ASCCA What You Need To Know

May 26, 2015

Register for the ASCCA Summer Conference and Take a Vacation with Your Friends and Colleagues

ASCCA's summer conference is an excellent way to acquire training, network, and get further educated on issues of concern to independent auto shops. Register now and you can still get the early bird registration -- that saves up to $100 off the regular rates! This will be fun! Register online or call 800-810-4272. Operators are standing by.

L.A. Approves Increasing Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour

On May 19 the Los Angeles City Council approved raising the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. The gradual raises would begin with an increase to $10 an hour on January 1, 2016 and to $10.50 an hour on July 1, 2016. The final vote on the measure will be in June and the mayor has said he will sign it. Business leaders warned that employers might leave L.A. for neighboring cities.

Read the article from The Los Angeles Times

The Next Heat Begins Tuesday, May 26, at 6 PM by Webinar

ASCCA together with AutoVitals has launched an educational program aimed at helping ASCCA shops gain significant boosts in technician and service advisor productivity while improving communication to the motorist with dealership grade professional inspection results. This program is available free to all ASCCA members and will demonstrate exactly how digital inspections will substantially improve their bottom line. Live webinars, interactive training, onsite visits and chapter meetings will be used for teams to gain education and earn points. Sign up for the pre-Olympic heats to get a leg up on the competition.

Read the flyer with all the details

Telematics in the News: World's Largest Agricultural Machinery Maker Says Farmers Don't Own Their Tractors

John Deere has told the Copyright Office that farmers don't own the tractors they've paid for, but rather have "an implied license for the life of the vehicle to operate the vehicle." John Deere's license covering the internal software on tractor control computers does not allow owners to modify the software. John Deere claims doing so would be Digital-Millennium-Copyright-Act-forbidden bypassing of Digital Rights Management.

Read the story

May 29 -- this Friday -- is the Deadline for Nominating a Colleague for an ASCCA Membership Award!

At the ASCCA 2015 Summer Conference we would like to take some time to recognize those members who stand out in our association and contribute to making the ASCCA what it is today. We often go without seeing the small details of contributions that ASCCA members make every day and now is our opportunity to bring those people to the front and provide them with a chance to be recognized. Nominations are due by May 29.

Submit a Nomination

Call for Board Nominations

The ASCCA is pleased to call for nominations for the 7 seats open for the 2016 Board of Directors. Participation on the ASCCA Board of Directors is a unique opportunity for automotive repair professionals to help guide the state's largest organization of independent auto shop owners in shaping the future of the industry and building a stronger industry. Board participation is a chance to grow personally and professionally, and to develop skills, experience and connections with a team of other passionate and motivated professionals. Applications are due July 1 and can be obtained via the link below.

Application for BOD

New Paid Sick Leave Law Takes Effect July 1; Here's What You Need to Do to Comply

California's Department of Industrial Relations has put out some useful information about what you need to do to comply with the Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 (AB 1522), which takes effect July 1. The information includes a link to Webinar training and a slide presentation. For example, employers need to display a poster on sick leave, provide written notice to employees about this benefit when they are hired, and keep records on how many hours have been earned and used for three years.

Link to the Dept. of Industrial Relations

NorCal Still Leads 169-139 in Countertop Display Contest

Sadly, here in ASCCA headquarters in Sacramento we didn't receive any contest entries this past week. From now until June 30 contest entries are worth 2 points (plus a bonus point for having both displays). Need a display? Have a contest photo to send in? Email pboerner@amgroup.us.

Updates on the contest are posted on Facebook.

Advice for Your Shop: Out of Alignment

What should you do if your business is out of alignment? Proper alignment is just as important for your business as it is for a car. In this article by Mitch Schneider for Ratchet & Wrench, learn how to align your goals with your mission and thereby reduce stress.

Read the article from Ratchet & Wrench

ASCCA's Members of the Month for May: Jim and Mary Payne

Jim and Mary Payne from The Driving Machine in Cupertino are the members of month for May. They have worked hard on Chapter 42 events for many years, including organizing trade shows. Jim is a past board president, and Mary helps organize every meeting. They have hosted multiple shop nights. They continually assist when letters need to be written for legislative concerns. In addition, they have been ASCCA members for 25 years.

Read about past members of the month here.

iATN Discounts Available to ASCCA Members

The International Automotive Technicians Network (iATN) is the world's first and largest online network of automotive service industry professionals. Since 1995, iATN has been providing outstanding service industry resources to members worldwide. ASCCA members can enjoy a $9-per-month discount off of the regular price of iATN Business+ premium membership, at $45-per-month. This membership provides your shop with up to 5 premium access accounts.

Link to iATN's website

ASCCA's Advocacy Fund at $3,110; More Donations Sought

We've passed $3,100 in the ASCCA Advocacy Fund, bringing our total raised to $3,110! Thank you! ASCCA established this fund to enhance our advocacy with the state legislature (e.g., legislative advocate's travel, ASCCA's annual legislative day lobbying, Government Affairs Committee initiatives). Help us reach our goal of $30,000, donate today:

Donate here

Help ASCCA Grow with the Special Membership Drive Tied to ASCCA's 75th Anniversary

To commemorate ASCCA's 75th Anniversary and help grow our members, our Board of Directors approved a limited offer to new members: $75 membership, starting now! Help us grow the association by recruiting new members! Chapters can sweeten the pot by adding their own incentive. Fine print: $55 application fee applies; Canceled members in the last 12 months are not eligible; No point/spiff for One Member Can! campaign; Regular (ARD) members only.

Member Discount Alert! ASCCA Partners with Educational Seminars Institute (ESi) for Discounted Courses

Seminar courses are normally $149.95. ASCCA members pay only $95 per attendee -- a savings of almost $55 per class! Service writer courses are normally $1,500. ASCCA members pay only $950 per attendee!

Click here to take advantage of this offer

G&K Services' First Aid Services Improve Workplace Safety

G&K Services offers several first aid kits and cabinets for mobile units and shops, which exceed all industry regulations, including OSHA and ANSI standards. Other new products include blood borne pathogen kits and a first aid responder eye wash station. For more information, email Leslie Kipnis or call 949-877-2750, or email Kathryn Kuskie or call 562-246-3022.

More info on G&K First Aid Program

OSHA Regulations on First Aid Kits

Thank You ASCCA Sponsors!