FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Industry and Membership Responds Positively to ASA-Midwest Decision for Disaffiliation and Member Choice
Gladstone, Missouri – Shop owners and industry suppliers throughout the country have responded in strong support of the recent announcement of “Member Choice” that was instituted in ASA-Midwest. Effective September 14, former ASA-Midwest members will have the opportunity to select their membership level. This “member choice” option was not available if ASA-Midwest remained an affiliate of the national organization, as ASA National’s affiliate agreement strictly mandates membership on all levels. The industry has responded to the disaffiliation announcement with overwhelming support with comments including “seeing your association make this move signifies growth and change in the industry and the push to keep moving forward”, “a step in the right direction”, “keep me posted as I too am interested in turning the page and moving industry onward and upward”, and “a well thought out plan with accountability to your members—that is the only road to success.”
The ASA-Midwest board voted unanimously to empower their members and provide them with a choice of membership levels, while also realizing that this decision would change the brand of their organization. “By changing the name of our organization to Midwest Auto Care Alliance™, we have empowered our members, as well as future members, to select their membership participation based on their personal needs and experience. This is a business decision which should be available to all members and holds each member-based organization accountable for the programs and services that they offer in return for their dues,” stated Jerry Holcom, president of ASA-Midwest and owner of S&S Service Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
The national Automotive Service Association recently announced the continuance of the affiliate name with a new chapter also named “ASA Midwest” to begin after ASA-Midwest’s departure in September. Effective September 14, the well-known ASA-Midwest affiliate will be renamed Midwest Auto Care Alliance™ (MWACA). “Don’t be confused. The same great leadership of area shop owners and managers will all move over to the new regional MWACA association. Our new organization will remain focused on membership, local training and events, and legislative initiatives which led to the success of our original ASA-Midwest affiliate,” Holcom stated. As the co-founder of the annual VISION HiTech Training & Expo event, Holcom also confirmed that there would be no impact on the organization’s upcoming VISION event in March 2019.
Additional information and membership opportunities will be announced over the coming months as ASA-Midwest begins the launch of Midwest Auto Care Alliance™ on September 14. For more information, about the new MWACA, industry professionals can visit www.mwaca.org or contact the ASA-Midwest headquarters located in Gladstone, Missouri
ASA-Midwest is currently the second largest affiliate of the Automotive Service Association serving the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Beginning as a seven-county Kansas City chapter in the late 1980’s, the progressive affiliate grew into ASA Missouri/Kansas, and continued to grow and expand into a six state affiliate currently known as ASA-Midwest. While actively serving the needs of the independent automotive service professionals, ASA-Midwest’s activities and events have included 9 active chapters, numerous Shop Owner Support (S.O.S.) Groups, a shop mentor program, as well as founding and hosting the VISION HiTech Training & Expo event for 27 years. The 2019 VISION event will be held February 28—March 3 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Kansas City (www.visionkc.com).
For more information contact:
Sheri Hamilton, Executive Director
(816) 413-9800
sheri@asa-midwest.org
