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Road Warrior Newsletter




February 09, 2017

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:
• A Victory and A Defeat in Trenton; Gas Tax Impact on Volume; Marketplace Dynamics; Breakfast Meeting in East Brunswick on Wednesday Feb 15th!

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS

- NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER GILL ENERGY LOOKING TO HIRE FOR (3) DIFFERENT POSITIONS

District Manager
Store Manager
Trucking Operations Manager

For more information, and to submit a resume, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

Lawmakers Consider Expanding Self-Serve Gas in Rural Oregon
NJ residents can play lottery at home
Watch out Wawa! Royal Farms building first N.J. stores this year

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!
• ENTIRE Emission Repair Technician Training Starts Feb. 14
• Emissions Inspector Training - ONE DAY ONLY - Feb. 23rd

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing

• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
Gill Energy: Getting you There!
TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

*NEW*Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE

TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                                                 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!


ONE VICTORY AND ONE DEFEAT IN TRENTON
EFFECTS OF THE GAS TAX INCREASE ON YOUR VOLUME
MARKETPLACE DYNAMICS AND IMPACT ON PRICES
BREAKFAST MEETING IN EAST BRUNSWICK, WEDNESDAY 2/15


This week, Gov. Christie had various bills on his desk that he needed to either sign or veto. Two of them were significant to NJGCA, and we actively shared our positions and lobbied the Governor and the Legislature throughout the entire legislative process.
 
I’ll start with the good news. Governor Christie signed the price gouging legislation that we wanted!  We worked very hard to get him to sign this legislation, since he is the very reason that this legislation was needed!  The last time we discussed this bill, I informed you that Gov. Christie has never rescinded any of the States of Emergency that he has declared throughout his seven years as Governor. Technically, gouging laws still remain in effect for each State of Emergency.  However, the legislation we pushed for, which was signed, will end the gouging regulations associated with each State of Emergency 30 days after the State of Emergency is declared, regardless of whether it is ever officially rescinded. Governor Christie signed this bill on Monday and we thank him for doing so.
 
However, despite this victory, we also suffered a defeat on Monday regarding lottery courier services. I want to first thank everyone who sent messages to the Governor last week, unfortunately he saw no reason to veto the bill. As of right now, this bill will permit lottery buyers (customers) to create online accounts with a courier service to place their lottery order.  The couriers are then required to make the purchase from a lottery agent (one of you) and produce proof of the purchase to the customers prior to any drawings. So, the one good provision in the bill is that the courier must still come to your location to make the purchase.  The bad part, and the reason for our opposition, is that they do not have to deliver the ticket to the consumer, as a true “courier” service would.  Yes, these courier services will charge a fee, but we anticipate that it will be minimal due to the fact that they are not responsible for making deliveries of all tickets, only the winning ones (after the fact). Depending on how small the fee is, customers may see value and convenience in this service, and instead of having 10 customers come to your store to buy lottery, you may end up with a few customers, and then a single courier who will purchase tickets for all the rest. 
 
We honestly won’t know how this is going to play out until it’s implemented. We believe there will be a lot of pitfalls, including fraud. The Head of the Lottery Commission was also adamantly opposed to the Governor signing this bill and formally shared her concerns before the decision was made. Why the Governor signed this legislation, I do not know… and perhaps I may never understand his reasoning.
 
Moving on, Eric and I met with the State Treasurer this week, as we continue to discuss and understand the mechanics involved in the quarterly and annual adjustments to the recent 23¢ gas tax increase. We presented the Treasurer with some evidence and some serious, technical concerns about how the tax is structured.  It was obvious that there are still some issues that need to be worked out in order to avoid a rather bumpy ride as we continue down this road. We’re waiting for an official analysis and opinion from the Treasury Department and will keep you informed on what we hear.
 
In the meantime, I need your help!! Last week I was quoted in a news article saying stations on the northern border with New York, and the southern border with Delaware, have been “creamed” by the gas tax in terms of a great loss of volume. You can read the article here.  I would like to educate the Governor and the Legislature and I hope that I can help prevent some of these issues which we’re anticipating, however, I need numbers from you!! The cold, hard, actual numbers of gallons that you were pumping before the gas tax increase on November 1, 2016 and after.  Compare November and December 2016 to November and December 2015.  Compare January 2017 to January 2016. Give me all the numbers you can so that I can go to the decision-makers and fight for you!
 
Finally, you may recall that a couple weeks ago, when other experts were predicting that we would see gas prices remain steady at a higher level due to OPEC’s decision to cut production, I shared my opinion that prices would start to fall much sooner than people thought. Well, this week I read a report showing that US oil consumption in January 2017 was almost 5% less than in January 2016.  Prices will remain on a downward trend if this consumption model continues throughout 2017.
 
One announcement: NJGCA will be hosting our February breakfast meeting on Wednesday, February 15 at the Colonial Diner in East Brunswick.  We will discuss all of these important issues and more, including self-serve, new NJ emissions inspection program, and answer any of your questions about what’s going on in the industry!  The meeting is from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and your breakfast will be FREE thanks to our generous MBPs who sponsor the event. Those of you in Middlesex County will be getting phone call and email reminders, so, please respond!
 

Thanks for reading -- See you all next week!

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director 

                                                                                                                                                         

TRAINING CLASSES!!

All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

ENTIRE Emission Repair Technician Education Program
Stop turning away work!!  The NJ Emissions Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility! When the new program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Shops will be provided to vehicle owners! If you want your business on the list, make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technican & an Emission Repair Facility License!
 
Don’t miss this opportunity!!  Your technician can complete the entire course in just five weeks! Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning on February 14, 2017, from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Cost: $1,995
Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices!  We are offering the class: Thursday, February 23rd from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Cost $250.
Click HERE for the registration form.


FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

                                                                                                                                                               

 CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER GILL ENERGY LOOKING TO HIRE FOR (3) DIFFERENT POSITIONS!

District Manager
Store Manager
Trucking Operations Manager


For more information about these positions, and to submit a resume for consideration, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

                                                                                                                                                             

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW


02/06/2017:
Lawmakers Consider Expanding Self-Serve Gas in Rural Oregon
Residents in rural Oregon counties may have to get used to pumping their own gas, as lawmakers are considering expanding the availability of self-service gas stations. News outlets report that two bills introduced this legislative session propose expanding self-service gas stations to 24 hours a day in rural Oregon counties, including Crook and Jefferson counties. Currently, self-service gas stations operate between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in rural Oregon counties. One bill would remove that limit for counties with populations less than 40,000, making self-service accessible around the clock.  Another bill would allow the public to pump gas at card-lock stations, which are open 24 hours for commercial vehicles.
 
02/06/2017:
NJ residents can play lottery at home
NJ residents will soon be able to play the lottery without leaving their house. Governor Christie signed legislation Monday to allow for lottery tickets to be sent by private courier. Lawmakers say the measure is aimed at broadening the lottery’s customer base and that state law does not address the delivery of tickets. Courier services would have to register with and get authorization from the state Lottery Commission before delivering tickets. They may charge a fee but cannot collect a portion of a prize from a redeemed ticket. Christie vetoed similar legislation in 2015.
 
02/05/2017:
Watch out Wawa! Royal Farms building first N.J. stores this year
A Maryland-based convenience store chain known for its fried chicken will build its first NJ stores this year. Wawa competitor Royal Farms has started construction on a store in Magnolia, and plans to break ground on four more South Jersey locations in the spring. Royal Farms is a familiar name to residents in the Mid-Atlantic and will pose direct competition to Wawa's dominance in NJ. Royal Farms boasts 173 locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia, and employs about 4,500. The chain's other NJ stores are coming to East Greenwich Township, Gloucester City, Marlton and Bellmawr.  Work on the Bellmawr site is slated to begin in April, with the others starting in May. No opening dates have been announced for any of the locations, though construction usually takes about six months. Each store will include full-service gas stations.  The new locations are all fairly close to existing Wawa stores.

                                                                                                                                                                  

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:






TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

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 require 12 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 Greg Cannon 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 GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@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
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
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. 

                                                                                                                                     

*NEW*Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior.  Remember, these prices are for reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.