollution. His business has also demonstrated excellence through overall environmental commitments and a willingness to share knowledge with the community.
Busch has been a member of the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee since 1993. He also is the chairperson for the division's environmental task force.
ASA-Kansas City picnic
ASA-Kansas City held its family picnic Sept. 7 at Commanche Park in Overland Park, Kan. The annual event is held in lieu of the affiliate's regularly scheduled monthly meeting. More than 100 members, employees and their families enjoyed a day of food, fun and camaraderie.
Activities included games, a clown and a moonwalk for the kids. The adults also had an opportunity to play games, including a tug-of-war, a three-legged race, a water balloon fight and an egg toss. For the third consecutive year, Doug Stoll and Jerry Holcom won the three-legged race. (Anyone who attended CARS last year knows what a competitor Stoll can be.)
Barbecue brisket and ribs, as well as all the fixings, topped off the fun-filled day. Terry Henry, H&R American and Foreign in Merriam, Kan., was the chef for the day. Henry, a renowned barbecue cook-off champion, also donated half of the cost for the cookout. Sheri Hamilton, ASA-Kansas City executive director, said, "This year's picnic was the best we've ever had."
Affiliate thanks officer for dedication
Don Stone, ASA-Florida mechanical vice president, has been conducting technical clinics throughout the state for chapter meetings. Stone, owner of AAA Quality Transmissions in Stuart, Fla., volunteers his time and expertise to assist ASA and industry members by presenting the "Slips and Shudders" seminar, sponsored by ASA-Florida. The course is designed to help technicians trouble-shoot driveability problems that have been referred to transmission repair businesses. Stone teaches attendees that most of the problems turn out to actually be a faulty sensor or relay on the engine, rather than a transmission problem. Also during the class, Stone reveals many other mystery problems he has experienced in his more than 20 years in the automotive repair industry.
"Don Stone has traveled at his expense to put on these clinics to benefit the chapters. As ASA-Florida president, I am very pleased to recognize his talent to bring chapters closer together. ASA-Florida wishes to extend special thanks to him," said Debi Conde, ASA-Florida president. Stone has been an association member since 1994, and has held several leadership positions at the local and affiliate levels.
NATIONAL NEWS
Ascettes to honor attendees
The ASA Ascettes will hold its annual meeting during the 1998 ASA Annual Convention, to be held March 10-14 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The group will present three awards during the convention. The awards will honor the largest affiliate delegation attending the convention, the member(s) who traveled the farthest distance to attend the convention and its "Lady of the Year" award. To qualify, members must be registered for the 1998 ASA Annual Convention by Jan. 16, 1998. The "Lady of the Year" award is given to recognize a member's contribution to ASA and the industry. Nominations can be sent to Ascettes president, Gini Steffy, AAM, G & S Motors, P.O. Box 3182, Lynnwood, Wash. 98046-3182.
ASA calls for Quill Award entries
ASA is now accepting entries from ASA affiliates and members for the annual Quill Awards contest. The Quill Awards honor ASA affiliate publications in three categories: state and chapter newsletters and magazines.
ASA also honors member business television commercials. Members are encouraged to submit their best television commercial that promotes their business, credentials, and business affiliations.
The Quill Awards are judged by an industry panel and are recognized for excellence in design. The winners are notified by letter and announced in the May issue of AutoInc. Plaques will be presented during the Awards Luncheon at the 1998 ASA Annual Convention, to be held March 10-14, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
All entries must be received by Dec. 1, 1997. Mail submissions to: ASA, Attention: Quill Awards, P.O. Box 929, Bedford, Texas 76095-0929.
AMI announces scholarship recipients
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI), in conjunction with Babcox Publications, announced the winners of the Tom B. Babcox and BodyShop Business Magazine scholarships. The scholarships were established to reward individuals in ASA's mechanical and collision divisions with $1,000 to be used toward expenses to attend either the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) or the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). Applicants were required to own or work in an ASA member-business. This is the third year the scholarships have been awarded.
Robert Everett Jr., owner of Bayville Auto Care in Bayville, N.J., received the Tom B. Babcox Memorial scholarship. Everett used the $1,000 scholarship to attend CARS, held Sept. 24-27 in Dearborn, Mich. Robert Walker, owner of Walker's Body Shop in Marion, Ind., was awarded the BodyShop Business Magazine scholarship. The scholarship will contribute to the expenses for Walker to attend NACE, to be held Dec. 4-7, in Las Vegas.
AMI awards Emil Stanley Merit Awards
AMI annually selects collision repair professionals for the Emil Stanley Merit Award. This award recognizes a recipient's ongoing commitment to management education. The recipients are chosen based on an evaluation of their association and industry involvement and demon-strated desire to improve professionalism through management education.
The awards honor Emil Stanley, who was publisher of Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN) until his death in 1989. Stanley was committed to strengthening the professionalism of the collision repair industry through education. AMI has presented these awards to industry professionals since 1990.
This year's recipients are: Ray Canales, Fairfield Autobody, Fairfield, Texas; Mark Cobb, Cobb's Collision Center, Windham, Maine; Lena Arsine Nazarian, Action Auto Body, Silver Spring, Md.; and Gary Wiberg, Legacy Auto Works, Savage, Minn.
Recipients receive complimentary air transportation to NACE '97, hotel accommodations, and NACE registration and tuition to all AMI seminars held during the exposition.
The Emil Stanley awards are made possible by a grant from the Automotive Service Association (ASA) to EXCEL 2000, AMI's resource development program.
Reminder of the Month
The International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) is the largest collision industry repair event in the world and will be held Dec. 4-7 in Las Vegas. NACE '97 offers attendees a wide-variety of management and technical information, as well as industry education.
This year, NACE will host a panel discussion titled, "A Comprehensive Look at Key Industry Issues." The panel discussion will give attendees a unique perspective on the collision repair industry as NACE chairmen, past and present, discuss the in- dustry's hottest issues. Attendees can hear the views of these industry experts on topics such as insurance consolidation, work force shortage, diminished value and the industry's independence. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the issues.
NACE attendees are encouraged to submit questions, comments or industry concerns prior to the event. Collision repair professionals should submit their entries along with name, city and state via email to: NACE-info@NACE-97.com.
Implementing the new clean air regulations || NACE Coverage || A look back at CARS '97 || Understanding exhaust gas recirculation systems || Is the chemistry right for sectioning repairs || How to work with the media || Show owners critical to success of training programs || Hunting for profit || The training enigma - Part II || Guest Editorial: Dream or Nightmare - Do the Homework || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking The Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLV No. 11, November 1997