Pub. 54 2013-2014 Issue 4

14 each competing for customer business on price and service. Tesla dictates its prices with no opportunity for consumers to benchmark or negotiate. Taking dealers away would not lower car prices. A factory-owned retail network requires the same investment in physical assets and the same operating expenses that dealers now shoulder. We earn money performing warranty work and there- fore provide important service to our customers. We also handle trade-ins and compete for service and financing business, all to the benefit of our customers. We simply cannot see how customers can be served beneficially with a factory-owned franchise. This has been tried many times before and it has consistently failed. The franchise system is the best way to retail cars. And with this extremely important issue on our plate, I encour- age you all to take a good look at support for both our AutoPac and DEAC. As you know, our strength as an association of 1,200 small businesses is that we speak with one voice. We must continue to participate aggressively in political races if we want our voice heard in the Capitol during legislative sessions. Your Legislators are hearing from the folks at Tesla, I assure you, billionaires can be extremely luring and influential. Please make your voices heard by contributing. We supported 122 candidates through AutoPac last election; only 7 lost re-election. Of course other issues of prominence are being followed care- fully – protection of Dealer’s private property rights, opposition to allowing dealerships to open on a 7 day week, new 12 month registration period for used car sales, careful advertising scrutiny on internet sales, titling process and new paperless processing, margins tax, sales tax exemptions, highway funding, registration fees, right of first refusal and dealer protest issues. Finally, I am very excited to work with our staff and Jennifer Stevens who leads the Austin PR firm, JHL Company, on a new strategic communications plan for our organization. We are work- ing to enhance TADA’s internal and external communications in order to shift the messaging and maintain an influential reputation across the state. We will become more progressive and we will define a new look and work on our long-term branding. Watch for new developments on our TADA.org website, including a new really cool logo! And in closing, I am truly honored that a very good friend has accepted my invitation to return to a circle of friends who truly love and care for him. Tom Blanton has been a great advisor and counsel for all Texas Franchised Dealers. His illustrious career spanned 34 years over 1/3 of the 98 year history of TADA. He has become a deep-seated friend and confidant to our dealer family on many important business matters. Thanks for your dedication, advocacy and support. Also thanks for a lot of laughs and good times. I know when you appeared to be sleeping at board meetings you were still listening! Thank you for your attention and support. I am indeed honored that you have chosen me to lead as your Chair for this year!   CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Specializing in new car dealerships Sales, Service, Parts, Body Shop, Accounting, General Managers, Partners We expose our clients to an exclusive pool of management talent We match you with the individual that will best t your team We will spend the time you can’t A con dential search will not disrupt your organization Outgrown Your Managers?