ASA Launches New Issues-Oriented Website

Motor, May 2004 by Nash, Tom

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has launched a new website-www.TakingTheHill.com-to help mobilize support or dissent for issues that directly impact the automotive repair industry on both federal and state levels.

The core of the new website is ASA's new Legislative Alert Center. This feature helps bridge the communications gap between interested parties and their elected officials by offering a convenient venue to contact state legislatures, statehouses and the federal government. ASA has adopted a program that allows industry members to contact their representatives regarding specific legislation and, with the click of a button, send an e-mail to their elected officials.

To make the process even easier, ASA has populated the new Legislative Alert Center with messages or talking points for important issues that can be immediately incorporated into the correspondence. Currently, messages can be sent regarding insurer-owned repair facilities, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act and Association Health Plans (AHPs) legislation.

"The Internet has become a dynamic and integral part of the political process on both federal and state levels," said Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative. "Today's grassroots efforts and advocacy campaigns incorporate online strategies to effectively deliver important messages to representatives around the nation. ASA understands this advancement and has created this new website to mobilize constituents on important initiatives impacting our industry."

The new website also serves as a reference tool for anyone interested in automotive legislative efforts. Comprehensive legislative reports, historical background on service information availability and ongoing coverage of insurer-owned shop legislation can be found on the new site.

In addition, ASA has integrated thousands of pages of up-to-date information about visitors' elected officials, including bios, staff listings and voting records; a complete guide to upcoming elections; and contact information for local media outlets, including newspapers, television and radio.

"ASA has truly stepped up our visibility on the legislative and advocacy front on both the federal and local levels with the implementation of our new grassroots website," said Ron PyIe, ASA president and chief staff executive. "We understand that volunteer legislative advocacy efforts are the most successful when participation is convenient for all parties involved. By initiating this expedient communication tool, we are providing our members and supporters with an even stronger voice on Capitol Hill."