JULY 30, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE

DEALER NEWS & INFORMATION

– Automotive News at a Glance

– NADA Dealer Attitude Survey Goes Online

REGULATORY & LEGAL UPDATES

– Reminder of Used Car Buyers Guide Requirements

UPCOMING SEMINARS

– *New* Red Flags Rule & Privacy/ Safeguards Re-cap

– Safety Compliance Seminar

– Lifeline to Profits Seminar

– Salesperson Training/Personal Development

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
– Upcoming Events

– State Fleet Purchasing Meeting
– Fall 2008 Regional Member Briefings

DEALER MILESTONES,
HIGHLIGHTS & TRANSITIONS

– Bob Fisher Passes Away

– Share YOUR Accomplishments

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www.nada.org

CLICK HERE for NADA
Regulatory Affairs information.

STATE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

CLICK HERE for the Auto Industry
Division of the Colorado Dept.
of Revenue.

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Registration section of the
Colorado Dept. of Revenue,
Motor Vehicles Division.

CLICK HERE for the Colorado
Department of Labor &
Employment website.

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AUTOMOTIVE NEWS AT A GLANCE

Listed here are several articles pertaining to the
auto industry in general that appeared recently in newspapers and other media outlets across the nation.

• Ford takes large write-down
• Pain at the Pump, 1920’s style
• Chrysler to quit leasing business
• 100 Years Later, GM and America Go Together
• Demand raises Prius price
• Gas price drops again
• Economic View:  A Modest Proposal:  Eco-Friendly Stimulus
• NADA Raises Concerns About NHTSA's Proposed Fuel Economy Standards
  
  

  * * * * * * * *

NADA DEALER ATTITUDE SURVEY GOES ONLINE

The NADA Dealer Attitude Survey (DAS) is now going to be collected and managed exclusively on line. Under the new system, NADA will no longer mail paper surveys to dealers. The move to online-only will significantly speed up survey processing time and allow NADA Industry Relations to report the results of face-to-face DAS meetings with manufacturers back to the dealers who completed the survey.

“The online-only methodology allows us to provide important and timely information to dealers in a manner that previously was not possible” noted Michael Regan, NADA’s VP of Industry Affairs. 

NADA has designed a new full-service DAS website at www.nadasurvey.com to facilitate the move to online-only. CLICK HERE for more details.

* * * * * * *

REMINDER OF USED CAR BUYERS GUIDE REQUIREMENTS:

A reminder to all dealerships on various aspects of the FTC Used Car Rule:

You must post a Buyers Guide before you "offer" a used vehicle for sale. A vehicle is offered for sale when you display it for sale or let a customer inspect it for the purpose of buying it, even if the car is not fully prepared for delivery.

• There are numerous details of this rule about which many dealerships may be unaware; make sure you fully understand all requirements—possible fines are $11,000 per violation.

• Note also that Auto Industry Division has a goal to visit every dealership in Colorado to conduct a basic compliance audit—this is item #1 on their audit check-list

CLICK HERE for more details on the FTC Used Car Rule

________________________________________________________

If you have questions on any legal or regulatory topic, please contact:

• Tammi McCoy, Vice Pres., tammi.mccoy@coloradodealers.org, 303.282.1449
• Tim Jackson, President, tim.jackson@coloradodealers.org, 303.282.1448

TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY CADA SEMINAR OR EVENT, PLEASE VISIT: www.coloradodealers.org/registration

* * * * * * * *

*NEW* RED FLAGS RULE COMPLIANCE SEMINAR:
PLUS: PRIVACY/SAFEGUARDS RE-CAP

Rob Cohen, auto industry compliance expert, will provide in-depth training on the new RED FLAGS rule and a re-cap on Privacy/Safeguards Rules

Make sure you are aware of
these NEW compliance obligations:

Generally, the new regulations require automobile dealers to:

• Create and implement a written Identity Theft Protection Program with procedures designed to detect and respond to “red flags” indicating potential identity theft.
• Periodically review and update the written program to reflect changing risks.
• Train responsible staff members to follow the program.
• Oversee service providers (i.e., third party vendors).
• Involve senior management or owner(s) in approving the program and its administration.
• Prepare annual reports for senior management or owner(s).

Attendees will receive practical, step-by-step instruction on how to create and roll-out a Red Flags Program at your dealership.

Mandatory compliance date of Nov. 1, 2008

PLUS: Re-Cap of Safeguards and Privacy Rules: Dealers must have a Safeguards Program Coordinator, conduct a risk assessment, implement written safeguards to control risks, oversee service providers, and re-evaluate periodically.

CLICK HERE for more information on this training session.

About the Presenter:  Rob Cohen, Esq., President of Auto Advisory Services, is a sought-after speaker and trainer on a wide range of dealership sales and finance topics. Auto Advisory Services (AAS) has been providing assistance to automobile dealers since 1975. With over 550 dealership clients, AAS is the leader in dealership compliance issues.

Discount product offer to seminar attendees: AAS’s Information Safeguards and Identity Theft Manual is an in-depth tool for dealership compliance with the FTC’s Safeguard Rule and ID theft compliance and prevention. A new Red Flags Supplement is included as well. Over 1,500 copies have been sold nationwide. This “turn-key” manual makes implementing a dealership safeguards and ID theft program easy. It is regularly $325, but will be available for order at $199/copy at this seminar. See www.autoadvisory.com for more information.

* * * * * * * *

SAFETY COMPLIANCE SEMINAR

Workers Compensation and Environmental Health and Safety

Keep your employees safe AND reduce costs 
Review the latest compliance changes, presented by CADA endorsed providers: Wells Fargo Insurance Services and KPA

Part I –Workers Compensation – New Compliance Issues and Best Practices (1.5 hours)

• Recent changes to Colorado's Workers' Compensation laws have impacted most employers’ ability to maintain control of their claims.
• Learn what your dealership must do to be in compliance with the law and still effectively manage your claims.
• Learn about the most frequent and costly workplace accidents and how to prevent them.
• Attendees will take away proven techniques and resources to protect their employees from disabling accident
• Keep your workers safe and ensure legal compliance
• Learn how to improve your dealership profitability by lowering your total cost of risk.

Part II – Environment Health and Safety:  Small Investment. 
Big Return, KPA (1.5 hours)

• Safety and environmental compliance: EPA, OSHA, DOT, and more.   
• Key topics to be covered
• Hybrid Safety
• The importance of Hazmat certification
• Common Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) mistakes and the fines that can ensue
• Safety Committees and their critical role in dealership
• Examples of return on your investment in EHS

NADA Publication provided in handouts:
The Federal Hazmat Transportation Regulations (L37, 3rd edition 5/1/2008) An overview of dealership and hazmat employee responsibilities under the federal hazardous materials transportation law, including reference to classification, training, packaging, and other requirements. [Topics: Hazmat, HMR, OSHA, Hazcom, EPA, TDGR, NOMs, ICAO, IMDG, hazard communication, labeling, placarding, packaging, toxic, explosive, environment, flammable, radioactive, corrosive].   $30 value.

CLICK HERE for more information on this training session.

* * * * * * * *

SALESPERSON TRAINING/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Oct. 14-15, 2008
Course offered twice; one-day each

Chip Thomas has received rave reviews providing salesperson training for other auto dealer associations across the U.S. Mark your calendar for this training event that will be offered twice in October.

More details coming soon!

* * * * * * * *

LIFELINE TO PROFITS SEMINAR

Thurs., Oct. 16 to Fri., Oct. 17
from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In this intensive, two-day workshop, you will go through every aspect of your operation, taking a candid look at your dealership to develop a detailed action plan to implement within your store to achieve your dealership’s full profit potential. You'll leave this hands-on training with answers to the following questions:

• Can I enhance and improve the performance of my dealership?
• How do I effectively analyze my current dealership operations?
• What's the best way to identify opportunities for change?
• What steps do I take to fully capitalize on these new opportunities?
• How do I tailor a plan specifically for my dealership?
• What's the most efficient way to put my plan into action?

The NADA 20 Group program is providing industry-leading trainers to conduct the workshop. Each of the trainers has retail experience and will offer critical insight to help your dealership. You will take home a practical action plan specifically designed for YOUR dealership.

CLICK HERE for more information on this training session.

STATE FLEET PURCHASING MEETING

So far calculations indicate that 1,500 cars and trucks were purchased from the Colorado state fleet, totaling more than $30.5 million in sales.

With that in mind, the State of Colorado will be conducting an informational meeting concerning the solicitation and purchase of new vehicles for the state fleet. This meeting will be held on Aug. 14, 2008 from 9a.m.-noon at 633 17th Street, 2nd floor conference room, Denver, CO 80202. We will discuss the 45 various types of vehicles and their specifications that will be included in this year's solicitation.

For more information, please contact Jim Sharp, purchasing agent, via phone 303-866-6155 or e-mail jim.sharp@state.co.us.

* * * * * * * *

BOB FISHER PASSES AWAY

Bob Fisher, a well-known Boulder businessman who owned Boulder’s Fisher Chevrolet and Honda, died Friday after a four-month battle with thyroid cancer. He was 86.

Fisher sold cars for about 60 years and spent most of those years working with his two children, Craig Fisher and Lynn Rickman, who started in the business when they were teenagers.

“He was really a great teacher,” Rickman said. “He was just really a good guy.”

Fisher was honest, humble and known for his accessibility to customers and employees alike, Craig Fisher said. He credited his father’s management style with the longevity of many of the company’s 120 employees, noting that most of the managers have worked there for at least 20 years.

A Colorado native, Bob Fisher served in the Navy as a minesweeper in the South Pacific during World War II. When he returned, he married his high school sweetheart, Madelyne Keating.

“They discussed everything,” Rickman said. “They were a phenomenal couple.”

His automotive career started in 1947 at Burt Chevrolet in Englewood. After moving to Boulder in 1968, he partnered with Russ Lyons of Russ Lyons Chevrolet, buying the dealership from Lyons in 1973.

Fisher added several franchises, including Isuzu, Hyundai, Pontiac and Honda, over the years and received the Time Magazine Dealer Award honoring outstanding automobile dealers in America.

Family members said he loved working, and retirement was never one of his goals. He worked full-time until his illness began in March.

Rickman said her father’s philosophy was: “If you work hard and do what you need to do every day, you can make the world a better place and make a better business.”

An active participant in the community, Fisher served as president of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and as a state legislative director. He also was a member of the Masons and Shriners.

A private family service was held Tuesday at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

CLICK HERE for more infomation.

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LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Have you or anyone else at your dealership won an award recently? Have you or your dealership provided any outstanding community service? We want to recognize such accomplishments. Please send us a brief write-up of the award or event along with any other information to milestones@coloradodealers.org. Also include your contact information for further follow-up.

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