Illinois Member Raises $3,500 For Charity

More than 50 volunteers were on hand to wash 76 dos and 115 vehicles during the 6th Annual Woof & Wheels Wash, which raised $3,500 for Canine Companions for Independence.

Hondas and hounds, mutts and minivans traveled from as far away as Madison, Wis., to offer a paw in support of the 6th Annual Woof & Wheels Wash held June 18 in Vernon Hills, Ill. The event raised $3,500 for Canine Companions for Independence.

A force of more than 50 volunteers bathed 76 pooches and hand-washed and vacuumed 115 coupes, sedans and SUVs in exchange for donations to Canine Companions, a national organization that breeds and trains highly skilled assistance dogs. Grooming consultations and toenail trimming were also offered for the canines, and family activities included a high-energy fly dog show, a canine search and rescue demonstration, and exhibits from local groups including Sav-A-Pet Adoption Center and Pet Sitters of America. The event was held at C&M Auto Service Inc. in Vernon Hills, Ill.

"Once again, the community wowed us with its continuous support of our fund-raising efforts, and we are grateful for that," said Amy Campos, Chicago coordinator for Canine Companions. "From bringing their vehicles and dogs by for a wash to buying raffle tickets or donating food for the volunteers, our generous supporters made this event an overwhelming success. We thank them very much for their efforts."

The funds raised will help provide assistance dogs to recipients in Illinois and will be used toward local educational outreach programs. Although it costs more than $10,000 to breed, train and place each companion dog, Canine Companions provides each assistance dog, as well as ongoing support, to recipients free of charge. Because of the cost and demand, there is a two-year waiting list.

"We always have a great time hosting and working this event with Canine Companions, and we're pleased to have raised $3,500 for the organization," Mike Starovich, C&M president, said. "However, we continue to set our sites on the $10,000 necessary to provide one individual with one assistance dog. We'll be brainstorming ideas with our team, as well as with Canine Companions, to see how we can make that a feasible goal for next year."

While C&M Auto Service sponsored the event, Wal-Mart of Vernon Hills offered a $1,000 matching grant and Medline of Mundelein donated $200.

ASA-North Carolina Announces Fall Meeting

Three management education seminars will highlight the ASA-North Carolina fall meeting to be held Sept. 16-18 at the Sheraton New Bern Hotel & Marina in New Bern, N.C.

George Witt, AAM, will teach his two Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars, "Become the Manager Everyone Wants to Work For," and "Survival Skills for the Service Adviser." Each seminar will earn attendees six credits toward the institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. In addition to Witt, Jeff Corbett will present "Gaining the Competitive Edge: Exceptional Customer Service & Communication Strategies that Set You Apart!"

The schedule also includes a welcome reception, an affiliate board meeting and a trolley tour of historic New Bern.

For more information and to register, contact Hero Joyner, ASA-North Carolina, at (919) 846-8799.

NATIONAL NEWS

• ASA leaders met with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) officials in Washington, D.C.

  ASA's delegates discussed the usage of used and salvage airbags and the issue of airbag covers with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigations (ODI). ODI officials announced that so far there has been no evidence to determine a trend in salvage or used airbags, and they have no way of determining the number of airbags in a crash that are used or salvaged.

  ODI officials recommended that independent repairers should contact the agency when they observe occurrences of used or salvage airbags being used in vehicle repair. They also suggested that repairers contact them when they observe trends in repairing the same vehicle model with the same repair concerns.

  ODI can be reached at www.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm. ASA officials in attendance included Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive; Charlie Elder, AAM, Ray Gordon Brake Service, Tallahassee, Fla., ASA chairman-elect and chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC); Ron Nagy, AAM, affiliate director and GAC member, Nagy's Body & Frame Shop, Doylestown, Ohio; GAC members Eddie Ehlert, Mazdonly Ltd., Chamblee, Ga.; Bob Wills, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, Mich.; and Mike West, Southtowne Auto Rebuild, Tukwila, Wash.; and Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative.
  

• ASA has mailed letters to all members requesting e-mail and fax communication consent. Although recent developments allow ASA to continue contacting members by e-mail and fax, ASA is requesting member consent for communication using these formats. This mailing also reminds members to contact ASA to update their contact information as needed.