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November 13, 2009
GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!
Dear NJGCA Member:
“Sorry Mr. Customer, I can’t fix your car. You’ll have to go to the dealer!”
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MESSAGE SO YOU WON’T EVER HAVE TO SAY THOSE WORDS -- An Update on Right to Repair
Co-mingling gas? Cheating customers?
I WILL TURN YOU IN!
A few weeks ago we asked you for specific examples of instances where you weren’t able to repair a customer’s vehicle because you lacked access to technical information. We need this information to make our case with Legislators and get this bill passed in the Senate before the current Legislative session ends in January. After that we will have to start all over again – time is of the essence!
Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say that the response as been overwhelmingly POOR and I am INCREDIBLY disappointed.
Let me put this in perspective for you.
After getting Right to Repair passed in the Assembly last October by a 49-22 vote, we currently have 19 votes in the Senate lined up to get Right to Repair passed. All we need is a 4 more votes to put us over the top.
Unfortunately, we will almost assuredly be losing one vote in the Senate that we must make up for. Sadly, Senator Diane Allen, a co-Sponsor of our initiative, has been diagnosed with a severe illness and will be unable to vote in any future sessions. That makes it even more imperative to mobilize and drum up support.
What do we need? I NEED YOU TO GET ME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF WHEN YOU WERE UNABLE TO REAPAIR A VEHICLE DUE TO A LACK OF INFORMATION……..AND I NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN THAT EXAMPLE TO YOUR LEGISLATOR!!
Last October we worked hard to get Right to Repair out of Committee, passed in the Assembly, and into the Senate. Many of you came down day after day to help me lobby Legislators and meet with state officials. DO NOT let that effort go to waste! We have to wrap this up before the middle of January or we have to start over from the beginning!
We need an extra 4 votes to win this – and I’m putting the onus on you!
If you haven’t done so already, please re-read the October 27th edition of the Events & Announcements e-newsletter by clicking HERE and follow the directions.
Or you can also click HERE, print the Right to Repair survey form out and fax it back to us ASAP!
And once you have completed that task, call your State Senator and ask them to support Right to Repair. Explain to them why this bill is so important to both small businesses and motorists.
Click HERE to find your State Senator and ACT NOW!!
I’m not done ranting yet – Please read on!
Being Executive Director of your Association means I hear all sorts of things. Unbelievably, I’ve gotten some disturbing reports that some retailers out there are co-mingling grades of gasoline, selling unbranded gasoline as branded fuel, and/or attempting to pass off regular gas as super-unleaded fuel.
I know times are tough and everyone is feeling the pinch, but let me be clear:
IF YOU CHEAT YOUR CUSTOMERS, I WILL TURN YOU IN!! I’M NOT KIDDING!!
From the first day I walked into NJGCA Headquarters, I have fought like a junk yard dog to defend retailers from unjust scrutiny and accusations from state officials and the press.
Furthermore, I’ve made it my mission to improve the perception that motorists and the public have of retailers. I will always protect honest members from being cheated by dishonest retailers gaining an advantage because of their fraudulent actions.
Let me put it another way: When a few dopes…No, when a few MORONS….try to scam motorists by co-mingling gas or passing off one grade of gas for another, IT CHEATS HONEST RETAILERS!
DO NOT ALLOW DELIVERY TRUCK DRIVERS TO FILL YOUR PREMIUM TANK WITH REGULAR GRADE PRODUCT BECAUSE IT WOULDN’T FIT IN THE REGULAR TANK! REPORT THE DRIVER TO YOUR SUPPLIER IMMEDIATELY!
Please do not put me in the position of having to report a member to the authorities. I am sure you understand that I MUST protect HONEST members as my first priority. I will report you if I have to. Please don’t make me do it.
Recently a number of members reported several instances of suspected fraud at a competitor’s location. I asked authorities to investigate and they did indeed find cheating. Charges ensued and the penalties have been severe.
Do not hesitate to call me with evidence of a cheating competitor. You will never be identified. We MUST police our own and rid ourselves of the bad apples.
Protect your fellow retailer by protecting yourself!
Thanks for listening - See you next week!
Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
•Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
•Take your inspector Refresher Course with NJGCA! November and December classes added!
BUSINESS TOOLS: PH2 SOLUTIONS
•Diagnose check engine lights before they appear! A GREAT tool for your shop!
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Healthcare Reform debate rages over Veteran’s Day recess
•Governor-elect announces bi-partisan transition team
•Challenges to property tax assessments at a record high
•Unemployment rate surpasses 10 percent
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!
KNOW YOUR TERRITORY MANAGER!
Henry Darden: Territory Manager for Middlesex, Union, Part of Essex (Southern Half)
Cell: 908-247-2992
Email: henry@njgca.org
Jack Leli: Territory Manager for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem
Cell: 732-995-1637
Email: jack@njgca.org
Bob Quirk: Territory Manager for Bergen, Hudson, Part of Essex (Northern Half)
Cell: 201-214-8836
E-mail: bob@njgca.org
Frank Stewart: Territory Manager for Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic
Cell: 973-234-7403
Email: frank@njgca.org
Don Stohrer: Territory Manager for Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset
Cell: 732-539-2955
Email: don@njgca.org
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
Ensuring our friends in the legislature are re-elected and advocating for our agenda in Trenton are of utmost importance to the agenda of NJGCA.
It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.
For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon the shoulders of a few. This is not fair to them, and it is not fair to many of you who are relying on the benefits of good legislation being passed in Trenton.
To truly understand the importance of fundraising for our allies, let’s look back upon the overwhelming successes of the last year:
NJGCA successfully lobbied against BELOW COST SELLING. If approved, BELOW COST SELLING would have cost each of you thousands of dollars and put many of you out of businesses. NJGCA leaned on some of our friends in the Assembly and literally had the bill pulled off the floor on the day it was scheduled to be voted on. Our friends in the Legislature helped us get this accomplished.
NJGCA made history and led the charge to pass the most comprehensive protection of franchisees in decades with FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL legislation. FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL passed only because NJGCA and dealers throughout the state were able to lean on several friends in the Assembly and the Senate.
NJGCA has been rallying support for RIGHT TO REPAIR over the last two years among key legislators. This would end the practice of car manufacturers denying you the codes necessary to complete the repairs you make on your customers cars. Every state has tried to pass RIGHT TO REPAIR and no state has even been able to get the legislation out of committee. Because of our friends in the Legislature, NJGCA has been successful in getting this bill passed by the Assembly and now awaits a vote in the Senate.
I am asking some of you as individuals to make a contribution and attend a fundraising event sponsored by one of our friends in the Assembly.
However, we will not be able to host events for all of our friends, so the NJGCA PAC will have to make contributions. You will be receiving letters soon from the NJGCA PAC asking you to make contributions.
If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.
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.
UPDATE: NEW PIF CLASSES ADDED!!
Due to overwhelming demand, NJGCA has added additional classes in November and December. As you know, 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-taker 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.
Current Licensed Emission Inspectors only need the “Re-Fresher Course” and the “Written Exam”. New Emission Inspectors will be given a “Hands On” test separately at your place of employment by the State of New Jersey.
NJGCA will be offering refresher courses at the following two locations. Classes will take place over five evenings and one afternoon:
NJGCA Headquarters
66 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07087
December: 1, 3, 8, 10 15 and 17th
NJGCA Members Cost - $349.00
Non-Members Cost - $489.00
Manuals are included in the prices above and payment is due upon registration. All classes are 6:45 pm to 10:00 pm; the “Written Exam” will be given on the last day at 12:00pm at NJGCA Headquarters in Springfield, NJ.
If you are interested, please contact our office to enroll in a class.
Please contact Debbie Hill at 973-376-0066 with any questions.
BUSINESS TOOLS: PH2 SOLUTIONS
Let Nu-Path Logic® diagnostic software ( www.ph2solutions.com ) help expand your emission repair business and add value to customers by offering their failed vehicle “same-day” diagnosis, repair and successful re-inspection service. Experience how Nu-Path: slashes the diagnostic time and effort your current tools require; accurately detects failures before Check Engine Lights appear; validates repairs with a quick automated 15 minute readiness drive cycle process. To schedule a demonstration and see if you’re eligible for a software trial, contact Gloria Cowart at: 973-902-5517.
NEWS AROUND THE STATE
11/12/2009:
Healthcare Reform debate rages over Veteran’s Day recess
Even as members of Congress head home to their districts over the Veteran’s Day recess, the debate over Healthcare Reform continues. Constituents and special interest groups are using the break to lobby their representatives after a late-night voting session last Saturday saw the House of Representatives pass a reform bill by only 5 votes.
11/11/2009:
Governor-elect announces bi-partisan transition team
In anticipation of taking the oath of office on January 19th, Governor-elect Chris Christie has selected a group of bi-partisan public and private sector leaders selected to spearhead his transition team. Included in the group are individuals from the business, urban, and academic communities.
11/10/2009:
Challenges to property tax assessments at a record high
The number of homeowners across New Jersey asking for tax re-assessments has doubled as the economy remains stagnant and home values continue to plummet. Due to the overwhelming number of cases, county tax boards are extending filing deadlines and allowing those who are denied the opportunity to appeal directly to NJ Tax Courts.
11/6/2009:
Unemployment rate surpasses 10 percent
For the first time since 1983, the national unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent – and is likely to go higher. Nearly 16 million people cannot find, as Department of Labor officials cite 190,000 people lost their jobs in October.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES IN OUR “NEWS AROUND THE STATE” ARCHIVE
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