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January 03, 2014 Here is what you will find in this edition:
JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! NJGCA and RIGHT TO REPAIR in the News!
First, I wanted to share this article that I am quoted in, regarding the progress that Right to Repair made in the NJ Legislature before the holidays.
Now, speaking of the holidays... although the Christmas and New Years celebrations have ended, and it is officially the end of the holiday season and the beginning of 2014, I wanted to take the time in this Road Warrior to write my traditional Christmas and New Years message to my members.
Christmas and New Years are like no other events in the calendar year. These holidays mean so much more than gift giving, holiday parties, and endless glasses of eggnog or champagne. This is a special time, where your professional life comes to a standstill so that you can enjoy both the fruits of your labor and the (much more) important things in your life.
Together, we’ve weathered quite a year. Despite many obstacles and pitfalls you’ve all made it through --- And you have to be very grateful for that. I know I am. Just imagine: This marks another year in business, putting friends and neighbors to work, providing for your family, and giving back to your community. As we close out 2013, don’t forget to reflect on the year behind while you look forward to the one ahead. We all have a lot to be grateful for this year. Many are celebrating a profitable year in business, while others are thrilled to make it through a tough year with their doors still open. And, of course, we all are grateful for our health, our families, and our loved ones.
We're all blessed in more ways than we realize, yet we often lose sight of what’s truly important. It’s a time of year when we pause to say a solemn prayer for those less fortunate, while giving thanks for all we have and those we have to share it with.
Give thanks for the accomplishments of 2013 and look in anticipation to new possibilities in 2014.
From all of us at NJGCA, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy (though belated) Hanukah, and a Prosperous New Year!
Thanks for reading -- See you next week!
CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS Do you have a business for sale? Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?
NJGCA also assists members in selling equipment through the placement of advetisments in Road Warrior!
If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066! NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW 01/01/2014: NJBIA president: ACA confusion, wage hike will make early 2014 tough for employers It’s what New Jersey’s business groups have long been calling the “perfect storm.” A combination of the continued confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act rollout, a rise in NJ minimum wage and looming mandatory paid sick-leave legislation could potentially all hit employers at once in the next few months. But as New Jersey Business & Industry Association president Phil Kirschner points out, the traditionally slow business months of January and February won’t be at all beneficial to employers as they attempt to juggle all of the moving parts. “It just so happens that those are the worst two months of the year,” Kirschner said. “I think this impact will be felt.” Given the several mitigating factors in place, employers may have to make some tough decisions in the early months of 2014, he said. “I think there are going to be a lot of disappointed people come their next paycheck,” Kirschner said. Kirschner said that while employers whose businesses will be affected by the minimum wage increase are most likely already prepared to endure its changes, the lack of clarity surrounding Obamacare remains a big challenge. “Business people can’t deal with that,” Kirschner said of the uncertainty.
01/01/2014: ACA is underway: 'Orphans' and 'ghosts' are terms to know in the new year As of 12:01 AM on January 1, 2014, thousands of Jerseyans had their policies turned over to insurance purchased through Obamacare. But will the insurance be there when it's needed? That's the question. No one is sure what will happen when someone attempts to see a doctor or get a prescription only to find there is no record of coverage. This much is clear: People in that predicament may soon find out they've been placed in two newly defined categories, orphans and ghosts. Orphans are enrollees the government knows about but insurance companies have no record of — in other words, they were not completely processed. Ghosts are enrollees insurers know about but the government cannot fully account for. To read more about the transition to ObamaCare, click the above link. To find out more about health insurance that you are eligible for as an NJGCA member, please call 973-376-0066.
12/30/2013: NJGCA in the News: Legislation would set a standard for all auto repair facilities Under the Right to Repair legislation passed by the General Assembly last week, manufacturers must make technical information for all cars (model year 2002 or newer) available for purchase by individual automobile owners and independent repair facilities in New Jersey. Currently, some facilities pay a subscription fee to manufacturers in order to use their system. If those facilities do not have such a service, they may be unable to complete a repair, said Sal Risalvato, executive director of New Jersey Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association (NJGCA). In the case of a radio, the garage can diagnose the problem, order a replacement radio and install it -- but without a code from the dealer, it simply won’t turn on, Risalvato said, and consumers will still have to visit a dealership to finish the job. Please click the link above to read the rest of the article, including additional comments by Risalvato.
12/30/2013: The gap between the price of E10 gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) is about to narrow. According to reports drivers of natural gas vehicles will see prices go up at least 50 cents per gallon at the pump, when a federal CNG tax credit expires. The CNG credit was part of a package of tax credit extensions Congress passed last year as part of the "fiscal cliff" settlement. Retailers acknowledged that they will raise CNG prices. CNG has been quoted for as much as $2 per gallon cheaper in some locations this year, compared to its petroleum counterpart. However, advocates still point out that even though the tax credit is expiring, CNG is still cheaper than traditional petroleum, burns cleaner and is produced locally.
TRAINING CLASSES!! FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!
MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE TMP Energy Solutions We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it’s difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an “accurate” analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member’s usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate. Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision. If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #’s, meter #’s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem. The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate. If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA. Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket. We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS. Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members. To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:
We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law! We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes ...and MUCH MORE!! In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!
If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies. PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO: I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past. We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.
THE MEMBER TOOL BOX MEMBER SAVINGS PAGE |
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