As the year draws to a close, I reflect on my activities and progress. It has been a busy year both personally and professionally. Some of my plans and goals were accomplished, some were changed, and others just got deleted. Being a shop owner is a continuous journey and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the track (for some reason) just keeps getting longer, so I never get to the end. Maybe there is a lesson to learn that to reach the end would mean the journey is over. Could the journey and raising the bar be synonymous?

For many years, ASA has done a great job of moving our membership and association forward. ASA continues to demonstrate that we are the leading force in the automotive service industry. ASA strives to keep members informed about industry issues and state and federal legislation that affect our business and customers.

But, as in all associations and businesses, the bar must rise and the track lengthened in order to grow and reach new heights. In order to continue our success, we must rise to the challenge.

Remember the saying, “The best-laid plans of mice and men...” well, that's true. Events or situations occur that change our plans. This is when we back up, regroup and try again. However, our main focus or final outcome should remain the same. What I see as a huge obstacle someone else may view as a small hurdle.

The date Sept. 11, 2001, will never be forgotten. This was a tragic day that changed my plans as well as the plans of millions of Americans. I dare say that each American felt the same way I did. On this day, the American way of life was attacked. As the holiday season approaches, may we remember those who have died and the members of the American family who will spend their holidays on foreign soil defending our right to live without fear of terrorism.

Our previous plans were temporarily halted. We spent time re-evaluating plans and priorities. Some plans were revised, deleted or created. Priorities were shuffled and re-numbered, but the main goal never changed.

The bar has been raised a notch or two and the journey begins again. We will face what lies ahead with renewed vigor, courage and determination because the main goal, to win, has never changed. We will win because losing is not in the plan.

According to the EPA, the new guideline was developed to give administrators the opportunity to direct their attention to higher environmental priorities. The policy allows areas classified as being in moderate attainment with national ozone levels flexibility with PM regulations.

The EPA developed this policy in response to a court decision delaying the implementation of tougher standards for fine PM and ozone. Areas will have to meet several criteria in order to be eligible for the flexibility program. Those criteria include:

• Air quality monitoring data for the past five years that demonstrates the area has been well below the current standard.
• A limited expectation of growth in emissions from motor vehicles.
• Establishment of a prescribed procedure to validate its claims.
• An annual review of air quality data to determine whether PM levels are below the standard.

The EPA stated, “The plan is a perfectly reasonable accommodation for areas where exceedence of the standard is not a threat, and will allow regulators to concentrate on higher priority issues.” The plan has enough safeguards to re-classify the attainment areas as non-attainment if PM levels exceed the standard. Environmentalists expressed concerns over this new policy by claiming the Bush administration is creating clean air flexibility without technical or legal precedent. Environmentalists also question why flexibility is needed if these areas have no problem meeting the requirements.

ASA has joined with other small business trade associations to question Congress and the Administration's economic stimulus efforts. ASA is concerned that broad based options being considered will do little for the small business community and in particular the aftermarket. ASA testified before the House Small Business Committee as part of a coalition of small business trade associations.

ASA has asked members of Congress to consider accelerating small business tax incentives now in place such as allowing businesses to write off equipment investments as expense items and other tax issues.

The small business community has been concerned that the stimulus package being discussed would focus on lowering corporate taxes, which has limited appeal to small businesses and tax breaks for low-income individuals. Neither would stimulate the aftermarket to any great degree.

House Democrats have proposed giving tax rebate checks to 34 million low-income workers who did not receive an earlier rebate. Their plan would also include increased expensing for small businesses.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas, R-Calif., has not ruled out a cut in the capital gains tax. Three options are forming in the U.S. Senate: a Democratic proposal, a Republican proposal and a package being developed by a bipartisan group of approximately 30 members.

The economic stimulus package will dominate debate in Congress during the last month of the session. The President has indicated he will oppose or veto any increase in the minimum wage as part of the stimulus package.

Although Congress has made progress on several small business tax items in recent years, there are key provisions offered by ASA and its small business coalition that now have an opportunity to be addressed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new motor vehicle emissions model. The model was issued to assist states that are not meeting ozone attainment.

The EPA developed this model after states expressed concern the agency wouldn't allow enough time or flexibility to implement the new rule. The MOBILE6 guideline states the EPA will not require states that have already submitted their state implementation plans (SIP), or those who plan to do so shortly, to revise their plans to fit the new model.

There will be a two-year grace period before MOBILE6 would be required for most transportation needs. States will be allowed time to decide if their SIPs should be revised to fit the MOBILE6 model. According to the EPA, “When we approve a new emissions model like MOBILE6, we establish a grace period before the model is required to be used for conformity analyses.”

Environmentalists believe the report could serve as a guide for other lawmakers by offering options for controlling mercury pollution from scrapped vehicles.

The concern for the auto industry is mercury light switches in vehicle trunks and hoods. These switches stay in vehicles even after they are scrapped. After the switches are melted down, the mercury is released into the air, causing pollution. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, mercury pollution from vehicles is the fourth-largest source of airborne mercury emissions nationwide.

Maine and Rhode Island recently passed legislation to deal with mercury issues in consumer products, but mercury in automobiles has not been included. In Maine, any product scrapped must remove the mercury component. The legislation also included language to develop a plan to remove mercury from scrapped automobiles.

Environmentalists believe automakers should be financially responsible for removing the switches. In addition, environmentalists stated American automakers voluntarily agreed to eliminate mercury switches in 1995 for automobile production. European and Japanese auto manufacturers have removed mercury switches from their vehicles.

Automakers argue the responsibility should be on the dismantlers who scrap these automobiles and resell automotive parts.

The Energy Buyers Program comes at no cost to ASA members and acts as a personal shopper to find the best combination of price and reliability from competing suppliers. APPI analyzes customer data, prepares bids, and negotiates and manages contracts for energy purchases, allowing members to focus on other areas of their business.

APPI has created a large-volume, multi-industry pool by combining the purchasing power of members from many associations. By buying electricity in volume, they are able to negotiate for a lower price than any single business owner might be able to leverage on their own.

“APPI engineers can also assist ASA members in finding ways to more effectively manage their energy usage through improved equipment and management techniques,” said Michael Payne, vice president and corporate counsel for APPI.

ASA members who buy natural gas can request a free no-obligation customized savings analysis comparing their current natural gas cost to alternative suppliers' rates in their market. Similar to the electric utility, APPI will negotiate stable purchase and delivery contracts for gas on behalf of participating ASA members.

Additionally, ASA members may request utility bill auditing from APPI to uncover rate inconsistencies and other billing errors for possible refunds and immediate savings.

Statistics provided by APPI indicate that in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, states where there is active competition among electricity suppliers, the average electricity savings for program participants is 12 percent.

“As more and more states deregulate their utilities, research is necessary to find the best price for your needs,” said John Scully, ASA's vice president of membership services. “ASA members will benefit from the expertise APPI brings to the table.”

Contact your state's Public Utility Commission or Public Service Commission for information about energy deregulation in your area. Information about this or any other ASA member benefit may be obtained by calling the ASA Membership Department at (800) 272-7467, ext. 295.

Burglaries and vandalism are loss exposures for your property as well. Thieves target employee tools, electronic equipment and cash among other items. All aspects of physical security must be assessed including lot protection, building security, intrusion detection alarms and vehicle security. Take some time to review the following aspects of your business and determine if improvements can be made in any of these areas:

Vehicle Security

• When possible, avoid keeping vehicles overnight.
• As space permits, park all customer vehicles inside the service area.
• If space is scarce, park "target" vehicles inside or in the most secure area available. Target vehicles include SUVs and vehicles with aftermarket stereos, wheels, etc.
• At night, secure all vehicle keys by locking them in a safe, file cabinet or in a technician's toolbox.
• If you provide a "night owl" key drop box, ensure that keys/envelopes cannot be fished out of the slot or pulled under the door.
• Post signs reminding customers that your business will not be held responsible for personal articles left inside their vehicles.
• Park vehicles closely together and bumper-to-bumper.
• Remove keys from all unattended vehicles, including customer cars in the service drive.

Lot Security

• The ultimate goal is to deny thieves access to your building, property and customer vehicles.
• Install six-foot chain link fence topped by three strands of barbed wire to enclose your property.
• Gates should be reinforced steel equipped with heavy-duty padlocks.
• Install three-to six-inch diameter posts four to ten feet apart with chain or cable between posts.
• If aesthetics are a concern, use landscaping and natural terrain - ditches and embankments - to protect your business.
• During daylight hours, close all but one entrance to channel traffic through a single point.
• Consider installation of intrusion detection and alarm systems on fences and gates.
• Exterior lighting should illuminate all areas, leaving no shadows or dark areas.
• Contract with a security service to patrol the facilities during non-working hours.
• Ask the local police department to increase patrols of the premises.
• Consider installation of closed-circuit surveillance cameras.
• Instruct employees to stop and question any person who enters restricted areas.

Building Security

• Illuminate all exterior areas of the building.
• Equip exterior doors with double-cylinder deadbolt locks.
• Ensure that pins on exterior doors are welded or otherwise secured to prevent removal.
• Install heavy metal doors and doorframes.
• Protect exterior windows with wire or "burglar bars."
• Protect skylights and other roof openings against forcible entry.
• Post signs stating that the property is protected by burglar alarms, surveillance cameras, etc.
• Consider installation of burglar alarm systems, monitored by a central station monitoring service, in all buildings.
• Use Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved central station monitoring services.

Employee Controls

• Require all prospective employees to fill out an employment application.
• Confirm information supplied by the applicant.
• Contact previous employers.
• Conduct criminal background and credit checks for sensitive positions.

The ultimate goal is to ensure that your business is protected from thieves. Don't take unnecessary risks with your business property or your customers' trust.

Opposition to moving the EPA to a cabinet-level position is increasing. The Chairman of the U.S. House Government Reform Subcommittee for Energy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs, Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif., feels the EPA needs changes to its organizational structure before it can be eligible for a cabinet position.

Reps. Steve Horn, R-Calif., and Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., have introduced two separate pieces of legislation to make the EPA a cabinet position. Boehlert does not challenge Ose's assertion that the EPA needs organizational changes, but a member of Boehlert's staff said, “Some agency reforms are necessary, but they should be dealt with in separate legislation, allowing H.R. 2438 to pass free of any potentially controversial provisions.” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has introduced a Senate companion bill.

Horn's bill, H.R. 2694, requires regulatory and other reforms at the EPA in order for it to become a cabinet position. The bill will require the EPA to publish risk assessment and cost benefit analysis on all proposed and final regulations, and for new requirements for managing environmental data.

President Bush has stated he is in favor of Boehlert's bill and will sign it if it comes to his desk. White House press Secretary Ari Fleischer stated, “He believes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has been and is deserving of cabinet status. It's a justifiable recognition of the importance of the role of the EPA.”

After three months of airings, independent A.C. Nielsen monitoring reports show the program has been broadcast 1,050 times reaching an audience of 4.9 million American viewers.

In the nation's top 50 markets, the program has aired 302 times. It has aired 386 times in the second 50 markets, and 362 times in the remaining smaller markets. Each station airing the program ran it an average of 6.77 times during its first three months.

Former ASA Chairman Bob Anderson represents automotive professionals on the program. It was also filmed at his shop, Anderson's Automotive Service, in Sheffield Village, Ohio.

The program is not a commercial for ASA; PBS does not broadcast commercials. Rather, it is a public service to educate motorists on things to look for and questions to ask when they are seeking to establish a relationship with a shop. Although it's not a commercial, motorists are encouraged to look for the ASA sign when selecting a shop.

“A benefit of ASA broadcasting this message on PBS is that it lends credibility to the association and to the automotive repair industry,” said Jim Keller, ASA's current chairman. “Because the program takes the form of a short documentary, we are able to use five minutes to communicate a positive message much more effectively than we could with a 30-second commercial,” he said.

One of ASA's goals in underwriting this program was that it would allow ASA to reach a large number of motorists without the tremendous expense associated with advertising on for-profit television networks. “The fact that we've reached nearly 5 million Americans in the first three months alone indicates this has been and will continue to be a very successful campaign,” Keller said.

PBS representatives have told ASA the program will air for a minimum of two years.

U.S. EPA Administrator Christine Whitman said a report on Ohio's implementation of the Clean Air Act shows serious problems. “The EPA recommended a series of changes that the state must make to its air program to prevent any future proceedings that could revoke the state's delegation of those programs.”

EPA Region V conducted a report that identified a number of problems with the state's air permitting and enforcement programs, which included a decrease in enforcement actions, lack of personnel to conduct enforcement and a series of other concerns.

Several senators expressed concern over Schregardus's nomination. A staff member for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., says the report “does not do anything to alleviate the senator's concerns.” Sens. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., and Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., released a joint statement, “expressing renewed concern over Schregardus's environmental record.”

In response to opposition to his nomination, Schregardus removed his name from consideration.