Around ASA
ASA-Oregon names new executive director
ASA-Oregon hired Deb Elkins as its new executive director. Elkins has worked in association management for five years and government affairs for four years. She also has more than 15 years of experience in business management of various service-related industries.
In addition, she was co-owner of a towing company in Eugene, Ore., until 1995. As co-owner, Elkins was determined to change the image of the towing industry in her community. Through this determination and dedication, she achieved this goal and the company was nationally recognized for two consecutive years for its professionalism and customer service excellence.
Joe Bernard, AAM, the current director, will continue to work closely with Elkins until his retirement later this year.
Bernard has served as ASA-Oregon executive director for more than 10 years.
AMI Announces 1998 Babcox Memorial Scholarship Recipient
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI), in conjunction with Babcox Publications, recently announced Michael Hertel as the recipient of the "Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship." The scholarship was established to recognize management-oriented members of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division. The recipient receives $1,000 to be applied toward expenses to attend AMI seminars offered during the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.
Hertel, the owner of Japanese Auto Clinic, Greenwood, S.C., has worked in the automotive service industry for 30 years. He is ASA-South Carolina Mechanical Import Chairman and ASA-South Carolina Greenwood Affiliate President. Hertel also serves on the Piedmont Technical College Automotive Advisory Council.
CARSTAR honors two ASA members
CARSTAR Automotive Inc. held its eighth annual conference July 15-18, in Snowbird, Utah. During the conference, CARSTAR announced Bill Denny's CARSTAR Collision Repair in Havre de Grace, Md., as a winner of its Outstanding Customer Service Award and Lakeside Collision CARSTAR in Mt. Laurel, N.J., as the winner of its Outstanding Facility Production Award. Both shops are ASA members: Bill Denny's since 1989 and Lakeside Collision since 1993.
ASA-Pinellas County, Fla., chapter holds panel discussion
On June 16, approximately 50 industry representatives attended a panel discussion on parts hosted by the ASA-Pinellas County, Fla., chapter.
The group discussed ways to improve the vital working relationship between automotive repair facilities and parts suppliers. Some of the topics discussed at the event included labor claims, delivery promptness, parts quality and problems related to suppliers who sell to both professionals and the general public.
The discussion was well received by both the repair professionals and the parts representatives. The ASA-Pinellas County chapter plans to organize another meeting soon to keep the lines of communication open.
Ascettes to honor members at convention
The ASA Ascettes will hold its annual meeting during the 1999 ASA Annual Convention, to be held March 16-21 in Bermuda. The Ascettes annually honor the largest affiliate delegation attending the convention, and the member(s) who travel the farthest distance to attend. To qualify, members must be registered for the ASA convention by Jan. 8, 1999.
Each year the Ascettes also bestow on the membership the annual "Lady of the Year" award, which honors a woman who has been active with ASA and the industry in any capacity. Nominations are open to all ASA chapters and affiliates. To nominate a candidate for this award, contact Gini Steffy, AAM, G&S Motors, P.O. Box 3182, Lynnwood, Wash. 98046; phone (425) 776-7570. Nominations must be received by Jan. 30, 1999.
ASA Annual Convention information will be mailed in November.
ASA calls for event dates
The end of 1998 is quickly approaching and many affiliates and chapters are planning for the new year. ASA is very interested in the events of its chapters and affiliates and would like to help increase attendance at these events by publishing them in ASA's official publications. If your group has trade shows, seminars, conventions, etc. that you would like published in the publications, as well as on the ASA Web site, please compile a list of these events and send it to the affiliate liaison. The list may be mailed to: ASA, Attention: affiliate liaison, P.O. Box 929, Bedford, Texas 76095-0929, or you may fax it to (817) 685-0225.
NATIONAL NEWS
ASA has a valuable new member benefit: a 15 percent discount on most Mitchell Repair Information Co. computer software and repair manuals. ASA members who are already Mitchell users may receive the discount on their next renewal or purchase of Mitchell products.
The U.S. EPA has asked ASA to participate in its new Environmental Accounting Project. The goal of the project is to make it easier for small businesses to account for their environmental costs using accounting software that is already available.
The EPA will work with Best!Ware and Peachtree Inc. to develop new software components that will allow small businesses to keep track of their environmental costs. An advisory group has been convened by the EPA to help the software manufacturers design tools that will be easy for small businesses, such as independent repairers, to use.
A poll of Wisconsin residents has found that consumers want to choose what types of replacement crash parts will be installed on their vehicles. Of those who participated in the poll, 73 percent said consumers should decide between the various available parts. The poll showed that 42.5 percent believes insurance rates should not increase if consumers choose the type of crash part to be installed on their vehicle. And, the poll showed that of those who support consumer choice, 70 percent believe this choice should be the consumer's regardless of the vehicle's age.
Reminder of the Month
The International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) will be held Dec. 3-6, at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas. NACE, the world's largest collision repair event, is expected to draw more than 650 companies that will demonstrate the latest techniques and technologies in the collision repair industry.
Member recognized by customer for outstanding service
Note: The following letter appeared in The Patriot News, Harrisburg, Pa., in July.
Kindness alleviated accident On July 4, while driving north on Interstate 81, my family and I had a close encounter of the worst kind with a deer near the Annville/Indiantown Gap exit. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but we quickly realized that the car could not be driven any further because of the considerable damage. While I was standing next to the car wondering what to do next, a gentleman stopped to ask how we were doing and told me that his brother-in-law had a body shop nearby. In short, what had started to be a disastrous morning became a lot less so through the kind efforts of John "Barney" Barna, the owner of Shuey's Body Works. I do not know what Mr. Barna had planned for that morning, but it turned out that he spent the next three hours helping my family and I get back on the road again. This help included taking me back to the Harrisburg Airport to get a rental car. It is nice to know that there are people like Mr. Barna willing to help a total stranger in an hour of need. To have it happen on our national holiday made it even more meaningful.
Raymond J. Wright |
EPA Expands Refrigerant Regulations || Caught Between the Past and the Future || How Shops Compensate Technicians || Automated Estimating Systems Ease Body Shop Life Despite Problems || 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. XLVI, October 1998 (http://www.asashop.org)