November 15, 2013

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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

NJGCA's NEW MBP -- PPC LUBRICANTS/CASTROL OIL
RIGHT TO REPAIR UP FOR A VOTE
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD
PAID SICK LEAVE AND MINIMUM WAGE POSING THREATS

By now you should have all received a postcard in your mailbox urging you to attend a seminar presented by NJGCA to introduce our newest Member Benefit Partner, PPC Lubricants/Castrol Oil.  PPC Lubricants/Castrol Oil is offering a program so valuable that NJGCA has arranged two different meetings for our members, one in North Jersey and one in South Jersey.  Your colleagues in other states have been utilizing this program for several years, and they speak glowingly about it.  It has brought repeat business back into their service bays and has saved business owners thousands of dollars on oil purchases.  Now, PPC Lubricants and Castrol Oil are offering this exclusive opportunity to NJGCA members. They have even helped subsidize the cost of the meeting, so that our members only need to pay $15/person for dinner and all of this valuable information!  To top it all off, NJGCA is providing a complimentary beer/wine to enjoy with your dinner. This is your chance to save your business money and learn how to create incentives and rewards programs for customer loyalty.  In just one night you will have a whole new perspective on your business.  REGISTER ONLINE NOW!!
 
I am very pleased to tell you that we are seeing some significant progress in our fight for Right to Repair in New Jersey. At 9AM on Monday at the Statehouse in Trenton there will be hearing and a vote by the Consumer Affairs Committee!  This is a big deal, and frankly, a little unexpected.  We had thought Right to Repair might have to wait until January, when the next session of the Legislature starts up, but it seems that committee chairman Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) is so gung-ho about the issue that he wanted it in his Committee at the first opportunity.  With his support, we expect the bill to pass committee.  There are still several more steps before the bill can be sent to the Governor, and the clock is ticking (any issue that hasn’t been signed by the Governor by January 14th has to start over). Seeing this level of support for Right to Repair is a big deal and should be very encouraging to all of you with a repair shop! 
 
In order to continue to make our case so that this bill continues to move forward, I NEED YOUR HELP.  I need specific examples and testimony of instances where not having Right to Repair hurt your business.  Please email me stories where you had to send a car to a dealership because you couldn’t get the codes, or just general complaints about how your business has been hurt over the years because you don’t have a Right to Repair.  I will use your stories and emails in my meetings with legislators who still need to be convinced. 
 
In other news, Government Affairs Assistant Eric Blomgren was in Trenton last week to testify on a bill that would change current statutes to reflect the fact that almost all modern vehicles have a third, high mounted brake light, which many motorists have come to rely on as an indicator that vehicles in front of them are slowing down. Under current law, passenger vehicles in New Jersey are only legally required to have two functioning brake lights in order to be considered "road safe."  In 2011, a bill was introduced to address this issue and bring current statutes up to date with the present times.  On September 27, 2012, the bill passed the Assembly Transportation Committee 11-0.  On April 29, 2013 the bill was passed by the General Assembly 76-0.  On November 7, 2013 the Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill 4-0. It now awaits a full vote in the Senate before it can be sent to Governor Christie for a signature in order to become law. 
 
Just as I was writing this email, I was pleased to learn that the Senate will be voting on the bill this Monday.  I ask you to take a second and click this link (https://www.votervoice.net/NJGCA/Campaigns/33822/Respond).  This will lead to an Action Alert that we set up using our new advocacy tool: VoterVoice.  This makes it incredibly easy for you to communicate with your elected representatives on the issues that are most important.  It literally will only take less than 30 seconds and your state senator will receive a message from you telling them to vote for this bill.  We’ve already written out a sample statement to save you time; you are welcome to add to it and personalize it if you wish, of you can send it along as is.  When a legislator see that they have a constituent who cares enough about an issue to contact them, believe me, IT DOES MATTER. 
 
After the November 7th Committee hearing, Eric Blomgren did two interviews which aired on the radio later that week.  To hear Eric's interview on NJ 101.5, please click here.  To hear Eric's interview with WGBO Radio, click here.  As Eric explained in his interviews, NJGCA is in full support of this legislation because we believe that many motorists have not kept their cars properly maintained, once safety inspections were eliminated.  This is one way to help ensure that motorists keep their cars in proper working order, and at the same time compel them to visit the repair shops of our members.  As you can see, this legislation has been passed unanimously each time it has been voted on, so we look forward to it quickly passing the Senate and making its way to the Governor's desk!
 
To shift gears now, I have to unfortunately remind you yet again that Paid Sick Leave is one of the things that I have been repeatedly warning you about, and it is an issue that is constantly plaguing the small business community.  There are movements underway to support paid sick leave in Newark, in Trenton and in Washington. We are constantly fighting these battles, and right now, it appears that we are in the minority.  This goes hand in hand with the Minimum Wage battle being waged across the nation.  There's an effort underway in Washington to raise the minimum wage to $10.10/hour.  Our nation's small-businesses are being viewed as ATMs for their employees -- your business exists to serve the needs of your employees (who believe that they are entitled to more money and more time off).  Employers are now being expected to fork over higher wages and pay employees for time that they don't even work. It is easy for law-makers and the public to vote in favor of picking your pocket and transferring that money to the pockets of your employees. There are more of them (laborers) than there are of you and I (small-business owners), so keeping the laborers happy becomes extremely important to the politicians who want their votes.  If we stand by and watch idly, we will lose our businesses.  So pay close attention to these issues and be ready to fight when the time comes!

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 also assists members 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

11/13/2013:
Obamacare in N.J.: 23,021 applications submitted; 741 have picked a health plan
The Obama administration revealed that only 27,000 people across 36 states signed up for private health insurance last month via the government's problem-prone online exchange. The number includes just 741 in New Jersey, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Another 22,000 New Jersey families completed applications between Oct. 1 and Nov. 2, but they did not get far enough to select a plan. It’s unclear whether they stopped to compare plans or were unable to complete the process because of snags with the healthcare.gov website.  We encourage our members to consider Association Master Trust when you are comparing coverage plans.  You can call 973-376-0066 for more information.
 
11/13/2013:
NJGCA in the News: Why some gas stations now resemble construction sites 
NJGCA Executive Director Sal Risalvato did an interview with the Bergen Record's very own "Road Warrior," John Cichowski about the ExxonMobil stations throughout the state that are closed for repairs. Sal explained that many stations were sold, mostly to former lease-holders who are maintaining the ExxonMobil brand.  In the last few years, the big oil company sold off 236 of its New Jersey properties north of Ocean County, and the new owners of at least 90 stations were required to replace old, underground tanks that were in danger of leaking and causing environmental damage.  To read the rest of this story, please click on the above link.

11/11/2013:
NJGCA in the News: NJ Drivers Could Face Violations For Non-Working Lights
New Jersey drivers could soon face fines if lamps or other illuminating devices equipped on a motor vehicle are not kept in good working order under a bill working its way through Trenton.  Currently, only two brake lights must be functional even though new cars have three or more brake lights. “Since safety inspections were eliminated three years ago a lot of motorists simply aren’t keeping their cars repaired because they no longer have the fear of not getting the inspection sticker,” explained Eric Blomgren, government affairs assistant with the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association. To read the rest of the article and listen to Eric's interview, please click on the above link.

11/08/2013:
NJGCA in the News: Bill Would Require All Brake Lights To Be Functional
Current New Jersey law requires motor vehicles to have two working brake lights. A bill awaiting final legislative approval in the state Senate would require all of the brake lights to be functional. Because of the two-light provision, drivers can not now be cited for an equipment violation if the high-mounted light on a rear window is not working. Eric Blomgren with the New Jersey Gasoline, Convenience Store and Automotive Association says requiring all brake lights to be in working order can help prevent accidents. To read the rest of the article and listen to Eric's interview, please click on the above link.

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

In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a “Written Exam” given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the New Jersey State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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.