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September 7, 2012
Here's what you'll find in this edition:
CLASSIFIEDS!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE
MEET THE FOLKS AT LIBERTY GAS
MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM BELLOMO FUELS
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!
WEIGHTS & MEASURES CONFERENCE Before I get into this week’s message, I want to wish all of our members a BELATED Happy Labor Day! I still can’t figure out how it happened, but I was obviously SO focused on events that Labor Day completely slipped my mind. Though this message comes a week (and many hot dogs) too late, I hope you got a chance to fire up the grill and enjoy some quality time with your family over the holiday weekend! Now on to business! This week I participated in the NJ Weights & Measures conference in Atlantic City. Since I became Executive Director in 2007, the conference has truly become an annual event that I look forward to each year. There are interesting seminars, informative meetings, and it gives me the one-on-one time I need to grasp changes that may affect our industry. My informative and geeky indulgences aside, I also genuinely like going to the conference because it gives me the opportunity each year to connect with our friends at the Office of Weights & Measures (OWM). Many of you probably read that last line and are thinking, “Friends? What friends? They aren’t any friends of mine Sal!” If you had that reaction, let me bluntly state that your sentiments couldn’t be more wrong. I have never been – nor will I ever be – a fan of the regulator-rulers and bureaucratic-barons that excessively spend our tax dollars and over regulate industry. But that isn’t what OWM does and I have great respect for the job they do and how they do it! Unlike other agencies, OWM’s core mission is to protect everyone – including your business – from those who would knowingly try to deceive the market. When a dishonest retailer tries to cheat the public, they do irreparable damage not only to their name, but to the reputations of ALL small business owners out there. Just as importantly, if a crooked retailer acts deceitfully, they also hurt YOUR establishment by competing unfairly. So for example, when a dealer dumps regular gasoline in his or her premium tanks – and sells that fuel at a lower price – not only are they making a greater profit, but they are drawing your customers away to patronize their shop instead of yours. That’s competing unfairly! There are countless other scams and many of you (and your patrons) may have fallen victim to them. Though we may occasionally have our differences, we unwaveringly embrace OWM’s core mission: to promote transparency and honesty for consumers and entrepreneurs alike. If I didn’t know anything else about OWM, they deserve my praise for that reason alone - and yours as well. This year’s conference also offered a bit of a surprise for me, as I was recognized as OWM’s “Person of the Year” for 2012. While I’ve been invited to speak at past OWM events, this was the first time I was acknowledged in such a way. I was truly humbled (it doesn’t happen often!). It was a great event, made even more special since NJGCA staff and board members joined me at the closing banquet Thursday to see me accept the award. Though, I was flattered to be personally recognized by OWM, I am more grateful still that NJGCA was credited for our efforts in combating dishonest practices and promoting good entrepreneurship.
Sal speaks to dinner attendees after accepting his award. Any long-timer reading knows full well that our good relationship with OWM didn’t come easy. Since the day I walked in the door at NJGCA, I’ve made it a priority to cooperate with OWM. Many members may not have approved that I was embracing that bond, but it has made for a cooperative relationship. And why shouldn’t it? To defend your business from criticism, I must educate you on the status of existing regulations AND point out the rotten apples that are indirectly hurting your establishment. Of course I am also proud of our cooperation with DOL, NJDEP, MVC, Taxation, and other government entities – but more on that another time! For nearly 2 years now I have been updating you about the rollout of E15 into our nation’s fuel supply. Since the EPA issued the first waivers in October 2010 E15 has been in a regulatory purgatory until recently. In the last few weeks the final hurdles and hang-ups were cleared away and E15 is now available to be sold at retail. In fact, there are now 2 stations in Kansas which are selling E15 to any customer that wants it and has a Model Year 2001 or newer car! This is an important development because it shows the country that E15 is a viable fuel to be sold at retail. It’s always hardest to be the first one to break through into a new, unknown market, now that it’s happened I expect we will see more and more stations adopt E15, particularly in the Midwest where ethanol has always been strongest. These stations are reporting that E15 is already making up 20% of their unleaded sales. The price is 2 cents lower for E15 than for regular E10, and the octane rating is 90 so it actually appeals to motorists that prefer to use mid-grade gasoline. It may be 2 cents cheaper than regular grade, but it is 20-30 cents cheaper than mid-grade. In theory E15 could be formulated to be even cheaper by using lower octane gasoline and bringing the overall octane closer to 87. If you are interested in looking into the possibility of offering E15 to your customers, I highly recommend you look into the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). For years they have been at the forefront of pushing for expanded ethanol use. They have been working tirelessly with the EPA to eliminate every obstacle that has prevented E15 from coming to market. They have even written up templates for prospective retailers to use to apply to sell E15. You can read the E15 Retailer Handbook that they have assembled by clicking the link on their website, http://byoethanol.com/ The latest problem related to the sale of E15 that the RFA has worked out is a concern tied to leftover fuel in hoses that are used to dispense both E15 and E10. It seems that if someone fills up their car with E15 and the next person comes in and purchases one gallon of E10 (perhaps to use in a lawnmower or other engine not certified for E15) that the residual fuel in the hose will actually give them something around E12. As a result, if there is a shared hose for E15 and E10 there will also need to be a minimum purchase for E10. My staff wants to kill me every time I say it because they’re so sick of hearing it, but no one can deny it’s true so I’m going to say it for the ten millionth time: Someday there will be a last drop of oil. Right now we’re experiencing a tremendous boom in the availability of natural gas, but guess what; that’s a fossil fuel too and it will run out eventually. Biofuels are just made from plants, mostly corn (for now), and all plants need to keep growing is dirt, air, water, and sunlight. And as I often say, if the water or sunlight runs out we’re going to have much bigger concerns other than how we move our cars around! Thanks for listening – See you next week.
Regards,
BUSINESS FOR SALE!
CLASSIFIEDS: FOR SALE & HELP WANTED! After running an ad in the Road Warrior over the last month, NJGCA was able to assist a member in selling his equipment! 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!
9/6/2012:
9/6/2012:
9/6/2012:
9/6/2012:
TRAINING CLASSES!! 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.
CLASS DETAILS: PLEASE NOTE: FUTURE DATES 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
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members. 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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