| What You Need to Know
To Elevate and Unite Automotive Professionals, andGive Them Voice
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ASCCA Has a New Facebook Page
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Please visit us on our new Facebook page. We look forward to your comments and shared experiences. We will be posting information, links and events as a way to continue supporting our community and advancing our industry. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to "Like" us as well! We look forward to hearing from you soon! |
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SB 750 Stalled on the Assembly Floor
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Due to your continuous efforts SB 750 failed to make it off the Assembly floor with 29 yea votes, 25 nay votes and 26 abstaining. The motion to reconsider has been continued, however the bill will not be heard again until sometime after the Assembly comes back into session on August 6th.
If ultimately passed and signed into law, SB 750 will make permanent an exemption for BMW from providing electronic key code information to locksmiths, requiring motorists to contact the automaker to get a replacement key for their vehicle. It should be noted that BMW has had five years to comply with the key replacement system originally created by the Legislature in 2006. ASCCA and industry advocates have been battling this legislation for nearly a year and have argued their concerns about motorists being inconvenienced and often stranded in dangerous situations because they were not able to obtain a replacement key. In addition, opponents argued that this bill is anti-consumer and anti-competitive, and while this resonated with some legislators, it was not enough to convince the majority to vote against the measure or not vote on the measure. As you know, the key is much more than the instrument that enables an individual to start a vehicle. It is coded with security information that is tied into the vehicle's computer system and will disable a number of auto components including in some cases the transmission, making the vehicle immobile as well as preventing a vehicle from being started after certain major repairs. The aftermarket industry has developed a system for key coding and vehicle programming that the majority of vehicle manufacturers follow to ensure both the security of the vehicle as well as access to the independent repair industry. SB 750 will certainly interfere with the ability to have a vehicle serviced outside of the manufacturers' network, and this in turn will create hardship for the consumer as well as create anti-competitive forces for the independent automotive repair industry.
We're not out of the woods yet, we need you to continue to contact your local representatives to urge them to vote NO against this anti-consumer bill!
We'll continue to keep you updated on this very important issue.
Click here to find your representative.
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The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) Announces New Executive Director
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NASTF Executive Director, William ("Skip") Potter
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) is pleased to announce the appointment of William ("Skip") Potter as the organization's Executive Director. Potter will assume the day-to-day management of NASTF as of July 1st. "After an extensive search process, the NASTF board selected Skip from an impressive list of candidates," said Ron Pyle, NASTF Chairman. "His background, knowledge and experience make him the ideal choice to take NASTF to the next level." Potter's professional life has been dedicated to the automotive service industry, with the past 24 years in association management providing expertise in non-profit entrepreneurship, volunteer development, financial management, and meetings/events management. He most recently served as Executive Director/CEO of the Chesapeake Automotive Business Association (CABA), and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Employee Federal Credit Union. "Since its beginnings in 1999 I have watched NASTF apply its creative solutions to one of our industry's most complex technical needs, service information. It will be an honor to work, now, as their Executive Director," he said. Potter will be based in Jacksonville, FL. "As I watched the development of NASTF from the bold projects in Arizona 13 years ago and later sat through several crowded NASTF annual meetings in Las Vegas I was always impressed by the work of their talented and dedicated volunteers," Potter said. An extensive interview with Potter is planned for the upcoming August NASTF E-Newsletter. Attendees will have the chance to meet Potter in person at the next NASTF General Meeting in New Orleans October 13th.
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| Calendar of Events | |
Team Weekend
September 29-30, 2012
Embassy Suites, Sacramento
Hotel Reservation: COMING SOON
Room Rate: $149
Reservation deadline: Sept 7
Team Weekend
December 8-9, 2012
Embassy Suites, Sacramento
Hotel Reservation: COMING SOON
Room Rate: $149
Reservation deadline: Nov 16
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Catepillar, Inc. Pays $510,000 for Shipping, Selling Uncertified Equipment in California
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Caterpillar, Inc., will pay a fine of $510,000 to the Air Resources Board for shipping more than 590,000 on-road and off-road engines that did not have legally required emissions controls installed.
The investigation of these violations was conducted with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice based on similar conduct outside of California. The settlement calls for the Illinois-based company to pay a total of $2.55 million in penalties nationwide for violations of the Clean Air Act.
California's $510,000 portion is based on its share of the engines sold. Caterpillar, which manufactures construction equipment and diesel and natural gas engines, also agreed to recall and correct non-compliant engines and to reduce excess smog-forming and diesel emissions.
Caterpillar recalled the affected engines from August 2002 to April 2005. In 2010, in accordance with the federal Consent Decree, the company reopened and continued the recalls until December 31, 2011.
The federal government's claims were resolved in 2011. The state's recent agreement concludes California's portion of the investigation.
"This was a complex case that demonstrates successful cooperation between different agencies with overlapping jurisdictions," said ARB Executive Officer James Goldstene. "The result is cleaner air and the assurance that a major player in this competitive manufacturing field is now playing by the appropriate rules."
In addition to shipping engines without proper emission controls, Caterpillar also failed to comply with reporting and engine-labeling requirements.
Under the settlement, Caterpillar will pay the $510,000 fine to the California Air Pollution Control Fund to support air quality research.
Engines lacking proper emission controls can produce excess smog-forming pollutants that can exacerbate cardiac and respiratory ailments such as asthma.
ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.
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ASCCA Launches New Consumer Targeted Slogan
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The ASCCA Public Relations Committee has developed an exciting new slogan with the purpose of ensuring that the ASCCA sign is synonymous with quality automotive shops. The slogan, The Sign You Can Trust! is directed at your potential and existing customers.
This exciting new campaign will start by incorporating our new slogan, The Sign You Can Trust! with our existing logo, creating public awareness that will translate into consumers looking for shops displaying the ASCCA sign. The goal of our campaign is to increase your business with new customers and help you retain existing clients. Participate in this new campaign and help strengthen the public's awareness that ASCCA shops are the shops they can trust to meet their automotive needs!
How to use the new slogan:
- Place on existing letterhead, business cards, brochures and forms.
- On your website and social media pages.
- In your printed and electronic newsletters.
- With your local advertising.
- Place on Press Releases when producing information for public distribution.
- Place the adjunct sign with the slogan beneath your ASCCA sign at your shop.
- Incorporate on promotional material produced for your shop, such as calendars, mugs, magnets, pens, etc.
For more information on getting the ASCCA logo with the new slogan and for purchasing an adjunct sign, contact ASCCA staff at (800) 810-4272 or email Cindi Alvidrez at [email protected].
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ASCCA One Member Can! Update
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The One Member Can! campaign has pushed off with great momentum and we've seen just how much one member CAN make a difference!
Since the launch of the One Member Can! campaign in February, ASCCA has seen individual members throughout the state rise to the occasion to reach out and make a difference in their Chapter and for ASCCA!
Rory Balmer has already earned his first iPad and is well on his way towards earning more prizes. Rory (pictured below) was awarded his iPad a
tthe ASCCA Summer Conference, June 23-24 at the Hilton Irvine Orange County.
 | | Rory Balmer (Chapter 14), Mary Kemnitz (Membership Committee Chair), Heather Vigil (Membership Director) |
You Can Make a Difference & Be Rewarded Too!
Remember when you recruit a new member to send in your coupon on the bottom of the One Member Can! Membership Drive or send an email with your name and the name of the member(s) you have recruited.
The One Member Can! informative, 2-page flyer is designed to be printed double-sided on 8 �" x 11" sheets of paper, while the one page poster is designed to be a tabletop piece, printed on glossy 8" x 10" stock paper - to be place next to the 2-page flyers. There is also a 16" x 20" poster available. If you would like to display a poster of that size, please contact us directly and the template will be forwarded separately.
Please take a moment to read through the marketing material thoroughly. The more you know about our One Member Can! campaign - the better you'll be at using it to engage and enlist new members! The material also contains instructions on how to report your new member sign-ups, and how you can win a new iPad.
If you need any additional information or have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Heather Vigil at (800) 810-4272 or [email protected].
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| Special Thank You to ASCCA's Diamond Sponsors! | |
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One Capitol Mall, Suite 320
Sacramento, CA 95814
(800) 810-4272
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