MADA hosted its Annual Membership Meeting and Legislative Reception on January 15th in Annapolis. We were pleased to have many members attend, as well as welcoming a large number of our Legislative representatives.  

In her last address as MADA Chairperson, Marisa Shockley, thanked our members for their support during her tenure as Chair of the Board. She noted the power that we represent as a group in Annapolis. Marisa also highlighted our philanthropic efforts in Maryland, namely our support of the Teacher of the Year program and our financial support of Maryland Shock Trauma. 

Marisa Shockley receiving a plaque to commemorate her tenure as Chairperson of MADA.

Peter Kitzmiller discussed our Legislative victories in 2012 and highlighted the speed with which MADA addressed any bills which posed a negative threat to our industry. He discussed, in depth, the potential bills that MADA may have to address in the 2013 General Session with a reminder that dealers should answer any call to action that we send out, as we are always more successful as a united front on State Circle.

During the business portion of the meeting, the Board approved Tom Walls as new Chairman of the Board and JP Bishop as the new Vice-Chairman.    

Newly elected executives, Tom Walls, Chairman, and JP Bishop, Vice-Chairman.

We approved three Directors to serve a second three-year term: Bill Aschenbach, of the King Automotive Group; Jerry Dillard, of Fitzgerald Auto Mall Lexington Park; and Jack Saum, from Beltway International, representing Heavy Truck Dealers.   We also recognized Sam Weaver, Jr. who will represent Maryland in February as our 2013 TDOY nominee at the NADA/ATD Convention.  

We thank all of our members and Legislative representatives who attended the meeting and reception.   

We are thrilled to announce that this year's Maryland Teacher of the year, Rhonda Holmes-Blankenship, has been named one of the four finalists from around the country who will compete for National Teacher of the Year! Rhonda was named MD Teacher of the Year in October 2012. The winner of the National competition will be announced in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House in March.

Maryland has had two other finalists for National Teacher of the Year in recent years - Montgomery County kindergarten teacher Kimberly Oliver Burnim in 2006 and Frederick County chemistry teacher Michelle Shearer in 2011. Both were named National Teacher of the Year. We wish Rhonda the best in March; here's to bringing home the honor a third time!

MADA extends the invitation to all members attending the 2013 NADA/ATD Convention & Expo to join us at our reception.   The event will be hosted with members of the VADA and the WANADA Associations. Event details are as follows:

MADA/VADA/WANADA Reception

Saturday, February 9th

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Baterby's Art Auction Gallery

Pointe Orlando, Suite 1008

9101 International Drive

Orlando, FL 32819

Pleaes RSVP by February 1 to Natalie Toler at ntoler@vada.com or 804.545.3035.

After weeks, indeed months of proposals and counter-proposals, seemingly endless negotiations and down-to-the-wire drama, Congress has passed legislation to avert the tax side of the so-called "fiscal cliff." The American Taxpayer Relief Act permanently extends the Bush-era tax cuts for lower and moderate income taxpayers, permanently "patches" the alternative minimum tax (AMT), provides for a permanent 40-percent federal estate tax rate, renews many individual, business and energy tax extenders, and more. In one immediately noticeable effect, the American Taxpayer Relief Act does not extend the 2012 employee-side payroll tax holiday.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act is intended to bring some certainty to the Tax Code. At the same time, it sets the stage for comprehensive tax reform, possibly in 2013. Moreover, it creates important planning opportunities for taxpayers, which is discussed in further detail in this document courtesy of MADA associate member, Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.C.

NADA recently filled the National Dealer Association's chief of staff position which was left vacant after Phil Brady, who held the post for 11 years, resigned for another DC government relations assignment in August. After an extensive five-month search, NADA selected and hired Peter Welch, a longtime president and chief executive officer of the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) headquartered in Sacramento. CNCDA is one of the largest and strategically important new car dealer associations in the Automotive Trade Associations network (ATAE), of which MADA and about 75 other state and metropolitan dealer groups across the U.S. are members. MADA President, Peter Kitzmiller, had the following to say when questioned about the new choice in leadership, "Pete is an excellent choice; he knows the car business and we look forward to working with him."

Does your dealership store chemicals at your facility?  Chances are high the answer is "Yes."  As a business that stores and uses chemicals you have certain regulatory obligations to your employees, your community, and to emergency responders in your area.    A March 1st deadline is fast approaching for many states with one of those obligations:  Tier II reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).  KPA can provide information on this annual OSHA compliance regulation in order for your dealership to comply, CLICK HERE

Additional information can be found on the EPCRA Requirements page on the EPA website.  As always, KPA can assist you with your Tier II reporting questions.  Feel free to contact KPA for additional information at 866-356-1735 or info@kpaonline.com.

The Federal Trade Commission is warning small businesses that an email with a subject line "NOTIFICATION OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT" is not from the FTC. The email falsely states that a complaint has been filed with the agency against the company. The FTC advises recipients not to click on any of the links or attachments with the email. Clicking on the links may install a virus or other spyware on the computer. The FTC's advice: Delete the email.

 Top 10 Dealership Cost Savers...How Dealers Saved Big Bucks in the Past Year  

Date/Time: Thursday, January 23 at 1:00 p.m. 
Presenter:   Doug Austin, President of StrategicSource

Cost: $149.00 per person

Doug's firm is constantly working with dealerships and dealer groups to help them identify, and then eliminate, excess expense from the many costs of doing business in an auto dealership environment.

This past year's numbers are in and Doug has identified the "TOP TEN" areas in which dealers are experiencing unnecessary and wasteful spending. Chances are your organization suffers from the same over-spending and costly habits.

You will learn:

• The Top Ten money wasters that are probably costing you tons profit dollars each year!
• How to identify the losses in your dealership or group
• A number of solutions and fixes that you can apply to immediately start saving
• How to fix supplier contracts to plug profit leaks

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Whitford, Taylor, & Preston, LLP.