October 18, 2013

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE

TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                                                                 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

MINIMUM WAGE COALITION!! GET INVOLVED TODAY
GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE TOPICS -- MINIMUM WAGE & SELF-SERVE
OPEN LETTER FROM USDOL IN OTR -- READ IT!
RESULTS OF SPECIAL SENATE ELECTION
NATURAL GAS CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK
HAVE YOU VISITED THE MEMBERS ONLY SECTION OF THE WEBSITE?

In last week's Road Warrior, I asked for volunteers to assist in our efforts opposing the minimum wage increase on the November 5th ballot, and let me just say that I'm very disappointed in the response.  NJGCA has joined a coalition of other like-minded small businesses associations, and we are all working very hard on your behalf to prevent this minimum wage increase from passing.  To view the coalition's website, please click HERE.  Also, if you haven't seen a substantial campaign up to this point, that is because the coalition has set aside most of their resources to launch a very deliberate and concentrated media campaign. Be on the look out for TV ads and listen closely for radio spots.  Additionally, I have made a commitment that 200 of my members will put a lawn sign on their property. Please reply if you are willing to display a lawn sign, and please reply if you are willing to distribute to others! This is for your own good!  I cannot display 200 lawn signs on my own lawn, and I cannot deliver 200 of them all by myself... Please STEP UP TO THE PLATE!
 
On Tuesday night, Governor Christie and Senator Buono had their second and final gubernatorial debate.  On Wednesday morning, NJGCA sent out a press release about two questions that were asked in the debate -- the candidates' positions on a minimum wage increase and their positions on self-serve gasoline. To read NJGCA's press release, CLICK HERE. As you know, Governor Christie has always maintained that a minimum wage increase of this magnitude and done in this fashion (all at once, instead of his proposal to spread it out over three years), would be detrimental to New Jersey's small business community. Senator Buono continues to advocate strongly for raising the minimum wage. You can read more details in our press release.  Additionally, on the question of self-serve gasoline, the candidates replied as follows:
 
Senator Buono: "I don’t like pumping my own gas, I’ll be honest with you, and I would be really, extremely opposed to it and I think most of the people in this room would be opposed to it as well."
 
Governor Christie: "It’s a good thing; it’s a good thing not to pump your own gas."
 
I would just like to take this opportunity to continue the conversation about self-serve that was started at Tuesday night's debate.  As you know, NJGCA does not have an official position on this issue, and we take very seriously our mission to represent the interests of our membership, so I think this is a very opportune time for you all to start thinking about the pros and cons of self-serve gasoline. As this issue continues to gain more attention, NJGCA will have to take a public position, and we need to hear from our membership exactly what direction you all want to go in.

By now you have all received the On The Road quarterly newsletter in the mail. Besides giving a careful and thoughtful review to the Voter Guide section, I must call your attention to the “open letter” that was written by Joe Petrecca from the USDOL. It is important that you pay careful attention to his message. USDOL has had a task force in New Jersey since 2010. Joe explains in his letter that their work is not yet complete and USDOL is vowing to visit every gasoline station, auto repair shop and convenience store in New Jersey. Please take this seriously and call us here at NJGCA if you have questions or concerns.
 
On a final political note, you all should know that Wednesday was NJ's special election to replace Senator Lautenberg as a U.S. Senator in Washington, DC. Democrat Cory Booker was elected to serve the remainder of Senator Lautenberg's term. The next election will be held next year on November 4, 2014 to determine who will hold the seat for the following 6 years.
 
Switching gears now, I know that it has been a while since I have spoken to you about alternate fuels, especially natural gas.  I'm sure that I don’t need to remind you how I feel about getting NJGCA members prepared to enter the world of dispensing natural gas in to your customer’s vehicles.  You haven’t heard much this year about alternate fuels because the price of gasoline has been pretty cheap. However, it's inevitable that the marketplace will change and customers and the media will be clamoring for substitute energy solutions that can economically challenge gas and diesel fuel.  Natural gas is considered the "bridge fuel" to the next generation of energy consumption.  It remains plentiful, cheap and clean.
 
I will reiterate the same phrase over and over ... "Every car that fuels up with Natural Gas, or charges up with electricity, is a car that you won’t be selling gasoline to."
 
Next week, I am hoping to attend a conference in Boston that will address the latest market developments and infrastructure advances that are being implemented in the Northeast region of the country.  I have included a link that you should investigate.  I'm inviting anyone that is interested to register and also attend. Let me know if you have registered so that we can meet up in Boston.  I’m not kidding, it really is time for you all to learn and consider selling natural gas at your locations. To attend the NGV Bridge Market and Infrastructure Summit 2013, please CLICK HERE.
 
Finally, you should have all received an email with your username and password to login to NJGCA's Members Only section! Have you been to the website? Have you been to the Members Only section? Has anybody checked out the website? I would really appreciate your feedback, and as always, NJGCA will continue to keep you informed of the new stuff that we add to the website to better serve our members! If you have not received an email with your username and password please call Greg at NJGCA Headquarters for assistance.

Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

•  NJGCA was recently able to lend a hand to members looking to sell their business by getting the word out.  Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects! 

NJGCA is also able to assists member in selling equipment through the placement of advetisments in Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out!      

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

10/17/2013:
GM to offer Impalas that run on CNG or gas
As we discussed earlier in this week's Road Warrior, natural gas is going to be the energy of the future.  This article informs readers that General Motors announced on Wednesday that it will start selling a car that can run on compressed natural gas -- but also has a backup gasoline engine to get drivers to the next fueling station.  It is the automaker’s latest effort to sell more vehicles that run on the alternative fuel.  The US has large reserves of natural gas, but few cars have been sold that run on it.  Only Honda sells a car that runs on CNG -- a version of the Honda Civic --but several automakers sell medium and heavy trucks and vans that run on the fuel.  Honda sold a total of 3,000 CNG Civics in 2011 and 2012, and 1,345 through July this year.  To learn more about how automakers are considering alternative fuels, please read the above article.
 
10/16/2013:
National Association of Tobacco Outlets Urges NYC Council to Oppose Tobacco Regulations
A coalition of retailers and trade groups was formed earlier this year to oppose a series of tobacco regulations being considered by the New York City Council.  The New York City Save Our Stores Coalition (SOS), of which the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) is a sponsoring member, now has 4,151 member businesses including retailers, local chambers of commerce, and trade associations. The proposed retail tobacco restrictions include a ban on both redeeming tobacco product coupons and on promotional product pricing such as buy-one, get-one free, a prohibition on displaying tobacco products in the public’s view, a requirement that cigars be sold in packages of four or more, and an increase in the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21.  We will continue to monitor the progress in NYC and continue to fight any such proposals that make their way across the river to NJ.
 
10/15/2013:
Opinion: Don’t Alter NJ's Constitution to Hike Minimum Wage
This op-ed was written by Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, the Assembly Republican Leader. In this piece, Assemblyman Bramnick lays out, in very simple terms, the potential effects of raising the minimum wage. Assemblyman Bramnick writes, "While a business cannot control certain fixed costs like rent or utilities, it will closely examine the variable costs it can control – one of which is labor. Businesses can make the following choices: 1) Absorb the additional costs. 2) Pass the increased business expense onto consumers. 3) Reduce the number of hours employees work. 4) Reduce their staffing."  It is critical that our members understand the impact that raising the minimum wage will have.  To read more about Assemblyman Bramnick's position, please click on the above link.
 
10/13/2013:
Obamacare Enrollment still tough for many in N.J.
Since its launch on Oct. 1, the federal government’s website has been inaccessible to millions. Federal officials have blamed overwhelming demand and technical errors for the glitches that have kept people from creating accounts, logging on or shopping on the exchange. The staff members at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick are meeting with a lot of potential consumers. The hospital offers information about the new law and tries to help people enroll, but, so far, their efforts have been hampered by the website’s inconsistent performance. To read more about some common issues that people are experiencing, please click on the above link.  To learn more about the great healthcare program that NJGCA offers its members, please call 973-376-0066 and ask for Greg.
 

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

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.