February 18, 2011

Dear NJGCA Member:

Here's what you'll find in this edition of the NJGCA Road Warrior, and thank you for reading:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!
•Reducing your Energy Costs, Electric Cars Continued

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Mayors meet with Legislators, press them to enact ‘tool kit’ reforms to control budgets
•Consolidation, shared services debated
•State Senate approves cancellation of scheduled toll hikes
•Governor proposes eliminating tenure protection for poor teachers

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM BELLOMO FUELS
•Serving New Jersey since 1910 -- 100 years of supplying gasoline retailers like YOU!

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE
•Initial Emission Repair Technician Certification Class, March 3rd to April 21 - SIGN UP TODAY!

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
•Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

THE MEMBER TOOL BOX
•On the NJGCA Homepage
•Know your Territory Manager!

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

REDUCING YOUR ENERGY COSTS, ELECTRIC CARS CONTINUED

With everyone pinching pennies and trying to stretch their dollar, it’s now more important than ever to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when making a purchase.  As a small business owner, you fully understand the truth of that statement and how hard it can be to make ends meet at the end of each month.

Still many of our members seem to overlook how critical it is to watch what you’re paying for even the most basic of necessities.  When it comes to these essential items like your utilities, I bet you typically just look at what is owed, write a check, and drop it in the mail without even considering if you’re getting ripped off. Sadly, the truth is that even these basic expenses, when left unchecked, will slowly creep up to eat at your bottom profits.

However, NJGCA can help alleviate at least part of this strain on your bank account.  In the October issue of our On The Road publication, NJGCA presented our newest Member Benefit Partner, TMP Energy Solutions.  Founded in 2004, TMP offers competitively priced electricity and natural gas for your business.  Thanks to deregulation, TMP is able to work in between commodity suppliers and the long distance/transmission of the energy market to deliver a substantial savings to you. 

How do they do this?  As deregulation affects only the energy supply end of the market, companies must now compete for your business.  That means you have a CHOICE in who provides your electricity and/or natural gas.

The expertise TMP has in this area means you’ll have a knowledgeable professional on your side working to cut your utility expenses.  You can even protect your establishment from future price hikes for up to three years!  It doesn’t matter if you use a lot of electricity every month or very little, the result is the same: SAVING MONEY ON YOUR MONTHLY BILL.

To get signed up for your FREE ENERGY COST SAVINGS ANALYSIS all you have to do is contact Membership Director Phil Apruzzi at 973-376-0066.  You’ll need to provide a minimum of 3 months of gas and/or electric utility statements and wait 5-7 days for TMP energy’s proposal.  TMP will then go over your current bills and compare them to what you could be paying.  It’s that easy.

Only NJGCA Members can take advantage of this offer, so call today and stop throwing your money away!

Two week ago, NJGCA discussed the rising popularity of electric cars among lawmakers, the media, and many in the court of public opinion.  Specifically we told you about a series of bills that were being considered in Trenton and how serious Legislators were about trying to push the transition to electric vehicle usage.  You can read that issue of the Road Warrior by clicking HERE

This week, I must report that three of the bills that were being considered by that Assembly Committee were already passed by the General Assembly on Thursday!  In a town that typically takes MONTHS or YEARS to get anything done, the way these bills are being fast-tracked should make you sit up and take notice. 

And it’s not just Trenton that’s making moves.  Washington is also playing in this game and already political forces are swirling in Washington to possibly force this decision on you.  President Obama recently announced that he wants to increase subsidies for electric vehicles, but is pulling funding away from programs working on various ethanol, bio-fuels, clean diesel, and hydrogen solutions to our transportation needs. 

Commentators are saying the President is essentially putting all his eggs in one basket by pushing for the complete electrification of the automobile at the expense of these other viable solutions. Meanwhile, pundits predict that this will eventually backfire as bio-diesel, ethanol, and other fuel-alternatives can not only cut our dependence on foreign oil more quickly, but also deliver better ‘real world’ fuel economy numbers.  Who is right?  Only time will tell, but it doesn’t mean this issue isn’t being heavily debated OR that it won’t affect you sooner than you think. 

As a service station owner, you (and the rest of our members) need to start looking down the line at what the future may bring.  The retailers of the future may one day sell ethanol, hydrogen, electricity, and bio diesel fuel, as well as gasoline.  The continued success of your business a decade from now may very well hinge on the decisions you make to invest in your business in the next two years.  Think about that!

I will report back as more information becomes available, but don’t just sit on the sideline and wait this one out.

Thanks for listening - See you next week!

Regards,

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

2/17/2011:
Mayors meet with Legislators, press them to enact ‘tool kit’ reforms to control budgets
Earlier this week, a bipartisan group of 200 mayors from across the Garden State headed to the State House for the annual Mayor’s Legislative Day.  This year’s event, sponsored by the NJ State League of Municipalities, focused on mayors directly lobbying legislators to pass the rest of the Governor’s ‘tool kit’ needed to control health benefit, pension and civil service reforms.

2/17/2011:
Consolidation, shared services debated
While municipalities and local governments cope with ways to save money due to budget constraints, the idea of sharing and consolidating services continues to be debated among elected officials.  Though many observers believe the process to be simple and straightforward, labor, safety, and police-seniority issues threaten to prevent meaningful agreement from being enacted. Still, though far from perfect, many local officials who currently have shared service agreements tout their benefits and savings.

2/17/2011:
State Senate approves cancellation of scheduled toll hikes
The State Senate has approved legislation that would partially roll back the scheduled toll hikes passed under Governor Corzine, which were put in place to pay for the now cancelled ARC tunnel.  The cancellation is expected to be vetoed by Governor Christie, who fears that bondholders that were promised a return on their investment, will sue the state and Turnpike Authority.

2/16/2011:
Governor proposes eliminating tenure protection for poor teachers
After citing the need for ending the current tenure system during the his State of the State address, the Christie Administration released it’s plan Wednesday that would remove tenure from ineffective teachers.  In outlining the basic tenants of the proposal, Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf stated that after tenure is awarded after a three year observation period, teachers who are rated ineffective for one year, or partially effective for two consecutive years, would lose their tenure protections.  The Governor wants to make a revised evaluation system – focusing partially on classroom observation and student test scores – become mandatory in all districts.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES IN OUR “NEWS AROUND THE STATE” ARCHIVE