September 9, 2011

Dear NJGCA Member:

Here's what you'll find in this edition of the NJGCA Road Warrior, and thank you for reading:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!
•Documenting Hurricane Irene, Seeking Disaster Assistance, November Seminars, and the 9/11 Anniversary & Terrorism

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
•Government official warn of potential 9/11 terrorist threats
•President asks Congress to approve $450 billion economic plan
•First electric car charging station opened by a New Jersey company – in Texas!
•High cigarette taxes leads to 40% of all cigarettes being smuggled into state illegally

APPRAISAL SERVICE
•Regency Property Appraisers: Serving all your appraisal needs in NJ, NY, and beyond!

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE
•Interested in taking a class? Let us know of your interest!

DOCUMENTING HURRICANE IRENE, SEEKING DISASTER ASSISTANCE, NOVEMBER SEMINARS, AND 9/11 ANNIVERSARY & TERRORISM

It has only been about ten days since Hurricane Irene visited New Jersey, leaving a hell of a mess for us to clean up. Since then, many counties in the Garden State have been declared disaster areas, work crews have been working continuously to repair the damage, and you (and other entrepreneurs) have been laboring away at pulling your establishment back together.

In last week’s message, I asked you to reach out to me with information, documentation, and anecdotal narratives on how Irene harmed your small business and the area in which you live. This week I’d like to take a moment and say THANK YOU to everyone who has done just that. I’ve heard from many members who’ve passed on detailed information and reported on damage in their area, but I need more of you to share info with me.

For anyone who didn’t get an opportunity to read last week’s piece (you can read it by clicking HERE), I asked all of you to send us personal information on your storm experience. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to reach out to me and do just that. In documenting your first-hand knowledge of the storm and the aftermath, we will be able to better plan and respond to the next hurricane or natural disaster.

I’m not compiling this information because I have loads of free time. Rather, I’m doing this, in part, in order to fulfill a “mandate” that has been assigned to me and others around the industry. If you recall, I attended a meeting hosted by the NJ State Police (NJSP) and the NJ Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness (NJOHSP) to contribute to a proper safety and logistics plan in case of a hurricane disaster. The meeting was also attended by state officials, security experts, and my counterparts from other sectors of the petroleum industry, including oil companies, refiners, distributors, and storage facility professionals. The goal was to have a strategy in place in case the need arises to evacuate vulnerable areas of the state in case of a disaster, and to make certain that you are able to pump gas without interruption in the aftermath of a storm. Keeping motorists moving is imperative to aiding in any recovery, and a plan has to be created to have gasoline stations and auto repair shops in place and fully operating throughout the state. (A separate effort is also being made to ensure that supermarkets, food supplies, and healthcare are also quickly aided in order to assist the public).

The group collectively hopes to have a plan in place for the 2012 hurricane season, but must consider your first-hand experiences in order to effectively create any strategy or program. So if you have any information you’d like to relay, feel free to drop me a line or give me a call at your convenience!

Last week I also sent an email and a text message alerting you how to seek assistance if you suffered serious damage during Irene. For those who experienced damages and are still unable to conduct business, Governor Christie and Lt. Governor Guadagno have released information on a number of business assistance services for those affected by this weekend’s hurricane.

Any business owner who is in need of assistance can get the help they need through the New Jersey’s Business Action Center (BAC) . You may contact the BAC by calling 1-866-534-7789 or gain access online at www.nj.gov/njbusiness You can read my entire Events & Announcements message by clicking HERE.

Since I last wrote, President Obama has declared ALL of NJ a Disaster Area. That means that now the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also accepting applications for assistance.
You can click HERE to access the FEMA page that will guide you to the closest Disaster Recovery Center, and also walk you thru the Financial Assistance Process. Of course you can also call FEMA (800) 621-3362.

If you are having difficulties with FEMA, please call me and I will intervene personally thru channels that I have developed there.

NJGCA is moving ahead with our plans to host two seminars in early November. As we stated over the last few weeks, we will hold a seminar in Northern New Jersey on November 9th in Pompton Plains and Southern New Jersey seminar in Toms River on November 10th.

We’re holding this seminar for three important reasons: 1). To inform you on how you are losing product (and money) at your pumps and don’t know it; 2). To educate you on how USDOL is auditing our entire industry and handing out costly fines; and, 3). To update you on Environmental regulations that will help you avoid costly fines and penalties.

Though some of you will ignore this invitation, consider the health of your establishment. Are you turning a profit? Are you certain you’re not losing any product? Are you invoices and your inventory reporting system properly recorded and do they reconcile?!

We have found that the majority of owners are losing product by unknowingly giving gasoline away to their customers. That may sound far-fetched and impossible, but trust me, the numbers don’t lie. That’s because the fuel-volume management systems, product delivery invoices, and fuel dispensers aren’t calibrated properly, thus feeding you false information! It’s the perfect storm of confusion and fear that will ultimately pull the rug out from under you.

Officials from USDOL will also give a presentation to discuss payroll practices and how they are going after those who are circumventing the law. USDOL has made auditing New Jersey small business owners in our industry a priority! Can you afford a $3,500 (or more) fine? Wouldn’t you rather get the facts straight from the experts and avoid giving Uncle Sam the excuse to pick your pocket?

Of course, NJDEP will also be there to refresh you on environmental regulations. Though some of you may think you know it all already, you don’t know what changes have been made and can always use a refresher! Those small business owners who have just acquired their locations should also be there to learn first hand about proper testing requirements, registration, and record keeping. Besides, wouldn’t you want to make sure you’re doing what is required of you rather than get hit with a multi-thousand dollar fine?

Trust me; I don’t think you can afford to miss this meeting! We have a very packed agenda and you should be getting some information in the mail very shortly with all the details. Mark your calendars and plan on being there!

Lastly this week we touch on a sad – yet moving – note as we mark the 10 year anniversary of the September 11th attacks. On that heartbreaking day, nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens were killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on United Flight 93.

It is entirely difficult to believe that it has been a decade since that fateful day. Yet while we honor the memory of those who perished, and pay homage to the heroic efforts of first responders, we must remember to remain vigilant. As stated last week, I was recently contacted by a joint law enforcement task force regarding the need for small business owners to be on the look out for suspicious behavior. Though we may wish it otherwise, the sorry truth is that service stations are a possible target of anyone who would seek to commit an act of terrorism. The task force sent along a Terrorism Prevention Awareness Tips flier outlining what all NJGCA members should be aware of.

In light of this significant anniversary, and in memory of those who are no longer with us, I ask you to please be on the alert and read the materials the task force sent along by clicking HERE.

9/8/2011:
Government official warn of potential 9/11 terrorist threats
As the 10 year anniversary of the September 11th attacks draws near, government officials fear a potential terrorist attack during the planned commemoration. The Department of Homeland Security warns of “credible but unconfirmed” intelligence of a terrorist plot possibly aimed at New York or Washington this weekend. All small business owners are encouraged to be vigilant and on the lookout for suspicious behavior.

9/8/2011:
President asks Congress to approve $450 billion economic plan
In seeking to “jolt an economy that has stalled”, President Obama released details Thursday night on a $450 billion economic plan. The President’s plan seeks to slash Social Security taxes, new federal spending for construction, an extension of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, and reducing payroll taxes to encourage new hiring. The President also proposes a tax credit for businesses that hire people who’ve been out of work for six months or more; 14 million Americans are currently unemployed. The plan is made up of approximately $253 billion in tax cuts and $194 billion in federal spending.

9/8/2011:
First electric car charging station opened by a New Jersey company – in Texas!
On Wednesday, a company based in New Jersey opened the first electric vehicle charging station in Texas. The station was installed at a Texas shopping mall, allowing consumers to charge their vehicles while they shopped. The charging station, installed by Princeton-based NRG Energy, allows electric car owners to charge their vehicle in as little as 10 minutes. NRG and energy-utility PSEG have expressed interest in building an infrastructure to recharge electric-car in New Jersey. How could having vehicles charged at the mall – rather than your service station – affect your business long-term? Click above to read the full article.

9/7/2011:
High cigarette taxes leads to 40% of all cigarettes being smuggled into state illegally
New Jersey has the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of cigarettes illegally smuggled into the state. According to a recent report, roughly 40% of all cigarettes smoked in New Jersey are smuggled from out of state. This creates a loss of more than $500 million in uncollected tax revenue each year. Among the reasons cited for this phenomenon are the high percentage is the state’s high cigarette tax, among the highest of any state at $2.70 a pack. Rather than pay such a high price, smokers purchase cigarettes from the internet, the black market or from stores in neighboring states, such as Delaware. Click above to read the full report. Has this had an affect on cigarette sales at your convenience store?

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it’s difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an “accurate” analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member’s usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #’s, meter #’s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Phil Apruzzi at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact Phil Apruzzi at 973-376-0066 or email Phil at phil@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!
If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
66 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

THE MEMBER TOOL BOX &n bsp; &nbs p; & nbsp;
ON THE NJGCA HOMEPAGE

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NEWS AROUND THE STATE ARCHIVE
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KNOW YOUR TERRITORY MANAGER!

Henry Darden: Territory Manager for Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Part of Essex (Southern Half)
Cell: 973 -477-0057
Email: henry@njgca.org

Jack Leli: Territory Manager for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem
Cell: 732-995-1637
Email: jack@njgca.org

Bob Quirk: Territory Manager for Bergen, Hudson, Part of Essex (Northern Half)
Cell: 201-214-8836
Email: bob@njgca.org

Frank Stewart: Territory Manager for Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic
Cell: 973-234-7403
Email: frank@njgca.org