Summer19_SSCWN

Association News
NECA awards five scholarships
The New England Carwash Association
(NECA) has awarded five, $1,000 scholarships, including
the first Thomas Rando Memorial Scholarship.
Since the program’s inception in 2011,
NECA has awarded $22,000 in scholarships to
very deserving young people.
The 2019 winners include...
• Tommi Bonomo, whose mother works for AutoShine
of New England, will be attending Southern CT State
University and studying psychology.
• Trevor Koppy, whose father works for Triple Play Car
Wash, will be attending UMass Boston and studying
biochemistry.
• Cally Seidel, whose mother works for National
Ticket, will be attending Bloomsburg University and
studying psychology.
• Julia Simons, whose father works for RoJo, will be
attending Bridgewater State University and considering
a variety of career options.
Michael Connolly, who has been working for
Sandwich Car Wash while studying economics
at Cape Cod Community College, is the Thomas
Rando Memorial Scholarship winner. Michael
works 25 hours/week at the carwash plus attends
college full time, is his class president and performs
community service. Our Scholarship Committee
was very impressed by his drive and determination.
He is a young man who has exhibited
exceptional initiative.
Anyone who works for a NECA member
company or is an immediate relation to someone
who works for a NECA member company may
apply for a scholarship. 2020 applications will be
available next January.
IDA forms new chapter
The International Detailing Association (IDA)
has recently welcomed two new chapters to its
fold: India and France. The introduction of these
chapters follows a significant revamp to the IDA
Chapter program.
According to a press release, when the program
was first established in March 2016, three
chapters were quickly formed by May of the following
year: United Kingdom, Norway, and New
Zealand. However, it would be nearly another two
years before the next chapter came to be in India.
The IDA Chapter Development Committee,
which was officially formed in January 2019 with
Board Member Jason Rose, CD-SV, RT, at the helm,
is working to promote the international Chapter
program by facilitating the formation of new
chapters. The committee will focus on optimizing
the engagement and results of existing chapters,
through efforts such as quarterly progress meetings
and a mentorship program. The committee also set
goals for its inaugural year, including an objective to
establish four new chapters. With the addition of
India and France, the committee is right on pace to
reach its goal by the end of the year.
India, the first new chapter, received IDA
Board approval in April 2019. The chapter’s formation
comes not only at a good time for the IDA, but
also at an important time for the detailing industry
in India, which has begun increasing exponentially.
IDA President Jonathan Munsell, CD, will be
traveling abroad in July 2019 to continue strengthening
bonds with our existing chapters in Europe.
He is planning to visit the UK, Norway, and the
IDA’s newest chapter in France “to show support
and help build awareness of chapters and the IDA.”
Munsell will also be facilitating Meet and
Greets and IDA certification, as he will be in the
UK the weekend of Waxstock, Europe’s largest car
care event. After a brief hiatus in 2018, the IDA
will once again be represented at the show with
a Certification Event – Phase I (CD), coordinated
by the UK Chapter. This tradeshow presence
fits nicely into the Chapter Development Committee’s
goal of supporting the chapters’ efforts
to maximize participation in the larger detailing
industry in their area.
The IDA currently has five active chapters, with
members in 56 countries and territories across the
globe. If you’re interested in setting up a chapter in
your country or region, please email info@the-ida.
com to request a copy of the “How to Form a New
IDA Chapter” packet. You can also find out more
about the requirements and the process of forming
a chapter by visiting the-ida.com/Chapters.
Australian Car Wash Association talks water restricitons, new wage rates
The Australian Car Wash Association (ACWA)
is warning its members of potential water restrictions
and also sharing important information
about wage rate increases.
Between 2006 and 2008 drought conditions
hit Australia and government authorities moved to
stop car washing, according to a press release. The
ACWA accepted the challenge and on behalf of
car wash owners across Australia, the Association’s
tireless work and political lobbying saw the industry
avoid a wide-ranging closedown.
• After a long, dry summer and autumn again
this year and with water restrictions already
legislated in areas including Sydney, the car
wash industry looks set to face the financial
impact of widespread water restrictions, the
ACWA stated. After providing input into Sydney
Water’s drought management plan and negotiating
for car washing to receive an exclusion,
ACWA received a water restriction “Fact Sheet”
from Sydney Water. On the “Fact Sheet,” a drive
through car washing was listed as a specific
exclusion from restrictions.
Subsequent to this, and without warning, the
“Fact Sheet” was replaced with a different publication
on the Sydney Water website which not only reverses
their position on exclusion for commercial car washing,
it encourages the environmentally damaging notion
of home driveway washing, the ACWA stated.
On behalf of the car wash industry, ACWA
has urgently reengaged with Sydney Water in an
endeavour to have the decision reviewed ACWA
has been advised there will be a three-month grace
period before fines apply. Fines won’t be issued
until after 1 September 2019.
“This is a critical issue for Sydney and other
regionally based car wash operators and ACWA
will keep members apprised of the outcome of our
negotiations. CWA is asking our Sydney and NSW
members to bear with us as we attempt to resolve
the situation. At the same time, the ACWA Water
Subcommittee is engaged with SEQ Water as well
as water authorities in Melbourne, who are also
closely monitoring dam levels ahead of considering
their position on imposing water restrictions.”
The ACWA said it will continue to work on behalf
of members but to do this we need continued
support through membership subscriptions.
The ACWA also provided its members with a
free annual wage rate analysis provided by the Association’s
Industrial Relations experts, Employment
Services & Solutions Australia (ESSA).
The Fair Work Commission handed down the
2019-20 Annual Wage Review Decision in June
2019 and the 3% increase has effect from the first
full pay period commencing on or after July 1 2019.
Members are reminded that all car wash operator
employers are obliged to comply with minimum
wage and/or Award obligations and there are severe
penalties for non-compliance, the ACWA stated.
It is anticipated that members seeking to clarify
wage rates or get general information about agreement
making and termination can obtain such advice
without charge. So, if you are a paid-up member
and require assistance simply call the ACWA HELP-
LINE and ask for Graham Lilleyman or Monica Vu.
58 • SUMMER 2019