• • ILLINOS LEGISLATURE SET TO CONVENE
• • TRUECAR
• • IADA - CATA FT. LAUDERDALE CONFERENCE MARCH 24-28
• • ILLINOIS EPA ALTERNATE FUEL REBATE PROGRAM
• • CHICAGO AUTO SHOW TO GET UNDERWAY
• • IADA DEALER EDGE SEMINARS IN FEBRUARY!
• • IADA MEMBERS MAKE ILLINOIS TOP VOLUME CVR STATE IN THE NATION

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The Illinois General Assembly reconvened January 31st for the first session day of the 2012 legislative season.   In addition, Governor Pat Quinn will deliver his State of the State speech February 1st, it is expected his remarks will center primarily on job growth and economic development in Illinois.

For 2012, the Illinois legislature will be in the second year of a two-year legislative cycle.  Typically, the second year is considered an appropriations year which primarily focuses on budgetary concerns. With Illinois financial problems, lawmakers will have their hands filled addressing Illinois current $6 billion dollar backlog of unpaid bills and the ever-increasing $85 billion dollar pension unfunded liability issue.

Another factor for the 2012 legislature is the upcoming elections.  With the hostile political climate between the Republican and Democratic parties, legislative leaders will be shying away from having their members casting votes on difficult issues.  Legislative leaders fear having legislators expecting tough elections in the upcoming election, voting on issues which could cost them votes on election day.  It is likely most controversial issues won’t be addressed until after the fall elections.

Currently, the Democrats remain firmly in control of both legislative chambers.  Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) is the Senate President and Representative Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is Speaker of the Illinois House.  Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Representative Tom Cross (R-Oswego) are their respective Chambers' Republican leaders.

IADA is expecting 2000-3000 additional bill introductions for 2012—once the Bill introduction date passes, we will update members on issues affecting franchised dealers.

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In our January 3d bulletin, we discussed whether TrueCar, an internet lead generating service, complies with Illinois advertising regulations. IADA discussed TrueCar’s business practices with staff from the Attorney General’s consumer fraud division. IADA expressed concern that TrueCar is in violation of the coupon and free gift prohibitions of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Attorney General’s advertising regulations.

IADA is still awaiting guidance from the Attorney General’s Office, which we will provide to you as soon as we receive it. Meanwhile, if you are using a lead generating service, IADA urges you to make sure you are not in violation of Section 2J.1 of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, which prohibits the use of coupons in a motor vehicle transaction and Section 475.590, which prohibits offering gifts or prizes as an incentive to purchase a vehicle.

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Plan to join IADA & CATA as we offer our members an opportunity to mix business and pleasure at our Annual Spring Conference, March 24-28, 2012, at the beautiful Harbor Beach Marriott in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. These dates are during the spring vacation season with ocean front rooms guaranteed for all attendees!  NADA incoming Chairman Bill Underriner, Montana, will be addressing the conference.

With our convention package you will receive four nights lodging, guaranteed ocean view rooms, breakfast business sessions, two receptions and a Beach Bash Theme Party! The Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in south Florida is a seaside getaway highlighted by a pristine oceanfront location & close proximity to the airport.  The resort offers an abundance of recreation; water sports, a tropical lagoon pool & children's activities make this Fort Lauderdale luxury resort's facilities one of a kind.   Mark your calendars and register today!

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The Chicago Auto Show will get underway Feb. 10-19 with its frontrunner status as North America's largest auto show.  A one of a kind event is the First Look for Charity, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 9th from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.  A black tie event which gives attendees an elegant, inaugural look at the annual Chicago Auto Show and since its inception in 1992, the Chicago Auto Show’s benevolent event has raised nearly $30 million for numerous Chicago area charities.

http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/first_look/first_look_entertainment.aspx.

Public Show:  Friday, February 10 through Sunday, February 19

First Look for Charity:  Thursday, February 9, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Black tie. More info.

Media Preview:  Wednesday, February 8 through Thursday, February 9. More info.

The show's all-new Web site, www.ChicagoAutoShow.com, has everything from basic show information about tickets, parking, hours, mass transportation, history and vehicles on display, to a photo gallery of new and old cars that's second to none.

Our congratulations to CATA for another great Auto Show which promotes our industry, benefits many charities in the Chicago Area along with kicking-off the spring selling season!

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IADA has established a partnership with DealersEdge to provide high-quality training and informational Webinars that offer the content to dealer member dealers at a significantly discounted rate.
 
The rate for IADA members for the weekly presentations is $149, half what is charged to users who do not subscribe to DealersEdge. Webinars premiere on a near-weekly basis. Even for dealers who hold an annual membership with DealersEdge, our relationship represents a savings for them!

Once purchased, DealersEdge Webinars and accompanying PDF files can be downloaded and viewed later-and repeatedly. No matter how many people watch at your location, each connection costs an IADA member just $149. The fee includes both PowerPoint slides and audio; a telephone connection is not needed.
 
To register for any of the DealersEdge Webinars, go to www.illinoisdealers.com and click on The IADA Management Learning Center.

Coming topics:
 
Thursday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m. CST
"Social Media: The Case for Outsourcing your Dealership's Program" In a short time, Social Media Marketing has moved from being a somewhat silly online sharing mechanism dominated by teens to a powerful marketing platform capable of changing the fortunes of dealers and other retailers. But just because someone spends a lot of time messing with his Facebook page is no reason to put him in charge of your Social Media Marketing program. See why outsourcing this function in your dealership may make as much sense as outsourcing other highly skilled functions like legal and accounting.
 
Thursday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m. CST
"Six-Step Process for Conducting a Strategic Planning Session" Where do you want to be in five years, and how are you going to get there? You could use the usual method and fly by the seat of your pants. Or you could organize all the car-smarts and experience of your management team, along with good historical data, to create solid growth goals and the plan to make it happen. Strategic planning can reduce time spent "fighting fires" and help you focus on growing your dealership.
 
Thursday, Feb. 24 at 12 p.m. CST
"How the 'Best of the Best' Parts Advisors Get It Done Every Day" It may seem like a relatively minor role in the operation of a profitable dealership, but the Parts Advisor is a very important cog in the creation of an effective and profitable fixed ops process. Yet when they perform with great efficiency, they go almost unnoticed. Join a dissection of the Parts Advisor position and see why the position is important and how the very "best of the best" go about their daily tasks. An eye-opener and reminder for current Advisors, but also an excellent "new hire" training and orientation session.

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