Contact:	Monica Buchholz (800) 272-7467 Ext 216
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin 97.37 July 28, 1997

ASA To Open Image Network

Bedford, Texas, July 28, 1997-- On Aug. 15, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) will open Image Network, an electronic mailing list that will be used to counter negative publicity received by the automotive service industry. It will also be used to distribute positive research and news about the automotive service industry to various audiences.

The electronic mailing list will be open to all industry members at no cost. To join, interested parties should send an e-mail message to asainfo@asashop.org, asking to subscribe to the Image Network, or visit the Image Network page of the ASA Web Site. After joining, the recipient will receive periodic e-mail messages from ASA about news and events that could have a positive or negative impact on the industry's image. Subscribers will then be asked to take action concerning the news and will be given recommended steps to follow.

Positive news about automotive service will be broadcast to subscribers, who will then be asked to share this information with their local media and use it in their communication with customers. Any news about campaigns that negatively portray automotive service will also be broadcast to subscribers, who will be asked to contact those responsible for the campaign with a pre-determined message.

"The more subscribers we have on the electronic mailing list, the more effective we will be in our efforts to improve the industry's image and to counter the negative publicity received by the industry," said G.W. "Bud" Merwin III, president and chief staff executive of ASA.

For more information, call (800) 272-7467, ext. 216.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving more than 12,000 businesses and approximately 55,000 professionals from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA advances the professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services.