August 08, 2014

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! 

NATURAL GAS VEHICLES -- SUMMIT IN OCTOBER
PAID SICK LEAVE GAINING GROUND
NJGCA CRIME RESEARCH SURVEY
NJGCA DINER TOUR 2014

Right now, alternative fuels might not be in the forefront of anyone's mind, since gas prices have been trending down in recent months.  However, even though I haven't discussed alternative fuels very much recently, natural gas vehicles and electric vehicles are DEFINITELY still on the table and are a viable option that will emerge at some point. You can bet that the call for these alternate fuels will grow very loud the next time we experience a severe up-cycle in gas prices, where we approach or pass $4.00/gallon. I have made a consistent effort to plant these seeds because you really must begin thinking about this now.  There has been an ongoing and sustained transformation in the marketplace recently; one which I believe will soon present profitable opportunities for you.

On that note, I have decided to attend the Natural Gas Vehicle Market Development & Infrastructure Summit in Boston on October 21-22.  Please click HERE for more information about the summit and for the registration information.  The "Super Early Bird Discount" ends August 29th, so act quickly!

Moving on, I'd like to draw your attention to another issue that is picking up steam and gaining traction -- the issue of paid sick leave. Just this week, I read multiple news stories about various municipalities giving the issue serious consideration. Paid sick leave laws already exist in Jersey City and Newark, and recent articles indicate that the New Jersey Working Families Alliance has delivered petitions to six other municipalities -- Paterson, Passaic, Montclair, Irvington, East Orange, and Trenton -- to get binding questions about mandatory paid sick time laws added to the towns' ballots this November. Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson has publicly said that he will push forward these petitions for paid sick leave. In addition to the individual endeavors undertaken by the municipalities, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto has also announced that in September, the Assembly will begin considering earned sick leave legislation. This is something that we are trying to keep on your radar screen because it is so important.  Please pay attention for updates in the future!
 
Finally, I have two last IMPORTANT reminders for you:
 
1. Crime Research Survey -- Please take a few minutes to fill it out! We're still in the process of collecting data, and we won't be successful without your participation. Remember, the results of this research will help you protect your business, your employees, and your profits! Click HERE for the survey.
 
2.  NJGCA Diner Tour 2014 -- Next week we have TWO NJGCA breakfast meetings -- Fair Lawn on Tuesday 8/12 and Piscataway on Wednesday 8/13.  You should be receiving separate emails about these specific meetings if you are in one of the surrounding areas.  All attendees will receive a FREE breakfast, sponsored by NJGCA's Member Benefit Partners, and at EACH meeting, one lucky member will win a $50 gift card from NJGCA. Here are a few pictures from our first meeting in Bridgewater!

That's all for now.  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 regularly assists 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 helps members sell equipment by placing ads in the 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! 

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

08/07/2014:
CST Brands to Purchase Lehigh Gas' General Partner Interest
CST Brands Inc. will purchase 100% of the membership interests of Lehigh Gas GP LLC, the general partner of Lehigh Gas Partners LP. CST will pay approximately $85 million in the transaction, which includes $17 million in cash and 2.044 million shares of CST common stock. Joe Topper, chairman and CEO of Lehigh Gas Partners, will continue as the company's president and CEO. Lehigh Gas Partners will continue to trade as a separate, publicly traded, master limited partnership (MLP) and maintain its current HQ in Allentown, Pa. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. CST Brands Inc. is the operator of more than 1,000 Corner Store locations in the United States. Lehigh Gas Partners LP distributes fuel to more than 1,050 locations and owns or leases more than 625 convenience stores and gas stations in 16 states.
 
08/06/2014:
Cigars Face Uncertain Future
In April, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its proposed regulation deeming, cigars, among other tobacco products (OTP), as subject to the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. In July, the FDA extended the comment period until Aug. 8. Deeming regs are, of course, an extension of the FDA’s regulatory authority, and are applicable to cigars, pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine gels, dissolvables and hookah tobacco.  For the time being, the status quo on popular-priced cigars remains intact -- as do the sales at store registers. “Cigars are a big part of c-store sales,” said Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association (NJGCA), formerly the New Jersey Gasoline Retailers Association, based in Springfield, NJ, “and anything that deals with taxes or regulations on any tobacco product is of concern to small business owners who use them as a profit center.”  To read more of Sal's comments, please click on the link above.

08/06/2014:
Last Call to Submit Deeming Comments: FDA public comment period ends today
With public comments on the proposed tobacco deeming regulations due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by TODAY, Friday, August 8, 2014, this bulletin is a last call for tobacco retailers and wholesalers to take 10-15 minutes and submit comments to the FDA. The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) is providing easy step-by-step instructions and suggested comments to make the process of submitting comments to the FDA simple and quick.  For more information and to read the complete article, please click on the link above.
 
08/04/2014:
How Will NLRB's 'Joint Employer' Ruling Affect C-Stores?
The c-store industry is reacting to last week's decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that McDonald's Corp. can be held liable for labor and wage violations in cases of labor infractions by its franchise owners. The ruling, which McDonalds will challenge, identifies the franchisor as a joint employer of workers in franchised locations. This decision upends decades of legal precedents that protected franchisors from lawsuits because franchised locations operated as separate legal entities. If the decision withstands potential court challenges, it would provide workers at c-store franchises with an ideal corporate target to sue for damages, and it would incentivize more labor disputes.  The ruling may also allow workers at franchised locations to organize unions.

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

NJGCA is pleased to offer the NJ Emission Technician Education Program, starting in August. It is the ETEP Certification Course, the entire program, sections 1-8.  This is everything you need to become a licensed Emission Repair Technician. Tests are given throughout the course and technicians that pass will receive a certificate stating that they successfully completed the New Jersey Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP). NJGCA has provided this program to the NJ Department of Transportation, UPS and NJGCA Members throughout New Jersey. Our pass rate in this class is 100%.

FOR INFO ABOUT THE 8-WEEK ENTIRE EMISSION TECHNICIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM (ETEP) CLASS -- SECTIONS 1 TO 8 -- TO BE OFFERED ON WEDNESDAYS DURING AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE  .

FUTURE CLASSES 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 BOARD:

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.