From increasing benefits to members, recruiting more members and incorporating collision repair members, state chapters of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) report they’ve been busy with these and other activities during the last year.

Affiliate delegates for the first time gave reports on their state’s activities during the Affiliate Assembly Meeting kicking off ASA’s Annual Convention in Orlando on Friday.

Multiple affiliates, like Doug McAlister, president of ASA-South Carolina, and Donny Seyfer of ASA-Colorado, report they’re working hard to incorporate their collision divisions more with their chapters, but are running into trouble. Some states are looking into separate collision chapters, as it sometimes is difficult to find materials relative to both mechanical and collision sides.

Other states, such as ASA-North Carolina, are focusing on going out into their states to recruit new members and are using companies like Mitchell 1 to get leads on new members, according to delegate Brenda Denney.

Licensing legislation also is coming more to the forefront in many of these states, including Texas, ASA-Texas President Tim Hogan reports. His association has worked with other groups in the state to look into getting good legislation introduced in coming years. ASA-Michigan also is dealing with this, according to delegate Roy Schnepper.

Other delegates spoke on incorporating the ASA logo into the mainstream, as well as successful expos in Washington and Missouri/Kansas despite the struggling economy.

In other action during the meeting, the assembly voted in a new member to one of two delegate positions available. Joel Baxter, ASA-Washington, defeated current delegate Dan Torbeck (pictured center) for the position.

Also during the meeting, Ron Nagy (pictured at left), affiliate chairman, was voted in for another year in this position. Russell McCloud (pictured at right) was voted in not only to fill the second of a possible two-year term, but also to fill the role as vice chairman.

ASA’s convention continues with President Ron Pyle’s State of the Association address today and Industry Impact Sessions on Saturday.