February 13, 2009

GREETINGS AND SAL-UTATIONS!

Dear NJGCA Member:

ACTIVITY GALORE: TRADESHOW REGISTRATION, NEW LEGISLATION & MORE

With the NORTHEAST 2009 Tradeshow only five weeks off, there is still much work to be done as we put the final touches on what will assuredly be a successful event!

As you know, the tradeshow is a three-day event and we have a lot planned to better serve your small business!  We will have a presentation on the new Family Leave Act that will take place on Friday evening; an Alternate Fuel Seminar that will be presented on Saturday; and we are proud to host a Family Fun Day event that will take place on Sunday.

That last event is especially important as we salute all our families for helping to make your small business a success!  Bring your spouses and children along for an enjoyable afternoon of amusements, food and carnival activities!! We look forward to seeing you all there!

However, just as we are working to bring you a fantastic exhibition, doesn’t mean that you can’t get a jump on things.  We are currently pre-registering attendees on the NORTHEAST 2009 website.  When you register early, you will SAVE a $10 dollar ticket charge at the door and avoid the long lines.  Passes will be made available, but you must sign up today!

Click HERE to visit the registration page and register now!

And you can always find even more information on the NJGCA - NORTHEAST 2009 Tradeshow Homepage -- Remember to mark your calendars for March 20-22!!

This week, NJGCA held a meeting with Shell lessee dealers to discuss Shell’s rumored divestiture from the New Jersey market.  As many of you know, we anticipate that Shell plans to sell off all their retail assets to mega-distributors – just as Exxon has already announced they would – and it may leave these small businesses in the lurch.

A group is being formed by the Shell lessees to protect their interests if a divestiture should become a reality.  Like the Exxon lessee group, the Shell dealers will pursue both legislative and legal approaches to this situation.  In fact, the attorney who is representing the Exxon dealers came to speak with the Shell dealers to lay out the legal arguments against any asset sale that disenfranchises current lessees.

NJGCA strongly encourages all Shell dealers to reach out to other Shell lessees and inform them of what is at stake if their locations are packaged n’ sold off to large distributors!  Stand up for yourselves!  Team NJGCA will help you to organize, but lessees must also help themselves!  Contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Last week, after months of preparation, NJGCA was successful in getting our First Right of Refusal legislation introduced in the Legislature! This bill now exists in the Senate as S-2553 and in the Assembly as A-3726.  You can view a copy of the Senate version of the bill by clicking HERE

We expect both bills to be heard before their respective committees soon.  All members should be on the lookout for a Wildfire Alert announcing when the committee hearings have been scheduled.  When the time comes, all lessee dealers should drop what they are doing to attend these proceedings in Trenton!

BE PREPARED - BE AN ACTIVIST!

Per our announcement last week, NJGCA was recently contacted by business owner Emily Bielen for help in selling her family-run service station. Please take a look below in the NJGCA Classifieds for further details.

See you next week!

Regards,

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

IN THIS WEEK’S NJGCA ROAD WARRIOR:

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS

•Looking for a new opportunity?

ERT & ETEP UPDATE

•License extension announced - See below for full details!

TRADE SHOW OPPORTUNITY

•Do you want to participate in Northeast 2009 as an exhibitor?

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

•NJGCA in the News: Cheng, Risalvato outline Zone Pricing
•State job losses on pace to exceed 265,000
•Federal government extends East Coast drill study
•Poll: State Residents want more cost controls

THE NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS

Emily Bielen, owner of John’s American Service Center, recently contacted NJGCA for help in selling her small business.

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.

ERT & ETEP UPDATE

The Bureau of Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance recently contacted all Emission Repair Technicians (ERTs) regarding a license extension.

All ERTs who had licenses scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009 will now be granted an automatic extension of their certification to December 31, 2009.  This action was taken since the updated Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) courses are not yet approved.

A new certificate, with the new expiration date, was mailed to all affected ERTs and should arrive soon.  The packet also contains information on the new course and re-certification requirements for the December license renewal.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance directly at 609-530-4035.

TRADESHOW OPPORTUNITY!

NJGCA is very excited about the upcoming Northeast 2009 Regional NJGCA/AASP Trade Show to be held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. We know that many of our members may want to Exhibit and Sell their products and services at the trade show. Here is your chance.  We want you to be a part of this extraordinary opportunity to have your products and services seen by thousands of attendees over the show’s 3 days.  The trade show is set for March 20 – 22.

I have included the link for the exhibit application/contract for you to complete and mail to our office.  Do not wait too long to become part of this very special event. Exhibit space is limited.  If you signup within the next 14 days, NJGCA will advertise your presence at the trade show in NJGCA’s On The Road newsletter-magazine at no cost to you.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Mail your completed application/contract with your 50% booth deposit check to:

Sal Risalvato
c/o: NJGCA
66 Morris Ave.
Springfield, NJ 07081

2. Email your ¼ page ad to phil@njgca.org

Your ad will appear in the March On The Road publication prior to the trade show. Over 2,700 gas stations, repair shops and convenience stores will see your ad and know you will be at the trade show. Over 10,000 retailers from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Metropolitan areas will be in attendance.

Don’t miss this chance to get your name, products and services out to all NJGCA members and more. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our office. Our number is 973-376-0066.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

2/11/2009:
NJGCA in the News: Cheng, Risalvato outline Zone Pricing
NJGCA Member Eel Chang and NJGCA Executive Director Sal Risalvato were quoted by Bloomberg News on the issue of Zone Pricing and how it is affecting small business owners.  A related article also appeared in the Metro Boston News – Click HERE to view.

2/11/2009:
State job losses on pace to exceed 265,000
At a recent speaking engagement, Rutgers University professor James Hughes stated that New Jersey could stands to lose over 265,000 jobs – the worst in state history – if economic conditions do not improve.  Hughes cites that job loss numbers could have been heftier had it not been for stagnant job growth over the last 6 years.

2/10/2009:
Federal government extends East Coast drill study
White House officials recently announced that they will slow down an offshore drilling plan proposal, set into motion by the Bush Administration, to allow for more public comment.  Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, says an additional six-months are needed to complete the study and its effects on the environment.

2/10/2009:
Poll: State Residents want more cost controls
A recent Monmouth University/Gannett Poll illustrates that New Jersey residents are not confident the state is doing enough to cut costs.  Survey results say that 87% of residents feel Trenton is not doing enough to reign in spending.