For those of you that attended the ASA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., I know you will agree that you were glad that you did. Even though we wondered how we could be away from our business for up to a week, we had a need and desire to attend, and we did just that.

I believe this was one of the best conventions we have had in a long time. The time spent at the pajama party, the optional tours, the “meet your representative” appointments, the legislative updates and the mechanical division sessions provided each one of us with fun, memories and valuable information for our business.

My position as your division director and a member of the board of directors, dictated, to a degree, the functions that I had to attend. Some activities were optional, and I could pick and choose what I wanted to do (with approval from my wife, Lori, of course). The Capitol and other historical landmarks I visited are etched forever in my mind. I definitely left Washington, D.C., more patriotic than when I arrived.

During Wednesday's general session, I arrived ready for the trip to the Capitol. I was skeptical about meeting my congressman because I thought it would just be a “show and tell” time with small talk and a photo. But I was wrong. My congressman, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) was genuinely glad to meet me and was very interested in answering my questions and listening to my comments. I took the opportunity to thank him for his support of H.R. 2735, “The Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act.” I also visited with other Oregon congressional representatives and two senators. Each one of these people are dedicated to their job and to the people they represent.

As I think back to the time spent with Rep. DeFazio, I remembered how I felt prior to the meeting. How I was thinking of an excuse not to go and trying to convince myself that it was going to be a waste of time and that the meeting was probably not going to alter world events. (It sounds like the same excuses that some people use on the subject of voting, doesn't it?) Well, I can say from first-hand experience that since I and other ASA members met with their respective representatives, events have been altered.

Prior to the annual convention, H.R. 2735 had 22 co-sponsors. Since the annual convention, more congressional representatives have added their support. At the time of this printing, the number of co-sponsors has increased to 33.

If I learned only one thing from the annual convention, it is the fact that my voice did count and it was heard. Being at the right place at the right time did make a difference.

John Francis, Jr., AAM, owner of Francis Automotive Service in West Chester, Pa., received the ASA 2002 Legislative Award and the 2002 Mechanical Division Alpha Award. The awards were presented during the ASA Annual Convention, held April 8 - 13 in Washington, D.C.

The ASA Legislative Award is presented to an individual who has made an impact on legislative and regulatory activities throughout the year. Francis led a demonstration in Washington, D.C., for members of Congress and their staff that explained the information availability problems that confront repair professionals. This demonstration led to the introduction of H.R. 2735, The Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act, currently being considered by the House of Representatives. Francis also hosted officials from the Environmental Protection Agency at his shop to discuss environmental practices and the joint ASA-EPA Greenshops program.

The Alpha Award recognizes Francis' commitment to the automotive service industry and his business and community involvement.

Francis has been in the automotive industry since 1968 and has owned his own business since 1979. He earned his Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 1993 and served as a National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) board member from 1992 to 1998.

He has been an ASA member since 1980 and served on the ASA Mechanical Division Operations Committee from 1992 to 1993 and again from 1999 to present. Francis also served as chairman of ASA's 2001 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service.

Organizers of the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) have announced that Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, will be Service Professionals Day at the show. AAPEX will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 8, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Thursday, Nov. 7, was chosen as Service Professionals Day since it is also the first day of the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). CARS is the premier event of the ASA mechanical division and features management education seminars and technical training classes. In addition to the educational programs, CARS offers a federal legislative update, optional tours, entertainment and more. CARS will take place Nov. 7 - 9 at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Bill Haas, ASA's vice president of divisions, education and training, said, "CARS provides the single greatest opportunity for shop owners, managers and technicians to receive quality education that will prove profitable every single day of their careers. ASA is proud to be part of a day dedicated to the service professional. This will be a great complement to an already successful event."

According to the two trade associations that sponsor AAPEX - the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) - the addition of ASA and the creation of a Service Professionals Day makes good sense for AAPEX exhibitors and the industry.

“By bringing service technicians into the show, we are creating more value for AAPEX exhibitors who now have additional stakeholders to do business with,” said Chris Bates, CEO and president of MEMA. “Service technicians have always been important in determining what product is installed on a vehicle. Now manufacturers can promote their brands and disseminate critical technical data in front of this very important audience.”

“Service repair accounts for 66 percent of the automotive aftermarket sales. The consumer contact point for this critical do-it-for-me market is the professional service technician,” said Al Gaspar, AAIA president and CEO. “Providing an opportunity for technicians and shop owners to see new products first-hand and talk with exhibitors adds value to AAPEX and helps the industry.”

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently announced the “Go to the Show” sweepstakes. The result of a combined effort between ASE and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the contest is open to all ASE-certified individuals.

Three winners will be chosen. They will receive a two-night stay in Las Vegas to attend the 2002 AAPEX show. Airfare, ground transportation to and from the airport, hotel room, meals and show entrance fees are included. Show attendance Nov. 5 - 6 is mandatory, and the winners must hold current ASE certification at the time of the sweepstakes drawing in August 2002.

Sweepstakes entry forms may be obtained by calling ASE at (703) 669-6600 or by downloading a PDF format version at the ASE Web site www.asecert.org. To enter, fill out the entry form and mail it to: AAIA, Attn: Sweepstakes, 4600 East-West Highway, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Entries must be received at AAIA before Aug. 1, 2002. Participants must be at least 21 years old to enter.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors approved a new five-year strategic plan at its 2002 spring meeting. Titled “Looking Forward,” the plan calls for ASA to be the automotive aftermarket's “premier resource for information and education.”

The five-year planning project was initiated in 2001. A planning team - consisting of ASA members, directors and affiliate and national staff - worked for several months to develop the plan. The team analyzed a broad range of issues and challenges facing ASA members and other automotive service professionals, including the increasing pressures on the traditional independent service provider, maturation of the automotive service and repair market, increased vehicle complexity and other market dynamics.

Specific areas of focus were undertaken to examine the association and its varied activities, including membership, member services, affiliates, inter- and intra-industry initiatives, legislative representation, education and training, governance, marketing, manufacturer relations and the automotive service market.

While each focus area requires a defined strategy to pursue over the life of the strategic plan, the overall plan summary states:

ASA will pursue a growth process of inclusion with respect to membership, focus on increasing its value to its members through services and infrastructure support, and proactively pursue opportunities which improve the business environment and raise awareness of ASA and its mission within the industry and members' markets.

The plan's primary focus areas fall into four categories:

Membership value. Always a priority of the association, the strategic plan heightens the importance of membership value.

Inclusion with respect to membership and other organizations. Through both direct and indirect industry relationships, ASA will pursue and develop synergies between its members and other industry groups that have many interests and values in common with ASA.

Pursuing opportunities that would improve the business environment. The strategic plan calls for ASA to be a central authority and champion of legislation fostering an optimal economic climate. Additionally, ASA will provide accessible outlets for both technical and management training.

Raise awareness of ASA and its mission. ASA will commit to strategic market planning to provide external and internal awareness of the organization and its initiatives and programs.

Chairman Dan Frohlich said creating and approving the new strategic plan marks the first step in a longer process. “The inward reflection, outward look and development of a vision allows for the development of ASA's long-range strategy. Now, ASA's board, committees and staff will begin the process of developing the initiatives for our strategies of the future. We'll begin a systematic process of implementing each phase of the plan, always mindful of its guiding vision to ensure that every step we take is a step toward realizing its objectives.

“By being a member of ASA, there are many ways for individuals to contribute to this process. I encourage all industry professionals to be involved and supportive so they can enjoy the continued opportunities the automotive service and repair industry provides today and the important role that ASA plays in maintaining those opportunities,” Frohlich said.

The ASA board of directors unanimously approved ASA-Rhode Island as the newest affiliate group in the ASA organization. “The members in ASA-Rhode Island were very diligent in their efforts to gain affiliation,” said ASA Chairman Dan Frohlich, AAM. “We look forward to working together as we continue to reinvent ASA as a partner for industry professionals.”

Paul Furtado, owner of The Car Works in Warren, R.I., summed up the feelings of the new affiliate members by saying, “Joining ASA should be a no-brainer for any professional automotive service facility. The chance to network with other like-minded professionals alone is worth the annual dues.”

Outgoing ASA Chairman Jim Keller presented the Chairman's Award of Excellence at ASA's 2002 Annual Convention held April 8 - 13 in Washington, D.C.

Recipients of this year's award were: Robert Salerno, owner of Salerno's Auto & Tire, Redlands, Calif.; Richard Flint, a leading Automotive Management Institute (AMI) instructor; Dave Zwalina, owner of Automotive One Inc., Longwood, Fla.; Reggie Denney, owner of Reggie Denney Auto Repair, Eden, N.C.; and Pete Hunt, executive director of ASA's Washington state affiliate.

Salerno is a long-time ASA supporter and advocate in the state of California. Last year he spearheaded the Automotive Service Councils of California's (ASC-CA) re-affiliation with ASA.

Flint has developed and led some of the most highly rated and successful AMI courses.

Zwalina is a past ASA national board member and has been active in ASA-Florida. He has been involved in legislative issues both statewide and nationally, and his service to ASA includes participation in the affiliate assembly, including a turn as chairman of the assembly.

If you are an owner, manager or employee of an ASA shop and want to further your business education, apply now for the Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship. The 2002 scholarship winner will be awarded $1,000 toward their expenses to attend the 2002 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) convention.

The Babcox Scholarship is made possible through the generosity of Babcox Publications working with the ASA Mechanical Division and the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). Scholarship applications must be received at ASA National Headquarters no later than Aug. 16, 2002.