ETI Offers Permanent Home to NASTF

Motor, Nov 2005 by Nash, Tom

The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) has made a proposal to the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) to administer the business of NASTF. ETI states, "There is a significant value that NASTF provides to the entire industry and ETI is prepared to render assistance in formalizing the organization."

According to the proposal, the initial process would he a three-year program to begin Jan. 1. 2006. At that time, the daily administrative and organizational responsibilities would be executed at ETI headquarters. ETI would hire an additional staff person who'd be dedicated to the daily affairs and be the driver for NASTF. NASTF would transition from an unstructured group of individuals to a working group in conjunction with ETI.

At the conclusion of the three-year transitional period, the new organization would evaluate its progress, its current state and the outlook for the future. A determination would be made at that tiiue as to the future of the organization-whether it becomes a full-fledged, self-supporting organization with a board, officers and directors and by-laws, or needs more time to formalize itself, or any combination thereof.

The proposal says, "ETI offers to do this for two primary reasons. First, NASTF is an important organization that plays a vital role in the future success of ETI and its members. Second, ETI is neidier an aftermarket nor an OEM organization. ETI has customers and important relationships in both markets. ETI can bring a fair and balanced approach to this important endeavor."

Under the proposal draft, the members would be Contributing Associations-those that have a stake in NASTFs success. Associations that represent the OEMs, service facilities, car dealers, parts companies, tool and equipment companies and training organizations would be solicited to join NASTF. Since the Contributing Associations are the stake-holders in NASTF, they would be supplying revenue to fund the activities of NASTF. Fees would be collected per Association, according to Association size.

ETI favors keeping the current structure of several Technical Committees and a Steering Committee to oversee direction and function. ETI proposes semiannual General Meetings-one in conjunction with AAPEX, in Las Vegas during early November, and another sometime during the spring months-perhaps during the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) meetings in Detroit. Steering Committee meetings will be held once a quarter.

The ETI proposal will be acted upon during die next NASTF general meeting in Las Vegas during the first week of November. MOTOR will publish the outcome of that meeting in the December issue.