Where do I begin? The ASA Annual Convention in Sandestin, Fla., was definitely more than I expected. The hotel was first-class, the beach was breathtaking, the food was excellent, and the functions included both information and entertainment.

My family accompanied me on this trip and needless to say, my children spent most of the time in the water. We returned to Oregon with a nice, radiant glow. I returned with one other major thing - excitement!! The "new" ASA is on the move.

The Friday morning Mechanical Division meeting provided attendees with information on a new opportunity for their shop. Tim Rhodes, Strategic Account Executive for CARDONE Industries, provided an excellent presentation, "Flash Reprogramming: It's Not Just for the New Car Dealer." The presentation included equipment requirements, how it works and the benefit it would provide to our customers. Tim is very knowledgeable about this product and was very helpful in answering our questions. This is definitely something that independents should think about as a new service and revenue stream. CARDONE has been invited to exhibit at the 2003 Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas on Nov. 6-8, and I will be one of the first people to visit their booth.

The afternoon portion of the Mechanical Division meeting began with a report from the third Annual Pro-Cut Brake Symposium provided by Paul Ebert of Pro-Cut International. A wide variety of trainers, vendors and suppliers to the brake industry attended the symposium. During the symposium, General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG provided presentations. Paul covered some of the main topics that were discussed during the symposium. Those topics included brake-fluid flushing, clamping brake hose, surface finish, ceramic brake pads, and ABS.

The day ended with a frank discussion about safety inspections. James R. Kelly, Director of the Division of Consumer Services for Florida, provided the history of the state inspection program in Florida. At this time he does not see any state initiative in Florida to develop a safety inspection program. His conclusion is based on current as well as future budget cuts and staffing issues.

Bob Redding, ASA-Washington, D.C., representative, said the need for state inspections is a tough sale to individual states and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There appears to be a perception that safety inspections are not needed because there is no support from other aftermarket groups, no interest from consumer groups and no public outcry. Also, there are no current statistics that prove inspections prevent accidents and save lives. The attendees were polled and at this time, even if focus is on the need for brake inspections, most attendees believed that a safety inspection program within their own state would not be a priority issue.

The thing I consider to be the biggest highlight of the Convention was NASCAR. Wow, what a presentation by two great NASCAR representatives, Terence Lawshe, National Sales Manager, Automotive Aftermarket and Odis Lloyd, Director, Automotive Aftermarket. It was an awesome feeling when they showed us the television commercial and the ASA logo was next to the logo for NASCAR. The advertisement is professional and very impressive and made me very proud to be an ASA National member.

The NASCAR Performance Network is the biggest member benefit offering national recognition and brand identification for ASA member shops. This is the opportunity that we have been waiting for! The national premiere of ASA and NASCAR will open on local computers on June 3, 2003.

For additional information, I refer you to the ASA/NASCAR press release inside this issue. I urge every ASA National member to sign up for the NASCAR Performance Network and become a member of the winner's circle.

ASA has teamed up with NASCAR to offer ASA National members the opportunity to be listed in the consumer shop locator section of the NASCAR Web site (www.NASCAR.com).

The NASCAR Performance Network is a new program. The locator page will be in the newly added "Automotive" section of NASCAR.com. Organized geographically, site users will be able to find an ASA member's shop name, hours of operation, types of services performed and a map to the shop.

The NASCAR Performance Network site goes live June 3.

ASA members will also be able to use a special NASCAR/ASA logo on marketing materials, advertisements, signs, business cards, stationery and countertop materials. As a bonus, participants will have access to password- protected areas of NASCAR.com and receive discounts at the NASCAR online store, participate in exclusive ASA online chats with NASCAR crew chiefs and much more.

There are a handful of ASA national members who volunteer to serve on the Mechanical Division Operations Committee. They sacrifice valuable time from their businesses and families for the greater benefit of all ASA members. They share their knowledge and experience in an effort to provide direction for ASA and to improve the automotive aftermarket industry. The Mechanical Division Operations Committee works for you. Their input, concerns, questions and opinions do make a difference. The 2003 Mechanical Division Operations Committee members are:

• Bill Filley, AAM, Division Director, Eugene, Ore.
• Earl Dohner, AAM, Asst. Division Director, Brookville, Ohio
• Robert Ayers, Santa Barbara, Calif.
• Aaron Clements, AAM, Augusta, Ga.
• Charlie Elder, AAM, Tallahassee, Fla.
• Steve Elliott, Evansville, Ind.
• Bill Moss, Manassas, Va.
• Stephen Powell, Laurel, Md.
• Pete Roberts, New London, Conn.
• Joe Torchiana, West Chester, Pa.
• Rolf Werner, AAM, Aurora, Colo.

Kevin Caldwell, AAM, of Autobody by Caldwell Inc. in Laguna Hills, Calif., was named chairman of ASA's board of directors for 2003-04. Caldwell assumed the chairman's post at the conclusion of the 2003 ASA Annual Convention, held March 19-22 in Sandestin, Fla.

Caldwell succeeds Dan Frohlich, AAM, of A.R.S. Automotive in Pittsburgh. Frohlich moves to the past chairman's seat on the board of directors for one year. In addition to Caldwell and Frohlich, other members of the board include Geralynn R. Kottschade, AAM, chairman-elect, Jerry's Body Shop Inc., Mankato, Minn.; and Denny Kahler, AAM, secretary/treasurer, Kahler's Werkstatt, Dublin Calif.

Serving as general directors are Aaron Clements, AAM, C & C Automotive, Augusta, Ga.; Joan Koebernick, AAM, Dakota-K Auto Repair Center & Tires, Arlington Heights, Ill.; and Reggie Denney, AAM, Reggie Denney Auto Repair, Eden, N.C.

Serving as affiliate directors are Charles Elder, AAM, Ray Gordon Brake Service, Tallahassee, Fla.; Dennis Sterwerf, AAM, Fairfield Auto & Truck Service, Fairfield, Ohio; and Stephen Keller, AAM, Keller Import Service Inc., Easley, S.C.

The final two board positions are held by the Collision and Mechanical Division directors: Chris Dameron, AAM, True2Form Collision Repair Centers Inc., Raleigh, N.C.; and William (Bill) Filley, AAM, Prairie Road Automotive, Eugene, Ore.

Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, also serves on the ASA board of directors in an ex officio capacity. Members of the 2003-04 ASA Executive Committee are Caldwell, Kottschade, Kahler, Frohlich and Elder.

Accidents and injuries involving electricity usually result from the use of unsafe equipment and/or improper installation, unsafe work environments and unsafe work practices. The primary hazards of electricity and its use are shock, burns, arc-blast, explosions and fires.

NOTE: Electrical installation, service and repair should be in accordance with National Electrical Code Standards and be performed by a qualified and licensed electrician.

To help prevent accidents, review the general safe practices provided below:

• Do not use electrical power equipment or tools on which you have not been trained.
• Keep power cords away from the path of drills, lathes, grinders and saws.
• Do not carry plugged in equipment or tools with your finger on the switch.
• Turn the tool or equipment OFF before plugging it in or unplugging it.
• Do not leave tools that are ON unattended.
• Do not handle or operate electrical tools or equipment when your hands are wet or when you are standing on wet floors.
• Do not operate spark-inducing tools or equipment, such as grinders or drills, near containers labeled "Flammable" or in an explosive atmosphere, such as in a paint spray booth.
• Turn off electrical tools/equipment and disconnect the power source from the outlet before attempting repairs or service work. Tag the tool/equipment "Out of Service."
• Do not use extension cords or grounded, three-pronged power tools that have the ground prong removed or broken off.
• Do not use an adapter that eliminates the ground, such as a cheater plug.
• Do not connect multiple electrical tools into a single outlet.
• Do not use a power hand tool while wearing wet cotton or leather gloves.
• Do not operate power hand tools/equipment with a two-pronged adapter or a two-conductor extension cord.
• Ensure all portable hand tools/equipment are grounded or of the double-insulated type, such as vacuum cleaners, grinders, polishers/buffers.
• Exposed wiring and cords that are frayed, cut, kinked or have deteriorated insulation should be repaired or taken out of service and replaced.
• Avoid using small electrical space heaters in office and work areas - they can and have ignited many fires.
• Electrical enclosures, such as switches, receptacles, and junction boxes should be provided with tight-fitting covers (plates, doors). Covers should be closed at all times when enclosure is not in use.
• Before an authorized person begins any repair work or inspection of a piece of electrical equipment, the current should be turned off at the switch box and the switch padlocked in the OFF position.

This Loss Prevention Bulletin is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult with qualified legal counsel to address your particular circumstances and needs. Universal Underwriters Group is not providing legal advice and assumes no liability concerning the information set forth above. LC-063G 01/03

In his first State of the Association Address, ASA President Ron Pyle told association members who gathered in March for their 2003 Annual Convention that "one of the unique positives of ASA is how active its volunteer leaders are."

Citing the leadership provided by ASA's 12-member board of directors and its mechanical and collision operations committees, Pyle said, "This level of member involvement in defining and driving the association's agenda is unique in my experience."

Pyle said, "ASA is not a staff or board-driven association. We are member-driven. While ASA has always asked members to set its agenda, their role in determining the association's priorities will become even more central in both the immediate and long-term future.

"We will strengthen the advisory role of the mechanical and collision committees to the degree that no one can say ASA isn't ahead of the curve. We all know the cliché that hindsight is 20/20. Because ASA has the good fortune of being represented by our industry's best, we possess the ability to have 20/20 foresight," Pyle said.

"We will become more aggressive and assertive in representing our members and our industry."

On the legislative front, ASA is taking the lead in opposing insurance company ownership of collision repair shops. In several states, ASA has been instrumental in introducing and building support for such legislation.

ASA is advocating federal legislation for association health plans. Bills addressing this issue are pending in Congress. "ASA is participating in the current debate on Capitol Hill, lobbying on your behalf. It is our hope and goal to see this legislation enacted so our members can have access to a comprehensive health plan at a reasonable cost," Pyle said.

Highlighting ASA events of the previous year, Pyle said November's Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) enjoyed its highest attendance ever.

"The breadth and quality of education, both technical and management, at this show is unequalled. CARS' reputation is expanding, and I envision tremendous growth potential. We did some things in 2002 that will help us achieve future growth, including the first-ever Service Professionals Day at AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) in conjunction with the opening of CARS. On the heels of that successful effort, I am pleased to report that our partnership with AAPEX will continue and expand," Pyle said.

The International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), held in December, celebrated it's 20-year anniversary. The show featured 47 educational classes and, for the first time, it included a "Small Shop" tract.

In closing, Pyle told members their charge over the course of the convention was to look ahead at the challenges mechanical and collision repair professionals will face. He asked them to define the future issues and priorities for the association.

"ASA will be relevant. ASA will be your advocate. ASA will call on you to share your wisdom and experience. ASA will expect you to be a part of moving this association and this industry forward," Pyle said. "We're all in this together. That thought gives me tremendous confidence as I get to know each of you. You are, indeed, our industry's best and I am honored to work for you."

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established extensive rules and regulations that must be followed when doing automotive refrigeration work. If you don't know the rules, you and your shop could face unwanted problems.

Know the facts before you start. The ASA Mechanical Division offers a free booklet containing EPA rules, regulations and information that can provide answers to the following questions and many more.

• Unfamiliar with some of the fitting sizes and labels you may encounter when working on strange car?
• Do you know how to handle contaminated or unfamiliar automotive refrigerant?
• Do you know the companies that dispose of or reclaim contaminated refrigerant?
• Do you know how to reclaim refrigerant at salvage yards and other motor vehicle disposal facilities?

To receive a copy, ASA requests that you pay a small shipping and handling cost of $5. To order by credit card, call ASA Membership Services at (800) 272-7467, ext. 295, or send a check for shipping and handling to ASA, Attention: Membership Services, P.O. Box 929, Bedford, Texas 76095-0929.

Reflecting the increased demand for timely industry information, member services and business solutions, ASA has unveiled its new Members Only area on the ASA Web site (www.asashop.org). Combining simplicity in design and navigation, the new Members Only area puts much-needed information at members' fingertips.

One of the first changes members will notice within the portal is the new navigation scheme, which divides the area into three distinct sections: ASA Community, Information Sources and ASA Member Services.

Incorporating the latest in Internet technology, ASA now offers powerful and flexible browser-based e-mail access, allowing ASA national members to access e-mail from anywhere at anytime through the new Members Only area. Members can sign up for ASA Web Mail free of charge by creating their own username and password settings. Receiving twice as much e-mail storage than other free e-mail providers, this tool is invaluable in communicating with customers or family and friends. Members can also set up address books, check other e-mail accounts through one central location, and create multiple folders to help organize their e-mail communications. Plus, the e-mail address (username@ ASAgo.com) helps to associate members with the world's most dedicated group of automotive professionals.

In addition to Web-based e-mail, ASA is also featuring a revamped online store, complete with a state-of-the-art shopping cart mechanism and online credit card transaction capabilities. The store offers members ASA promotional items and insignia, brochures, reference books and tapes and various business aids. Shopping can be done 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new Members Only section also contains the latest information on the new ASA/NASCAR program, including online enrollment. New sections devoted to information availability, the OEM Service Matrix and downloadable ASA logos have also been implemented.

To access the ASA Members Only Portal, click on "Member Login" from the ASA home page and enter your six-digit ASA member number into both the name and password fields when prompted.