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SEMA Votes 2012: � ����������������<br />
Critical Election Demands Industry Participation<br />
By Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO<br />
Election Day is less than one week<br />
away, and the results of next Tuesday’s<br />
contests will have far reaching<br />
consequences for our country and our<br />
industry. In addition to the presidential<br />
election, voters will be electing 435<br />
members of the U.S. House, 33 U.S.<br />
senators, 12 governors and thousands<br />
of state and local leaders. It is vitally<br />
important that our industry members<br />
make the effort and vote to fulfill their<br />
civic duty, but, more importantly, to<br />
weigh in on one of the most crucial<br />
elections in our nation’s history.<br />
Our industry and small businesses<br />
are affected on a daily basis by laws<br />
and regulations issued at the national,<br />
state and local levels. Some laws and<br />
rules are industry-friendly. Many are<br />
not. Meanwhile, our economy is lagging<br />
and prospects for improvement<br />
are weak. On Election Day, we have<br />
an opportunity to determine which<br />
WD-40/SEMA Cares, continued from page 6<br />
Leading companies that stepped up<br />
to donate parts, equipment and services<br />
to the project include: Street<br />
Scene Equipment, Barrett-Jackson,<br />
LMC Truck, L&R Engine, Egge,<br />
MHT Wheels, Pirelli Tires, BASF<br />
Paint, American Auto Wire, Painless<br />
Performance, Quiet Ride, K&N Filters,<br />
McGard and others.<br />
In tribute to the 60th anniversary<br />
of WD-40 Multi-Use Product, Foose<br />
endowed the ’53 Ford with a vin-<br />
8 SEMA <strong>Show</strong> <strong>Daily</strong><br />
elected politicians will be making the<br />
laws and setting the regulatory direction<br />
for our country.<br />
At the national level, issues range<br />
from tax reform and access to affordable<br />
health care to keeping land open for<br />
motorized recreation. At the state and<br />
local level, issues range from equipment<br />
standards to titling and registration<br />
classifications, and from emissions test<br />
exemptions to hobbyist rights. Each of<br />
us owes it to our families, to our fellow<br />
employees and to future generations to<br />
be informed about the candidates, what<br />
they stand for and whether you believe<br />
they will help get our nation’s manufacturers<br />
and small businesses moving<br />
forward again. SEMA has several<br />
resources available through the Government<br />
Affairs office to help you learn<br />
more about the candidates.<br />
State Caucus: SEMA works closely<br />
with hundreds of lawmakers at the<br />
tage shop truck look that pays homage<br />
to the truck that onced delivered<br />
the first case of the WD-40 product<br />
in the early ’50s when the manufacturer<br />
was known as the Rocket<br />
Chemical Company. Meanwhile, the<br />
’12 Ford celebrates the manufacturer’s<br />
current specialty products in the modern<br />
era. This year marks the fourth<br />
time that Foose has lent his considerable<br />
design experience to SEMA Cares<br />
project vehicles.<br />
state level. More than 600 state legislators<br />
who share a common goal<br />
to support the motor-vehicle hobby<br />
and the industry that serves it have<br />
joined the State Automotive Enthusiast<br />
Leadership Caucus. A full listing<br />
of Caucus members can be found at<br />
www.semasan.com.<br />
SEMA PAC: SEMA also maintains<br />
a Political Action Committee<br />
(SEMA PAC) that helps elect proindustry,<br />
pro-business candidates to<br />
the U.S. Congress. SEMA PAC is<br />
vital to protecting and promoting<br />
the future of SEMA-member businesses,<br />
as federal laws and regulations<br />
have a direct impact on you and<br />
your business.<br />
Federal Caucus: In Washington,<br />
D.C., members of the Congressional<br />
Automotive Performance and Motorsports<br />
Caucus have joined together to<br />
recognize contributions made by the<br />
“After raising a combined $400,000<br />
for SEMA Cares with our last three<br />
project vehicle builds, we expect these<br />
trucks to turn a lot of heads and continue<br />
to help a great cause,” said Tim<br />
Lesmeister, vice president of marketing<br />
for the WD-40 Co. “Working with<br />
Chip, who’s an expert in his trade<br />
and has been using our products his<br />
whole life, is a great fit and we look<br />
forward to showcasing more of his<br />
designs on some limited-edition cans<br />
this fall.”<br />
automotive performance and motorsports<br />
industry to the U.S. economy.<br />
Recently, several Caucus members<br />
have co-sponsored a bill to help stimulate<br />
low-volume production of specialty<br />
automobiles, thereby creating<br />
jobs and offering unique products to<br />
the American consumer. This informal<br />
and bipartisan Congressional Caucus<br />
has nearly 100 members. To see if<br />
your elected officials are members, visit<br />
www.semapac.com.<br />
If you haven’t already, take a few<br />
minutes to learn about SEMA PAC<br />
during the <strong>Show</strong>. Not only will you<br />
be entered to win a Kindle Fire HD,<br />
but you’ll have access to inside information<br />
from our SEMA Government<br />
Affairs team on issues directly impacting<br />
our industry. Stop by the SEMA PAC<br />
Lounge in the SEMA Members Lounge<br />
(N251) for more information. Take<br />
action today and vote on November 6!<br />
Chip Foose joins Gary Bennett, vice president of consignment for Barrett-Jackson, in front<br />
of the ’53 Ford F-100 that will be auctioned for SEMA Cares charity.<br />
“This year, we’re upping the ante<br />
and building two vehicles—one that<br />
pays tribute to WD-40 Co.’s history,<br />
and one that celebrates some of its<br />
newer specialty products that help auto<br />
pros like me get the job done right,”<br />
explained Foose.<br />
WD-40 Co. is now collaborating<br />
with SIM to help spread the word<br />
about the charity truck builds. For<br />
more information about the WD-40/<br />
SEMA Cares truck builds project, visit<br />
www.WD40.com/Foose.