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AUGUST 27, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
 DEALER NEWS & INFORMATION
– CADA Annual Member Golf Event
– Automotive News at a Glance
– 2009 NADA Convention Accomodations
REGULATORY & LEGAL UPDATES
– Basics of Hybrid Safety for the Service Manager
– **Important Dealer Alert** GM Employee Discount Program: D&H Fees
UPCOMING SEMINARS
– Lifeline to Profits Seminar
– Salesperson Training/Personal Development
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
– Upcoming Events
– Fall 2008 Regional Member Briefings
– Dealer Day at SEMA
DEALER MILESTONES,
HIGHLIGHTS & TRANSITIONS
– As More Consumers Go Online To Do Their Shopping, More Dealers are Doing the Samey
– William D. Barrow Building Celebrates Its 10-year Anniversary
– Share YOUR Accomplishments
ARCHIVES
CLICK HERE for Open Road
e-newsletter archives.
CLICK HERE for an Index of Regulatory
& Legal Articles from the Open
Road e-newsletter.
CLICK HERE for Bulletin archives.
CLICK HERE for Colorado Auto
Outlook archives.
CLICK HERE for Denver Auto
Outlook archives.
ONLINE REGISTRATION
CLICK HERE to register online
for various CADA seminars & events.
MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
CLICK HERE for details on the
Speaker and Educational
Resources.
CLICK HERE for a list of current
Endorsed Vendors/Programs.
CLICK HERE for a list of current
Allied Members.
CLICK HERE for an order form for
CADA forms.
CLICK HERE for information on all member services.
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.
CLICK HERE for the Title and
Registration section of the
Colorado Dept. of Revenue,
Motor Vehicles Division.
CLICK HERE for the Colorado
Department of Labor &
Employment website.
Visit us at www.coloradodealers.org.
CADA Hours of Operation
Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CADA STAFF
CLICK HERE for a CADA staff listing
If you have questions
or suggestions regarding this
e-newsletter, please
contact Nancy Burke at
nancy.burke@coloradodealers.org
CLICK HERE or scroll to the bottom
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ENDORSED VENDOR/PROGRAMS
CLICK HERE for information about the
Endorsed Vendors/Programs.
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If you have trouble viewing any of the links or documents in this e-newsletter, please CLICK HERE to access the web-based version.
Please join us for CADA's Annual Member Golf Event on Monday,
Sept. 8, 2008 at the Columbine Country Club in Columbine Valley, CO.
SPACE IS LIMITED! Register soon!
CLICK HERE for more details!
CADA Member Dealers and guest golf for free, Allied Member cost is $295.00 (only one golfer per allied membership).
Underwriting opportunities are available. We are also collecting items for our goodie bags and door prizes. Please click here for details...
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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.
- Fewer buyers are satisfied with Big 3
The Detroit News, August 19
Detroit's automakers lost ground this year to their Japanese and German rivals in the latest customer satisfaction survey by the University of Michigan, marking a reversal for U.S. manufacturers.
- Eco-driving embraced by automakers
The Detroit News, August 19
Automakers reached out to a longtime adversary Monday in urging consumers to do more to save gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Auto makers work out fuel-efficiency game plans
The Wall Street Journal, August 18
Auto makers are angling to carve out their own niches in fuel-efficient design, from expansion of the gasoline-electric hybrid technology already available in the Toyota Prius to the new plug-in hybrid vehicle known as the Volt under development by General Motors Corp.
- GM deal aims to rev up finanaces
The Detroit News, August 20
General Motors Corp. is extending warranties offered on certified used vehicles, one in a series of short-term moves detailed Tuesday aimed at shoring up the automaker's sagging finances, boosting sales and clearing out inventory.
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2009 NADA CONVENTION ACCOMODATIONS
As you begin receiving your registration materials for the 2009 NADA Convention in New Orleans, we would like to encourage you to consider a few of the properties the CADA events management team scouted on a recent trip to New Orleans.
We would like to recommend to all Colorado dealers the Marriott New Orleans at the Convention Center. Firstly, you will experience a legendary riverfront, boutique-style hotel located in the Warehouse & Arts District, directly across the street from the Convention Center and within walking distance of the French Quarter. Secondly, the annual CADA Breakfast will be hosted there on Sunday, January 25th. The hotel is clean, comfortable and the staff is friendly and efficient. To learn more about this fantastic property visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/msymc-new-orleans-marriott-at-the-convention-center/
As a second choice, the CADA events management team recommends the Westin New Orleans Canal Place. Located along the Mississippi River and adjacent to the French Quarter an eight minute walk to the convention center, the Westin makes a wonderful second choice. To learn more about the Westin please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1763
BASICS OF HYBRID SAFETY FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER
First in a 3-Part Series By Peter Zaidel, Product Manager with KPA, based in Colorado.
As the service manager, you are  responsible for creating a safe work environment for the service technicians. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) bring a set of new safety considerations and regulatory requirements. This article summarizes the basics of hybrid safety.
CLICK HERE for the entire article.
Excerpts below:
- All service department staff needs basic hybrid training, including hybrid identification.
- The hybrid, however, poses a life-threatening risk. You can get the attention of your service technicians by telling them that the voltage from a modern-day hybrid vehicle could, in fact, be used instead of an electric chair for an execution.
- Hybrids are silent when they are running on battery, which is to say that they are often completely quiet even though the car is on. They automatically turn themselves off and on, switching between battery and the gasoline engine, so it is easy for the technician to be unpleasantly surprised that a vehicle thought to be off is in fact on.
- All hybrids require special personal protective equipment (PPE) that facilities must have onsite.
- The high-voltage hybrid batteries are handled very differently than conventional batteries for gasoline-powered vehicles.
Visit CADA's training calendar below for upcoming training on this topic:
Peter Zaidel will be presenting at a Safety Compliance Seminar Presented by KPA and Wells Fargo Insurance Services in Colorado Springs Thursday, Sept. 18.
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**IMPORTANT DEALER ALERT** GM EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT PROGRAM: D&H FEES
Various aspects of the GM Employee Discount Program have come to our attention. Most importantly, if you are participating in the GM program, you need to be aware that the “supplemental window stickers” GM is requesting you to use would be considered an “Advertisement” under Colorado law.
CLICK HERE for information on the restrictions in Colorado regarding such “advertisements.”
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If you have questions on any legal or regulatory topic, please contact:
DISCLAIMER: CADA is not authorized to dispense legal advice.
The information contained in this weekly email is intended to provide important updates and reminders regarding statutes, litigation, and regulations. CADA always advises that dealers should consult legal counsel on the specifics of any laws or regulations to ensure proper compliance. |
| Event Description |
Date/Time |
Location |
Safety Compliance Seminar Presented by KPA and Wells Fargo Insurance Services
Colorado Springs |
Thurs., Sept. 18
Noon to 3 p.m.
Lunch included |
Antlers Hilton Hotel, 4 South Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, 80903, 719.955.5600
- Flyer/Registration Form
*Colorado Springs dealers should register with CSADA, Ann Winslow, 719.473.1465 or abwinslow@comcast.net |
Salesperson Training/Personal Development by Chip Thomas |
Oct. 14-15
Course offered twice; one-day each |
More details coming soon! |
Lifeline to Profits Seminar |
Thurs., Oct. 16 to Fri., Oct. 17
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Meals provided for each day |
William D. Barrow Building, CADA Offices
290 East Speer Blvd., Denver, 80203
- Flyer/Registration Form
- REGISTER ONLINE |
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SAFETY COMPLIANCE SEMINAR
Workplace Safety: New Challenges
New hybrid service safety issues
- Extremely high voltage electrical systems present NEW—and life-threatening— risks to service repair technicians.
- Are you aware of the unique issues your technicians face in servicing hybrids; are your technicians prepared to recognize if/when a damaged hybrid comes to your shop and special precautions that must be taken?
Peter Zaidel, one of the leading experts on hybrid safety, will be addressing safety issues for servicing hybrids. Peter is an environmental engineer and Product Manager for KPA, a nationally-known environmental, health and safety services company endorsed by CADA.
- Workers compensation new state requirements
- Choice of physician for injured employees and specific notice requirements
- NADA Safety Video showing
 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 hour)
- Recent changes to Colorado's Workers' Compensation laws - what you must do to provide proper notice and options to workers; handle workplace injury claims to MINIMIZE 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 – Showing of NADA Video: "An Ounce of Prevention" (25 minutes)
- 25-minute training video about dealership workplace risks and how to build a safety program. Shows a sample safety meeting, takes you on a dealership walk-through to spot common hazards and stresses safety policies. Retails for $169 from NADA.
Part III – Environment Health and Safety:
New issues in Hybrid Safety and the Top 5 causes of workplace injury (1.5 hours)
- HYBRID SAFETY and special issues and dangers
- Re-cap of the top five causes of workplace injury and federal regulatory concerns
- Hazardous materials communication is the #1 OSHA violation; re-cap (see attached article)
 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. |
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 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!
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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.
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CLICK HERE for more information
on this training session. |
AS MORE CONSUMERS GO ONLINE TO DO THEIR SHOPPING, MORE DEALERS ARE DOING THE SAME
By Ted Reckas of DealersLink
Internet sales are steadily increasing, and have been for years. The latest from JD Powers and Associates estimates that 86% of people shopping for a car look online first. For serious dealers interested in growing their business, this is nothing new.
What is somewhat new however, is the wholesale action happening online. The past year has seen a flood of new firms touting their online wholesale solutions as the next big thing. And while the quality of these operations is highly variable, some of them are right. Dealers and auction houses alike are starting to realize that the expenses of traveling to, and participating in, physical auctions are to a large degree becoming unnecessary.
CLICK HERE to read the entire article.
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WILLIAM D. BARROW BUILDING CELEBRATES ITS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Ten years ago this month, the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association and the Metro Denver Automobile Dealers Association moved into what is now the William D. Barrow Building on 290 East Speer Boulevard in downtown Denver. On Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998 an open house was hosted to commemorate the building. Members, allied members and guests attended the event, many of whom are still very involved in the organization today.
CLICK HERE to continue reading.
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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.
If you want to be added to our mailing list, please CLICK HERE.
To remove yourself from this list, click on this link.
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TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY CADA