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By B.J. Johnson ASA-Mo/Kan Prepares for VISION 2005 The ASA-Missouri/Kansas affiliate will hold its annual VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo March 4-6, 2005, at the Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park, Kan. Management education and technical training courses will be offered during the event. The affiliate's objective for the event is to educate automotive industry personnel with the most up-to-date information in the industry, as well as encourage professionalism in the industry. In addition to education, the annual event will provide attendees with the latest technology in automotive products and services through numerous company exhibits. For more information on VISION, contact ASA-Mo/Kan at (816) 781-5801 or visit the VISION Web site, www.visionkc.com.
Association Honors Longtime Members
Bud Merwin, former ASA president, represented the national association at the event. Merwin, a longtime friend of Toth's, assisted in the roasting of Toth, and presented him with a plaque of appreciation for his dedication to ASA and its membership. In addition to Merwin, Bob Anderson, ASA past chief elected officer, and Marlene Compton, former ASA-Ohio executive director, participated in the evening's activities.
Member to Speak at MACS 25th Anniversary Convention
Witt will teach "Survival Skills for the Service Advisor." The seminar is an Automotive Management Institute (AMI)-accredited course and will earn attendees credits toward the institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
NATIONAL NEWS The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee voted 18-10 to approve H.R. 4571, Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, to curb frivolous lawsuits. The legislation changes the way these lawsuits have been treated under federal rules governing civil trials since 1993. Sanctions for filing such lawsuits would be mandatory instead of at the discretion of the judge. The bill eliminates a provision allowing parties to avoid sanctions by withdrawing claims and extending sanctions to state court cases that affect interstate commerce. The changes will restore Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to how it treated meritless lawsuits between 1983 and 1993. "The law currently makes a mockery of our legal system," said Lamar Smith, R-Texas, sponsor of the bill. The legislation is not without its critics. Some believe Congress is bypassing the established procedures for changing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Revisions are usually considered first by a committee of judges and attorneys appointed by the Supreme Court. ASA leaders met with U.S. Rep. Chris John, D-La., to discuss the agreement between the automakers and ASA providing service information to independent repairers. The ASA executive committee briefed John on the progress of the agreement. The Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act, H.R. 2735, has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. John is a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and is running for an open U.S. Senate seat in the state of Louisiana. Attending the meeting were Geralynn Kottschade, AAM, chairman of ASA's board of directors; Denny Kahler, AAM, chairman-elect; Charlie Elder, AAM, secretary/treasurer; Ron Pyle, ASA president; and Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative.
Reminder of the Month
For the 2005 ASA board of directors elections, ASA members will have the opportunity to cast their votes for candidates either by telephone or on the Internet from Jan. 3 - Feb. 28, 2005. Members can access the electronic ballots by calling a toll-free telephone number or logging on to a secured Web site. Once members have phoned in or entered the Web site, they will vote by entering their member number plus a three-digit security code number following the prompts. These numbers can be found on the mailing labels of the December 2004 and January and February 2005 issues of AutoInc. The member number and security code are directly above the addressee's full name and enclosed by parentheses ( ). Example: (123456 789). All regular members in good standing with ASA are eligible to cast their vote for the two positions of ASA general director. More information will be provided as the election date draws near. 
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Copyright (c) 1996-2011. Automotive Service Association®. All rights reserved.
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George Witt, AAM, ASA member and owner of George Witt Service in Lincoln, Neb., is to be one of 62 speakers at the Mobile Air Conditioning Society's (MACS) 25th Anniversary Convention and Trade Show. The convention will be held Feb. 1-3, 2005, at the Las Vegas Hilton.
