Programs to Promote Attendance
The key to a successful chapter meeting is a good program. Members will attend the meetings for one of two reasons: to learn something or for the camaraderie.
To maintain high attendance at chapter meetings, the program has to be interesting. Recommendation: Check with other chapters to find out what takes place at their meetings.
Plan Ahead
There are many activities that could be selected as chapter programs. Listed below are some suggested topics that could be covered during the year at chapter meetings:
- OSHA
- Wage & Hour
- Social
- State Legislation (state representative)
- Credit and Collection (how to handle bad debts)
- City Government (councilman, etc.)
- Abandoned Motor Vehicle
- Customer Relations
- Membership Nights (membership coordinator)
- Picnics
- Christmas Party
- Any one of the benefit providers
Remember to always plan ahead and give members adequate notice of upcoming meetings.
Ideal Meeting Program (12 Months)
- January
- Speaker: Attorney (familiar with automotive problems)
Alternative: District Attorney or Assistant D.A.
Subject:- “Automotive Legal Problems”
- “The Garage Owner and the Law”
- County Bar Association
- District Attorney’s Office
- ASCCA Attorney
- February
- Speaker: Educator (college president)
Alternative: Investment Counselor
Subject:- “The Community College and Your Business”
- “Your Community College is a Gold Mine -- For You”
- “Investment Fundamentals”
- Local Community College
- Local Banker
- March
- Speaker: Judge, any court (especially small claims)
Alternative: Industrial Realtor
Subject:- “How to be Effective in Court”
- “The Business Man and the Courts”
- “Trends in the Zoning of Business Properties”
- County Bar Association
- Local Board of Realtors
- April
- Speaker: Editor -- Newspaper, TV, Radio
Alternative: Advertising agency head or Public Relations expert
Subject:- “The Editor Looks at Your Industry”
- “Getting Along with the Media”
- “A Marketing Plan for your Business”
- Local press, radio, or TV
- Yellow pages
- May
- Speaker: Banker
Alternative: Management Consultant
Subject:- “What Your Banker Can Do For You”
- “Ideas Exchanges: Prices, Wages, Buying, Personal Policies
- Local Bank
- Your Own Chapter
- June
- Speaker: Legislator
Alternative: Head of City or County Agency
Subject:- “The Legislature Has Plans For You”
- “How to Influence the Legislature -- Legally”
- “What Your Neighbors Think of You”
- Local District Office
- Head of Agency
- July
- Speaker: Accountant
Alternative: Bookkeeping System Company Representative
Subject:- “Recipe For Profit in Your Shop”
- “How To Make Money in Your Buying”
- County Association of CPAs
- Association Office
- August
- Speaker: City Official
Alternative: Planning Director or Zoning Official
Subject:- “Our City is Worried About its Garages”
- “Your Shop in the Age of Environmentalism”
- City Hall
- City Hall
- September
- Speaker: Parts Manufacturer
Alternative: Parts Wholesaler
Subject:- “Garage Owner -- Key to the Aftermarket”
- “The Outlook for the Auto Repair Industry”
- Local Contact
- Local Contact
- October
- Speaker: Bureau of Automotive Repair
Alternative: Police Chief
Subject:- “The BAR and You -- The Picture Now”
- “The Garage Owner and the Law”
- Local Department of Consumer Affairs”
- Local or State Division of Police
- November
- Speaker: Officer, Chamber of Commerce
Alternative: City Mayor or County Supervisor
Subject:- “Your Business in this Community”
- “What We Expect from the Auto Repair Industry”
- Chamber of Commerce
- City Hall
- December
- Speaker: Association President
Alternative: ASCCA Board of Directors or ASCCA Staff Member
Subject:- “Association Update”
- “What Has ASCCA Done for You Lately?”
- ASCCA Executive Director
Standard Installation for Chapter Board
The installation of your chapter officers is important, so take the time to do it right . . .and make the most of this opportunity.
Making the Most of It
The installation meeting is the responsibility of the out-going President. It needs planning, but will pay dividends in member interest and participation. Involve all chapter members in preparations for the meeting, delegate responsibility.
Planning Ahead
Start preparations at least two months in advance with the appointment of an installation meeting chair. That chair, in turn, can also appoint people to assist. Some of the duties to be performed include:
- Secure a satisfactory location that will handle the anticipated attendance.
- Does the meeting room have a public address system? Does it work? Make a check list and record every detail.
- Choose the menu and get a firm price for both food and the meeting room, and be sure to get all the details in writing.
- Plan for table or room preparations. If the budget permits, make a printed program of the installation.
Make an Agenda
Minimum adequate planning dictates that you make an agenda for the evening, including the times for each event/speaker. Tell your speakers in advance how much time they allotted. It helps them plan their speeches and helps you keep the meeting on schedule. If possible, have the program printed.
Who can perform the installation? A chapter officer, preferably the out-going President, officer of the association or past State President.
A Word of Caution
Do not conduct this evening as a regular meeting with reading the minutes, etc.... Do not bring up controversial subjects or open the meeting for new business. Make the meeting a happy, social evening.
Standard ASCCA Chapter Officer Installation
NOTE: The following suggested installation is written so that officers being installed do not repeat the oath. All that is necessary is to say, “I do” upon the request of the person conducting the installation.
“Please raise your right hand........As duly elected officers of the ______________________________ chapter of ASCCA, do you solemnly promise that you will, to the best of your ability, uphold the responsibilities and duties of the office to which you were elected?
Do you solemnly promise to conduct the affairs of this chapter so as to bring credit to the association and each of its members?
Do you also solemnly promise to observe and uphold the bylaws of the association and this chapter?
Finally, do you solemnly and publicly declare that you will never use your office for any personal benefit or selfish gain?”
If your answer to these questions is affirmative, please answer by saying, “I do”.
(Officers answer.)
“I now declare you to be the duly elected and installed officers of the ____________________________ chapter of ASCCA for the year 20___ to 20___.”
New Member Installation Ceremony
President: Fellow members of ASCCA, we are privileged to have with us certain applicants for admission into our organization and who have been approved for membership. Will the following named applicants come forward: ____________________________ (Name of applicant followed by the sponsor’s name)
To Installing Officer: Will you please administer the oath of membership to the applicants?
Installer: Will each of the applicants please raise their right hand and repeat after me:
“I do solemnly swear that as a member of the Automotive Service Councils of California, I will support the constitution of the ASCCA and the bylaws of the ______________________________________ chapter thereof, and that I will operate my business in an ethical manner consistent with the membership in the ASC, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of such membership to the best of my ability.”
Mr. President, at this time, on behalf of the named applicants, I move for the admission of said applicants seeking admission to membership in the Automotive Service Councils, and certify each of them has been duly sworn.
President: (After the oath has been administered) By reason of the unanimous consent of the members of this organization, the motion of the applicants seeking admission to membership in the Automotive Service Councils of California is hereby granted.
(President makes a short speech or comments on the benefits and privileges of ASCCA. He shakes hands with the new members and may present them with their membership pins.)
