Two ASA Members on ASE Board

Stan Elmore	Joe Torchiana

Two ASA members are among officers of the board of directors for 2009 of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). They are Joe Torchiana, who is continuing as chairman of ASE, and Stan Elmore, AAM, who is continuing as past chairman. Torchiana is the owner of One Stop Tire & Auto Service Inc. in West Chester, Pa., and Elmore is owner of Stan's Tire & Auto Service in Lafayette, Colo.

NATEF Gets First Woman Chair

Lori Blaker

The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) has announced its 2009 board officers, including the first woman chair in the organization's history. Lori Blaker, president of Technical Training Inc., Rochester Hills, Mich., assumes the NATEF chair position. Bill Bergen of Toyota, Torrance, Calif., is vice chairman and Katharine Oliver of Baltimore is treasurer. Oliver is the assistant state superintendent for career technology and adult learning for the Maryland Department of Education.

I-CAR to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

I-CAR will celebrate its 30th anniversary July 28-Aug. 1, 2009 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The I-CAR international board of directors and I-CAR members will be gathering in February at the I-CAR Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill., for their annual meeting.

NASTF Announces SDRM Tutorial

The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has announced a new tutorial for the Secure Data Release Module (SDRM), which provides online directions for repair facilities and locksmiths wishing to become registered and thus be eligible to receive vehicle security information through the SDRM system.

The tutorial provides information on the background of SDRM, how to access the application forms and also sign up for the registry. It also explains how to use the registry effectively and access vehicle security information, once registered.

It is available on the NASTF Web site: www.nastf.org.

Refrigerant Offers Superior Performance

A new refrigerant for use in mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems - HFO1234yf - offers superior environmental performance and can be used in future vehicles that are designed to use the new refrigerant, according to results of an SAE International Cooperative Program (CRP).

Based on CRP studies, this refrigerant has been judged to have the lowest risk for use in MAC systems in meeting environmental and consumer needs.

Foundation Establishes Scholarship

The I-CAR Education Foundation has announced The Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship in memory of Lon Baudoux, I-CAR's development manager, who died Nov. 11. The $1,000 scholarship was created by several I-CAR instructors to honor Baudoux for all he had done for the collision industry. It will support a high school or college student pursuing a career in collision repair, starting in spring 2009.

For more information, visit www.ed-foundation.org.

Coming Soon!

Watch your e-mail box for a survey regarding your ASA membership. For the first time ever, ASA will poll active paid members, former members and prospective members to determine the current value of ASA membership. In these challenging economic times, we must be certain that we deliver what members want and it's delivered in the appropriate format.

ASA has hired an independent firm to conduct the research. The consultant team interviewed ASA board members and affiliate directors to build the questions. Responses will be reported to ASA in the aggregate; individual responses will be kept confidential.

ASA's staff and board of directors encourages you to respond to the survey and to be candid in your responses. Timing for the survey to be released is early February. There will be a series of reminder notices sent to you to ensure that you take the opportunity to make your opinion known!

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It's easy to sign up. Just go to the ASA News section of ASA's Web site, www.ASAshop.org. Then, enter your e-mail address in the "Join ASA's News-Network" box. It's easy, informative and free!