Contact:	Angie Wilson (800) 272-7467, ext. 216 angie@asashop.org
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin ASA-09 March 16, 2009

Back by Popular Demand:
ASA Announces Benefit Provider Networking Reception at 2009 Annual Convention

BEDFORD, TEXAS, March 16, 2009 - Attendees of the Automotive Service Association's 2009 Annual Convention will have an opportunity Friday, May 1, to meet and mingle with some of the sponsored benefit providers who provide products and services to ASA members. The event, which was added to the agenda last year and proved to be popular among attendees and vendors, will allow ASA members to learn more about the money-saving benefits available to them, while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and networking with peers.

The Benefit Provider Networking Reception will be held from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando. The following companies are scheduled to participate in the Benefit Provider Networking Reception: Alldata, Audatex, AutoZone, AVI, CCC Information Services, Cintas, CustomerLink, Elavon, Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Mitchell 1, NPC, Pace Software, Toyota, UniFirst and Zurich.

"The reception is a terrific opportunity for our benefit providers to network with members and volunteer leaders of the association. I like this event because of the casual atmosphere and quality time it provides for our membership to talk with our benefit partners on a personal level," said John Scully, ASA executive vice president.

In addition to the Friday night reception, the convention will include the ASA board of directors meeting; a State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive; an affiliate assembly meeting; a keynote address by Meagan Johnson addressing multigenerational issues; informative Industry Impact sessions focusing on the automotive service and collision repair segments of the industry; three Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars; ASA's annual Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, which will again host the AMI graduation ceremony; and an AMI dessert reception.

Online registration for ASA's Annual Convention will be open until April 20; however, attendees who register by March 31 will enjoy significant savings. To register, or for more information, visit www.ASAshop.org/Annual09. Event sponsors for ASA's 2009 Annual Convention include Alldata, the American Society for Asset Protection, AutoZone, CCC Information Services, Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Mitchell 1, Toyota and Zurich.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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