Ron Pyle is looking forward, and after taking a look at his association, he’s making sure it does as well.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) president says the association is getting back to making sure the “rank and file” members’ needs are addressed and taking those ideas, as well as what consumers want, and moving the association forward.

Pyle, in his annual State of the Association address during ASA’s Annual Convention, reported that members’ needs were taken in a recent assessment and will be incorporated as the association tries to become “remarkable.”

The assessment shows that members are generally pleased with and engaged in the association. They also are very trusting of the association and its leadership.

“One of the most compelling things we learned is that we have a high degree of trust among our members. Members, even former members and prospective members, which was interesting, trust this association,” Pyle remarked. “Over the years, they’ve seen the association is led by people who are trustworthy, people who have a high degree of character.”

That means a lot when it comes to the high ethical standards the association needs to meet in order to become a truly successful group, one way the association is looking forward. This all ties into “The Seven Measures of Success,” a model on which ASA has been working on to become a remarkable association.

By becoming more successful as the association looks forward, that also might help solve the mystery of why there is a lot of ambivalence within the group.

“We need people that are really more passionate about the association, and we need to drill down and see what it takes to get more passion,” Pyle said. “I suspect that part of what’s going to create that passion, that fervor, that change of heart to get people excited about belonging in the association is what’s happening in the economy, the country and our society.”

There’s a lot to be passionate about in our industry now, considering the changes to Chrysler that highlighted the newscasts right as the convention kicked off. Pyle says it’s key now to make sure consumers get a good, positive impression of independent repair facilities.

Part of that means keeping the focus on consumers, not necessarily on the competition down the street, whether it’s other shops, retailers or dealerships.

There are a number of challenges that the association will face as it looks forward, but Pyle is confident in ASA’s ability to hit it head-on.

“The potential is great. All we have to do is do the right thing in the trenches every day and it starts with us,” Pyle concluded. “We are the backbone of the independent repair industry.”