May 15, 2009

GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!

Dear NJGCA Member:

SEEING IT THROUGH: THE VALUE OF MEMBESHIP; INSPECTION UPDATE

Since I came onboard as Executive Director two years ago, I have consistently championed the value that NJGCA membership provides you.  It is very simple: As small business owners, we are stronger together than we are individually.  This is a foundational tenant in both advocacy and politics – and one that I have tried to impart to all our members.

Last fall, even as Big Oil was seeking to sell their locations out from under them, I called a meeting with small business-lessee dealers and asked them to stand up for their self interests.  Since then we have fought a war to protect their rights through both legal and legislative means.

It seems as though this struggle is nearing an end as we anticipate that our First Right of Refusal bill will now be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday.  Team NJGCA has already sent out a Wildfire Alert with full details – Click HERE if you haven’t already read it.

Please follow the directions we’ve outlined in the Alert to call and email Committee Members.  After that, we need you in Trenton on Monday, May 18th and also on Thursday, May 21st to speak with Legislators! Nothing makes more of an impact with lawmakers than seeing a small business owner in uniform and hearing first hand how policies will affect that person.

We need you there with us!

However, all of this underscores an important point that I have been hammering on since day one: THIS is the reason you belong to an Association!

I never pretended to be the smartest man in the world, but I can tell you right now, none of us are omnipotent.  We can’t tell the future and we don’t know what will happen with any certainty from one day to the next. 

As such, I can assure that when the storm breaks and is threatening your livelihood, we’re much stronger riding out the rough-weather collectively than we are separately.  That means staying committed to our cause and our principles - to the very end!  You cannot be an “absentee” member and expect success; the only way to claim victory is to actively participate in what we are trying to accomplish!

And that doesn’t just mean YOU, but ALL small business owners.  I need you to speak to your competitors down the street and around the corner.  I need you to approach anyone who isn’t already working with us and ask them to get involved.  Tell them what is at stake, explain the value of membership, and ask them to stand with us.  We still have a lot more work to do and might as well being working together! 

So get moving!  This may be the home-stretch but we haven’t won the game yet. 

It has been brought to my attention that MVC is trying to pull some kind of extortion scheme regarding the new PIF equipment.  Essentially, I have heard that the State is asking all PIFs who purchase the new inspection equipment to not only pay the full cost up front, but wait as much as six months for delivery.  Obviously this is NOT acceptable.  Please rest assured that we are looking into it and will get back to you with complete details soon.

Closing on a sad note, we recently learned that Ralph Teneyck of Midland Tire & Fuel passed this past week from a heart attack while on vacation. Ralph was 56 and a long time NJGCA member.  I ask you all to join me in sending our deepest condolences to the entire Teneyck family.

Thanks for listening - See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR:

THE NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
•BUSINESS FOR SALE: Are you interested in expanding your business?
•HELP WANTED: Could you fill this position?

PIF CLASSES UPDATE
•Take your inspector Refresher Course with NJGCA!

BUSINESS TOOLS: Firesigns 1075
•Does your street sign attract customers?  Get curbside appeal with Firesigns!

NJ GREEN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR COUNCIL
•Take advantage of this program and get recognized for your "green" credentials!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Hudson Commuter Rail Tunnel to break ground
•Budget Blues: Interest group ask Corzine to hike taxes on businesses
•South Jersey light-rail system unveiled
•NJGCA in the News: Resta and Risalvato talk summer gas prices

ON THE NJGCA HOMEPAGE

MEMBER SAVINGS PAGE
Check out all of our MBPs and Programs designed to SAVE YOU MONEY!

HELPFUL LINKS
Looking for something? Take a look at our list of useful links!

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Find all our communications and search for old e-newsletters. Take a look!

NEWS AROUND THE STATE ARCHIVE
Need to catch up on events?  Want to see what's going on?  Find out here!

THE NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE:

Emily Bielen, owner of John’s American Service Center, is selling her small business.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION:  A corner service station; has been owned and operated by the same proprietor since 1956.  The owner is retiring and seeks interested parties.  The station has two bays with lifts and an office.  Currently the station performs full service automotive repairs and tire sales.  Gas pumps and tanks were completely upgraded to EPA guidelines in 1994, including double-wall fiberglass tanks and lines. 

Property also includes a 3-family, fully rented apartment building.  A two-car garage and a three-car garage are also included on the property; either can be used for additional storage or rental.

All buildings and garages will be included in the sale.

PROPERTY LOCATION: The station is a corner lot located at the intersection of 16th Street & Grove Street in Irvington, conveniently situated one block up from Garden State Parkway Exit 144.

For full location details and to view this classified ad, please click HERE

Interested parties are to contact Emily Bielen at 732-388-9291.

If you are interested in placing a classified ad, please contact Debbie Hill.

HELP WANTED:
 

Somerset based Shell Station seeks a professional and reliable Front Office Manager with excellent communications skills. Must be well organized and able to multi-task and delegate work as required.  We are a family owned auto repair and car rental business, operating since 1946.

Interested parties: Please contact Frank Resta at 732-887-7773 for further information and to arrange an interview.  

PIF CLASSES UPDATE

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has recently sent out a VID message to all Private Inspection Stations in state. 

All currently licensed Inspectors must complete an Inspector refresher course and pass a general knowledge exam with a grade of 80% or better to remain in the program.  If any test-take answers 11 questions wrong, they will automatically fail.  A hands-on test for licensed Inspectors will not be required.

Inspectors will have until December 31, 2009 to take and pass the test.

NJGCA will be offering a refresher course sometime in the near future at two locations:

NJGCA Headquarters
66 Morris Ave.
Springfield, NJ 07081

NJGCA at Precision Auto Repair
1264 Hwy 35 South
Middletown, NJ 07748

If any PIFs are interested, please call our office to be put on the list.  All dates, times, and details will be released shortly.

Please call Debbie Hill at 973-376-0066 with any questions or concerns.

BUSINESS TOOLS: Firesigns 1075

Does your street sign attract customers? Are you tired of climbing a ladder to change your prices? Would you like to display a modern look?  Firesigns 1075, a full service technology company with over 40 years of experience, provides Programmable LED Signs visible from a greater distance while simplifying the price changing process.

Firesigns 1075 has its own metal fabrication shop, and maintains a direct partnership with the manufacturer to provide exceptionally high quality signs at the lowest prices.  We maintain all the signs we create.

Firesigns 1075 also provides Indoor LED signs at a fraction of the cost of other competitors. You will be able to change the messages as frequent as you need to advertise your special of the day.  Discounts apply to all NJGCA members purchasing equipment from Firesigns 1075.

Visit our website to learn more about our offerings or call 302-378-1955. Ask for Bob or Geralyn to get you started on “Enlightening” your business and your bottom line.

Website: www.firesigns1075.com.

You can also contact Phil Apruzzi with any further questions at 973-376-0066 x209.

NJ GREEN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR COUNCIL

NJGCA is participating in the NJ Green Automotive Repair Council along with AAA-NJ, the NJ Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR), and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.  
 
The council's mission is to encourage NJ automotive repair facilities to adopt environmentally responsible business practices. 

Through a certification program for dealership and independent automotive repair facilities, the council will also establish “green” repair standards. Those who are reviewed and qualify will receive certification.  Stickers will also be given to those facilities to illustrate their participation in the program.

If you would like to participate in the program and fill out an application, please contact Debbie Hill at 973-376-0066.  An application fee and annual review fee are applicable.  

More facts about the program are available www.njgreenautorepair.org


NEWS AROUND THE STATE

5/13/2009:
Hudson Commuter Rail Tunnel to break ground
NJ Transit has awarded the first building contract in the $8.7 billion commuter tunnel to Manhattan.  The project is expected to being within the next few weeks.

5/13/2009:
Budget Blues: Interest group ask Corzine to hike taxes on businesses
To make up for a significant budget shortfall, a special interest group has asked Governor Crozine to make up for the budget shortfall by raising taxes on businesses and the wealthy. Additionally, the group is also asking for higher registration fees for motorists driving SUVs and trucks.

5/13/2009:
South Jersey light-rail system unveiled
A plan to expand rail service in South Jersey to Gloucester County and Atlantic City Airport were recently unveiled by Governor Corzine.  The plan would take an estimated 10 years and $2 billion to complete.  Construction is expected to start in 2011.

5/12/2009:
NJGCA in the News: Resta and Risalvato talk summer gas prices
NJGCA Member Frank Resta and Executive Director Sal Risalvato recently spoke with Jared Kaltwasser of the Courier News.  Among the topics discussed were refiners switching their operations to produce to cleaner-burning fuels in the summer and the affect on gasoline prices.  Click above to read more.